A concept that never fails to amaze me is this: when I observe tiny creatures like ants, I can’t help but wonder, how does a human toe appear to an ant? How unimaginably massive must it seem? If even a toe is colossal, then how would an entire human being appear in the eyes of an ant?
Now take this further. If humans are giants to ants, then what about a tree, a mountain, or the Earth itself? The thought is deeply provoking. An ant can never visualize the whole structure of a human, a tree, or a mountain. It perceives only a minuscule fraction of an enormous reality. The whole exists, but it is forever beyond the ant’s direct comprehension.
This naturally leads to a humbling question, what if we, humans, are in a similar position? We consider ourselves an evolved species, gifted with intelligence and what we often call a “sixth sense.” Yet, when placed against the vastness of the cosmos, what if humanity itself is no more than a colony of ants?
Many theories suggest that we are not alone in the universe, but this reflection is not about aliens or other life forms. It is about perspective. It is about imagining how the entire human race might appear tiny, insignificant, almost invisible when viewed against the infinite scale of the cosmos.
In that vastness, our ego, pride, and sense of importance quietly dissolve. The universe does not shrink to accommodate our self image; instead, it expands endlessly, reminding us how small we truly are. And perhaps, in that realization, lies wisdom, not insignificance. Complete humility before something unimaginably grand.
The great Indian epic Mahabharata contains within it the profoundly transformative Bhagavad Gita. To truly grasp the essence of the Gita, it is important to understand how and where it originated.
The Bhagavad Gita was not composed in the calm of forests, caves, or hermitages during peaceful penance. Nor was it written after years of structured research and contemplation. Instead, it was revealed on a fierce battlefield, at a moment of extreme moral and emotional crisis. Two vast armies stood face to face, ready to engage in a devastating war between two groups of brothers, the five Pandavas and the hundred Kauravas. After countless failed attempts at diplomacy, war became inevitable.
Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas, initially arrived on the battlefield eager to fight and demonstrate his valor. But as he surveyed the opposing army, his resolve shattered. He saw not enemies, but his own blood relatives, brothers, elders, teachers, uncles, and loved ones. Overwhelmed by grief and confusion, Arjuna dropped his bow and arrows, unable to rise and fight. A deep sense of frustration and despair consumed him.
At this crucial moment, his charioteer, Lord Krishna, revealed the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna spoke of duty (dharma), righteous action (karma), detachment from results, and the true responsibility of a warrior king. Thus, the Bhagavad Gita was born, not out of calm reflection, but out of chaos, conflict, and inner turmoil.
Among its eighteen chapters, one concept stands out with cosmic magnitude, the Vishwaroopa, or the Universal Form. When Lord Krishna reveals this form to Arjuna, he beholds an unimaginable vision. Arjuna sees within Krishna all planets, suns, stars, oceans, living beings, kings, animals, trees, indeed, the entire cosmos itself. He witnesses time in its eternal cyclic flow: beings taking birth, evolving through life, and eventually dissolving back into time.
In that moment, Arjuna realizes a profound truth, he is not the ultimate cause of events. Whether he fights or not, what is destined will unfold. He is merely an instrument, a medium through which cosmic order operates. To refuse his duty would not stop destiny; it would only cause him to fall from his dharma. This realization pierces him deeply, and he rises to perform his duty as a warrior.
Now, let us take this singular concept of Vishwaroopa and apply it to our reflection. What if the cosmos itself is a vast vessel containing everything? What if the sky we see is merely an illusion, a limited perception of an infinite space revealing itself to our senses? What if planets, stars, and galaxies are suspended within an immense void, beyond our comprehension?
If Earth itself is but a tiny speck in this gigantic cosmos, then what are we as human beings? Are we perhaps smaller than ants, perhaps even smaller than bacteria; the creatures whom we consider miniscule compared to us? It is said that within a single human palm, there can exist hundreds of thousands to millions of bacteria. Such is the scale of existence.
When viewed from this cosmic perspective, human pride and ego quietly dissolve. Just as ants cannot comprehend a human, perhaps we, too, cannot comprehend the true magnitude of the universe we inhabit.
If a single universe itself is so unimaginably vast, there are also theories that speak not of one universe, but of multiple parallel universes(the theory of the multiverse). It is further believed that time has neither a true beginning nor an end, and that in certain regions of space, the very concept of time may not exist at all.
This leads us to a profound contemplation: what if that which is ever existent, present in everything, limitless, spaceless, and formless, is the ultimate truth? Across religions and cultures, this reality has been referred to as God, Supreme Power, or the Absolute. It is not confined to form or location. it is the ultimate reality itself.
That same vastness, often described as emptiness, space, or void, is not only outside us, but also within us. It exists silently within the human body and mind. If one can still the endlessly murmuring mind, even for a microsecond, and touch that inner silence, one experiences a profound sense of fulfillment. To recognize and understand this truth is perhaps the highest purpose of human birth.
What does this perspective truly tell us? It invites us to see the bigger picture.
Whatever we face in life, our problems, fears, successes, or failures, are not even minuscule when viewed through the vast lenses of time and space. Things appear overwhelming only because the mind places the self at the center of everything. In one’s own perception, the human being becomes the biggest entity, and the world seems to exist solely for personal happiness, comfort, and use...
When we think of ourselves as large and central, our experiences also grow large. We forget to recognize a deeper truth—that everything we cling to, thinking we need it to survive, is temporary. Happiness and sorrow, anxiety and excitement, pressure and pride, success and failure are all fleeting senses. They arise, transform, and dissolve, just as everything else in the universe does.
But when humans shift their perspective; from seeing themselves as grand and dominant to seeing themselves as tiny ants within an immense cosmos, a quiet understanding dawns. What once felt unbearable begins to feel light. What once seemed permanent reveals itself as passing.
In that expanded awareness, life’s challenges no longer define us. They become small ripples in an infinite ocean of existence.
Happy reflecting. More to follow later
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