3 Pillars of Existence

We often forget that the forces which govern the universe also govern our lives.  In the universe, things are created and destroyed.  Nothing remains the same, and change is the only constant.  So why do we insist that our lives should be an exception?

Let’s first explore the larger dimensions of existence.  Throughout the ages and traditions, different cultures have described reality in their own colorful ways, using allegories which resonated with their own people’s level of understanding.  In our modern scientific age, it’s too easy to dismiss these ancient parables as just nonsense.  But there is a hidden meaning.  The real truth is in the deeper dimensions of knowledge that fed into these stories.  As Joseph Campbell noted, mythology and archetypes are characteristic representations of deeper forces at play.  Human beings anthropomorphize everything, even our pets, so yes of course universal truths have also seen given characteristic names and then weaved into stories so everyday people can glimpse at the underlying truth.

For example, in the Hindu tradition, the anecdotes for cosmic forces are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.  Brahma represents the creative force, Vishnu represents the sustaining force, and Shiva represents the destructive force.  It’s too easy to dismiss stories about Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as personified deities, but let’s set that aside for a moment and just look at the truth these references point to.  Is there a creative force in the universe?  Is there something that sustains our reality?  And what about a destructive force?  In fact, these are the three pillars of our existence.

If you look at any aspect of life, these three supportive and complimentary forces are always at work.  Balance is when all three operate in concert.  We may judge that destruction is not good, but that is our self-protective ego speaking.  Just look at nature – life and death are like Ying and Yang.  One cannot exist without the other.  At the cosmic level, all three are operating, across galaxies and solar systems.  At the atomic level, again all three are operating, as fundamental particles collide and create.  When all of this is happening within the very fabric of what makes us, then how can we not expect the same forces to play out in our lives?

We have missed this recognition – there is a genesis that creates, an organization that maintains, and a destruction that annihilates.  But beyond this, there are mysteries still.  If you are perceptive enough, you will see that even these three are really one.  Out of that mystical Source, existence sprouts and manifests for a while, and collapses back into infinite stillness.

More at this video: 3 Pillars of Existence – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva | Sadhguru | MahaShivRatri 2022 – YouTube