The starting point
A reminder or progress marker can help a person return to meditation. It can also turn practice into another obligation. Decide whether points and streaks make you more willing to participate or more anxious about doing the practice correctly.
What is hypothetical
This discussion of levelling up in spiritual practice includes a design scenario from the manuscript. Read proposed capabilities conditionally. A real product would need evidence for its exact use, a clear account of errors and limitations, and meaningful control for the person using it. An engaging demonstration alone would not establish a health or learning benefit.
Levelling Up in Spiritual Practice
The gamified aspect of VR meditation could involve “leveling up” spiritually. By completing these goals, users can unlock new meditation tools, environments, and even guided experiences that deepen their spiritual engagement.
Picture a user named Sophie, who starts her VR meditation journey with a simple goal: to cultivate gratitude. Her VR app provides her with a “gratitude garden” where, each time she completes a meditation focused on gratitude, a new flower blooms. As Sophie continues her practice, the garden flourishes, and she can invite friends to visit her garden in the virtual world—a beautiful reminder of her growth and dedication.
This type of gamified, visual feedback is more than just fun—it reinforces the idea that spiritual growth is a journey with visible milestones. The ability to “see” progress can be motivating, especially for those who struggle to stick to a meditation routine.
Question: Would you be more likely to meditate regularly if you could see your inner growth reflected in a beautiful virtual landscape? How might visualizing your progress change the way you feel about meditation?
Put the idea in context
There is also a risk that gamified meditation could become overly commercialized. As companies compete to create the most engaging experiences, the focus may shift from genuine spiritual growth to profit-making. This could lead to a superficial approach to meditation, where the emphasis is on “winning” or “leveling up” rather than the deeper, reflective aspects of the practice.
Sources & further reading
- NCCIH: Meditation and mindfulness—effectiveness and safetywww.nccih.nih.gov
- NIST: Generative artificial intelligence risk profilenvlpubs.nist.gov
- FDA: Augmented and virtual reality in medical deviceswww.fda.gov