I have my own theory though. Largely inspired by this amazing story:
http://home.comcast.net/~readingnews/Hidden_Hand.htmlWe can define universe as supreme awareness of everything. We wouldn't be wrong. The universe, as an *it* is all-encompassing 'everythingness'. There is no real difference between that which is 'supremely aware' and that which is the universe. Perfect awareness implies being able to be aware of everything from every imaginable angle. To be able to encompass every single thing from every other thing's imaginable point of view in all points of time and space. Basically, to encompass every possibility.
In that light, things can be arranged according to how aware they are. Follow? That which is more aware is closer to universe as a singular thing. Universe will always be infinite from this point of view. Even if it had actual physical boundaries, something which is within it will never be able to encompass it and still remain what it is. If it were able to, it would be indistinguishable from the universe. So the hypothetical evolutionary path towards this 'throne' renders the thing subject to it basically completely incomprehensible to 'lower' beings. Suffice it to say, from our perspective, the universe as an *it* is a throne that constantly regurgitates the consciousness that evolves to the point that it earns that seat. I know it sounds unwieldy, but if we remember that the universe as an *it* is *infinitely* complex and therefore unreachable, all that really matters is that there is a means and *potential* to reach it. Intent, if you will.
In that light, the existence of living things are the universe's instrument of being. Simply creating the potential for something that can in time evolve into the universe is enough for the universe to *be*. Universe may be infinitely complex, but as long as time is infinite, this potential is still mathematically viable as long as it's simply there.