At the dawn of creation, consciousness—endowed with limitless powers—swiftly perceives all things by its own will, transcending every boundary of imagination. Whatever arises in the mind of one whose nature is noble, that is what they seem to see; this is much like the innocent, creative mind of a child. Even in the tiniest atom, pure consciousness pervades the entire universe in the most subtle way. This atom of awareness does not perish, even across vast distances, for it is all-pervading, without beginning or end, and known only as the form of awareness. Just as a clever trickster can guide a child with mere gestures and glances, so too does the pure light of consciousness ceaselessly make the world—mountains, grasses, and all—dance, ever displaying its play of appearances. Because consciousness is all-pervading, it exists both within and without, enveloping even the mighty Mount Meru and beyond, just as a subtle fragrance permeates a garment. It is not limited by direction, time, or anything else; though greater than Meru, it is also the subtlest, finer than a hundredth part of a hair’s tip. For this ultimate atom, whose nature is pure awareness and space, no comparison suffices—just as Mount Meru and a mustard seed cannot be equated. The minuteness of illusion is due to its magical nature, while the Supreme Self stands apart from illusion; just as a bracelet is not equal to the gold from which it is made, so there can be no equivalence between them. By this lamp—the light of experience—all illumination appears; without it, illumination would not exist, for it precedes the very existence of things. If all things, including the sun and everything else, were entirely inert, then what would the Self be, what form would light take, and where or what could it be? That pure essence of consciousness, which abides naturally within itself, is perceived outwardly as a subtle radiance, as if it were situated outside. The radiances of the sun, moon, and fire are not truly different except due to the mass of darkness; the only distinction is in their color, whether white or black. Just as there is a difference between the smoke of lamp-black and the smoke of clouds, so too is the distinction between light and darkness established in them. For the perception of inert things, the sun of consciousness shines upon both; when it does, they attain a unified existence. This sun of consciousness shines tirelessly day and night, both within and without, even inside stones and other objects, never setting nor rising. By its radiance, the threefold world shines, belonging to the manifest self of the living being; even a humble hut, rich in various objects, or a hard cavity, is illuminated. You are darkness; your body is darkness, yet by the imperishable radiance, you are heated and illuminated, and all darkness is made to shine by light. Just as a lotus and a water-lily are made manifest by the shining sun, so too the existence of light and darkness is revealed by consciousness. Just as the sun, by creating day and night, reveals its form, so too consciousness, by manifesting existence and non-existence, displays its own form. Within the atom of consciousness are countless subtle experiences, just as within a sweet plant are the beauties of leaves, flowers, and fruits. All these varied experiences arise from the atom of consciousness, like diverse clusters of springtime blossoming from the essence of honey. The supreme atom of the Self, due to its extreme subtlety, is itself tasteless, yet it alone is the source and enjoyer of all tastes. Whatever taste or essence exists, established in its own being, exists only as a reflection in that consciousness; without it, it does not exist on its own, just as a reflection does not exist without a mirror. When everything is abandoned by the atom of pure consciousness, all the world is forsaken in non-awareness; by awareness, everything is embraced. Even when unable to protect itself, the entire world is covered by consciousness, which, like a canopy, spreads forth its supreme atomic nature. The supreme expanse of the Self, like the sky, cannot for even a moment attain self-satisfaction, just as an elephant cannot graze in a field of young grass. Yet, having pervaded the universe, the knower conceals it in an instant; like a child swallowing a morsel, so is the dense magic of the world. By the subtle influence of pure consciousness, this world continues to exist, just as a forest thrives in spring by the touch of its season. This entire existence is nothing but the essence of consciousness, appearing as the world itself, like a vibrant woodland rejoicing in the honeyed month of spring. Know for certain that this world is truly made of consciousness alone, just as sprouting thickets are but the essence of spring. Because it is the essence of all composite things, it is the thousand-handed, thousand-eyed one; this ultimate atom alone is the eternal source of indivisible manifestation. Even in the awareness of a fraction of a moment, the atom of consciousness appears; for countless ages pass like the fleeting dreams and childhood of sleep. Thus, even that atomic moment effortlessly encompasses hundreds of millions of aeons, for the single radiance of consciousness expands through all expressions of existence. Just as one who has not eaten may believe 'I have eaten,' so arises conviction; in the same way, the determination of aeons occurs within a moment. Those who are firmly convinced, 'I have enjoyed without actually enjoying,' are seen, influenced by latent tendencies, to experience their own death in dreams. Worlds exist within the atom of consciousness; appearances arise from there, and thus the phenomena of the world proceed. Whatever exists in a place arises from that very place; in the maker, transformations are observed, but not in the pure sky. All beings, which presently exist in consciousness, will come into being, just as trees grow from the seed of their potency.