The Universe is evident to us. Do we doubt its existence? No. I am seeing this universe. Is there a doubt about my existence? No. The doubt is only about God. My God!

The Universe exists, I exist, poor God alone doesn’t exist and has several diverse philosophies moving around him. Is it not strange, that this is how we think? I don’t know how the scientists think. However, Bhagavan being wonderful has given everybody the freedom to think their own thoughts. Rabindranath Tagore said, “I love God, because he gives me the freedom to deny His existence.”

So, we agree that the world is there. Whenever there is any kind of creation –mechanical, painting, singing, drawing – it reveals the presence of a creative power. With reference to that creative power there is creativity, without which nothing happens. Creation, Creative power and Creativity. What is the locus of all this? For example, when you see a painting, we know there must be a painter, who has the creativity and also the power to paint. This is simple. The very creation proves the existence of a creative power and its locus. The locus refers to that entity, where all this is existing. This in turn indicates that it also must be of the nature of existence; not non-existence.

The Vedas declare, sadeva somya idam agramaaseet. This means – whatever is seen here, is nothing but the One pure existence alone. That Sat is nirvishesh, without any qualifications, totally unqualified. Any power that exists has to exist in it. That Sat vastu is Pure Existence; not existence of this or that. Because ‘this’ and ‘that’ is only creation. Before creation it is Pure Existence alone, Infinite power in its unmanifest form.

Bhagavan has actually placed the secret and mystery of creation in the heart of all beings. Think for a while – how do we create anything? When we mull over this and pay attention to it, we will understand creation as a whole.

For the moment let us think of only an individual. You the individual are there. You are the repository of many potential powers.  When you become conscious of that power, you cannot remain without expressing it. Then a thought or wish arises that ‘I should do something.’ So, from the unmanifest state it takes a subtle form, in your heart. So far it is only in your mind. You are with that thought. The grosser manifestation has yet to come. You as a person identified with a physical body have a name and form. The other is only at the mind level. When there are no thoughts there is just Pure Existence.

One aspect of God is just Pure Existence, Consciousness. They are all one aspect of that Purusha – Existence, Consciousness, Infinity. That Poorna Paramatma has an immeasurable unseen power, which can be seen and experienced only through its products and functions.

You have the power of hearing and speaking, but I cannot see it. However, if I see your eyes or your smile, then I know, you are using those as well. Similarly, the power of the Paramatma Vastu in its unmanifest form has the infinite capability of producing everything with it. When associated with immeasurable power He is called, Ishwara. Then as though, Paramatma becomes conscious. I have so much power? Do something. So akamayata bahusyam prajayeyeti – He desired, let me become many. That means let the power express itself.

Take the example of a little baby. He has all the powers of speaking, talking, walking but its body is not yet ready to manifest them. Once he becomes aware of them, then there is no stopping him! Similarly, when we have wealth, we think of investing it.

Ishwara has infinite power. Isha means to rule. He has the power to rule. The whole creation resides in His womb as it were. In this state, the Vedas give the Brahman or Paramatma, whom we call Ishwara, a new name – Hiranyagarbha (Gold Womb). The whole world, the total mind and intellect resides in His womb. Aware of his infinite power, He thought of creation. Potential power cannot remain at the subtle level alone. It then manifests in form as the total gross, tangible, and incomprehensible material physical world.

That same Paramatma with reference to this whole physical universe, with form is called Virat Purusha (Universal Person). What are His features?

At the physical level, He manifests in his eightfold form as space, air, fire, water, earth, Sun and Moon (the two illuminators of the world) and jivas (sentient beings). Every jiva is a limb of that Bhagavan.

Remember that though a tiny particle, each jiva is also a part or a limb of that Virat Purusha. What we are looking at is also the Virat Purusha, the form of God. One aspect is His infinite power that is unqualified and the other his manifestation in a variety of forms. All around us, we are seeing Him alone in His countless forms…!

This understanding of its depth and vastness expands our vision and mind. It reconciles all the contradictions we see in this world and shows how the variety we see around us can be used for realising the Divinity within.