Have you ever thought about what it means to exist? According to some philosophers and spiritual traditions, the idea that “we” exist as separate entities from the rest of the world is an illusion. Instead, they propose that we are simply part of existence itself, and that our individual identities are nothing more than temporary constructs of our minds.
This idea can be traced back to the ancient philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, which posits that there is a single, unified consciousness that underlies all of reality. From this perspective, the individual self is just an illusion, a product of the ego’s attempt to separate itself from the rest of existence. In other words, “we” don’t truly exist as separate entities; we are simply expressions of the universal consciousness.
This view is echoed in modern-day spirituality as well. Many spiritual teachers and writers argue that the ego-driven sense of self is the root of much human suffering, and that the key to inner peace is to let go of this sense of separateness and recognize our fundamental interconnectedness with all of existence.
Of course, this perspective is not universally accepted, and there are many who would argue that we do in fact exist as individual beings. But regardless of whether you agree with this idea or not, it’s worth considering what it means to exist, and what implications this has for our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
In pondering, the idea that “we don’t exist, we are existence” challenges our common sense notion of individual identity and suggests a deeper, more interconnected view of reality. While it may be difficult to fully grasp, contemplating this perspective can offer a profound shift in our understanding of ourselves and the nature of existence.
