Do We Have to Take the Universe Seriously?
In my last article, “Is the Universe Real?” https://medium.com/p/b04a660f52e9 I argued that the universe is not a real object, but rather an experience. So, what does that mean? If the universe isn’t real, should we still take it seriously?
We must, at least on a relative level—which is the world we live in—but not on an absolute level. Let me explain.
At its most basic level, the world we see is like a ghost or a mirage. It has no real substance. You could easily walk right through it. Trying to hold onto it would be like trying to bite your own teeth or look into your own eyes without a mirror. It simply can’t be done.
The World as “No-Thing”
Quantum physics shows that when we analyze the fundamental components of the material universe, we ultimately find nothing. Matter is made up of atoms, which consist of neutrons, protons, and electrons. The neutrons and protons further break down into quarks, which then break down into energy waves.
So, when we split the atom, we found that what seems like a solid object is actually just empty space or “no-thing.” There is no ‘there’ there. What looks solid is an illusion. It’s not real; instead, it results from how our sensory systems process the light waves entering our eyes and traveling to our brains, which then create a picture of the outside world. The question becomes, does the picture our brain creates match what is really out there?
How We See the World
For some perspective, let’s compare how a human sees a lake with how a dragonfly perceives it, given that a dragonfly has 11-30 photoreceptors versus our three. This allows them to see a wider range of colors, including ultraviolet and polarized light, which our eyes cannot detect.
In our human-centered view of the world, we assume our perspective reflects reality. However, if we had the 11-30 photoreceptors that a dragonfly possesses, we would see a very different lake than we do now. We don’t know exactly how a dragonfly perceives the lake, but it must be much more spectacular than our view. Even with its additional photoreceptors, the dragonfly doesn’t see the lake as it truly is because its visual system shapes the image to fit its needs. In short, no species perceives the lake or the world as it actually is.
Does this mean we don’t have to take this ghostly phantasm called the world seriously? No, it doesn’t. We must take it seriously because we live in it. We were born into this world for a reason, so we must take it seriously.
The Hindu View: Lila-God’s Play
Hindus refer to this illusory view of the world as Maya. Maya means illusion, but that doesn’t mean the world doesn’t exist; it simply means we don’t see its true nature.
To address this, Hindus introduce the concept of Lila, which means “God’s play.” We can interpret it as this: Imagine you’re an actor in a stage play and have been assigned a crucial role. You rehearse your lines because you want to deliver the best performance possible.
But why do you want to do that? After all, the play isn’t real. If you die at the end of the play, you know it’s not real because afterwards you get up, wash off the fake blood, and go home. None of it really matters because it wasn’t real, yet you still want to give it your best.
For Hindus, Lila symbolizes life as a metaphor. Even if our existence on this planet is an illusion, we must still give our best effort. We do this for ourselves, to realize our potential by following our destiny. We continue this effort regardless of whether we succeed in the outer world or not.
We can’t focus solely on the outcome of our actions but instead on following our destiny, or as the Hindus call it, our Dharma. We must focus inward rather than outward. If we believe that trying to improve the world is pointless, we will stop doing our part; therefore, inwardly, we will be sinning against ourselves.
The core meaning of the word sin is to “miss the mark.” In this context, it refers to missing the target in our lives. Our purpose is to stay connected to our soul’s calling. The reward, even if circumstances seem harsh, is that the energy and positivity gained from fulfilling our purpose are uplifting, self-validating, and, as some might argue, lead to a better experience in the Bardos of the afterlife.
Gandhi: Be Flexible in the Moment
If someone is burning out and losing their drive, they need to slow down and reconnect with their deeper selves to discover the next steps forward. Our purpose is not a fixed thing; it is constantly evolving. We must adapt by being flexible in the moment.
During his efforts to free India from British rule, Gandhi is reported to have said,
“My aim is not to be consistent with my previous statements on a given question, but to be consistent with truth as it may present itself to me at a given moment. The result has been that I have grown from truth to truth.”
This highlights life’s unpredictability and the complexities of truth. It’s like surfing a wave: you need to stay focused on the present to make necessary adjustments as you ride. Sticking rigidly to a plan made before surfing limits the surfer’s ability to adapt to the wave’s changing conditions.
The conclusion is that, although this physical world is an illusion, we still need to take it seriously for the growth of our souls, our purpose, and living a good life. And imagine if everyone adopts this viewpoint, we might just be able to save civilization in the process.
In my next article, I plan to discuss how to take this world seriously. Many people either take it too seriously or not seriously enough, and I aim to find a balance between these two extremes.
