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CHAPTER V
THE UNIVERSE
There have been numerous speculations about the birth or creation of the universe. How did the universe originate? What is the foundation on which it stands? Some sage said that it was standing on the hood of Nāgaśeşa. Hinduism seems to propound more than one theory about the act of creation. The Sānkhya school of thought postulates that the universe is evolved through the interaction of Praksti (primeval matter) and Puruşa (individual conscionsness or intelligence). The Vadānta school maintains that every thing in the universe, souls and matter alike, was produced from God's own essence. The motive for creation is explained by the Vedānta school as the līlā or sport of the Brahman. In fact, Hinduism evolved a holy trinity in regard to the creation, viz., Brahmā the creator, Vişņu the preserver and Śiva the destroyer. "The aim of the universe for the Upanisad" says Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, “is to produce beings in whom mind (manas) and intellect (vijñāna) shall lead to spiritual excellence (ananda)."]
The Buddha discouraged all speculation on the origin and the end of the universe. He regarded the universe as transient and in continuous flux. There is nothing that is permanent and all idea of permanence is part of basic ignorance.2 He discouraged metaphysical speculations as futile exercises. He used to tell his disciples to rely upon reason to find out the truth and not on the word of any elder.
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