The Why and How of the Universe

Mr. Nathan, my friend who is standing before me, is my own mental creation. Even this world is my own mental creation.

Non-existence is said to be an object of perception, since non-existence of a thing means its existence somewhere else. According to the idealistic theory, there is no world at all in reality. It is all mere mental imagination. According to the realistic theory, the world is a solid reality. Even the dualist school of thought hold's that the world is real.

Kant has demonstrated that space, time and causation are not objective realities, but only subjective forms of our intellect, and the unavoidable conclusion is that the world, so far as it is extended in space, is running on in time and ruled throughout by causality, is merely a representation of our mind and nothing beyond it.

A finite mind that is gross and conditioned by time, space and causation cannot comprehend the why and how of the universe, a question that is transcendental. The question has never been answered by anybody. Do not rack your mind on this point. You can never get a solution for this problem. It is His Nature.

Non-Existence of the World – What it means?

The non-existence of the world or its destruction does not mean the annihilation of mountains, lakes, trees and rivers. When your determination that this world is unreal, illusory gets stronger and stronger and when you are well-established on this idea that this world is illusory like mirage, this alone is destruction of the world.

You cannot destroy a mountain, but you can destroy the idea of a mountain. The universe is like a Dream in wakened state. Just as there is the image in the mirror, this world is a big image in the mind-mirror. The play of the mind arising out of pure consciousness constitutes this universe. Mind is Maya (Delusion). Maya is the mind. The workings of the mind are nothing but the workings of Maya itself. Attraction or attachment in the mind towards forms is Maya. Identification of one's own self with the mind is Maya.

How the Mind manifests as the World?

The motion or vibration of Prana (breath) moves the mind. The movement of the mind generates the universe. The mind manifests itself as the external world. The world enters the mind through the eyes, ears, tongue (speech) and old Impressions. If you remain in the seclusion, you can shut out these first three doors. Through right inquiry of Supreme Self, you can destroy the Impressions. Then Knowledge of Self will dawn.

All the universes with their heterogeneity, though really Self-Knowledge, shine as worlds only through our illusory mind, like the blueness of the sky which is really non-existent. The Self-light of formless Supreme Soul alone is appearing as the mind or this motley universe. The mind which ever rises and falls with the ebb of desires, fancies this illusory universe to be through its ignorance; but it should be informed of the real nature of this world, then it will recognize it to be Supreme Soul itself.

Reference

Mind – Its Mysteries and Control by Sri Swami Sivananda