Reference: The Book of Universe
Reference: The Book of Physics

We start by examining all that we know. We call this the universe. People generally misconceive the nature of the universe by focusing on its visual and physical aspect only. The complete definition of the UNIVERSE is as follows.

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Definition of UNIVERSE

The universe consists of all that is manifested and can be sensed. These are things that are knowable.

That which is not manifested cannot be sensed. It cannot be part of the universe. We may refer to this as the Unknowable. 

Thus, we broadly define the universe as that which is knowable. We divide the knowable universe into physical and spiritual.

Physical are those aspects of the universe that are sensed as ‘energy’ and ‘matter’. These sensations are given meaning, which then constitute our knowledge as contained in science.

Spiritual are those aspects of the universe that are postulated as the attributes of the Unknowable. These postulates constitute our knowledge as contained in religion.

All knowledge is sensed as ‘thought.’ We assimilate all thought to get the whole picture of the Universe.

All dualities, such as, Creator-created, Cause-effect, Mover-moved, and good-evil, fall within the scope of the Universe, because they are knowable.

We may say that the universe consists of matter, energy and thought, in a background that is unknowable.

The root meaning of UNIVERSE is “entire, all, literally, turned into one.” This means that nothing knowable is excluded from this universe. It also means that the Universe has the characteristic of Oneness, as it provides a complete picture of what is there.

The assimilation of all knowledge leads to this Oneness.

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Notes

We can sense not only matter, but energy and thought also. Science may, therefore, enquire into certain aspects of spirituality in a systematic manner. There are laws waiting to be discovered about the spiritual phenomena, such as, the out-of-body and near death experiences.

It is an obvious misconception that the universe is just physical, and that anything metaphysical is transcendental. The metaphysical is the ‘energy’ and ‘thought’ aspect of the universe, which can also be investigated scientifically using continuity, consistency and harmony as an objective criterion.

In Abrahamic religions, God is considered to have created this world. But the idea of God gets its meaning from the idea of the world. Those two ideas cannot exists apart from each other. They constitute a duality, which is the nature of this Universe.

We may only speculate upon the nature of the Creator or Cause of this universe. Such speculations, being known, are part of the Universe. Anything beyond the universe is unknowable.

It is a misconception that there are multiple universes. Such “multiple universes” can always be shown to be subject to the principle of Oneness; and, therefore, part of the Universe.

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Key Misconception

It is a key misconception to think that the universe is physical and that it does not include the spiritual.

The truth is that anything known under the heading of “spiritual” is also a part of this universe, and it can be investigated using the scientific method.

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More Misconceptions

You may discover more misconceptions on your own, if you contemplate on each sentence of the above definition with mindfulness. Please see:

The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness

Or, you may end up improving upon this definition.

Good luck!

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