Day 258 - The Nature of Reality and Illusion : Creation as an illusion

Day 258 - The Nature of Reality and Illusion

Creation as an Illusion

Kumbha explained that there is no real creation in Brahman. Just as gold might give rise to ornaments, Brahman does not produce anything from itself. It remains at peace, untouched by creation. The world we see is merely an experience with no substance or reality behind it. Thus, the world and the ego-sense are not real; only infinite consciousness exists.

Sikhidhvaja, still seeking clarity, asked why the world and ego-sense seem to exist if they are unreal. Kumbha explained that the infinite consciousness is the underlying reality, and what we perceive as the world is simply its expanded form, appearing like a body. There is no other substance—everything is pure experiencing consciousness. Just as water is inseparable from its liquidity, so consciousness and unconsciousness exist together, without any contradiction.

No Cause, No Effect: The Non-Existence of Creation

Kumbha reiterated that Brahman is not a cause and the world is not its effect. The creation of the world is a matter of delusion or experience, but in reality, nothing is created. The universe does not exist outside of pure consciousness. It is merely a reflection of consciousness in itself, and so there is no world or mind, only the infinite Brahman.

The Illusion of the Mind

Sikhidhvaja asked Kumbha for a final explanation to help him understand that the mind is non-existent. Kumbha explained that what we call the mind is nothing but Brahman—infinite consciousness misunderstood due to ignorance. The mind, ego-sense, and the world are all insubstantial notions. Since these are mere illusions, there is no real distinction between 'I', 'you', or any other concept of separation.

Even at the beginning of the world cycle, there was no real creation. The concept of creation is just a story for easier understanding. Since there are no true causative factors, nothing could have been created. Therefore, everything is Brahman, and nothing else exists. The mind, which gives rise to the idea of creation and division, is also unreal.

The Non-Divisibility of Consciousness

Kumbha further explained that infinite consciousness is indivisible, which means there is no real division into a mind or world. What appears as the mind is simply the perception of Brahman within itself. When ignorance is dispelled, one realizes that there is no world and no mind—there is only Brahman. Creation, as we understand it, is negated, but the reality remains.

Thus, the mind is an illusion, and the world is simply the self-reflection of Brahman. Consciousness remains as consciousness, unaffected by these illusions.

Key Takeaways

1. Sorrow and the World Are Illusions: Sorrow and the world exist only as delusions born of ignorance. When ignorance is dispelled, the truth of unity is revealed.

2. Brahman is Not a Creator: The infinite consciousness, Brahman, is neither the cause nor the creator of the world. It is one without a second, beyond cause and effect.

3. The Mind is Unreal: The mind, ego-sense, and the world are all insubstantial and illusions created by ignorance. True realization comes from understanding that only Brahman exists.

4. Creation is Not Real: What we perceive as the creation of the world is merely a reflection of Brahman within itself. There is no real division, only the experience of division due to delusion.

By realizing that the mind and world are illusions, Sikhidhvaja could finally attain the understanding that everything is Brahman—indivisible, eternal, and beyond all concepts of creation or destruction.