Photo by Kiran Anklekar on Unsplash
The virtual world, driven by powerful algorithms, has quietly taken over our minds. Social media platforms have pulled the entire population into a digital loop—where time, thoughts, and emotions are traded for endless scrolling. Those who enter this world often stay glued for hours. Why? Because the system is designed to keep you there. It doesn’t show you the truth. It shows you what you like. It learns your patterns, your preferences, your weaknesses—then feeds your feed.
This constant engagement makes the mind restless. People begin comparing, reacting, and even feeling jealous of others’ achievements, not realizing they're trapped in a world of curated illusions. After getting jealous of others’ big houses, shiny cars, and the latest smartphones, people begin to chase what they never truly longed for. Not because their soul desires it, but because comparison creates hunger. They search the internet restlessly, hoping to find that one opportunity that will give them more money, more status, more validation. Not for joy. Not for peace. But to prove something to people who probably don’t even care. To maintain the illusion of success, many take loans, buying things they can't afford, to impress people they don’t even like, all while burying themselves deeper in stress, guilt, and emptiness.
This is the lie of the virtual world—that your worth is measured by what you own, that you must show the world you're doing well, even if you're breaking inside. After getting jealous of others’ big houses, shiny cars, and the latest smartphones, people begin to chase what they never truly longed for. Not because their soul desires it, but because comparison creates hunger. They search the internet restlessly, hoping to find that one opportunity that will give them more money, more status, more validation. Not for joy. Not for peace. But to prove something to people who probably don’t even care. To maintain the illusion of success, many take loans, buying things they can't afford, to impress people they don’t even like, all while burying themselves deeper in stress, guilt, and emptiness.
This is the lie of the virtual world—that your worth is measured by what you own, that you must show the world you're doing well, even if you're breaking inside. "Why are most suicides today among successful, educated, and wealthy individuals? Why do they give up?" Let’s take the story of Parveen Babi—a beautiful, successful actress of the 90s. She had everything: fame, fortune, a luxurious flat, and a strong bank balance. To the world, she was living the dream. But inside, she was suffering—quietly, invisibly.
She died alone in her apartment. No family around. No close friends checking in. Her body was discovered after 4-5 days, only because neighbors noticed something was wrong. By then, it had already begun to decompose. After Parveen Babi’s death, what was more heartbreaking than her loneliness was the silence from her family. No deep mourning, no visible pain—just distance. As if her fame had slowly replaced her relationships. As if her success had pushed people away instead of pulling them closer. She had money. She had comfort. She had the virtual world—newspapers wrote about her, films played her roles, the media followed her every move. But in her final days, she had no one.
This is the hidden tragedy of modern life. We have more entertainment, but less engagement. We have more comfort, but less connection. The virtual world keeps us constantly busy but not truly present. Today, children are growing up with screens all around them—like TV, mobile phones, and tablets. From a very young age, they watch fast-moving videos, bright cartoons, and online games. This virtual world is not just for fun anymore—it is changing how children think, act, and play. Many children now live more in their own world. They often copy what they see on screens—like cartoon characters or YouTubers. They repeat funny lines or try to act like people they watch online. Their play is not creative like before. It becomes more like copying what they saw on the screen. This can lead to less talking and playing with real friends, fewer new ideas or games from their own mind, getting bored easily with normal, slow activities, and trouble in understanding real feelings.
Children today live in a busy world. Their days are filled with school, homework, classes, and screen time—fast videos, games, and nonstop entertainment. They are not taught how to pause. They rarely sit in silence. They don’t know what real peace feels like. Most children are either pushed to perform—grades, skills, competitions—or glued to screens—YouTube, cartoons, mobile games. Their minds are always active, never resting. As a result, they become easily angry or rude. They find it hard to control emotions. They think happiness comes from toys and gadgets. They don’t feel calm or centered inside.
Children don’t meditate or reflect—not because they can’t, but because no one is showing them how. But people get lost in entertainment, fame, money, and material things. They stop talking. They stop listening. They don’t connect deeply with others or even with themselves. The spiritual world teaches us to speak with honesty, share our inner thoughts, learn from each other’s experiences, and reflect quietly with our own soul. But now, most people only share jealousy, comparison, and judgment. True connection is lost.
Children today don’t see the value of mental peace. They don’t understand that speaking calmly, sharing their thoughts, or expressing their insecurities can help them feel better. They stay silent—not because they don’t want to speak, but because they fear judgment, rejection, or being made fun of. They think talking softly to people is weakness, opening up is shameful and an act for gaining sympathy, hiding emotions is strong as people feel that you are desperate. Children raised in communicative and understanding families are generally more socially engaged. They don't get scared; they adapt easily to changing environments. When people describe the scary parts to them, they don’t just believe or assume. They prefer to experience things themselves. They are deeply grounded in the practical world.
Children who grow up in nuclear families are often left alone, as they can end up spending long stretches of time without active engagement from adults. In such cases, the child may adapt by withdrawing or by over-relying on screens or toys for companionship. Furthermore, spiritual teachings are one of the most important tools for helping them overcome loneliness and develop inner strength. Many thoughts and emotions can overwhelm a child’s mind, and without proper guidance, they may become aggressive or emotionally detached. Some may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, overeating, or excessive screen use. Without the skills to cope with difficult situations, they can easily lose their way.
With prayer, we learn to accept the situation and work toward finding solutions to overcome it. Depression can heal with time. Meeting supportive well-wishers helps in understanding the situation better. Let's take an example. Ramesh built a successful career at Microsoft in Canada. For years, he worked hard, earned a high salary, and gave his family a comfortable life. He felt proud of what he had achieved. But in 2025, during a round of cost-cutting, his position was suddenly eliminated. At first, Ramesh was restless. He spent sleepless nights thinking about bills, responsibilities, and his children’s future. For days, he scrolled through job portals endlessly, feeling the heavy weight of competition. But his wife stood by his side, and his two kids gave him strength. Together, the family prayed, and slowly, they rebuilt his confidence.
His wife took the initiative. Talented in cooking, she began preparing affordable home-cooked meals. Every day, she walked miles to deliver the food. Later, their 14-year-old daughter also stepped up—taking babysitting and home-tutoring jobs to support the family. Even their young son helped his sister by preparing the bed and taking care of small chores at home. These small initiatives, done with love and patience, gave the family strength to face difficult times together. Today, stories of quick money made in heists may be trending. But in real life, it takes far more patience and strength to face the sudden loss of money. Quick gains may look glamorous, but true courage is in rebuilding slowly, with honesty and persistence.
Ramesh and his family showed true resilience by sticking together. Money never spoiled them, because what they built was not just wealth, but unity, trust, and strength as a family. Praying together helped them understand that losing money is not one person’s responsibility—it is a challenge the whole family can face together. Ramesh didn’t stop there. He also connected with fellow colleagues who had lost their jobs. Together, they created an open online platform—a space for education and mutual support where people could help one another. On this platform, members could learn new languages, exchange second-hand products, promote recycling, foster pets, share positive thoughts, renovate abandoned houses, and even share unused internet connections.
The virtual world has made life easier in many ways—with online shopping, food delivery apps, and even work-from-home opportunities. Yet for some, survival in this fast-changing world feels difficult. Many get lost in endless scrolling, comparing their lives to others, and turning their dreams into jealousy. Technology offers comfort, but it also distracts us. People are often carried away by entertainment, forgetting the strength within. True healing does not come from the virtual world—it comes from looking inward, finding peace, and nurturing the mind and soul.