Essence and Existence: The Difference Between What Something Is and That It Is
«Essence and existence are not two entirely separate concepts: separate an essence from its existence, and it will cease to exist. Nor can existence be conceived without an essence. Essence is not a part of existence; rather, existence is the divine will brought into being by the command «كن», whose ongoing act sustains what exists.»
Supplement 1661-1: Teacher, I don’t understand what you mean when you say that distinguishing essence from existence is invalid. What does that mean? Isn’t existence different from essence? There is a difference between being and what a thing is … surely there can’t be existence without essence. I don’t understand.
🌸🔆❄️بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم❄️🔆🌸
#Response
🍀🔅🌟Peace be upon you🌟🔅🍀
🌻🍀🌱🌱🍀🌻
🔆🔅🌱If we separate essence from existence, the essence would cease to exist, because anything that does not exist is nonexistent!
🔆🔅🌱If we say that essence exists and existence exists too, then existence has no independent role in essence. After all, it exists—and saying that existence exists is a poor definition: existence means existence, so saying that existence exists is meaningless repetition!
🔆🔅🌱If we separate what a thing is from its being, then what it is would have to cease to exist, because separating it from being is equivalent to nonexistence.
🔆🔅🌱If we regard essence and what a thing is as limits imposed on existence, we strip existence of its pure, unqualified nature—that is, we destroy existence as well!
Continuation of the question:
Thank you. So essence is part of existence and is not something separate; and everything that comes into existence has an essence of its own.
We cannot conceive of any existence without an essence … in that case, it would no longer exist. But the essence of each thing that exists is unique to it and specific to that particular being.
Perhaps we could say that a being’s existence is made intelligible and manifest through its essence—through what it is. Otherwise, it would have no outward manifestation at all.
Teacher, if I have misunderstood, please guide me.🌸🌸🌸
The teacher’s response to the continuation of the question:
🍀🔅🌟Peace be upon you🌟🔅🍀
🌻🍀🌱🌱🍀🌻
🔆🔅🌱If what I have said reflects the same understanding of my words that you have expressed above, then it is certainly mistaken. In my view, however, your understanding is in complete conflict and contradiction with my responses.
🔆🔅🌱Essence cannot be part of existence, because that would divide existence and strip it of its pure, unqualified nature. It would also raise this question: if we accept that essence is part of existence, what are the other parts of existence?
🔆🔅🌱To make the point clearer, we can use the word “existent” instead of “essence.” Certainly, every existent exists, and existing is necessary for anything that exists. If we take existence away from an existent, it will no longer be an existent. Every existent is subject to divine power and has its own particular form, bounded by its own limits and conditions. The divine will embraces an existent that does not yet exist, and it comes to be through «كُن» «یکون». God wills an existent that does not yet exist, and so that existent comes into existence. The existence of every existent is that same divine will, manifesting from within the existent; and the continuation of the divine will to sustain it is what keeps it in existence. If the divine will to sustain an existent were withdrawn, that existent would cease to exist!