Brain in a Vat: How to Practice Radical Self-Inquiry Without Losing Your Mind

Let’s kick things off with a question that should simmer in the back of your mind like leftover chili—are you just a brain in a vat?

This might sound like the plot of a bad sci-fi movie, but it’s a concept that’s had philosophers scratching their heads for centuries. It’s the ultimate exercise in questioning reality, and if that doesn’t jolt you awake from the day-to-day sleepwalk…

…well, I don’t know what will.

Is This Real or Is This Vat-Fantasy?

Picture this: your brain, floating in a vat, hooked up to some cosmic supercomputer that’s feeding you everything you perceive as reality.

Sounds like a nightmare you’d wake up from in a cold sweat, right? But here’s the kicker—what if that nightmare is reality? What if everything you think you know—your job, your dog, your ever-expanding Netflix queue—is nothing but an elaborate charade designed by who-knows-what?

Suddenly, “I think, therefore I am” starts to sound like wishful thinking. Now, before you start eyeing your surroundings suspiciously, consider this: What if the brain-in-a-vat scenario is the ultimate tool for spiritual awakening? After all, if your perception of reality is potentially one big, fat illusion, then maybe you should start questioning more than just your late-night snack choices. This is where radical self-inquiry comes in. Start by asking yourself: