Final answer:
Various Indian philosophies have different standpoints on why the world exists as opposed to nothingness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The standpoint of various Indian philosophies, including the Gita, Advaita, Dvaita, and Buddhism, regarding the question of why the world exists as opposed to nothingness differs among different philosophies.
The Pali Canon, a primary scripture of Buddhism, suggests that the world is eternal, while the Laṅkavatara Sūtra supports the idea of a beginningless time.
The Gita, a Hindu scripture, and schools of philosophy like Advaita and Dvaita offer different perspectives on the nature of reality and the purpose of life, but do not directly address the question of why the world exists. The eighth consciousness tathagatagarbha is a modern interpretation specific to certain branches of Buddhism.