AT its core, existence refers to the state of being real or having presence in reality. But that definition quickly leads to further questions: What is reality? Is it the world we perceive through the senses, or is it something beyond appearances? From a philosophical standpoint, existence is the condition that allows something to be experienced physically, mentally, or spiritually.
The ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides declared that “being is, and non-being is not,” suggesting that existence itself is eternal and unchanging.
Science
Science approaches existence from a material and empirical standpoint. According to modern physics, everything that exists is a configuration of energy and matter governed by natural laws. Yet science, for all its precision, still encounters mysteries. Physicists admit that most of the universe is composed of dark matter, forms of existence that cannot be seen or fully explained. Quantum theory further unsettles our sense of what is real, suggesting that particles can exist in multiple states until observed. Thus, existence is interrelated, fluid, and deeply mysterious.
Consciousness
Modern existential philosophy focuses on the individual’s confrontation with existence.
Jean-Paul Sartre, wrote that “existence precedes essence.” To exist authentically is to live consciously.
The French philosopher René Descartes wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” Thinking confirms one’s own existence. Self-awareness transforms being into conscious being.
But thinking also reveals a deeper layer of existence, consciousness, which itself cannot be weighed or measured. It is the silent witness behind every thought, emotion, and perception. This inner awareness suggests that existence is not merely external, but internal and spiritual. Without consciousness, even the most vibrant world would remain an unperceived void.
A Spiritual View
In the Upanishads of India, reality is described as Sat-Chit-Ananda — eternal, conscious, and blissful. Existence is often seen as a manifestation of an ultimate, eternal Divine Being.
The Chinese Dao De Jing teaches that the “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao,” suggesting that ultimate reality transcends description.
In Abrahamic traditions, God is the source and sustainer of all existence. When Moses asked God His name, the reply was, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Existence is not separate from God; it is the very expression of God’s presence.
The Brahma Kumaris point of view is that both soul and matter always existed, they were neither created nor will they cease to continue. They are eternal but not constant. Non-living energy continues to flow and interact, changing form and function, becoming matter and vice versa.
Living energy, the soul, also has relational interactions. It takes birth into a physical body. When in their original state, souls interact through their bodies with such perfection and happiness that it’s called heaven on earth. But after multiple births it loses power. Eventually, the soul takes support from matter and other souls becoming dependent and addicted, hell on earth. From this cycle of sorrow, frustration and other vices the soul must reconnect with the Supreme Soul for salvation and rest until once again, it returns to its original state.
Existence is not Isolation
Across all perspectives, one truth seems constant: existence is relational. Nothing exists in isolation. Every atom interacts with others; every thought arises in response to a cause. Even our sense of self is formed through relationship with others.
Yin and Yang is the dance of harmony through which all forms manifest and dissolve. Rather than ask why the universe exist, the Daoist invites one to align with the ethical flow of life, a ceaseless process of becoming. For the Confucianist, true being is realized through right relationships and virtuous conduct.
In this light, existence is not merely an individual fact but a shared reality. To exist fully is to participate in the web of life, to recognize our connection with all that is. This understanding brings humility and compassion, reminding us that the boundaries between “I” and “other” are less solid than they appear.
The Mystery of Being
Ultimately, to ask “What is existence?” is to encounter the limits of language and thought. No definition can capture the fullness of being, for existence is both the question and the answer, the seeker and the sought. It is the silent background of all experiences, an eternalness that neither begins nor ends.
As the mystics say, in stillness, when the mind ceases to divide and label, existence reveals itself — luminous, vast, and complete. In that realisation, the question dissolves, and only Being remains.
If the world is to thrive, it must remember the wisdom of the past. The welfare of all begins with the goodness of each. Vijai Sadal is a student of the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation Centre. He can be reached at vijai@pepesmkt.com
