In speaking on this subject I recall a poem of Shams Tabriz. He says:
"When the sun-faced One had arisen, each atom of the two worlds arose.
When the light of His face sent its shadow, by this shadow various names became.
The things, what were they?
The pictures of the names.
The atoms, what were they?
He, in reality.
The waves, what were they?
They were in reality the sea."