Ancient Wisdom on a Constantly Changing Universe

Some Philosophers say  the world is an illusion. Others claim the world is real but constantly changing. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Different Views on the World

1. World is an Illusion

Some believe everything is an illusion. They compare it to seeing a snake in a rope. At night, a person might mistake a rope for a snake. But, in daylight, they see it’s just a rope. 

Imagine you’re in a desert. You see water far away. You walk towards it, feeling hope. But when you get there, it’s just sand. The water wasn’t real. This is how some see the world: appearing real but actually an illusion.

1. World is Real but Changes

Others say the world is real but constantly changing. This change is subtle and continuous. They argue that everything in the world changes every moment.

A baby grows into an adult. This change happens slowly. Every day, the child changes a little. One day, the baby is a toddler. Then, a teenager. Finally, an adult. The change is constant but not always visible.

1. God Exists

Some believe in the existence of God, the soul, and the world. They see these three as true and interdependent. This view holds that God is the unchanging base for the changing world.

Think of a tree. The tree changes with seasons. Leaves grow, fall, and grow again. But the roots remain the same. God is like the roots, unchanging. The world is like the leaves, always changing.

1. Only God is True

Another belief is that only God (Brahman) is true, and the world is false. They argue that everything else is like a snake in a rope: an illusion.

Consider a dream. While dreaming, it feels real. You experience joy, fear, and sadness. But when you wake up, you realize it was just a dream. This is how some see the world compared to God: the world is the dream, and God is the reality.

Ancient Beliefs

In ancient Vedic times, there were ten main beliefs about the world’s origin:

1. From Existence and Non-existence
2. From Dust
3. From Light
4. From Water
5. From Death and Immortality
6. From Day and Night
7. From Gods

These views reflect various ways of understanding the world’s creation.

Unified Philosophy

Brahma, an ancient sage, unified these beliefs. He said all are true and false. If you believe in Brahman (God), all theories are true. If not, all are false. He said:

‘Before creation, there was no existence or non-existence, no realm of air, and no heaven.’

Perpetual Change

Everything constantly changes. This change is continuous and subtle. 

Imagine a piece of wood. Over years, it rots and turns into soil. The wood is no longer visible, but it has transformed into something new. This change is unending and natural.

This change is continuous and unseen. For example, a child grows into an adult. Water can turn into foam, which then turns into other substances like sugar or iron.

When water boils, it turns into steam. The steam then condenses back into water. This process is continuous and natural. The water changes form but remains water in essence.

Universe’s Unchanging Aspect

Despite constant change, the world itself remains. 

The Ganges River is a symbol of constancy. People have bathed in it for thousands of years. The water changes every moment, but the river remains the same. It’s always the Ganges.

Conclusion

The world and everything in it changes every moment. But, the essence of the universe stays the same. There are two aspects:

1. Ever-changing: Everything constantly changes.
2. Permanent: The essence remains unchanged.

In summary, the world is a blend of constant change and permanence. Both aspects coexist, giving us the world we experience.

• If the world is compared to a mirage in a desert, what does this reveal about the nature of our desires and perceptions?
  The desert mirage illustrates that our senses can project a reality, such as water, based on our needs and hopes. When we approach the truth, the illusion dissolves into sand. This suggests that much of what we pursue in the physical world is a mental projection that lacks permanent substance.
• How does the example of the snake and the rope explain the moment of spiritual awakening?
  The rope is the reality that is misperceived as a snake due to darkness or ignorance. Awakening is the daylight that reveals the rope was always a rope and the snake never existed. This teaches that the world isn't replaced by God, but rather seen correctly as a manifestation of the divine.
• In the context of perpetual change, why is the transformation of water into foam, sugar, or iron considered a mysterious aspect of creation?
  This highlights the concept that matter is not fixed. It suggests a hidden fluidity where one substance can essentially become another through continuous, subtle shifts. It points to a deep, alchemical unity in nature where the boundaries between different elements are thinner than they appear.
• What is the significance of the Ganges River remaining the same while its water is never the same twice?
  This is a powerful symbol of the duality of existence. The flowing water represents the ever-changing material world, while the identity of the river represents the permanent essence. It teaches us that we can find a fixed point of peace even while our lives are in a state of total flux.
• Why did the sage Brahma claim that all theories of creation are both true and false?
  This is a unified philosophy of perspective. If one acknowledges a supreme source or Brahman, every explanation becomes a valid way to describe a part of that infinite truth. Without that spiritual foundation, every theory remains an incomplete and ultimately false attempt to explain the inexplicable.
• How does the relationship between tree roots and seasons explain the concept of God as an unchanging base?
  While the leaves represent the world’s constant cycles of birth, growth, and decay, the roots represent the silent, hidden support system. This principle suggests that change is only possible because there is something permanent beneath it to provide a foundation.
• What is the deeper meaning behind the Vedic belief that the world originated from both death and immortality?
  This suggests that creation is a cycle where life feeds on death and death gives way to life. It hints at a hidden law where the destruction of one form is the necessary birth of another, making mortality and immortality two sides of the same coin.
• If a dream feels real while we are in it, what does this imply about our current waking life?
  It suggests that our "waking" reality is a higher-level dream. Just as we only realize a dream is false after we wake up, these philosophers argue that we only realize the world is an illusion when we achieve a state of higher consciousness or divine realization.
• How does the subtle growth of a child into an adult challenge our daily perception of reality?
  Because we cannot see the cells dividing or the body growing in real-time, we perceive a "static" person. This reveals that our eyes are often blind to the most fundamental truth of the universe: that nothing stays the same for even a fraction of a second.
• What is the "hidden essence" mentioned in the conclusion, and how does it balance the world's constant movement?
  The hidden essence is the thread of continuity that connects the wood to the soil and the baby to the adult. It is the silent observer or the fabric of existence that remains when all temporary forms have vanished, allowing the universe to be both a chaotic dance of change and a stable home.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi