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Sri Aurobindo, an Indian philosopher and sage of the highest order, tells us that "An evolution of consciousness is the central motive of terrestrial existence."
Those who have explored the ancient philosophy of the East or the modern physics of the West are aware of the strange concepts and ideas being expressed. They will have a head start in recognizing the intuitive beauty of the parallels. Yet the most important and exciting ideas can be grasped by anyone who is interested in exploring the deepest mysteries of the Universe. No doubt it will require some mental gymnastics. A little geometry, however, can be of considerable help with that.
Our worldview is typically based on logic and objective reason, but it turns out that those deepest mysteries of the Universe challenge the very foundation of that worldview. Today's physics, for example, shows us that to think of the Universe as being composed of separate particles scattered around in space is actually a limited view of an underlying unified state of reality. The experience of separateness does indeed seem to be illusory, just as sages and mystics have been telling us since before we can remember.
The synthesis of scientific and spiritual thought, which has actually been happening for a very long time, requires (1) the recognition that science has already transcended physical separateness, and (2) that spiritual reality be understood at the metaphysical level. At the same time, metaphysics deals with universal principles which naturally transcend religious dogma and help us get beyond the idea of a personified Creator. Of course, everyone must follow their own path to spiritual realizations.
The central principle of the great wisdom of the East is Nondualistic Mysticism: There is only one True Reality, and That never changes. It is a single state of Reality, transcendental, timeless, formless. Ultimately, there is only that One Reality.
transcendental, yet omnipresent
timeless, yet the source of spacetime
formless, yet the creative essence of all form
The physical Universe is merely a fragmented and transient expression of that One Reality. In essence, transcendental unity is the primary state of existence. It is Spirit. It is Consciousness. Although we in the West tend to refer to it as Eastern philosophy, the mystical foundation is common to all spiritual traditions and has been better referred to as the Ancient Wisdom.
It has long been pointed out that this vision of Oneness from the ancient teachings seems to find a modern parallel in science's vision of a Universal Superforce which creates everything. The most exciting aspect of the parallel, however, is the way in which one discipline can help us to understand the other. For those seekers of spiritual understanding not willing to ignore what science has learned, a modern metaphysical system of understanding is invaluable.
Of course, no metaphysical system can represent the transcendental in its true form. By definition, transcendental reality is unknowable, and to attribute any form whatsoever to the One Reality is idolatry. A metaphysical system is merely a tool to help bring forth realizations of those higher realities which cannot be fully represented in three-dimensional space, let alone on a two-dimensional page.
Like the surface of a sphere with multiple internal layers, the dimension we know as the physical world with our physical body is simply an outer shell created by the higher-dimensional realities within the sphere, with the central singularity shining forth as the highest dimension. The origin of that central singularity cannot be defined or known any more than can the singularity of the Big Bang. It simply is because It is. If the CosmicLight of that highest dimension were to suddenly blink out, the entire Universe would just as suddenly cease to exist.
Reference to the Sanskrit classics, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, is particularly useful because their metaphysical foundation is well-preserved and the terminology is familiar to those who have studied philosophy and comparative religion. Brahman and Atman, for example, refer to the Universal Spirit and the individual spirit, or to Universal Consciousness and individual consciousness. In the nondualism of Advaita Vedanta, the Atman, our spirit and seed of consciousness, is an integral part of Brahman, much like how a ring on a sphere is an integral part of the sphere. The ring is a full dimension less than the sphere and has no reality whatsoever without the sphere.
In the Hebrew mystical tradition of the Kabbalah, the equivalent to Brahman is called Ein-Sof (The Endless One). It should be understood that the underlying principles are universal and are the same for all spiritual traditions. Similarly, all bioforms that happen to share our Universe are, by necessity, part of the same Universal Lifeforce that we are. This becomes obvious as the metaphysical realities and essential Oneness of the Universe are understood.
As represented by the simple geometric beauty of the Roman Pantheon, a higher truth underlies all the anthropomorphized body forms of theology. Recognizing this more abstract level of spiritual understanding as being more real is called nontheism (which is not atheism) and is characteristic of Buddhism, for example, and metaphysics in general.
The mathematics of Relativity and quantum physics is multi-dimensional and complex, yet it describes a reality which is fundamentally simple and based on geometry -- the geometry of quantum fields within the geometry of spacetime. As a representation of reality, geometry is arguably even more fundamental than the mathematics which describes it. The geometry of spacetime existed long before Einstein developed the equations of Relativity.
Today, we are all familiar with the fact that the bodies we find ourselves living in are made of countless atoms forged eons ago in the nuclear furnaces of the stars. These atoms, in turn, are composed of the primordial quanta born in the first stages of the Big Bang itself. The entire history of the Universe is encoded into the most basic components of our bodies, so as strange as it may seem, we are actually not far removed from the beginning of the Universe even at this very moment.
“All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force.” (Max Planck) As convenient as it is for science to think of the universe as being composed of separate particles scattered around in empty space, this classical view of things simply does not provide a complete picture of the way things are.
The Gnostics of the 12th Century had a geometric conception of Logos as "an intelligible sphere whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere".
Intriguingly, an interpretation of unified field physics suggests that a Universal Hypersphere, a hyperspherical polarity of the Universal Superforce, is the most fundamental expression of existence which can be realized from the physical plane, like a Geometric Logos. In this picture, all quantum processes which define matter and energy, along with the seed of individual consciousness, are represented by simple geometric elements within the hyperspherical geometry, radius rays (or vectors) and equatorial rings.
This possibility provides a geometric source for the wave mechanics of matterenergy in spacetime, while maintaining an underlying level of all possible realities in an unmanifest state. Many will recognize the key significance of this to the wavefunction of quantum physics and in the way matter and energy seem to behave.
The geometry can also represent such metaphysical principles as the male and female movements of Creation and the polarity of time and consciousness. Perhaps most interesting, it can also beautifully represent the nature of the Trikaya, the three-bodied unfoldment of Creation from the One Reality. The central singularity is the first body of the Trikaya, the ‘shining forth’ of the infinite vectors of its creative expression is the second body, with the ‘cosmic dance’ of the Universe itself being the third.
As strange as this might seem, the idea actually makes more sense than having to imagine there must be an infinite number of parallel universes, for example, in order to account for the superposition of all possible realities inherent in the quantum wavefunction. It is especially intriguing considering that it also provides a better understanding of all the other bizarre implications of modern physics, while revealing a fascinating insight into the metaphysics of the Ancient Wisdom.
Only when we fully integrate mystical knowledge into our worldview do the strange implications of modern science begin to make sense. At the same time, the language of modern science becomes a great help in understanding what the Ancient Wisdom is all about.
Human consciousness has indeed come full circle. We have arrived where we started in the sense that an ancient understanding has once again been brought to light. At the same time, we have taken a quantum leap forward in the evolution of human awareness.
Slay therefore with the sword of wisdom the doubt that lies in thy heart.
Be one in self harmony, in Yoga, and arise, great warrior, arise.
1Sri Aurobindo, The Future Evolution of Man, 1963, Sri Aurobindo Ashram
2Lama Anagarika Govinda, Creative Meditation and Multi-Dimensional Consciousness, 1976, Theosophical Publishing House
3Book of Twenty-Four Philosophers, 12th-century text
as "of Quasars & Quanta"
(from writings begun in 1984)
FULLCIRCLE – The Geometry of Modern Metaphysics
is an ebook covering the main discussions on this Website.
Click the cover image to download the PDF.
download audio version
(ZIP file, 138 MB)
Like Rings on a Sphere
When mystics say, unified are we,
Most will ask, how can this be?
With philosophy some ponder, around the mind they wonder.
It is a mystery, you see.
In modern times, to science some turn,
To find what there is to learn.
Though atoms are spaced, their quanta are interlaced.
On this the mind can churn.
Yet deep within, for those ready to hear,
A geometry will make it most clear.
The quantum would insist that space does not exist.
We are simply like rings on a sphere.
Excerpts may be used in critical reviews without prior permission.
NASA photos and captions are public domain but should be credited as indicated.
