Ramana Maharshi : What is the purpose of creation?

January 5, 2010

Question: What is the purpose of creation?Â Ramana Maharshi: It is to give rise to this question.Â Investigate the answer to this question, and finally abide in the supreme or rather the primal source of all, the Self.Â The investigation will resolve itself into a quest for the Self and it will cease only after the non-Self is sifted away and the Self realized in its purity and glory.

There may be any number of theories of creation. All of them extend outwardly. There will be no limit to them because time and space are unlimited. They are however only in the mind. If you see the mind,time and space are transcended and the Self is realized.

Creation is explained scientifically or logically to one's own satisfaction. But is there any finality about it? Such explanations are called krama-srishti [gradual creation]. On the other hand, drishti-srishti [simultaneous creation] is yugapat-srishti. Without the seer there are no objects seen. Find the seer and the creation is comprised in him.Â Why look outward and go on explaining the phenomena which are endless?Â

Source: (Excerted from Be As You Are - The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, p264)