Originally posted by: shira
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Not the universe, exactly, but a good start.
Hehe, I can be picky too. Check out def 9 of world.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1) - Cite This Source
world /w?rld/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[wurld] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
?noun 1. the earth or globe, considered as a planet.
2. (often initial capital letter) a particular division of the earth: the Western world.
3. the earth or a part of it, with its inhabitants, affairs, etc., during a particular period: the ancient world.
4. humankind; the human race; humanity: The world must eliminate war and poverty.
5. the public generally: The whole world knows it.
6. the class of persons devoted to the affairs, interests, or pursuits of this life: The world worships success.
7. a particular class of people, with common interests, aims, etc.: the fashionable world.
8. any sphere, realm, or domain, with all pertaining to it: a child's world; the world of dreams; the insect world.
9. everything that exists; the universe; the macrocosm.
10. any complex whole conceived as resembling the universe: the world of the microcosm.
11. one of the three general groupings of physical nature: animal world; mineral world; vegetable world.
12. any period, state, or sphere of existence: this world; the world to come.
13. Often, worlds. a great deal: That vacation was worlds of fun.
14. any indefinitely great expanse.
15. any heavenly body: the starry worlds.
?Idioms16. bring into the world, a. to give birth to; bear: My grandmother brought nine children into the world.
b. to deliver (a baby): the doctor brought many children into the world.
17. come into the world, to be born: Her first child came into the world in June.
18. for all the world, a. for any consideration, however great: She wouldn't come to visit us for all the world.
b. in every respect; precisely: You look for all the world like my Aunt Mary.
19. in the world, a. at all; ever: I never in the world would have believed such an obvious lie.
b. from among all possibilities: Where in the world did you find that hat?
20. on top of the world. top1 (def. 46).
21. out of this or the world, exceptional; fine: The chef prepared a roast duck that was out of this world.
22. set the world on fire, to achieve great fame and success: He didn't seem to be the type to set the world on fire.
23. think the world of, to like or admire greatly: His coworkers think the world of him.
24. world without end, for all eternity; for always.
My dear Moonie:
Of course "world" can mean something akin to "universe," given the proper context. But I think it's pretty clear that Blake's context in that line from "Auguries of Innocence" is a single world, not the entire cosmos. Let's look at that stanza again (the bolding is mine):
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
Note that Blake uses "a world," not "the world." Clearly, "a world" is a part of something bigger, a something that contains this world, that world, Blake's "world" and every other world. A something that one could fairly refer to as "the universe."
Hehe, yes, but also note that the next two lines flesh out his real intention, that a world is infinity and a heaven is eternity. Infinity, of course, is the universe. Also poetically, it reads better as a world and a heaven, in my opinion, because you can't really say, in the context there, the world and the heaven. But, more importantly, if I may say so, he is talking about exactly that which I have been saying, namely, that there is a kind of awakening that colapses duality and ends time. One becomes the universe and enters the truth, heaven, when the ego disappears. I don't know Blake, but it sure as hell looks to me like, HE KNEW.
Also, since we are going to sever a thread with a sword here, I was referring to my statement, that the universe is contained in a grain of sand. When you said, 'Not the universe, exactly, but a good start.' I thought you were saying you might see a world an a grain of sand but not quite a whole universe whereas that is what Blake and I were both saying.