6.8.2 Why Matter is Discrete?
The fundamental reason behind the discrete nature of the physical world is because it is not real! To be real, all the geometrical points have to be continuously existing together at the same instance of (the outer normal level of) time. This is how all the worlds, including the physical, exist with regard to the Real, and this is how we are deceitfully perceiving them, because what is actually perceiving in us is the heart which is the highest spiritual entity that is responsible for consciousness. However, our individual consciousnesses, i.e. our hearts, are only discrete instances of the Cosmic Heart, that is the Greatest Element or the real-through-whom-creation-takes-place, the created image of the Real. So, in itself, the physical world is all real irrespective of observers, but with regard to each individual observer it is real only at the instance of observation, which means that it is discrete over the flow of time. To be able to realize the whole world(s), the mystics need to unite with, or perish in, the Greatest Element, or the Single Monad for the outermost physical level, which means that time will literally stop for them, and they become (part of) the infinite space. This is usually what naturally happens in the case of death or even deep sleep, but the Sufis may attain this highly delicate state or realization voluntarily while they are still awake.
The difference between deep sleep and full realization is that in the latter case the observer retains full consciousness both in the inner and outer levels of time, whereas a sleeping person is not outwardly conscious, and when they returns to the normal level of time they become disconnected from that realized state. Dreams usually happens in the intermediary situations, but normally one remembers only the latest short flashes of such realizations. This is of course greatly relative for different people. As the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that those who are most sincere, or honest, their dreams are most truthful. Psychically speaking, sincerity, or honesty, means less attachment with the deceitful physical world, because it is these attachments that cause one’s heart to become more localized or imprisoned in time.