ultimate reality
What truly exists
Ultimate reality is what exists most fundamentally—the deepest layer of existence beneath appearances, change, and illusion.
Philosophers and theologians use the term for whatever they consider truly real: God, Brahman, the Tao, being itself, or the underlying structure of the universe.
Buddhism teaches that ultimate reality cannot be grasped through ordinary thought.
The phrase implies that everyday reality is somehow less real or derivative.
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
- existenceState of being real
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- first principleFoundational assumption for reasoning
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
emptiness · nirvana · Brahman · absolute truth · essence · true nature · monism · Godhead · ontology · moksha · universal truth · Tao · infinity · non-duality · being · oneness · singularity · mystical
- metaphysicsessence, being, existence, substance theory, ontology
- realitiestruths, facts, existence, actuality, being
- VedantaAdvaita, Brahman, Atman, maya, moksha
- divine unityoneness, universal consciousness, cosmic consciousness, world soul, universal spirit
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- divinitydeity, godhood, divine, godhead, holiness
ultimate realityillusion
Misleading sensory impression
appearance · maya · mere appearance · shadow · simulacrum
ultimate realityillusion
Misleading sensory impression
delusion · fantasy · dream · mirage · hallucination
ultimate realityflux
Continuous change or flow
impermanence · becoming · ephemera · samsara · physical reality