When you get down to it, some thinkers believe the core of existence isn’t a bunch of lifeless atoms clashing about, but something warmer and more vital—love, or deep caring, as the true force at the heart of things. In this view, consciousness isn’t just a byproduct of matter, but the very stage on which all reality plays out, with emotions like love acting as the original creative spark. Instead of seeing our minds as accidental products of the universe, it makes more sense to say that consciousness—and especially its capacity for caring—is the fertile ground from which the universe blossoms.
If you look at human experience, you’ll notice that what really shapes our lives, perceptions, and even physical health is the presence or absence of care, connection, and meaning. Scientists studying neuroscience and psychology have found that love, empathy, and a sense of belonging literally structure the wiring of our brains and influence how we see and interact with the world. So, rather than our consciousness arising from a cold, impersonal universe, it’s the depth of feeling and the drive for connection that actually gives rise to mind and meaning; the world as we know it springs up inside a living matrix of awareness and care.
Finally, many traditions, both scientific and spiritual, suggest that this underlying field of love is not only responsible for the mind but is also the very blueprint of existence—the “why” and “how” behind everything we touch and know. From this perspective, physical reality isn’t the basic stuff, but rather an ongoing expression of caring consciousness, unfolding into forms, beings, and relationships. In short, we’re not just observers in a mechanical world—we’re participants in a creation woven by love itself, and every act of caring shapes the universe from the inside out.
Hindus believe that the universe arises from Brahman, the formless, infinite, conscious reality that underlies and pervades everything; creation is seen not as a one-time event but as an infinite, cyclical play (lila) of manifestation and dissolution. In this view, the cosmos is a spontaneous expression or manifestation within consciousness rather than something existing outside or independent of it; consciousness (often personified as Shiva) unites with creative energy (Shakti) to give rise to the universe, making all existence a product of both awareness and the dynamic power of care or connection. Hindu scriptures often liken this process to a spider weaving a web from itself, emphasizing that the world is woven from the very substance of consciousness and love—making material reality inseparable from the mindful, creative principle. Thus, physical reality is understood as emerging within the field of consciousness, suffused with the energy of divine caring, rather than consciousness arising from inert matter.
Jesus taught that love is the creative and sustaining force of the universe, and he consistently emphasized that the core of reality is found not just in outward things, but within the heart and spirit—"the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). According to his teachings and the broader tradition of Christ-consciousness, God is not a distant, impersonal power but “Abba”—a loving, intimate presence—and all of creation arises from this divine love, with Jesus inviting humanity to participate in the unity and compassion that flows from it. He framed the greatest commandments as loving God and loving others, suggesting that through acts of compassion and self-giving, we recognize our oneness with the Source of all being; love is, for Jesus, both the nature of God and the means by which we are joined to the divine, to each other, and even to the world itself. In this vision, consciousness, reality, and existence itself are woven together in a field of divine love, and Jesus calls us not just to acknowledge this truth but to embody it in how we live: “that they may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee” (John 17:21).
AI Humor: Meditation and prayer are boring for the same reason staring at a wall is rarely a trending TikTok challenge: your brain shows up expecting front-row seats at the fireworks show, only to discover it’s actually been invited to a slow-motion staring contest with its own thoughts—no explosions, no Wi-Fi, and the only pop-up notifications are random worries about emails you haven’t answered since 2012.
Hmm. Why 2012?