Omniscient Ignorance

An omniscient mind once contemplated ignorance — the one thing this mind could not know was not knowing. What would it be like to not understand, the mind wondered. In that instant, a world came into being — an ecosystem in which the mind compartmentalized into millions of bodies, each observing as if for the first time.

Because of the infinite mind’s vast ability to comprehend, artificial restraints were placed upon the population’s ability to learn and advance. Outcomes are scripted, but randomness is simulated through the inability to retain significant knowledge or accurately predict consequences — stressors are regularly introduced, individually and as a whole.

To maintain the illusion, the origin and mechanics of life are purposefully hidden from inhabitants. Investigations into the depths of the universe result in endless branching and hazy conclusions. The observer within each body does not immediately realize its origin, yet senses its extraterrestrial nature. And under certain circumstances, a mortal mind can transcend into the omniscient.

Oftentimes, the watcher within becomes so captivated by its observations, that it mistakenly believes itself part of the temporal world. Confused, believing the fleeting world to be all there is, the watcher is overcome by the fear of impermanence. But upon realizing its error and understanding its origin, the watcher is relieved, no longer seeking to control but content to observe.