Ian "PhroG" Taylor recently had the chance to speak with Dr. Pradheep Chhalliyil, the author of Journey to the Source — Decoding Matrix Trilogy. This insightful author shares his opinions on the Matrix films, The Matrix: Online, and the philosophy behind both. Make sure to discuss this interview in our forums.

First off, tell us a bit about your background.

I work as a Senior Scientist at Genetic-ID, Inc., developing techniques to detect Genetically Modified Organisms in food. Isn’t it cool to help the public know whether what they eat is natural or genetically modified? I received my Doctoral Degree in Cancer Biology & Biochemistry for identifying a novel anti-cancer compound from the plant, Cleistanthus collinus. This discovery was later patented. In 1997, I was the first recipient of the Anna Gold Award for the best cancer research in India. I worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, and then moved to Genetic-ID in Fairfield, Iowa, where I live with my wife Priya and son Pranav.

What inspired you to sit down and write a book about The Matrix films?

I am a big Matrix fan and after I saw Revolutions I found many fans disappointed about the lack of a clear ending. Since I almost understood the movie and enjoyed the hidden meanings, I thought of sharing my understanding with the Matrix fans by writing articles. Soon after that I visited an orphan center in India and was deeply moved by the fact that these orphan kids could not have a college education due to lack of support. I decided to convert the articles into a book and sell it to support the orphan kids through the non-profit organization www.sakthifoundation.org

How did you go about writing the book? Did you end up re-watching the films quite a bit?

I watched the first movie four times, Reloaded two times, and Revolutions three times. Then I started to write, and writing was as thrilling as watching the movies because I had to think and interpret a lot and make sense of the movies. I was re-discovering my own self.

Which Matrix film is your favorite, and why?

All the three are my favorites. I simply love the last few fight scenes of Neo meeting Smith in Revolutions.

Tell us a bit about the philosophy of your book. Many different people have interpreted the films in different ways.

When I felt I had understood the movies, I wanted to make sure that my understanding was in tune with the movie makers’. On the Internet I came across an interview with Don Davis, the Music composer of Matrix. In the interview, he mentioned that he had asked the Wachowski brothers If they would look for something in literature that represented some of the ideological themes that had influenced them when they were writing The Matrix.

“They eventually came up with about six passages from the Vedic scriptures called the Upanishads. And these texts are amazingly apropos to the whole ontological concept of The Matrix. It refers to “The One.” (See the complete interview here.)

This gave me confidence in what I was writing and the book made sense when interpreted in the light of the Upanishads. The Upanishads are a collection of approximately 120 literary works written mostly in the form of dialogue between a spiritual master and his students. Responding to a series of inquiries about the nature of reality, the master leads his students to a state of enlightenment or realization. Similarly, Morpheus leads Neo to seek the truth.

I view the Matrix as modern mythology through which the Wachowski brothers have lit the path for mankind to find answers about the mystery of life. I strongly recommend that spiritual aspirants watch the Matrix movies and understand the matrix’s simple computer-simulated myth to understand the complexity of life. I have commented on the three Matrix movies, scene by scene, in the same order as the trilogy, to help reveal the hidden meaning of the symbolism.

I think my book is spiritual like the Matrix movies rather being religious. Being “spiritual” is to have an enquiring mind like Neo, rather than being “religious,” which can mean being imprisoned in a belief system. The Upanishads are spiritual and bring out the universal truth that is common in all religious and spiritual traditions of the world and so I felt they were very appropriate to be used in interpreting the Matrix movies. Understanding the Upanishads, one finds unity in the messages of Jesus Christ, Buddha, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Zen, and all other isms. Sometimes people in religious organizations can interpret things far away from truth and create havoc. I myself have tried to keep away from religion and be focused only on a spiritual path, the path of enquiry into reality. Journey to the source, decoding the Matrix trilogy, is the journey of every one of us, the inner quest to find the reality and solve the mystery of one’s own existence. Along the journey one understands about free will, reality of the universe, the origin of universe and life, karma (the law of cause and effect), love, time concept, and finally, the purpose of life.

What do you think of the concept of The Matrix Online? How does such a game fit in with your overall philosophical view of the Matrix story?

I find the concept of Matrix Online very appropriate and lots of fun. The key feature of Upanishadic philosophy that I have explained in the Matrix book is this: life in the Matrix is fun only when we unplug ourselves. Until we are unplugged we take everything as real. Taking the red pill (knowledge), we are free to plug in and out of the matrix. When we unplug ourselves we understand that we are “Consciousness” and not just this body (residual image of the digital self). The Upanishads, like the Matrix movies, say there is one single Consciousness which directs all this play like the computer main frame machine. Science is finding it hard to understand Consciousness and so confuses it with awareness, which is the phenomenon of the brain. (I have explained these distinctions in the book.)

Having understood this theme of the Matrix, we all can have a lot of fun in Matrix Online by playing roles in it. This is a clue that I can give to the fans. Create your own character, based on your mindset, in the Matrix Online. Interact with other characters and try to free yourself and help others, too. This is real fun and I can already see how deep the fun goes. What is important is interaction with others, or else it would be just a messy war. Understand the words of Oracle — We are all here to do what we are supposed to do.

I see Don Davis has commented on and endorsed your book on your site. He has also written the foreword. How did that come about?

I simply love listening to the Matrix music, especially the credit song, the blend of eastern and western music. I was one among the thousands of fans of Don Davis who wrote to him appreciating his work. I did not expect a Hollywood celebrity to respond to a fan and when he wrote one word, “Thanks,” I felt he was different and great. When I read the IGN interview while writing the book, I wrote to him asking if he could read the book draft and see whether it made sense. He was very kind hearted to spend his valuable time reading the book and commenting on it. It was such a great inspiration to read his comments. When he finished reading, I asked him if he would be willing to write a foreword. It was a pleasant surprise that not only was he willing, but also that what he wrote was so wonderful. I am thankful to him and also to the Waschowski brothers who have inspired thousands of people to wake up and unplug themselves.

Tell us about the Sakthi Foundation which you and your friends and family run.

It is a free healing service that we do over the Internet using the ancient natural medicinal system. Being trained in biochemistry I understand the depth of scientific value in this ancient system, which is reflected by the huge success in the health of many people throughout the globe who follow it. The practice is simple and holistic, with no costs and no side effects. Without my wife Priya’s support it would be impossible to find time to respond to the numerous e-mail requests asking for suggestions. The foundation is now a tax exempt nonprofit organization and my family, friends (Mani, Madesh, Muthu, Dilip, Pari), and I work together as a team to make it happen.

And lastly, how can people interested in buying your book get a hold of a copy? Can they order it from a local bookstore, or just through your site? If they order it directly from you, can they get it signed?

The book is Journey to the Source — Decoding Matrix Trilogy. We are in the process of getting it to major book stores. Currently it is available from our site www.matrixjourney.com and also at Amazon.com. Yes, if they want a signed copy I would be glad to do that.

I would like to say thank you to Dr. Chhalliyil and the Sakthi Foundation for donating copies of the book for our contests, as well as to Dr. Chhalliyil for taking the time out of his schedule to conduct this thorough and insightful interview. It has really been my honor, and I hope everyone takes the time to check out his site and purchase this truly insightful book, and help support the Sakthi Foundation and their work.