A. The Universal Principle
The Universal Principle is what in various religions is referred to as God, Brahma, Allah, Tao, etc. However, expressions like Universal Principle, or Supreme Principle are more accurate because the Principle cannot be defined. It is a force who is at the origin of the Manifestation. Manifestation is what is in existence, i.e., our Universe which contains our world as well as other worlds which exist, but to which humans have no access as individuals.
There are two basic aspects to the Universal Principle: manifest and non-manifest. The manifested aspect is the creative one, expressed in the making of the Universe. The non-manifested aspect of the Principle is far greater because it contains in itself the Universal Possibility, i.e., all that can be manifested and all that cannot be manifested. The following quote from the Tao Te King describes this very abstract concept of non-manifestation:
Vases are made of clay, but it is their void that makes them usable. A house has doors and windows, but it is their void that makes them livable. Therefore, the Being produces the useful, but it is the Non-Being that makes it efficient.
The Principle is everywhere, has no beginning and no end, has no shape or limitation whatsoever.
Another quote from the Tao Te King expresses this in these words:
A Path that can be traced is not the Eternal Path: the Tao (Tao means Path).
A name that can be pronounced is not the Eternal Name.
Nameless, He is at the origin of the sky and the earth.
With a name, He is the mother of the ten thousand beings.
An eternal Non-Desire represents His essence, whether by an Eternal Desire He manifests a limitation.
These two states coexist inseparately and only their names are different.
No human words can explain or describe the Principle. Since time immemorial, humans have used the language of myths and symbols to express abstract metaphysical concepts, because it is timeless and universal.
B. Cosmic cycles of Manifestation
The Manifestation consists of an indefinite number of worlds, among which our world, and each one of them operates according to the same pattern, pattern which is also extended to all living beings in the entire universe. It is like a chain going from the largest link to the smallest link, the largest being the Macrocosm and the smallest being the Microcosm. Therefore, everything manifested falls under these cosmic laws. Among these laws, the cycles of manifestation apply to all manifested worlds. To develop this topic, we are going to use the Hindu doctrine of cycles.
According to Hindu tradition, a complete cycle of manifestation is called a Kalpa, or one entire day of Brahma. There are 14 Manvantaras in a Kalpa, and 4 Yugas in each Manvantara. The 4 yugas represent the cycle of existence of one humanity, or the 4 ages of a humanity, and they are named as follows:
- . Krita Yuga (or Golden Age in the Roman tradition) – 1,728,000 years
- . Treta Yuga (or Silver Age in the Roman tradition) – 1,296,000 years
- . Dwapara Yuga (or Bronze Age in the Roman tradition – 864,000 years
- . Kali Yuga (or Iron Age in the Roman tradition) – 432,000 years
To describe the 4 yugas, we will quote Heinrick Zimmer’s Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization:
One day of Brahma begins with creation or evolution, the Emanation of a Universe out of Divine, transcendant, unmanifested Substance, and terminates with dissolution and re-absorbtion, mergence into the Absolute. The world spheres together with all the beings contained in them disappear at the end of the day of Brahma, and during the ensuing night persist only as the latent germ of a necessity for re-manifestation. The night of Brahma is as long as the day…….
And to describe the 4 yugas:
“Krita” means done, made, accomplished, perfect. Thus Krita Yuga, the first of the ages, is the perfect of “four-quartered” yugas. “Dharma”, the Divine Order of the world is, during this period, firm on its four legs, like a sacred cow. During this yuga, human beings are born virtuous.
“Treta” yuga is the triad or triplet, three of the quarter. During Treta Yuga, the universal body, as well as the body of human society, is sustaind by only 3/4 of its total virtue. Duties are no longer the spontaneous laws of human action, but have to be learned.
The “Dwapara” yuga is the age of the dangerous balance between imperfection and perfection, darkness and light. Only two of the four quarters of Dharma are still effective in the manifest world; the others have been irrevocably lost. Destroyed is the ideal, semi-divine status of society.
The “Kali” yuga, the dark age, miserably subsists on 25% of the full strength of Dharma.
Egoistic, devouring, blind and reckless elements are now triomphant and rule the day.
Kali means the worst of everything; also strife, quarrel, dissension, war, battle. During the Kali yuga, man and his world are at their worst. This age, in the present cycle, is computed as having begun Friday, February 18, 3102 BC.
The figures given above are to be taken symbolically and not litteraly. Rene Guenon says that “…..what is to be considered in these figures is the number 4,320. It is easy to see that all cyclic numbers have a direct relationship with the geometric division of the circle:
4,320 = 360 X 12…. The amounts of zeros following this figure are meant to confuse those who would want to make predictions. This precaution can easily be explained: if the real duration of a manvantara was to be known, and its beginning determined exactly, one could, with no difficulty, make deductions allowing to predict future events, which would present more inconveniences than advantages……”
At the end of the Kali Yuga our humanity will disappear, and a new humanity will be borne and a new Golden Age will begin. What we know now will no longer be.