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This universe includes all that exists. It doesn’t exclude anything. Our senses of eye, ear, nose, tongue, and body perceive the concrete reality of matter, energy, space and time. But, beyond this concrete reality, the universe also includes the underlying abstract patterns, which are grasped by the mind.
The concept of abstraction is nothing new. We perceive it through our mind as we gain more experience. As a child we saw three cups, three plates and three spoons through our physical senses. As we grew up we could then also perceive the underlying abstraction of three.
Abstraction is the awareness of the patterns underlying concrete reality.
Mathematics deals in abstraction, and so does the subject of Logic. Scientific principles are also abstractions. When we are thinking deeply, we are looking into the abstraction of concrete reality.
Space may be abstracted as awareness of some sort. Energy may be abstracted as consciousness of some sort. Matter may be abstracted as identity of some sort. So we can have mental space as the deepest sense in which ripples of consciousness exist as beliefs. When we perceive something, ripples are generated in consciousness. Recognition comes about as these ripples go into resonance with some existing consciousness in mental space. This may represent mental energy. As we settle on meaningful conclusions in terms of relationship among identities, we have mental matter.
Mental space, energy and matter are patterns underlying concrete space, energy and matter.
Thus, the universe not only includes the concrete reality, but it also includes the abstract relationships that define the reality for us. And, in addition, it includes thoughts, assumptions, and speculations that come about when direct perception is missing. Such assumptions and preconceived notions tend to color the reality, and further distort it into unreality. It then takes resolving of inconsistencies to straighten out the unreality.
If we have to model this universe, let’s start with a spherical shape that is symmetrical from all directions (we can always modify this shape as this model evolves). The surface of this “sphere” of the model universe would represent the concrete reality of matter, energy, space and time as perceived by the five physical senses. The inside of the “sphere” would represent the abstract patterns underlying the concrete reality as perceived by the mind.
There would be increasing abstraction as one traverses from the surface to the center of this model of the universe.
This model represents a 5-dimensional universe. The four concrete dimensions of the material universe shall apply to the surface of the sphere. The fifth dimension of abstraction shall apply in the radial direction. Please note that this model is a metaphor that attempts to relate the various elements of this universe.
The center of this Substance theory model of the universe shall represent the ultimate abstraction that could be reached. The spherical layers around the center would represent increasing definition as they move away from the center. Each spherical layer may represent some abstract form of matter, energy, space and time. For example, some spherical layer may define thought as “matter”, computation as “energy”, the matrix of previous layer as “space”, and a different sense of ‘time”.
If this sphere represents all existence, then the center may represent God.
Just as the center anchors the sphere, God grounds this universe of all that exists.The deeper into this sphere one goes, the rarer abstraction one encounters.
God at the center is then the abstraction of all abstractions.
Many of the conclusions derived from this model may run counter-intuitive to traditional beliefs. For example, this model indicates that all cause and effect must lie within this spherical model of the universe, because it represents all existence. Any and all potential would then also lie within this model.
If there is no universe, then there is no God or potential either.
Yes, this is counter-intuitive; but that is what mindfulness seems to be leading toward.
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