It seems natural to assume there is a real universe made up of things—particles, galaxies, and everything in between. However, it is the illusory self that takes what is naturally whole and divides it into separate objects and parts. Absolutely everything that appears is simply this empty appearance. There is nothing behind it, no substance holding it together, yet it lacks nothing at all. Without the self, there is no time, space, or scale—just this, effortlessly appearing. There is no meaning or purpose behind what appears, because this is already perfect and complete as it is.