 My trip to Vishnulok!!! Holy Cow. Pigs would fly!!! And why not? I mean I'd fly high too if I suddenly realize that I'm not only ‘this little piggy that went to market', but truly, in fact, I am that, ‘little universe that went to market.'  Wouldn't you fly too if you know that you are this whole 'awful slash awesome' universe and back again? Oh well, maybe not but wow, think of the transformation that would occur on earth. "Worshipping" will take on a whole wider church, bigger than this universe. And everyone and everything would be considered sacred, yes even this rock I live under!!! But worse things could happen too. I mean, we may even influence the animal world to let their live meal run off scot free despite the fact their babies might starve. In fact, everyone might want to stop bringing babies into the world because once we let our pantheistic side out on the loose (and that means once we're able to see that any action that produces sweet rewards now will one day unleash unpleasant consequences as well) who would want to feed their babies by serving up somebody else's baby as food? So you see, once babies stop coming into the world, it just cannot go on. I mean, once we start viewing the world through pantheistic eyes,
we could actually feel the hurt we inflict on others and that would lead us to see more things, that we are not as separate from the rest of creation as Maya, mind's illusion would have us believe.Ah, the sacrificial altar will be a-buzz with self-sacrifices...and major renounciation may happen on every rock. (Note to the world: Amy's rock is off-limits, already taken. Duh. By Amy herself!!!!) And did I mention that pigs would wanna fly? Yes? Well, not only THAT, once predators (and sorry, since ‘we are the universe', by ‘predators' I mean all of us) get wind that the universe breathes, it smiles, yike, it even has soft feelings,  Actually, if this ever happens, (everyone suddenly seeing the universe and god are one and the same), I'd rejoice over here at my computer. Wow, Google, (the god I presently worship), would be celebrating along with me. I mean, wouldn't you do the same too if you suddenly realize YOU ARE THE INTERNET??? And not just some small part like some non-existent god would have you believe!!!Its possible but yet its not because there are so many pantheists around the world and the universe has not fried up yet. However, let's not take that risk; let me find out from the lord of our universe, why this world will not fry up if all people became pantheist.  So yes, let me ask the Him, the one who abounds in religious tales, the one who does not worship Google like some people I know, the one who is lord of all lords, yes even Microsoft. So, come on, come with me so I can ask the Lord a few questions, yes, the same lord who created this irresolvable paradoxical, yet resolvable contradictory world. I mean, this universe only becomes a mystery each time I try to ponder it! Some nerves! It renders me speechless. The minute I open my mouth to make a statement, it becomes a string to wrap me in paradoxical knots. I become my own Maya who seems hell-bent in leading me into dark mazes. The other day, I called someone a bitch only to realized it takes a bitch to call another a bitch. Ya know!!! Its like (me) the universe constantly conspiring to take the wind out of my own sails!!!! Ha. Oh wait, hmm...so if I told someone they are Lord of the Universe, does that make me, Lady of the universe??? Wow, that's the sweetest truth I've ever heard. I mean why should I not accept this truth? Goat bit me in some sacred place?????) So yup! I just know Vishnu will love it that I went out of my way to find him a better snack...er...um...slightly better snack.Computer grumbles. "Garage door opening!" Stupid computer!!! "There's no garage door ahead, you idiot!!! Get me the Internet!!"My computer screen speaks again. "Dialling the Internet." "No!" I screamed. "You don't have to "call" the Internet!!! Geez Cripes- " At this rate, I'll be there at Vishnu's abode without a proper name for my...er...his slightly better snack."Google!" I gasped. (I've no time to greet Google, okay!) "Find me...umm...you know that snack that Sudama took to Krsna so many years ago, yeah right, that one, its in the middle of that particular episode where Krsna washes Sudama's stinky feet...find me the name of that particular snack, okay?"Google blinks like he's thinking real hard. "Searching for ‘name of sudama gift to Krishna." Suddenly a list of lines come rolling out like The Matrix 'cept these lines are blue and horizontal. Bingo! I've got it!! I frown as I read the name of the gift aloud. "Poha." Wtf is Poha? Oh never mind, its gotta be something delicious. In any case, Poha is now the new name for Cheerios, okay General Mills? Yall cool with that? (You guys could sell so much more cheerios once people gets wind that Poha is some kind of elixir, soma, ambrosia and all that food-fit-for-the-gods-biz.)Tell you what, I refuse to bore you stiff with all the beautiful sceneries floating around here. Oh. Oh. Look at that breathtaking lotus pond...oh my God...heavenly fragrance...blossoms of all descriptions. (I am literally falling to my knees at the sheer beauty of it all.) Oh, crystal clear water fountains...mmm...elixir for the soul....oh me…oh my…I'm in seventh heaven!!! Oh Gawd, I want to live here already!!And omg. He's here. He was here the whole time. I stare at him in stupefaction. Hai Vishnu, Hai Lord of the whole universe, hey gentle ruthlessness, hai bhagwan, you're integral, so integral...okay...I am saying all this to him in my mind because my mouth has taken a back seat for some reason unbeknownst to me!!!! Psst. I think Vishnu is also the Sun...ya know....Sunny Boy...yep, sponge bob, red pants up in the daily sky, the light of the universe.......and who knows, perhaps Laxmi, his feminine counterpart is synonymous with the moon, a moon goddess, light of the night world...and also our inner world...but what do I really know????.(So here He is. Lord of my Universe. Technically, I've already met him. Let's just say I've met him in various forms. And hey, you're also one of his forms whether you are male or female. So live with it. You are the universe. ) Vishnu bursts out laughing. Well, he should, he's the one who created this whole ironic bloody, hell of a heaven, paradoxical, contradictory universe. *sniff*"What?" I gape. "You did not?" Oh God. I feel so disappointed. I mean, I mean, what if he claims that Jesus' father built it. Oh God, that means I would have to go to church and..and... joining one would be like joining an MLM pyramid scheme with me in the middle being sweet-talked to recruit more recruiters just to sell a handful of not-very-original-products...er ...in this case, already-used-wisdom!!! "Hmm." I say to Vishnu. "But someone must have had to create the universe!" Please, please, I pray silently, please don't say it was created by some Middle Eastern God or Indian guru or Greek Lord. I mean, who can handle Zeus??? Oh actually, if it was Zeus who built our universe, then that would explain some of the unnecessary war-“Mmm.” Vishnu drops a few cheerios into his mouth and chews for a few delicious moments. He swallows and then smiles at me. "No one. Nothing. We were always here, you and I and everyone and everything." He finishes with a slight laugh. And then, "Mmm, Devi. Cheerios are indeed delicious. Thanks for this snak. It's divine."Woosh. I breathed out a huge sight of relief. General Mills will be thrilled. Perhaps I'll get a whole year supply of cheerios…or better yet…they might pay me for advertising…er…for introducing their product in heaven......and umm.....you know what else? This is the best answer I've ever had!!! And yet it puzzles me. “Sure.” I promised and took a long, hopeful look at all the beautiful lotus flowers floating in the pond of bliss. Mmm. If only I could have only one divine blossom for my hair…And then I felt it. It was like a light bulb going off ...hmm...or is that ‘on' in my head. Okay, never mind that...anyway, suddenly I know, I just know that right here, right now, we are re-creating ourselves...so we could all look like brangelina? No. No. Not like that at all. I'm not talking about smaller butts or bigger Y’s…er...yikes...or the next hot ‘it' physical feature!!! I'm thinking non-literal things here, okay!!! And fine, maybe I got it all wrong, perhaps Vishnu has a slightly better idea. "You're kidding me, right?" I asked Vishnu.I am stomped for a whole minute. And then more enlightenment pour forth like the light from a flashlight into a dark chamber of my brain. I smile. "You see, everyone and everything already exists. Nothing is ever created but everything is re-created...in other words, we are not being born but reborn. We merely change forms i.e. we are not new but we look new and we keep on coming from something that have always existed! It's like taking old material and making new stuff with it...and this something old is called Matter or energy or etc…and nothing in this universe could be destroyed but could change form. Everything in this universe of flux is indestructible." I ended my blabber with a triumphant smile.Vishnu smiles too. "Yes. It may seem as if we are creating things but what we are doing is constantly recreating things. So, literally, there is not limit to the shapes or forms we could take and also everything you could ever imagine or dream about could happen.""Wow!" I say. "I'm a genius." I smile smugly only to frown. "So, if you didn't created the universe, then you must at least be Lord of it all?""Vish. Vish. Vish." I roll my eyes slightly. "You can't say it like that...I mean you shouldn't say "I". It's not only egoistic but it leads people astray....I mean Jesus once said, "I'm the light, I'm the way" and look how that turned out. Now everyone thinks that Jesus is the only light, Jesus is the only way. I mean, what??? Would it have killed him to say, "We' are the light, ‘we' are the way?" (actually, not saying it probably killed him...)I huff in my mind. I think we should say "we" and no one better not leave out my rock this time because collectively, we are all the light, we are all the darkness. Heck, together we make up the universe. And yes, we are no small character in the universe's play because you see, there are no small parts. In one of me, dwell all things, the whole universe lies within me just as it lies in all beings. I am prose, I am poetry, I am whatever I, me, the universe, wants me, I, to be...animal, beast, heroine...Vishnu bursts out laughing. He’s not even offended in the least at my sharp, chatising outburst!!! Ya know. This guy's mind is like the ocean...to disturb its tranquil waters, one has to be an ocean liner as fat as the moon and yet it would barely make any ripples...."Ah, sweet Devi, you're absolutely right."Squeak. I've never heard him speak like this in all the historical books. Oh. Well, all paradoxes don't have to be resolved especially ones that praises me to the highest heavens. So let's proceed with other thoughts.  My eyes strays once again to the beautiful lotus flowers. Mmm. So heavenly. "Thanks." I say to Vishnu who is also distracted by the lotus pond. Squeak. And mmm. Oh, God, I want a lotus flower badly but yike, I can't believe what my mouth (which is now in front seat mode) is about to say. "Its okay, my Lord. I already have everything....inside of me lies endless strength, endless courage, infinite riches, everything lies within me and I didn't come running to you for a lotus...er…I didn’t coming running to you in the hopes of getting you to solve all my troubles...er...troubling questions?" "Oh Devi." Vishnu laughs again. "Sometimes we do a favor to someone by accepting their gift.”Wow. I am stomped again. I blew a wisp of hair out of my eyes. “Umm. Right.” “And.” Vishnu focuses all his attention on me. Yike.He smiles. “Even though all things lies within you, they also lie outside of you and sometimes to get a dormant seed to rise, a gardener must till, water and nurture the soil." “Thanks.” I gushed. I am so awed by this kind of sweetness, I promptly forgot about all the other questions I had in my head. And sides, we can already see that the universe is a living, breathing thing, right? (rock of mine, are you listening?) I mean if it fries up, so what? We will rebuild, we are the master builders after all...er...'cept yours truly. "Thank you, O Lord." I say with all the awe I am feeling. Sigh. I won't bore you stiff with a single detail of my departure scene from Vishnu's abode. Like how I touched the hem of Vishnu's garment, hugged him, talked some more and hey, I even mentioned my site to him and he's quite impressed I am able to reach the unreachable world by just sitting here at my desktop!!! And who knows, if you guys really think he's handsome, exceedingly smart, brilliant, yada yada, he might even make another appearance here on my site. But then again, Jesus, Zeus, Alla-ah and even G-d himself might want me to interrogate…er…interview them…and that's not a very good idea, you know how very warring and sparring some gods could be..so let's not encourage Vish to come and visit me here. And hey, put the pout away, if you miss him too much, just say so and I will make another trip to Vishnulok. Kay? Okay!!! And oh, you can't have my lotus. Go get your own!!!!!  Back to Tall Tales
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(*Hey, no looking at me like that, I'm not the one who created this contradiction of a world.* )
Anyway, back to the question. "What if we saw the universe as a living thing?" Hmm. Good one but so what if everyone suddenly becomes a pantheist???
Holy Gawd!!! What would this world be coming to? I mean, if we could see the universe as a living thing, would we just stop there or would we go on to see that the universe talks, it has feelings, it even have—
I mean, we have somehow managed to re-programmed ourselves to not harm any speaking thing even if its a threat to our existence…er…with the exception of those amongst us whose minds have gone berserk. (yike. Don't tell anyone, but I am in this latter group;) So. What indeed!!! What if we all saw the world as an alive and kicking being???
And guess what else? I am taking some Cheerios for Him. Cheerios is a cereal. For those of you who have never met a cheerio, think "donut", a teeny-tiny donut. And why am I taking this kind of treat for Vishnu, lord of all including Microsoft? (Psst, you're also lord and lady of Microsoft. Duh. If you don't use the damn product, then where would Mike be?) It's my favourite treat, okay....and I know Vishnu would love it because legend has it that a strain of Himself called Krsna loved it when his buddy Sudama brought him a favorite snack....and trust me, cheerios has got to be a slightly better snack than some tough-to-chew-beaten- up-grain-stalk that Sudama fetched around for days for his buddy Krsna.
Oh wait!!! I am in my eve-il mobile, right! Ha! "Computer!" I say with an ecstatic smile. "Get me Google."
Sheesh. What's up with Indian dudes? Always calling me Devi ...not that I am complaining.....and don't get me wrong, Vishnu is not your average sponge bob Eastern pants kind of guy. He is universal....perfect...chiseled nose, lotus feet...oh heck, let's just say he's carved in golden ratio...a magnetic kind of handsome....you look at him and you just cannot look away...
"It's Poha!" I say, still slightly awed by his welcoming smile. "This is a modern kind of "Poha" mixed with timeless tastiness...its my favorite snack in fact. I made it all by myself just for you." I babble on as I cross my lying fingers behind my back...I'm sure General Mills will forgive me...especially when I tell them they are the Universe :))"Aw." He says as if he just swallowed a whole sock, either that or he's suffocating on humor. "Devi, this is not Poha. Poha is rice but what I've here in my palms is called Cheerios."Dang. I am all reddish at this point. (That wretched Sudama, WHY would he bring such a DUMB SNAK for THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE. Rice? Rice!!! Who? Which Idiot in their right mind brings the lord of the universe uncooked rice? Oh yes, right, Sudama, that's who!!! I scowl inside my head. My teeth hurts to just think about it.)) "Oh." I say. "Whatever you want to call it, that's fine with me." And..um...General Mills, of course. 
Wait. Actually, a gardener...a devilish one... did that to me once...you know, I was this stuck up maiden, butter couldn't melt in my mouth and then the devil awoken me and now that I have borne his kids, I can't get back to sleep... Actually, that's not totally true. I am still asleep 99.9 percent overall. I mean if all things dwell inside of me, then I'm sure they are mostly dormant beings...yike...I hope so...(okay, I like that the ‘mother' being has awakened inside of me...and yes, there are times when I had to be a father, carpenter, tool fetcher, bird feeder, humanitarian, santa claus, tooth fairy, detective, bugs...er…easter bunny, ranger smith and so many more.......................but yike, what if a monster or jezebel or an alien wants to take over my body???) Oh wait!!! That would not happen if I don’t turn others into monsters and jezebels!!! So there, my Maya!!! So there. "I see." I say to Vishnu with a puzzled smile. "I guess I am not separate from the whole. So whether I lie fast asleep or in full praying mode in the soil, the gardener would still come to awaken me, right?"
"Exactly." Vishnu smiles. "The gardener is your awakened form, he/she/the universe will come to awaken you when the rest of the universe needs you." Vishnu hands me a lotus flower.