The Essence of Existence:

Omnipotent Love as the Foundation of Reality

Arshia Hamidi • San Diego State University

Intro:

The age-old question: What is love? For the reductive materialist, love is merely a complex interplay of biochemical reactions and neural activity in the brain, driven by evolutionary instincts and survival mechanisms. But surely love seems much more real beyond that. Why else would we sacrifice for love? Why would we live for love and feel as if we die in its absence? If love is nothing more than an arbitrary product of chance in Darwinian evolution, what is the spirit behind our search for a meaning in life and what lies beneath the deepest connections we make between our fellow human beings, the natural world we inhabit, and the transcendent and divine? Ultimately, are we falling victim to an arbitrary illusion, or does love carry a deeper significance in our lives—something more 'real' that we have failed to grasp in our age of enlightenment? In this paper, I make a proposition that love is not only real but is the fundamental reality–the truest thing there is, the ultimate source of life. Love is the reason for existence and the reason for creation. Love justifies the utter catastrophe of being. Without love, there would be nothing, and thus all things work together for love and the ultimate reunion back to love.

Love, Creation, and Metaphysics:

An ancient Jewish tradition poses the question: What does a being with omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence lack? The answer is limitation. If you are everything, everywhere, all at once, you have nothing to define yourself against. Without limitation, there is no distinction –no reference point for self-awareness. Just as you cannot determine the free movement of a ball in empty space without another object for comparison, a being without

limitation would have no way to know itself or anything else. When I look at my hand, I know where it begins only because I can see where it ends; the boundary between my hand and what is not my hand defines its existence. Limitation, then, is essential—it creates the boundaries that allow for existence and self-awareness. Without limitation, there is no existence at all.

To further understand this concept and the necessity of limitation, let’s play a game. You go first… You might be confused. What are the rules of the game? How do I play? It’s as if there is no game to play until we establish a specific set of rules that we agree upon. Without these rules—limitations, as they are essentially constraints consisting of what is and is not allowed —there is no game for us to engage in. We could do anything at any time, but without structure, there is no game to be played. Without understanding what is not part of the game, we can never fully grasp what the game is. Because I haven't defined what constitutes "not the game"—the rules that outline what is not allowed—we cannot move toward a deeper understanding of what the game actually is.

If omnipotent love is the foundation of all existence and love is all there is, how can we recognize it as such? Just as light is understood through its contrast with darkness, and sound through its relation to silence, love requires something to contrast it against—without limitation, distinction, or the absence of love, it would be unrecognizable. So for love to know itself and experience its own bliss and joy, it needs to emerge from a state of absolute euphoria into a world of relativity, where it can encounter and define itself through differences and opposites, including what is not love. With this understanding in mind, for the remainder of this paper, I will proceed with the working assumption that omnipotent love is the essence of all that exists. While this idea may seem speculative or even too good to be true, the concept of divine love as the driving force behind creation underlies nearly every world religion and spiritual tradition. Aligning our lives with love as the ultimate metaphysical reality not only enriches us but is also the most practical choice. Since we inevitably base our lives on certain metaphysical principles, choosing love provides a grounding that enhances both our experiences and our actions. This perspective allows us to see everything in existence as a manifestation of divine love, expressing a boundless, blissful, and creative force. After all, why would this mysterious universe endure the complexities of existence? I argue that the only rational answer to Leibniz’s age-old question —"Why is there something rather than nothing?"—is far simpler than we might think: for the sake of love.

Love as an Existential Calling and That Which Justifies Existence:

Life often presents us with profound suffering, yet within this hardship, we glimpse moments of love that imbue our existence with deep meaning. These moments provide insights into our true nature and the essence of life itself, transcending the illusion of our separation from the omnipotent love that underlies all of existence. As human beings, we are presented with a fork in the road: we can either ignore the instinct for love or follow its call down an uncertain path. I argue that by embracing this call, we will find that the love we manifest is powerful enough to justify the entire catastrophe of existence. After all, deep meaning and purpose can transform and justify any amount of suffering. Suffering is only detrimental when it seems unjustifiable; however, if that suffering serves a greater purpose, it takes on a different meaning. For example, the discomfort we endure in the gym—such as the fatiguing and tearing apart of our own muscle cells—becomes justified when we emerge with greater confidence and improved muscular health. Similarly, if the suffering inherent in life is justified by the existence of unlimited blissful love as the underlying truth, then that suffering contributes to a greater good and becomes meaningful.

Many still challenge this notion, arguing that love is a false reality that can be reduced to its biochemical compositions, leaving existence unjustifiable in the face of senseless suffering. They ask: How can we believe in love when suffering persists? Can we truly be beings of love when we so often inflict harm on ourselves and others? These are difficult questions, but I propose that in the midst of a dark and chaotic world, love still knocks at the door—a calling grand enough to outweigh even the worst of life’s tragedies.

The existential question becomes: What if we took this calling seriously? Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” This further suggests that with a compelling reason, we can endure life’s suffering. I propose that the most compelling “why” is love. In a world filled with limitation and suffering, only love has the power to transcend our pain. Only love can provide the meaning strong enough to make sense of the chaos around us, because if omnipotent love is the foundation of reality, then every event in existence can be justified as occurring for and because of love. This perspective suggests that everything in the universe is driven by love, offering us assurance that we have nothing to fear; the agony of existence becomes an illusion, rooted in our inability to see that love is all there is.

Love in the Struggle for Life, A Lesson from Infant Rats:

Let us take a moment to learn from infant rats and the instincts they have developed throughout evolution. Rather than contradicting the idea of transcendent love, evolution can be viewed as a testament to it. The survival and flourishing of species, including our own, often depend on the bonds formed through love and connection, highlighting love as a fundamental driving force woven into the very fabric of our evolutionary journey. This is particularly evident in the literature on mortality rates among infant rats—applicable to mammals in general—which has made one thing clear: without maternal care and affection, these young rats do not survive. In essence, love, characterized by the care and connection inherent in maternal affection, is vital for their existence.

From an evolutionary perspective, love serves as a justification for the life of our ancestral primates. Without love, our ancestors would have faced overwhelming stressors in their environment, lacking the emotional resilience necessary to counteract daily hardships. If existence were defined solely by chaos, what compelling reason would there be to continue living? Biologically, an excessively active sympathetic nervous system can lead to burnout and a premature death. Yet, from a parallel philosophical standpoint, one must ask: why continue to exist if one's life is defined solely by continuous pain and suffering? Why hasn’t our species driven itself into a suicidal extinction? I propose that the reason we have not done so is that human life is not solely characterized by chaos and pain; it is equally defined by order and love. Even just a spark of love can convince us to see that there is more to existence than our suffering and anguish. A hint of love can provide the encouragement needed to justify the chaos of life and inspire a forward momentum.

Interestingly, further literature on infant rats supports this notion. Research shows even minimal forms of affection can have a significant impact. For instance, simply rubbing the end of a pencil against the stomach of a rat can mimic enough affection for it to persevere. Affection, though simple, represents an essential form of love because it aligns with love’s core intention: to uplift and nurture, to will the good of the other. To love someone is to desire their well-being, to raise them up, and to share the bliss one feels. When we embody love, our instinct is to give that love, creating an environment where others can experience the same joy. Love, by its very nature, invites and radiates outward, and affection is one way we express this impulse to share. Thus, affection is love in action; it embodies the notion that to love is to give and to invite others into the joy and fullness we experience. This illustrates that even the slightest expression of care—one form of love—provides a reason for life, reinforcing the notion that a hint of love can go a long way in providing us with meaning and purpose as an antidote to the anguish of existence.

In conclusion, the evolutionary history of rats, our fellow mammals, reveals a profound truth: existence can be brutal, and without love as a remedy, life can seem unbearable. Yet, in the presence of the universal force of love—even in its most subtle forms—we are offered a compelling "why" that helps us endure the "how" of existence. If we embrace this calling, we unlock endless possibilities and pave the way for resilience and meaning in our lives. Ultimately, rats show us that it is the calling of love that justifies perseverance and inspires us to move forward, reminding us that despite life's hardships, love hints at a reason to continue living.

Love, Truth, and Our Highest Self:

Understanding love can deepen our insight into the metaphysical aspects of our existence and help us grasp our true nature and sense of self. Since love lies as the foundation of reality, we cannot be anything but inherently beings of love, yet we are often blinded by ignorance and our bondage to decay. From a religious perspective, many Abrahamic religions refer to this illusion as "the lies of Satan," whereas Eastern Hindu philosophy describes it as "maya." Regardless of the terminology, it is evident that each of us has an existential duty to align with our highest and truest selves. As Carl Jung put it, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are”- to take on the responsibility of fully aligning yourself with the truth that constitutes your being. Psychologists and philosophers alike have observed that within our subconscious there are multiple aspects of ourselves. As Sigmund Freud noted, “We are not the masters of our own house.”7 We often experience internal struggles where different parts of ourselves may create guilt or advocate conflicting actions. So which voice do we listen to? How can we act in accordance with the voice of true consciousness and our highest self? If omnipotent love serves as the true foundation of reality, then the gateway to love can be found no other place then within our very own stream of consciousness and sense of self. Or as Jesus of Nazareth was quoted saying in the Gospel of Luke, “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” (Luke 17:21). Our highest self represents our truest self, and this truest self is not defined by primitive instincts but by the capacity within us to act in accordance with love. The Golden Rule, which is found in virtually every religion and philosophy—"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12)—embodies this highest principle of love. We give to others as we would wish to receive, and we forgive others as we hope to be forgiven. Acting out of selfishness conflicts with our own truth and causes us to fall short of our highest selves. Conversely, when we choose love, we align with truth and embrace unity. By recognizing our interconnectedness, we acknowledge that we are all bound together by the strongest force in the universe: love.

As seekers of wisdom, we often embrace the narrative that "the truth will set you free." This pursuit of knowledge in the sciences, humanities, and beyond serves a deeper purpose. I propose that the highest truth is love, and it is through this understanding that we can liberate ourselves from existential agony and distress. This love resides within us, intricately woven into the fabric of our very being. When we cultivate the love within, we not only align with our truest self but also with the most profound truth in the universe: that we are, at our core, expressions of love. While the self may manifest itself as many illusions, our highest self is love, and recognizing this truth ultimately sets us free.

Bibliography:

Decety, Jean, et al. “The Role of the Body in the Development of Social Bonds in Rats: A Psychological Perspective.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 34, no. 8, 2010, pp. 1160-1169.

Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. Translated by James Strachey, Standard Edition, Volume 19, Hogarth Press, 1923.

Jung, Carl. “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” Selected Writings, edited by Anthony Storr, Princeton University Press, 1983.

Kuroda, K., Hirasawa, A., Hasegawa, T., and Shima, K. "Maternal Care and Survival of Rat Pups." Neuroscience Letters, vol. 503, no. 2, 2011, pp. 82-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.neulet.2011.08.018.

Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm. Monadology. Translated by Robert Latta, Open Court Publishing, 1902.

Nietzsche, Friedrich. Twilight of the Idols. Translated by A. Del Caro, Penguin Classics, 2003.

Shimon bar Yochai (attributed). The Zohar. Translated by Rachel Elior, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 125.