Since there is no independent physical world, our everyday reality is a lucid dream taking place in the vivid now.

Dreams aren't all cut from the same cloth. Some dreams are awake, barely more vivid

than having a fleeting memory when you are awake.

At the opposite extreme are so-called lucid dreams.

When you're having a lucid dream,

you are actually aware that you're watching a dream. At the same time, you may be fully

immersed in it, and when you wake up, it's hard to acknowledge that the dream wasn't real.

Likewise, virtual reality is a full immersion experience

unless you choose to view it from the standpoint of witnessing awareness.

There are, however, a few clues to suggest that even when you're awake, you're not fully awake.

Glimpses of clarity, moments of joy, creative insights, and the experience of meditation are precious.

They suggest that you are immersed in a vivid lucid dream.

Waking up will come as a surprise.

For many people, it's a shock to realize

that they've been asleep all their lives.

Every passing moment was that they've been asleep all their lives.

Every passing moment was like experiencing the vivid now.

Take a look around, smile to yourself, and say,

imagine this is all a dream, like anticipating Christmas as a child. You know something good is coming and by reminding yourself you

open the way.