World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 951

All things in the universe come from existence and existence from non-existence. (Chapter 40) In the words of Lao Tzu,
"Tao begets one; one begets two; Two begets three; three begets all things". (Chapter 42)
While interpreting this verse, Yen Fu says, 'Tao is the primordial, it is absolute. In its descent it begets one, when one is begotten, Tao becomes relative and two come into existence. When two things are compared, their opposite and three is begotten."
The events of the world arise from the determinate (You),
And the determinate arises from the indeterminate (Wu).
It is regarded as the mother of all things. (chapter 40).
Everything in the universe is manifestation of Tao. Tao is manifested in nature, in those sublime rhythms of the seasons, and in the perennial process of growth, decay, creation and death.
The Brahman is the Source of All Things
The Nasadiya sukta of Rgveda (Hymn of Origination) speaks of "That One' (tad-ekam), the primary cause of all, from which everything originates. It is indescribable. It cannot be described as existence or non-existence. Everything in the universe is spontaneous outcome of this divine, suprasensible, impersonal Absolute - the first cause. (Rgveda, X.129.1,2) another hymn states that everything in the universe is originated from the great cosmic person. (Rgveda, X.90) According to Upanisads the Brahman is the source of all things in the universe. Taittiriya Upanisad states that, "everything in this universe is originated from this one divine consciousness, sustained through It and going to dissolve into it in the end. (yato va imani bhutani jayante, yena jatane jivanti, yat-prayanti-abhisamvishanti. Taittiriya Up. II.16) Again, the same Upanisad traces the origin of everything in the universe from the Brahman or the Atman by stating that, 'from Atman, which is pure consciousness, the ether first originated, from ether air, from air the fire, from the fire the water, from water the earth, from the earth the plants, trees and herbs, from them food is produced and from food all living beings.' (Taittiriya Up.) Aitareya Upanisad says, 'the Brahman or the Atman was alone in the beginning of this universe. He desired to create this world. Then created this world. After creating all this, he entered unto the creation." Mandukya Upanisad says that 'the Brahman is the source of all'. (verse 6) The Mundaka Upanisad says, 'this world emanated from the supreme being, just like sparks emanate from the fire.' (yatha agneh visphulinga vyuccharanti.) Brhada-aranyaka Upanisad also makes similar statement. (II. 1.20)
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