MIND MYSTERIES & CONTROL - 16. THOUGHT CREATES THE WORLD - Sri Swami Sivananda - The Mind: Its Mysteries & Control

THE MIND: ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL - 16. THOUGHT CREATES THE WORLD - Sri Swami Sivananda - The Mind: Its Mysteries & Control - HQ Full Book.

In Chapter 16 of *The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control*, titled **Thought Creates the World**, Sri Swami Sivananda delves deeply into the profound nature of thought and its role in shaping reality. This chapter serves as a cornerstone in understanding how the universe, as we perceive it, is intrinsically linked to the mind and its activity. Sivananda's exposition provides not only philosophical insights but also practical guidance for mastering the mind and transcending its illusions.     

Thought: The Origin of Everything  
Swami Sivananda begins by asserting that everything in the material universe originates from thought. Every invention, artwork, or creation first exists as an idea within the mind before manifesting in physical form. Just as an artist visualizes a painting before applying the brush to the canvas, so too does the mind conceive the world we experience.   The mind, with its vast and varied preoccupations, is the ultimate creator. The universe itself, he argues, is merely an idea or a thought. When the mind ceases to think, the world vanishes, revealing an indescribable bliss. Conversely, when the mind resumes its activity, the world reappears, bringing with it the dualities of pleasure and pain. This cyclical process underscores the mind's pivotal role in sustaining the illusion of the material world.     

The Illusory Nature of the Mind  
Drawing from both Indian philosophy and Western thought, Sivananda highlights the enigmatic nature of the mind. Descartes' famous assertion, "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), aligns with the Advaitic view that the self's reality is undeniable, even in the act of denying it. However, Sivananda goes further, analyzing the mind as a bundle of thoughts, with the thought of "I" being its root.   This "I" thought, he explains, is a false construct. When the root thought of "I" is dissolved, the mind itself disappears. What remains is the ultimate reality, Brahman, the Supreme Cosmic Spirit. The mind, therefore, is both the origin of the illusory world and the barrier to realizing the true nature of existence.     

Universe: A Creation of the Cosmic Mind  
The universe, according to Sivananda, is not merely the creation of individual minds but a manifestation of the Cosmic Mind or Universal Mind. This Divine Will materializes as the phenomenal universe, appearing real through the workings of individual minds.   To illustrate this, Sivananda compares the universe to a drama staged by the Cosmic Mind. Just as a playwright envisions an entire play before writing and staging it, the Cosmic Mind holds a complete, timeless vision of creation. For the Cosmic Mind, there is no past or future; all is present. Similarly, there is no "near" or "far"; all places are "here." Individual beings perceive events sequentially due to the limitations of their minds, while the Cosmic Mind perceives all events simultaneously.   This analogy emphasizes the illusory nature of time and space, which are constructs of the mind. The universe is ultimately a projection of the Cosmic Mind, sustained by its thought and intention.     

The Role of Maya (Illusion)  
Sivananda introduces the concept of Maya, the cosmic illusion that veils the true nature of reality. Just as a mirror reflects the objects before it without being affected by them, God or the Cosmic Witness observes the movements of the universe without being influenced. The entire universe, with its endless activities, is a projection within this great mirror of Maya.   The mind’s intentions, desires, and impressions float within this illusion, creating a web of false identification. Liberation, therefore, requires transcending these...