EnteringintotheRealmofNonExistence

T.E.Ehrenfreund

I.Introduction

Thereisbeingandthereisnonbeing.Thereissomethingandthereisnothing.Thereisactionand
thereisstillness.Symbolically,thereislightandthereisdarkness.Analogically,thereissunandthereis
moon.WearewithintheRealmofExistence,ofsimply
being
.Herein,weliveperceptivelyaccordingto
whatwecandeduceandderivefromthisRealm.Ourentirelivesinallaspectsofanykindordegreeare
boundbythisrealityweknowasbeing.Therefore,toimagineorponderarealityoppositetoours(thatof
nonexistence,nothingness,orunreality),isatrulydifficulttask.Outsideofthefacultyofourminds
intellect,pensivity,imagination,thoughtprocesses,oranyothercapabilitiesitmayhave(oryethaveto
unlockorutilize),wecannottrulycomprehendsuchaconceptwehavenotourselvesexperiencedoreven
havetheabilitytoexperience.Likewise,theconceptofeternityortimelesstimecanbegraspedtoan
extenttheoreticallyandphilosophicallybutinactuality,tograspitinfullnessisnotpossibleduetoalack
ofexperiencingtrulythisrealityofeverlastingtime.Nonexistencecanbesymbolicallyorillustratively
calledtheabsoluteblacknessorthetotalvoid.
Nonexistence,alongwithmanyotherphenomena,isamystery.Contrarytopopularand
mundaneopinion,amysteryisnottheabsenceoftheknowledgeofsomething,but(atleastforthesakeof
thispaper)itisdefinedasthatwhichcanbeunderstoodtoacertaindegreeviareason,logic,andthelike,
butcannotbetrulygraspedinitsentiretyduetotheaforementionedlimitationsthatexistwithusresiding
inourpresent,finite,limitingrealityofbeing.Usingillustrativetermssuchastheabsoluteblacknessor
thetotalvoidareusefulinsofarastheyappealtoourexperientialaspectofourthinking:wehave
perceiveddarknesswiththecessationoflight,andthereforeunderstandfromexperiencetheconcept
ofdarknessorblackness.Fromthis,wecaninferthattheadjectiveabsolutemodifyingthenoun

darknesssignifiesthisdarknessinanexponentiallygreaterdegree.Thesameappliestothetermthe
totalvoid.However,almostallillustrationsofmysteriesorconceptsoutsideofourfiniteperception
boundtothisRealmofExistence,havetheirlimitationsthesetermsoftheabsolutedarknessandthe
totalvoidareofnoexception.For,theconceptofnonexistenceisnotoneofphysicalattributeshence,
itcannotbetrulycalledtheabsolute
blackness
.Neitheristheconceptofnonexistencerelatingto
anythingspatial.Fornonexistenceistheabsenceofallthatweperceive,experience,orhaveyetto
experiencewithinourcurrentRealmofExistenceorStateofBeing.Indeed,anyanalogy,orillustration
thattriestoaddeaseorleveragetoourmindstotrytograspthisconceptofnonexistence,willinevitably
leadusastrayinunderstandingoreventostarttounderstandjustafractionofwhatnonexistencetrulyis.
Foritistotallyandutterlyoutsideofthecurrentrealitywefindourselvestrappedwithin,andofwhichwe
deriveourabilitytotheorize,perceive,explain,imagine,etc.Onecouldjokeandsaythattherealityof
nonexistence,
tous
,issimplynonexistent!Althoughthisisthecase,asmentionedbefore,wecanat
leastattemptortrytoendeavourontheunendeavourableinunderstandingwhatitistheoretically.
Thatbeingsaid,oneshouldnotbemisleadinthinkingthispaperistheanswertothetotaland
trueapprehension,oreventhebeginningofanapprehension,ofthismysteriousRealmofNonexistence.
Rather,thispaperisonlytoactasavehicleofthemanifestationofthoughtprovocationintothissubject.
Inotherwords,itistobeasparktoigniteyou,thereader,intothinkingdeeperwithinyourownreality
andexistenceinthetermsandideaslaidofforyouinthispaper.Itisforyoutobegintoaskthenext
questionsofthispuzzle,andperhapscreateyourowninsightintoourexistence.

II.TheStateandRealmoftheNonexistence

Previouslythispaperhasonlyjusttouchedontheintroductionofdefiningwhatnonexistence
actuallyis.Itisfair,then,toexpoundingreaterdetailandexplanation(totheextentthatourfinite,
existenceboundedmindsallowfor),astowhatismeantbytheStateortheRealmofNonexistence.
Usingstatementssuchas,Thereisbeingandthereisnonbeing.andThereissomethingandthereis
nothing.,setthetoneindefiningwhatismeantbytherealmandtheStateofNonexistence.
ThetwotermsStateandRealmmaybeassumedassynonymsbutinthecontextofthis
paper,theyarenot.Rather,theycomplimentoneanotherandarecontingentuponeachother.The
definitionofthewordstateitselfisthewayoflivingorexisting.Itcouldalsobedefinedasthemode,
expression,way,condition,quality,orevenessenceoftheexistenceofaparticularsomething.
Subsequently,inthiscase,theStateofNonexistencewouldbedefinedasnonexistenceinandofitself
andinallthatitiscomprisedofqualitatively.Sincebyevenattemptingtodefinethistermdoessowithin
theboundsofourrealityofexistence,thedefinitionoftheStateofNonexistence,contextually,issimply
theabsenceofallthatisorconsistsoftheRealmofExistenceorBeingwenowresideandhaveourbeing
andexistencewithin.ItisnotonlythetotalabsenceoftheRealmofthisBeingbutalsoitsvery
state
(as
definedinthedefinitionofstateitself).FortheRealmofeitherbeingornonbeing,existenceor
nonexistenceinitsqualityoressencesubsists,comprises,andevergivesbirthtotheirinherent
Realms.
Bringingrealmintotheconversation,wemustofnecessityalsotrytodefinewhatismeantbyrealm.
Thetermrealmitselfisdefinedasbeingasphere,domain,andarea.Withthatbeingsaid,what
ismeantbyrealminthecontextofthispaper?Simplystated,realmistheframeworkorexpanse
whereinsubsidesandistotallymadeupofandcomprisedofitsstate.ResortingtoHellenicphilosophical
terms,stateis,ortheveryessenceofeitherbeingornonbeingrealmisthefigurative,theoretical
dwellingplacewhichiscomprisedofthisstate.However,aswarnedbefore,usingsuchtermsinvoke
theexistenceinwhichwefindourselvesinnow,andtemptustothinkinmaterial,spatial,andfinite
terms,ratherthantheoreticalandhypotheticalterms.Similarly,whenusingthesetermsofstateand

realm,outofnecessitythewordexistenceorbeingortheverbstoexist,tobe,tosubside,etc.are
used.Thisisduetotherealmorframeworkinwhichwefindourselvesinwhichisconstantlyexisting.It
isinthislimitationthateventheverydefiningofthesetermsinrelationtosomethingthatisnonexistent,
isdifficultinachieving.
Inordertoallowonesmindtounderstandthis,usingwhatweknowwithinourcurrentrealmof
being,thefollowingillustrationcouldbeused.Letusallowourbrainstothinkasfarbackasweareable
to,thenprogresschronologicallythroughallofthethoughtsofallthatyouhaveexperiencedinanyway
upuntilthispresentpointofreference.Now,standup,andmakeafullrotationaroundtheroomorspace
whereinyoufindyourself.Openyoureyeswhilestillholdingontothethoughtsyoucollected,and
observeyoursurroundings.Proceedtogooutsideifyouarenotalreadythere.Whilethere,continueto
observeyourimmediatesurroundings.Leteachofyourfivesensesperceiveandtakeinallitcanaround
you.Takeintoaccountalloftheplantlife,animallife,andhumanlifearoundyou.Nowlookupintothe
sky.Whetheritbenightorday,youcanseetheheavenssurroundyou.Itmayhave,atsomepointinyour
life,broughtyoutoponderwhatliesbeneath.Perhapsyouhaveseenpicturesofsatellitephotographyin
space,orcomputersimulationsofspaceandwhatwecurrentlyknowabouttheuniverse.Aplethoraof
starsandplanets,andmanyunknowncelestialrealitiesofouruniverselaybeyondthatskyyounowsee.
Closeyoureyes,clearingyourmindofalldistractions,andonlythinkofallofwhathasbeenpreviously
mentioned.Simplythinkofyourcurrentexistenceandeverythingyouhaveeverexperiencedtherein.All
ofthepeopleyouhavemet,andallofthepeopleyouhaveyettomeet.Allofwhatyouknow,andallof
whatyouhaveyettoknow.Allthatyouknowexistsorissaidtoexist,andallthatwehaveyettofind
existing.Withinthedarknessofyourmind,imagineasifallofthesethingsceasedtobe.Asthough,when
openingyoureyes,youwouldfindallthatyouknewtoceasetobeincludingyourself,yourthoughts,
youractions,yourmemories,andallwithintheexistenceoftheuniverseandrealmweresidein.Of
course,nowhavingopenedyoureyes,youstillfindyourselfinthesameplaceandstateyouwereas

before,yetthequestionofwhatifallofthiswasabsentmustcometoourminds.Whatifallthatwe
know,allofrealitythatweperceive,allthingsthatexist,thathaveorwilloccur,wereabsentandceased
tobe?Whatwouldbeinstead?Withthisillustrationandthesequestions,weallowourmindstobeginto
enterintotheStateofNonexistenceanditssubsequentrealm.Duringyourimagining,youperceivedall
thatwaswithintheRealmofExistence.AllwithinthisrealmsubsistsandiscontingentupontheStateof
Existence(i.etheessenceoftherealm).Conversely,whatwouldtheRealmofNonexistenceintheState
ofNonexistencebelike?Thatwecannottrulyknowduetothelimitationdiscussed.However,
hypotheticallyitwouldbetheabsenceofalltheStateofExistenceandthereforetheabsenceoftherealm
inwhichtheStateofExistencefinditself.WhereandwhentheRealmofExistencedoesnotexist,thereis
theRealmofNonexistence.Itisthisconceptwhichbringsusbacktothetermstheabsolutedarkness
andthetotalvoid,thoughtheyareinsufficientinpreciselyportrayingtheRealmofNonexistence.Let
usexplore,then,thehypotheticalperceptionofthisRealmofNonexistence.

III.ItsHypotheticalPerception
HowexactlywouldthisRealmofNonexistence(which,aspreviouslyexplained,wouldbe
comprisedoftheessenceorStateofNonbeing)belike?Inotherwords,howwouldwe,stuckwithinthe
RealmofExistence,perceiveandexperiencetheRealmofNonexistence?Thisisaquestionofwhichthe
answercannottrulybeknownorexperiencedforeventhemerementionoftheRealmofNonexistence
isenteringintothetheoretical,whichistranscendentincomparisontoourRealm.Wecan,atleastinso
farasourmindstrappedwithinthisrealmallowus,canventuretoperceivehypothetically,whatthis
Realmwouldbelikeandentail.
WhatwouldencompasstheRealmofNonexistence?SimplytheStateofNonexistence(thetotal
absenceofwhatweknowinthisRealmofExistence)wouldencompassit.Yet,wemustaskourselves
whatthismeans.ForifallthemetaphysicalandphysicalrealitiesofthisRealmofExistencedwellherein,

couldarealitywhich
is
(notnecessarilyspeakingintermsof
within
theRealmofExistence)

and
encompassestheveryrealityofthatRealm?Arealitywhichwouldencompassthatmysteryoftheeternal
withinthemysteryoftheRealmofExistence.However,inaskingonequestionlikethese,otherquestions
arise.WhatwouldeternitybelikeintheRealmofNonexistence,forwoulditnotbetheabsenceoftime
asweknowinthisRealmofExistence?Deducingfromwhathasbeenexplainedearlier,theRealmof
NonexistenceistheabsenceoftheStateofExistenceandconsequentlyitsRealm.Thequestionoftime
leadstoawholenewexpositioninitself.For,weperceivetimewithinourRealmofExistenceas
somethingwhichis,atitscore,apointofreferenceforrationalagentssuchashumanbeings.Wehave
organizedtheconceptwecalltimeintoasystemwhichassistsusinourdaytodaylives,andwhich
betterallowsustograsptheideaoftimeitself.Weliveandbreathina365dayyear,comprisedof12
months,whichisfurthercomprisedofeitherthreeorfour7dayweeks,consistingof24hourdays,1,440
minutes,86,400seconds,andsoonandsoforth.Withinthefieldofphilosophytheconceptoftimeandif
itexistshasbeendiscussedbefore.Forthesakeofnotinvokinganargument,letushypotheticallyassume
thattime,initsactuality,didnotexist.Instead,timewouldsimplebetheeverpresentnow,withthepast
andthefutureandeverythinginbetween(i.e,simplyvariousreferencepointsofthiseverpresentnow).
Inotherwords,pointsoftimearesimplyslicesofthesamepie(theeverpresentnow).Now,bringingour
attentionbacktothequestionofwhetherornottimeexistingintheRealmofNonExistence,wemustgo
backandexaminetimeinrelationtotheStateofExistence.Thisisnecessaryinordertoestablishhow
timewouldbeperceivedwithintheRealmofNonexistence,fortheRealmofNonexistence,by
definition,theRealmwhichisoftheabsenceoftheStateofExistenceorBeing.
TheveryessenceoftheRealmofExistenceisoneofbeingtransitory.Bybeingcomposedor
indwelledwith(forlackofbetterterms)oftheStateofExistence,doesnotnecessarilymeanthatitisof
aneternalnatureoressence.Indeed,ifthereexistsaRealmofNonexistence(theoppositeandabsenceof
theStateofExistence),bynecessity,theRealmofExistencewouldbeofatransitory,temporal,orfinite

nature.For,asstatedbefore,whereandwhentheRealmofExistencedoesnotexist,thereistheRealmof
Nonexistence.Usingwordssuchaswhereandwheninvokeideasofspatialityandchronology.And
onemustnotbeconfusedwithsuchterms.However,simplystating,becausebothRealmsexistandboth
Statesexists,theyareessentiallythecontrastofeachother.Thismeansthatoneprecedestheotherand
givesbirthtotheother.Logicallyspeaking,theRealmofNonExistencewouldhaveexistedbeforethe
RealmofExistence,andinaneternal,everlasting,timelessmanner.Forallthingsfinite(whichwouldbe
oftheStateofExistence),haveinthemselvesabeginning.SincetheRealmofNonexistenceisthe
absenceoftheStateofExistence,ithasnotime(inthesenseoftimewhichisoftheStateofExistence),
nomatter,nospace,etc.Itis,aswehavesaidthecompletevoid.SincetheRealmofNonexistence
lackstime,itstime(soweshallcallit)isoftheStateofNonexistent.Contrastingtimewhichis
experiencedfinitelywithintheRealmofExistence,thistimeoftheStateofNonexistence,wouldbeof
atimelessnature.Meaning,itisinfinite,eternal,andeverlasting.Totryandcontemplatemoreofthe
hypotheticalperceptionoftheRealmofNonexistenceistoenterintosomethingweourselvescannot
grasp,asithasbeenrepeatedbefore.However,withwhatwehavediscoveredwithourlimitedreasoning
thatthisRealmofNonexistence,initsStateofNonexistence,wouldbethelackorabsenceoftheState
ofExistence,andthusbynecessity
preceding
it,andhavingnocontingencyupontheformerStateof
Existence.Also,becauseitistheabsenceof
all
thatisoftheStateofExistence,thisabsencewouldentail
theabsenceoftimeasperceivedwithintheStateofExistence,andthustheStateofNonexistencewould
betimeless,withouttime,eternal.OtherabsencesthatareoftheStateofExistenceincludethe
absenceofmatter,materialfiniterealitiesormanifestations,thoughtprocesses,andanythingwitha
beginning,withanend,orsimplyallthatisoftheStateofExistence.Somuchmorecouldbecoveredand
hypotheticallyperceivedwithinthismystery.Andevenindoingso,oneentersintoothermysteries
(suchas,inthiscase,themysteryoftimelessness),whicharevirtuallyimpossibleforonewithinthe

RealmofExistence,boundbytheStateofExistencetofullyandtrulycomprehend.Withallthatwehave
said,though,wemustseewhatcouldbethepossibleimplicationsoftheRealmofNonexistence.

IV.ItsSubsequentImplications
HavingdiscussedwhattheRealmofNonexistencewouldbeperceivedas,adoorofhowit
appliestousandallthatoftheStateofExistence,isopened.Whataretheimplicationsofthetimeless,
eternal,matterlessrealityoftheRealmofNonexistence?Onemajorimplicationisoneofthevery
personalityofwhatthisNonexistencecontains.Byusingthewordpersonality,itisnottobethoughtof
intermsoftheStateofExistenceanditsexperienceofpersonality,butonewhichtranscendswhatwe
understandwithinourownRealmofExistence.ThequestionofwhatwastherebeforetheRealmof
Existence,beforeallthatweknowinourpresentrealityofbeing,isonethathasalreadybeenanswered.
BasedontheverynatureofbothRealms,andespeciallyoftheRealmofNonexistence,theirattributes
clearlypointtothepersonalityoftheEternalOne,orbetterknownasGod.Althoughtheconceptof
GodexistsintheRealmofExistence,bytheveryattributesofGodarethosepossessedbytheStateof
Nonexistence.ItmayseemveryironicstatethatGodexists,yetexistswithintheRealmof
Nonexistence,fortheverylabelofnonexistencecarrieswithitthemisconceptionofthetransitory
existenceoftheStateofExistence.TheexistencewithintheStateofExistenceistheexistenceofallthat
weknowandperceivenowinourpresentrealityofbeing.Onthecontrary,theStateofNonexistenceis
theabsenceofthatexistenceand,aswehavediscussedbeforeintheformersection,wouldincludethe
perfectexistenceoftimelessness.TimelessnessiswithintheStateofNonexistencebutisnotwithinthe
StateofExistence.EachStateshavetheirrespectiveattributes.Nonexistence,withtranscendent
timelessness,andExistence,withtransitory,finitetime.Withthisinourminds,letusexaminethe
proposedexistenceofGodwithintheparticularRealmofNonexistence.

Godissaidtobeofatimeless,eternal,transcendentnature.Indeed,intheBible,aswellasin
otherHolyBooks,itissaidthatInthebeginningGodThoughwemaybeenteringintotheologizing,
thisdiscussionisstillapplicabletoallthathasbeentalkedaboutbefore.Godisverywellthevery
personality(forlackofabetterword)oftheRealmofNonexistence.Forwhatisthisbeginningthat
ismentioned?BeginninginitselfnecessitatesapointatwhichtherewasnoStateofExistence.Therefore,
beginningreferstotheStateofNonexistencewithinorsubsistingintheRealmofNonexistence.Heis
thetimeless,eternal,beingWhowaswithintheRealmofNonexistencewithouttime.Thistotalvoid
wasfilledwithHimself.Likewise,thisabsolutedarknesswasinactualityfullofHislight.ForGodis
ofaneternalessence,yetbeingpersonalHeisloveitself.Therefore,ifweassumethatsinceGodmatches
andindeedisofthisRealityofNonexistence(whichisneithercreatedforitistimeless)thenwemustsay
thatGod
is
indeedthisRealmandStateofNonexistence.OnemustnotthinkthatinstatingGodasbeing
thisRealmandofthisStateofNonexistenceisdescribingGodasnotexistingorbeingapartfromthe
RealmofExistence.Thisisindeedatopicthatrequiresfurtherventuringinto.FortostatethatGod
is
this
RealmistoputtosilencethosewhomayclaimthatGodissomehowboundorconfined,orsubordinateto
thisRealm.Indeed,HeistheuncausedCauseofallExistence,andthematerialandfinitewheremadeby
Him.Thereforeallthatisinfiniteoreternalwouldbedivine.
InsayingthatGodisthisRealmandStateofnonExistenceornonBeingistosaythatbefore
therewastheRealmofExistenceoreventheStateofExistence,therewasGod,whoeternally
is.
SoGod
isnot
of
theRealmofNonexistence,butindeedholdsitsveryattributeswhichhavebeendiscussedhere,
andisofitsveryidea.For,assaidbefore,ifGodiseternal,thenHeexistsoutsideofthatRealmwhichis
noteternalandthereforeisnotofthatStatewhichisnoteternal(i.etheRealmofExistenceandBeing).
HeisthereforealsotheveryeternallyuncausedCauseoftheStateofExistenceandtheRealmof
Existence.Beforeallthatweperceive,know,andexperience(i.e,thatoftheStateofBeingofExistence),
therewasGodwhoistheconverseofwhatthispaperhasdiscussedanddescribedasbeingtheStateof

Existence.HecreatedbyHisWordtheveryStateofExistenceanditsRealm.YetthatisnottosayHeis
outsideorremovedoftheRealmofExistence.ForGodcouldstill,sinceHeistheCreatorofthisreality,
interactwithit.AsitstatesintheBible,IntheBeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,
andtheWordwasGod...andtheWordbecamemananddweltamongus.Butlestwethinktoomuchinto
thatwhichisbynatureamystery,wewillleavethisopentofurthercontemplationwithyou,thereader.

V.Conclusion
InconclusiontowhathasbeendiscussedinthisdiscourseontheexistenceofBeingand
Nonbeing(oraswetermedittheStateandRealmofExistenceandNonexistence),thereisstillmany
unansweredquestions,doorsofdiscoveryopened,anddoorsofdiscoveryyettobeopened.Thisisa
subjectwhichisoneofmystery.For,asithasbeenrepeatednumeroustimesthroughoutthispaper,those
whodesiretotranscendandbeholdthemysteryofthatRealmwhichistheabsenceofthisRealm(i.ethe
RealmofNonexistence),haveahardtimedoingsoinsofarasitisnotknowntousinexperience.Is
GodthatRealmofNonbeingWhoexistedeternally,withouttimebeforetheinitiationorcreationofthe
StateandRealmofExistence?Itwouldseemthatlogicallyaswehavediscussed,Hewouldbeso,yetstill
interactingandtouchingwithHisfingerofgrace,thisRealmofExistenceandallthatisofitsState.It
isnowuptoyou,thereader,todivefurtherintothiscontemplation.Asstatedearlier,thispaperisaspark
toigniteyou,thereader,intothinkingdeeperwithinyourownrealityandexistenceinthetermsandideas
laidofforyouinthispaper.Itisforyoutobegintoaskthenextquestionsofthispuzzle,andperhaps
createyourowninsightintoourexistence.