Sat, Chit, Ananda, and the Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt
The Divine Game
Imagine, if you will, the universe as a cosmic game. The players embark on a quest for enlightenment, guided by the principles of good game design. Sat, Chit, and Ananda, the trinity of consciousness in Hindu philosophy, are the core mechanics that drive this divine game.
You may or may not know that I am a great fan of the “Rules of Play” book by Salen and Zimmerman. I see it as a sort of meta-game manual, a set of rules for how to create good game rules if you will. I see the grand game of life as being created with the principles of good game design in mind.
Now let’s see how these compare. Grab your Easter baskets, friends; we're about to embark on a hunt for the ultimate Easter egg - spiritual awakening!
First, let's break down the Sat, Chit, Ananda trio. "Sat" represents the ultimate reality or existence, "Chit" refers to consciousness or awareness, and "Ananda" embodies bliss or happiness. Together, they form the essence of the ultimate goal in our cosmic game: the realization of our true nature and oneness with the divine.
Now, let's examine how these concepts fit within the framework of Salen and Zimmerman's rules of play.
Player Experience Goals: In the game of life, the ultimate player experience goal is to achieve Ananda, or bliss. This pursuit of happiness keeps players engaged, providing a meaningful and satisfying objective.
System Design: The interplay between Sat (existence) and Chit (consciousness) creates a complex system in which players navigate their experiences. This intricately designed environment fosters deep immersion and a rich, dynamic experience.
Meaningful Play: As players progress through the game, exploring the realms of Sat and Chit, they make meaningful choices that bring them closer to Ananda. Each decision, whether it's practicing mindfulness or embracing compassion, contributes to their spiritual growth and self-realization.
Balance: The delicate balance between the world of Sat (existence) and the realm of Chit (consciousness) keeps players on their toes, ensuring that they must continuously adapt, learn, and evolve to achieve Ananda.
Emergence: The concept of Chit (consciousness) allows for emergent gameplay. As players become more aware of their true nature, they discover new strategies and insights, leading to a deeper understanding of the game's mechanics and their own spiritual journey.
Endogenous Meaning: The divine game's ultimate goal, Ananda, is intrinsically rewarding. The pursuit of bliss and self-realization creates an inherently meaningful experience that transcends extrinsic rewards and accolades.
Now, for that Easter egg joke you've been waiting for! What do you get when you combine the cosmic game of Sat, Chit, Ananda with the tradition of Easter egg hunting? A quest for the most eggscellent, eggstraordinary, and eggstatic experience of all - the realization of one's true nature and oneness with the divine.
Happy hunting, players!
(I will see myself out…)