Maya: The World as Virtual Reality

21st Century Radio with Bob Hieronimus - July 6, 2003 / (325)

In his interview with radio show host Bob Hieronimus, Thompson explains the central thesis of his recent publication, Maya: The World as Virtual Reality (2003). In this work, Thompson compares the concept of virtual reality popularized by the American philosopher and computer scientist, Jaron Lanier, with the Vedic conception of maya describing conscious experience enmeshed within an illusory world. While considering these ideas as an intellectual framework, Thompson explores the enigma of consciousness, precognition, Cartesian dualism, near-death out-of-body experiences, and the transmigration of the soul.