In this conversation between a questioner and Maharaj, a realized being, the concept of the purpose of the world is discussed. Some Mahatmas believe that the world is not accidental or a game of God, but the result and expression of a great plan of work aimed at awakening and developing consciousness throughout the universe. This is seen as a desirable purpose that serves to actualize the infinite potentials of life and consciousness.

Maharaj agrees that the world is a mental structure and that everything is ultimately one, but he takes his stand where nothing exists, where things and minds do not create. This is the state of non-duality, where one is free from memory and expectation, and is fresh, innocent, and wholehearted. In this state, whatever happens, does not affect Maharaj as things act on things, and there is no separation or separate selves.

Maharaj suggests that desire is the nature of the mind that prompts it to create a world for its fulfillment. The purpose of creation is the fulfillment of desire, and even a small desire can start a long line of action. Therefore, one must be careful about what one desire as it can produce a universe, and space is neutral, and one can fill it with what one likes. People are in their respective worlds for the sake of their desires, and there is no way of helping them except through their desires.

One can only teach them to have the right desires so that they may rise above them and be free from the urge to create and re-create worlds of desires, abodes of pain, and pleasure. The conversation concludes with the idea that just as a sleeping man forgets all and wakes up for another day or dies and emerges into another life, the worlds of desire and fear dissolve and disappear. However, the universal witness, the Supreme Self, never sleeps and never dies, and at each beat, a new universe comes into being.

It is important to understand that desire is not inherently bad or good; it is a natural part of the human experience. However, it is the attachment to desires and the identification with the mind-made structures that causes suffering. When we identify with our desires, we create a sense of lack within ourselves and a need to fulfill those desires in order to feel whole and complete. This can lead to an endless cycle of desire and fulfillment, never truly finding lasting satisfaction.

To break free from this cycle of suffering, one must first recognize the nature of the mind and its tendency to create structures and identify with them. This recognition allows one to step back from the mind and see it for what it is, rather than being caught up in its projections.

Once we are able to step back from the mind, we can begin to tap into the deeper, more profound reality that lies beyond it. This reality, which is sometimes referred to as the Self or the Absolute, is beyond all concepts and structures and is the source of true peace, joy, and fulfillment.

In this state of pure awareness, there is no sense of lack or need for fulfillment, as everything that arises is seen as a natural expression of the universe unfolding. This is the state of nivritti, the path of return, where one is no longer bound by the structures of the mind and is free to fully embody the infinite potential of consciousness.

So while it may seem paradoxical to some, the path of nivritti is not about rejecting the world or denying the importance of helping others. Rather, it is about transcending the limited perspective of the mind and accessing the deeper reality that underlies all of existence. From this state of pure awareness, one is free to act in the world from a place of deep wisdom and compassion, without being bound by the attachments and limitations of the mind.