In Sufi (Islamic Mystical) literature, the concept of Oneness of Being basically says that the only real existence is God's existence. As for Creation/this World or the Universe, it doesn't have a real existence.
"Cloud Computing" is a phrase that is used frequently these days. An important aspect of Cloud Computing is using a huge number of Virtual Machines. The concept of a Virtual machine has been known for a relatively long time, but maybe it is more noticeable these days due to Cloud Computing.
A Virtual Machine offers many of the main functions of a real existing Computer. But it is not a real computer. A Virtual Machine is a sort of a simulation of a real computer. It occupies a segment of memory within a real computer. A virtual machine manager is a program that can be closed and then the virtual machine no longer exists in memory. There are "images" of the virtual machine that can be used to start a new virtual machine bring a previously closed one alive again to continue to work from where it was when it was turned off.
Now, both a virtual machine and a real machine might use the same operating system. The difference is that one instance is running on a real computer and the other is running in a simulated virtual computer.
So far, there might not be any apparent relation to spiritual issues. However, the phrase "an Enlightened Virtual Machine" started to appear, pointing to certain features added to newer versions of operating systems specifically to enable better cooperation between the Host operating system running in the real computer and the Guest operating system running within a virtual machine. And when is a Virtual Machine enlightened? When the operating system running in it is aware that it is running in a Virtual Machine and not in a Real Computer. (A search for "enlightened virtual machines" lists articles talking about this point).
Many people who are not mystics might be intrigued or curious about ideas like Oneness of Being, but I think it is natural to see their interest in such a subject probably stops at that point. Sufis, who appear to take the concept seriously, make it clear that (like any advanced topic in any field of knowledge) it is important to have sufficient background and to look for guidance or supervision provided by an expert on the subject. The need for sufficient preparation (intellectual, behavioral and spiritual), before studying Oneness of Being is emphasized, otherwise for someone without enough background or preparation, such a subject might look puzzling or be easily misunderstood.
Anyway, I find it interesting that these days, especially among intellectual people with different cultural backgrounds, there is a sort of a presence of some spiritual ideas that can be found in different religions pointing in one way or another to what might be described as the unreality of this world.
