Existence

Definition: The undeniable “is-ness” of reality. Existence is that things appear at all — whether physical, mental, or spiritual.

Nature:

• Existence is self-confirming: to even question it proves it.

• Existence is not limited to physical objects; dreams, thoughts, and illusions also exist as appearances.

• What differs is not existence itself but the form of appearance.

Mechanics:

• Relative view: Existence feels tied to solid objects and identities. “I exist as this person in this world.”

• Metaphysical view: Existence is the shared field of consciousness where both “inner” and “outer” arise.

• Nondual view: Existence and consciousness are not two. The “is-ness” of all things is Brahman.

Insight:

Existence does not depend on independence. Something can exist as an appearance without being a self-sustaining, separate entity. A rainbow, for example, exists as an appearance of light and water — real as experience, but without its own independent substance.

Analogy:

Existence is like the theater screen. The movies projected (world, thoughts, identities) come and go, but the screen — the fact of being — remains constant.