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Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
Ours is a knowable universe because we can come to know it by sensing it. We are also a part of this universe because we can sense and come to know ourselves.
If we are a part of this universe then how did the fundamental postulates of this universe come about?
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How the fundamental postulates of this universe came about can only be answered as follows:
These are possible postulates that attempt to explain the unknowable.
We come across the “religious” belief that God created this universe. However, God happens to be a part of the knowable universe, because God is knowable. This essentially means that the universe created itself. This is a variation of the first postulate above.
The answer from Kantian philosophy is that the ingredients of this universe exist as “thing in itself” independently of human perception, sensation, or sensory experience. This answer reduces to the second postulate above that the universe has always been there.
Phenomenology says, “What is sensed is the thing itself as experienced, not an inner proxy, but precisely as given in intuition—within limits.” This also reduces to the second postulate above.
Science says, “Sensations are effects of an underlying mind‑independent physical universe whose structure we infer.” This also reduces to the second postulate above.
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For the universe to create itself, there must have been an earlier version of the universe. God could be an earlier version that transformed itself into the current universe. This adds the idea of a cyclic universe; but essentially it is also a variation of the second postulate above.
We may conclude,
The basis for the universe has always been there. How it was created initially is unknowable.
The Vedas assert rightly that the universe has neither a beginning nor an end.
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The basis of the universe is made up of certain postulates. The postulates provide meaning in the form of sensations. The outcome of the sensations is the knowable universe.
So, the postulates that make up the SELF are the same that make up the UNIVERSE.
In the ancient Vedic religions, such as, Hinduism, the Nirākār Brahman uses Māyā to arise as Sākār Brahman. The Nirākār Brahman is considered to be a reality without attributes. Māyā is considered to be the process that generates attributes. And Sākār Brahman is considered to be the reality with attributes. We may say that the Nirākār Brahman is “unknowable,” Maya represents the postulates. Sākār Brahman is the outcome as the knowable universe.
Thus, the Postulate Mechanics parallels the Vedic religions.
In Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) God is postulated as the source of all creation. God is then assigned the attribute of omniscient (all-knowing) among others. But God itself is presented as a mystery. Here God is something that needs to be unpacked and understood.
We come to the conclusion that,
The basis of the universe are certain postulates that give meaning to the universe in the form of sensations.
These postulates are inherent to the universe and also to us. So, the postulates that make up the universe are the same that make up the SELF. The self then assimilates the sensations to perceive the universe.
As sensations may assimilate differently from person to person, different perceptions and concepts of the universe may arise.
We may not know the postulates, but our perceptions and concepts can help us trace back to discover the underlying postulates. As we discover the postulates we come to know both the universe and ourselves so clearly that all our aberrations drop away.
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The major concepts introduced in Chapter 1 are CREATION, GOD, VEDIC RELIGIONS, and ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS. These concepts are defined in Glossary: Postulate Mechanics.
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Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
The fundamental datum is:
Substantiality and Awareness are two attributes of self, and the balance between the two establishes the reality of Self. We refer to this balance as oneness.
Oneness is the consistency that is observed from one moment to the next. This consistency appears as continuity at very small scales, and as harmony at very large scales. The oneness of substantiality can be seen in a smooth spectrum of substance from thought to matter. Thus, there is oneness between the spiritual and the physical aspects of existence.
The awareness of substantiality brings to attention knowable dichotomies, such as, creator-creation, cause-effect, etc. The oneness of a dichotomy may be expressed as a gradient between the two opposite attributes. This introduces a DIMENSION between the two attributes. This dimension may be represented mathematically as a scale. For example, hot-cold is a dichotomy. When the gradient of temperature is introduced between hot and cold, it clarifies that dichotomy as a temperature scale, where hot and cold appear at the opposite ends.
When oneness exists there is clarity of reality of existence. But to the degree oneness is violated we have unreality.
Postulate Mechanics refers to violations of oneness as anomalies. An ANOMALY may take the form of a discontinuity (missing data), an inconsistency (contradictory data), or a disharmony (arbitrary data). For example, in a knowable dichotomy, such as, cause-effect, there is a missing dimension. Therefore, it is an anomaly of discontinuity. All unrealities, confusions and sufferings consist of anomalies.
An unreality, confusion or suffering of self can be eliminated only by confronting and resolving the underlying anomaly.
Liberation of self lies in the resolution of all its anomalies. As self is liberated it evolves to higher states.
The resolution of anomalies occurs through a process called ASSIMILATION. To assimilate is to “make similar.” This is done by making all the elements of an anomaly continuous, consistent and harmonious.
To assimilate, a person looks at the anomaly more closely until its exact nature is recognized. When sensations are assimilated they provide clearer perceptions. When perceptions are assimilated they provide clearer memory. When memories are assimilated they provide clearer experience. When experiences are assimilated they provide clearer knowledge. When knowledge is assimilated it results in wisdom.
To summarize, he key attributes of self are: substantiality, awareness and oneness, as described in recent chapters.
Next we look at where the self stands in relationship to God, because the thinking of most people in our civilization arises from the concept of God.
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The major concepts introduced in Chapter 5 are DIMENSION, ANOMALY and ASSIMILATION. These concepts are defined in Glossary: Postulate Mechanics.
PM Postulate 5.1: Oneness is continuity, consistency and harmony.
PM Postulate 5.2: An anomaly is a violation of oneness.
PM Postulate 5.3: Anomaly is a discontinuity, inconsistency or disharmony.
PM Postulate 5.4: A knowable dichotomy has a missing dimension (an anomaly).
PM Postulate 5.5: All unrealities, confusions and sufferings consist of anomalies.
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Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
The moment something manifests, there is the awareness of its substantiality. Otherwise, we cannot say, “Something is there.”. On the other hand, it is only when we become aware of a substantiality that we know that something has manifested.
When there is only a single atom existing in the universe, then that atom is the whole universe; and the awareness of atom being the whole universe is there. That awareness must reside in the universe made of that atom. This leads to the conclusion that substantiality and awareness are the two fundamental dimensions of a universe that exists.
To appreciate that something exists, there must be the ability to sense it.
Thus, awareness is the ability to sense the substantiality of something existing. When nothing exists, there is neither substantiality nor awareness.
Awareness is not the same thing as the substantiality that is being sensed. This means that awareness has no substantiality. This is like the Nirākār Brahma in Vedic religions that has no attributes.
Awareness and substantiality are two different dimensions of existence. They are in complete balance, but they do not overlap.
This is a fundamental datum.
Misconception arises when this fundamental datum is ignored, and awareness is misconceived to have substantiality. That misconception is followed by a misperception of substantiality.
The basic confusion is between substantiality and awareness. Awareness is bound in substantiality but it is not substantial.
Awareness is about knowing, perceiving and being cognizant of phenomena and events. Awareness is there because substantial phenomena and events are there. The phenomena and events are somehow being postulated and sensed.
Who or what is postulating and sensing is unknowable. But we may surmise that,
All attributes belong to substantiality. Awareness has no attribute.
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The major concept introduced in Chapter 4 is the differentiation between SUBSTANTIALITY and AWARENESS, while stressing upon their ONENESS, that leads to the understanding of SELF. These concepts are defined in Glossary: Postulate Mechanics.
PM Postulate 4.1: Substantiality and awareness are co-dimensions of existence.
PM Postulate 4.2: All attributes belong to substantiality.
PM Postulate 4.3: Awareness has no attribute.
PM Postulate 4.4: Substantiality and awareness are in perfect balance.
PM Postulate 4.5: That balance is oneness.
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Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
Substantiality is an important aspect of Self. When something is substantial, it means that it exists and it can be sensed. Therefore, anything substantial is made of substance.
If self is substantial, then it has to be made of substance.
Generally substance is identified as matter, but substance is more than just matter. Einstein famously showed radiative energy to be equivalent to matter with his equation, E = mc2. Experiments have shown further that the light from the sun can push a large sail in outer space. Thus, we may place radiation also in the category of substance.
When we think of a rose, and we get a picture of a rose. Obviously, this mental image picture exists and it is being sensed; and so it is substantial. A mental image picture has to be made of substance.
Since mind only senses thought, a mental image picture must be made of thought. Therefore, thought can also be viewed as a substance. This is not acknowledged by science; and we shall look at this shortcoming of science in a later chapter.
In Postulate Mechanics, we divide the substance of universe into three categories:
Substance has consistency—a degree of density, firmness, viscosity, etc. When the substance is matter, we refer to its consistency as “mass.” Matter has a “spectrum” based on the mass of its atoms. This spectrum is presented as the Periodic Table. We are very familiar with matter. Our body is made of matter, whose mass we feel as weight.
When the substance is radiation we refer to its consistency in terms of “frequency.” Radiation has an Electromagnetic Spectrum based on the frequency of its quanta. The consistency of radiation is high when its frequency is high. Our body generates heat, which is a form of radiation. Light is also a radiation, which forms our vision.
Thought as a substance has consistency of a very different type. We may refer to the consistency of thought in terms of the “gravity” of its consequences. Thought does affect the body and its functions, as well as the functions that body carries out. Thought can have a spectrum too based on the gravity of its consequences. The consistency of thought is high when its gravity is high.
Matter and Radiation are considered to be physical substances. The spectrum of matter may be placed above the Electromagnetic Spectrum of radiation.
Thought, which includes postulates, is considered to be a spiritual substance. The spectrum of thought may be placed below the Electromagnetic Spectrum of radiation. The spectrum of thought is yet to be researched fully.
We may say that the Substantiality of Self covers the whole spectrum from thought to radiation to matter. This substantiality may also be expressed in terms of motion. Thought is said to move much faster than radiation. Radiation is known to move must faster than matter.
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The major concepts introduced in Chapter 3 are SUBSTANCE, MATTER, RADIATION, THOUGHT, CONSISTENCY and MOTION. These concepts are defined in Glossary: Postulate Mechanics.
PM Postulate 3.1: The postulate of the substantiality of self appears as substance.
PM Postulate 3.2: The substance has a spectrum from thought to matter.
PM Postulate 3.3: Matter is most concentrated and thought is the least.
PM Postulate 3.4: Matter has the least motion and thought has the most.
PM Postulate 3.5: Matter and radiation are physical; thought is spiritual.
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Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
Here we look at the postulates that make up the ever present basis of the universe. These postulates are inherent to all parts of the universe. They are inherent also to our self.
The Vedic religions describe these inherent postulates as “sat-chit-ananda”.
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Sat = Substantiality (existence)
Chit = Awareness (ability to sense)
Ananda = Oneness (harmony)
The very basis of the universe is formed by these postulates. In other words, every bit of the universe is substantial. The universe and its parts are aware in that they can sense and interact. And all parts of the universe are in complete harmony. In summary, here is a profound sense of interconnectedness, love, and beauty, where the observer and observed become one. This awareness is experienced beneath thought, acting as a direct knowing that all life is woven into a single, cohesive fabric.
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The outcome of these basic postulates is the core of the universe. The outcome is also the self of the human form. The two have the same characteristics. Both are substantial. Both are aware. And, both are in harmony within themselves and with each other.
The harmony expresses itself as the natural affinity that we feel towards one another. It is the love that we value. It is manifested in our communications. It is the clarity in our perceptions of reality.
It is the assimilation of all that we sense and perceive, which we call harmony. From such assimilation arise considerations. From these consideration we build our reality of the self and the universe.
Considerations update themselves, and so does our reality of the self and the universe. But the basic postulates of “sat-chit-ananda” (substantiality, awareness and oneness) remain the same.
The subsequent chapters look at these basic postulates more closely.
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The major concepts introduced in Chapter 2 are SUBSTANTIALITY, AWARENESS, ONENESS, and SELF. These concepts are defined in Glossary: Postulate Mechanics.
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