Reference: UNIVERSE: The Basic Definitions
Preface
One of the paths in Hinduism is Jnana Yoga (the union of knowledge). This book may be looked upon as offering a modern version of it. This book is based on the proposition that consciously resolving anomalies in one’s understanding helps one improve and evolve rapidly.
Anomalies are things like discontinuity (missing data), inconsistency (contradictory data), or disharmony (arbitrary data), which leads to the feeling that something does not make sense. As one handles such anomalies in a systematic manner, not only the mind but the body also starts to heal.
When I retired, the uppermost thing in my mind was wanting to understand all the things that I did not understand during my schooling, first in mathematics and then in physics. I was tutoring mathematics at the time, and I felt interested in finding a way, such that my students could understand the subject rapidly. The trick I found was to first make sure that the basics of the subject were understood, and then building up the understanding on those basics. The formula that I used was:
Start with the broadest concept and make it understood, then the next broadest, and so on.
This book applies that same formula to the understanding of the universe around us and ourselves. Actually, this project started with the desire to understand the interface between physics and metaphysics. That led to interesting insights that are covered in this book.
The general plan followed in this book is to start with the broadest concept possible and define it with scientific precision. This allows us to look at the most widely prevalent misconceptions in the society. Once we have done that, we look at the next broadest concept, and so on.
The broadest concept appears to be the UNIVERSE, which forms the knowable part of the dichotomy “Unknowable-knowable.” This point may be contested, and all questions with respect to it are welcome.
If God is a broader concept than the universe, then one must look at the fact that God is part of the dichotomy “Creator-created.” In this universe both creator and created are generally knowable. If God is knowable, then God is a part of the knowable universe and can be approached scientifically. If God is unknowable, then the dichotomy “Unknowable-knowable” allows much less ambiguity.
We divide the universe into physical and spiritual universes. The physical universe is made of energy and matter. It is, obviously, a part of the known universe. The spiritual universe has a component that is unknowable, but the other component is a knowable “thought universe.” So we start with a knowable universe that is made up of thought, energy and matter, with a background that is unknowable.
This book takes a scientific approach to understand both the physical and spiritual aspects of this universe. Science is a rigorous, systematic process of acquiring knowledge about the natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of hypotheses. This book starts with the hypothesis that there is a complete picture into which all the parts of the universe fit together like a puzzle. This hypothesis advances a very practical principle of Oneness.
This principle of Oneness puts the constraint of continuity, consistency and harmony on all parts of the universe. All dichotomies, such as, hot-cold are the two ends of a continuous scale. Thus, each dichotomy may be seen as a continuous dimension. All dimensions must be consistent with each other in this universe. And, the contents of these dimensions must maintain a harmonious relationship with each other at all times. Therein lie all the laws of conservation advanced in physics.
This scientific approach would not be possible without the earlier extremely broad and speculative approaches of religion and philosophy. We still have those religious and philosophic elements when it comes to addressing the unknowable. Unknowable cannot be known because it is not manifested in the first place. But, the unknowable may be “manifested” through making bold postulates. Such postulates then become part of the knowable universe, and subject to the principle of Oneness.
This book is, thus, based on the dichotomy “Unknowable-knowable,” and it presents a modern version of the ancient Jnana Yoga.
It starts with the broadest concept possible—the UNIVERSE.
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