Burst Thirty Six (For Youth):
Physics and Metaphysics – Part II
Is the whole universe nothing other than vibrations of energy, as Physics would propose? Or is it all consciousness appearing as matter/energy, thanks to limitations of the observing equipment, as Vedanta would suggest?
Realizing the truth of the first proposal has tremendous potential in applied science (technology) and we can contribute to more growth and prosperity for humanity.
Realizing the second possibility can bestow upon us great peace. Our conflicts can come to an end, if the subject-object division itself ends.
One view of who we are is that we are specks in the infinite stretch of space and time. A second view is that space and time are within us. Adi Shankaracharya, in Dakshinamurti Stotra, says space and time are conceived by the human mind!
In advanced physics, there is much uncertainty about the nature of things like an electron. Oppenheimer said long ago, “If we say an electron moves, it is not correct; if we say it does not move, it is again not correct!” The Ishavasya Upanishad (Vedanta, from Rig-veda) declares about the ultimate reality (Atman, Brahman), “It moves; it does not move. It is inside; it is outside. It is far; it is near!”
A great thinker observed, “A little science takes you away from spirituality; more of science takes you closer!”
Physics began proposing that matter is indestructible and energy also separately is indestructible. It later proposed that the matter-energy duo is indestructible, while conversion between them could take place. The Vedanta proposes that the observer (consciousness) is truly indestructible. Is it too much to accept that the intelligence that finds out the secrets of matter or energy is in itself of a higher order of reality?
All confusion and sorrow have arisen from a false division created by thought (thinking). Thoughts create the ego – the false I. This false ‘I’ is the culprit then in bringing about human misery. Interestingly, we have in Mathematics the number i (square root of minus one), which is in a sense not possible (as negative numbers cannot have a square root) and yet is quite a valid figure in many branches of Math. The false I of philosophy and the i of Math seem to have a common ground!
“Truth is one; sages describe it in many ways.” That is the old adage. Are we nearing a point of time when we can recognize that Vedanta and Physics are describing the same truth in two different ways?
Swami Chidananda
Monday, March 21, 2005