We live in a world full of forms—people, trees, buildings, stars. But where do they all come from? And where do they go when they end?
The answer, from a spiritual point of view, is simple: Space Is Ultimate.
Space is not just the black sky above us. It’s not just the emptiness between objects. Space is the source of all things. It holds everything. And in the end, everything returns to it.
In this post, we’ll explore why space is ultimate. We’ll see how it gives birth to creation, how it holds life, and how it takes everything back when time is done.
What Is Space in Spiritual Terms?
Most people think of space as a blank, empty thing. But many spiritual traditions see it differently.
In Hinduism, space is called ākāśa. It’s the first of the five elements. It’s the base of everything else—air, fire, water, and earth all come later.
In Buddhism, there’s the idea of shunyata, or emptiness. It doesn’t mean nothing. It means pure potential. A place where all things rise and fall.
These ideas tell us something powerful. Space is not empty. It’s full of power. It’s the silent ground where all life begins.
External Resource:
You can read more about ākāśa here: Encyclopedia Britannica on Akasha
Everything Emerges from Space
Think of a baby being born. Before birth, there is no body in the outside world. But where was it?
It came from the space of the womb. Before even that, it came from the space of thought, love, or energy.
In the universe, stars are born from clouds of dust floating in space. Galaxies spin inside giant cosmic voids. Even atoms, the building blocks of matter, are mostly space.
This shows us something clear: form comes from space.
Spiritual teachers have said the same thing. What we see is only the surface. Behind it is the space that made it.
Space and Consciousness
Now let’s go deeper. Think of your thoughts. Where do they come from?
They come and go in the space of your mind. One moment you are angry. Then the anger fades. Another moment you feel joy. That fades too.
But the space of awareness stays.
This space inside is not different from the space outside. Both are open, calm, and wide. Both can hold anything.
Some call this the witness. Others call it pure awareness. But the idea is the same: you are not just the things you feel. You are the space that holds them.
This is why in deep meditation, people feel like they are floating in space. Not outer space—but the space of the soul.
External Resource:
Explore how space and awareness connect: Tricycle Magazine – Space in Meditation
Life Happens in the Field of Space
Space gives us room to live.
You breathe because there is space in your lungs. You move because there is space around your body. You think because there is space in your mind.
Take away space, and nothing can happen.
Think of music. What makes a song beautiful? It’s not just the notes. It’s the silence between the notes. That silence is space.
In the same way, life is not just made of actions. It’s also made of stillness, rest, and pause.
Spiritual practice is about becoming aware of this space. You learn to be still. To listen. To watch. And in that space, deep truth can appear.
Everything Returns to Space
Everything that starts must end.
A wave rises from the ocean. It moves for a while. Then it falls back. The water stays, but the wave is gone.
In the same way, we rise from space. We live. We act. We build. Then we die. The form goes, but the space remains.
Even the stars die. They burst into space and become dust again. New stars form from that dust. The cycle goes on.
This is not something to fear. It is something to trust. Space is not lost. Space is home.
This idea brings peace. We don’t have to hold on to things forever. They were never ours. They belong to space.
External Resource:
Learn about the cosmic cycle of birth and death: NASA – Life and Death of Stars
Why Space Is Ultimate
Let’s put it all together.
- Space comes before form.
- Space holds form while it lives.
- Space takes it back when it ends.
No other element does this. Water can dry. Fire can burn out. Earth can break. But space stays.
That’s why space is ultimate.
In spiritual terms, space is not just around you. It is you. Your true self is not the changing body or mind. It is the space that sees, feels, and knows.
Mystics have said this for ages:
“The Self is like space. It is everywhere, and it touches nothing.” – Ramana Maharshi
“The Tao is empty. Yet it fills every cup.” – Lao Tzu
These words point to the same truth: space is real, even when we don’t see it. It is the ground of being.
How to Experience Space Spiritually
You don’t need to go to a mountain or temple. You can feel this space right now.
Here are a few simple ways:
- Sit in silence for 5 minutes. Just watch your breath. Don’t try to change anything.
- Look at the sky. Let your mind become as open as the sky.
- Notice the gaps. Between sounds, thoughts, or breaths—there is space. Pay attention to it.
- Let go of control. Let things be as they are. Space holds everything without effort.
As you do this, you may feel lighter. More open. More alive. That is space working inside you.
Final Thoughts
Space is not just where things happen. It is what allows everything to happen.
From the start of life to the end, space is there. Quiet. Open. Ever-present.
When we understand this, we stop fearing change. We stop clinging to form. We learn to rest in the space of being.
So yes, space is ultimate—because nothing can exist without it, and nothing ever truly leaves it.
Want to read more on spiritual space and awareness?
Check out these resources:
- Sounds True – Teachings on Spacious Awareness
- Lion’s Roar – The Power of Emptiness in Buddhism
- Eckhart Tolle on the Inner Space of Stillness
