As
presented in a previous blog, The Foundations of Reality, our cosmic story
plays a foundational role in the way we perceive and interact with everything
that exists in our material world. At
present, those cultural and individual stories are amazingly diverse; however,
as long as we are able to respect one another’s right to hold an alternative
view, this cornucopia of beliefs poses no hindrance to peaceful
coexistence. Unfortunately, too often we
observe the hostility that can result when beliefs are sustained through inflexibility
and intolerance.
What
shifts in our thinking would need to take place to nurture a more harmonious
global culture? Is there a story that
could be embraced by the majority of the citizens of our planet? If so, the task of promoting an inclusive
international identity could become achievable.
Traditional
cosmic stories have had thousands of years to develop and convey their
doctrines, mythologies, and icons. These
competing tales were born from speculation, contemplation, personal revelation,
or visions and have lacked cross-cultural acceptance. However, a new scientific understanding is
emerging that is based on verifiable observations. As this new empirical knowledge permeates
various societies, it has the potential to influence these traditional stories
and bring us to a common understanding of our human destiny.
In
light of the numerous conflicts currently underway around the world, this may
sound like mere wishful thinking.
However, we need to keep in mind that this new cosmological view is
incredibly young and has not had adequate time to exercise significant
influence on our global community. Many
of our most profound discoveries have either taken place or been confirmed
within the last twenty-five years. The launch of the Hubble telescope opened
the window on the universe, and what we are beginning to see is extraordinary.
Of
course, what is being revealed is not really a new story at all. It has been going on since the initial
expansion began approximately 14 billion
years ago. What is new is our
understanding of the cosmology involved in the production of our universe and
the subatomic structure of matter. Our
natural senses are limited and do not accurately reflect the reality of the
physical realm. Consequently, most of
our previous beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors have primarily been based upon primitive
perceptions that are incredibly incomplete.
Traditionally,
our observations and conclusions have been founded on a centrist point of
reference; egocentric, kin-centered, clan-centered, ethnocentric, nationalistic,
anthropocentric, and geocentric. This
perspective is reflected in our daily lives.
We still refer to the appearance and disappearance of the sun as sunrise
and sunset, as though the earth is standing still while the sun courses across
the sky. I’m not suggesting any campaign
to alter our language, but the event would be more accurately referred to as
the morning and evening rotation.
Consider
the term “outer space.” What does that
mean? Again, it is a geocentric
expression that implies that space is something that exists out there
somewhere, as though we are not part of it.
Although our presence is rather insignificant, we are in fact an
integral part of the universe. During the
lunar landings in the late 60s and early 70s, the truth of that reality became
quite evident as we began seeing photographs of our planet silhouetted against
the blackness of space.
 |
| We Are Expressions of the Universe |
Both
individually and collectively we are expressions of the universe. It is easy for us to view galaxies, stars,
planets and moons as such, but we do not typically think of ourselves in these
terms. Perhaps it is time to do so. In the documentary Journey of the Universe, Brian Swimme presents the profound
observation cited below. It succinctly highlights the reality that we are each
an aspect of this universal process.
“Over
the course of fourteen billion years, hydrogen gas
transformed
itself into mountains, butterflies, the music of Bach, and you and me.”
--Brian Thomas Swimme
This
is a relatively new understanding based on rational thought and empirical
observations. However, intuitively we
have known this for thousands of years as evidenced by the numerous religious
traditions and scriptures alluding to our connection with the heavens. Until now, our intellect had to be
transcended because our natural observations were incapable of affirming this
reality.
In
western culture our sense of cosmic connection has been sustained by denying
our natural reason and expressing faith in an omnipresent, omniscient,
omnipotent, invisible, and transcendent deity that created heaven and
earth. In all of the Abrahamic
religions, we find sacred texts that affirm that God dwells in the heavens
along with his angels. Furthermore,
Christians, Muslims, and some Jews anticipate an afterlife in some spiritual
heavenly realm.
Eastern
philosophy simply declared that our dualistic perceptions are illusions. Through deep meditation, devotees were able
to achieve “enlightenment” and experience a revelatory awareness that “all is
one.” Originating in the Vedic teachings
of the Hindu faith around 1,500 BCE, it extended through Buddhism, Taoism, and
many of the eastern philosophies.
During
the fourth century BCE, atomism emerged as an explanation of the natural world
simultaneously in Greece and India. It
was the belief that all matter is comprised of tiny particles that vary in size
and shape and form bonds in infinite combinations. The Greek philosophers, Leucippus and
Democritus, coined the term atom, which simply referred to tiny particles that
were irreducible.
Atomism
played a key role in Epicurean philosophy.
Around 50 BCE, an Epicurean named Lucretius wrote On the Nature of Things, an epic scientific discourse in the form
of a poem that presented amazing insights pertaining to the role of atoms in
the cosmos. Some of the assertions are
as follows:
-
There is nothing in the universe other
than atoms and void.
-
All material objects are comprised of
atoms including the heavenly bodies.
-
Stars are neither gods nor mystical. They are suns just like ours, composed of
atoms and orbited by satellites that are inhabited by living creatures in the
same way our planet is. They appear tiny
because we are merely observing them from a great distance.
What
is amazing is the fact that all of this intuitive knowledge came through
nothing more than natural observation, meditation, contemplation, and
logic. They had no telescope or knowledge
of the actual events that formed the material universe. They were not aware of nuclear physics or the
fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics.
Yet they sensed a cosmic unity that is completely compatible with our
current understanding of field singularity and the emerging concepts of string
theory.
The
source of these incredible insights is expressed in the Tao Te Ching, “How do I know this?
I look inside myself.” As this
ancient wisdom is affirmed through the scientific method, our rational and intuitive
minds are free to integrate and establish a state of harmonious understanding
as we collectively write our new unfolding cosmic story.
Reflections:
As
you mindfully contemplate this unfolding cosmic story, what implications arise
regarding the following issues?
-
Your sense of meaning and purpose as a
unique element within an evolving universe;
-
Your perception of the moon, stars, and
other galaxies as traveling companions; and
-
Your theology.
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