80. 88 CHAPTER II TO 81260 AVIAS

88 CHAPTER II TO 81260 AVIAS

to, resting on, consciousness. It does not shine indepen- dently

2. The manifested variety is maintained to be within the universal consciousness, because every experience is unity in multiplicity and the unification of multiplicity into unity presupposes a common basis. The Saiva, therefore, holds that just as the objects of dream constitute a unity, only because they are within a single dreaming subject, though manifested externally from him ; so the objective world of multiplicity is a unity, because it is within one consciousness, though it is manifested externally from it. The universal consciousness is the permanent substratum of all that is objective. The objective world can have no more existence apart from it and independently of it than a reflection can from a mirror, or a dream can from the dreaming subject. The manifestation is connected with the manifesting universal consciousness exactly as rays are connected with flame. This is very much like what Plotinus says about the relation of the Ultimate Reality and its manifestation. For, he also believes that the manifested world of multiplicity is connected with the Ultimate exactly as rays are with the sun, as will be shown in the Second Volume Chapter V.

3. As regards the question, "How can the manifested diversity be in relation of identity with the Ultimate and yet not destroy its unity?" the reply of the voluntarist may be stated as follows :- The Ultimate Unity is not an abstract unity1 but a concrete unity. It is not only the unity of opposites, as Hegel maintains his Absolute to be, but also the unity of distincts, as Croce, improving upon Hegelian position, maintains his

-1. I, P. V., Vol. II., 26.