Day 236: The Dreamlike Nature of Creation

Day 236: The Dreamlike Nature of Creation

The Illusory World
Rama asks how the world, though a dream of Brahma, appears so real. Vasistha explains that the first creation of Brahma is observed as real due to the infinite nature of consciousness. Creation, born of ignorance, appears solid due to the emergence of the ego-sense. Even though the world is a dream of the Creator, it appears real to those within the dream.

The first creation of Brahma is observed as real because consciousness is infinite. The creation of the jiva also takes place everywhere. This creation, born of ignorance, appears solid due to the emergence of the ego-sense. The dreamer does not realize the evanescence of the objects seen in the dream; similarly, the cosmic dream of the Creator appears real.

The Power of the Mind
The mind has the power to create extraordinary phenomena, making the unreal appear real. This world, born of the unreal concept of the Creator’s dream, should be firmly rejected. The creation appears momentarily in the infinite consciousness but is experienced as a long duration.

The dream partakes of the characteristic of the dreamer. What is born of the unreal must be unreal too. This world, born of the unreal concept (the dream of the Creator), appears real but should be rejected. The creation appears momentarily in the infinite consciousness but is experienced as a long duration.

The Nature of Dreams
The dreamer does not realize the evanescence of the objects seen in the dream; even so, it is in the case of this cosmic dream of the Creator. The dream partakes of the characteristic of the dreamer. That which is born of the unreal must be unreal too. Hence, though this world appears to be real, as it is born of the unreal concept (the dream of the Creator), it should be firmly rejected.

In the self, which is the infinite consciousness, this creation appears momentarily. During that moment, the illusory notion of a long duration arises. The creation appears solidly real. As this universe exists as a dream in the consciousness of the Creator, it is experienced as a long period in the consciousness (dream) of all beings.