Amit Goswami is a quantum physicist, raised in the Hindu tradition. His unique experiences bring a fresh perspective to the connection between science and spirituality.
The most important takeaways from this book are not what we would think of as scientific:
- Consciousness is the root of the material world, not the other way around
- There is a process whereby "quantum leaps" of intuition/creativity occur and manifest themselves in the material world (the source of which is ultimately a downward causal process and source of consciousness of which we are all a part of -- i.e. God).
- Both the subtle world of consciousness/spirit and the material world are important. Mystics sit on one end of this spectrum, and materialists on the other. I personally thought that the right answer was something in between -- somewhere that recognized the importance of both realms. I now feel well justified in this belief.
- The material world is where the infinite potential of consciousness is manifested in a continuous process of evolution and perfecting.
If you are squeamish about all things scientific, this may not be the book for you, as Gaswami’s main motivation is to provide a new framework for scientific research, rooted in consciousness as the prime mover for all reality. Most of the content is directed towards proving that point, and some of his logical arguments are hard to follow.
That being said, I have read other works by physicists (Deutsch and Tipler come to mind), and this book is comparatively easy to follow for those not indoctrinated in the field. The language and style are relatively common and colorful. This is decisively not a book on physics, and that is a good thing. (Just skip the Intro and Prologue until after you’ve read the rest of the book. Trust me.). I wouldn’t say this is a book on spirituality either. It covers a middle ground, making a connection between the two. Since I come from a scientific background, and I’ve been on a spiritual path recently, I found his arguments really interesting and helpful.
A lot of the same questions were asked that I have asked myself, and the answers were sometimes different. For instance, I had started to accept the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum physics (put forth by David Deutch and others). After reading “God Is Not Dead,” I realize that this materialist interpretation has some serious flaws.
The timing for me on reading this book was very coincidental with other events in my life. It’s cleared up some confusion I had about writing my next blog entry for one. The most amazing coincidence, however, was that on the same morning after I finished this book, I was also introduced to the process of “thoughtstorming” which seems like a very interesting exercise in group consciousness. This process is amazingly similar to the process Goswami covers in “God Is Not Dead” (the process whereby "quantum leaps" of intuition/creativity occur and manifest themselves in the material world, as I already mentioned.) According to Goswami, here’s how this process works – and how I found it similar to thoughtstorming:
- Preparation – This involves research/discussion on what it is you’d like to change or get new creative ideas about. This is equivalent to the thoughtstorming process of choosing a topic and talking about it.
- Resting/Relaxing -- the part where you just sit back and let unconscious processing work -- where the "wave of possibility" expands. This is equivalent to the thoughtstorming process of "relaxing, allowing, and stopping self-comparisions to create an ego-free zone."
- Intuitive "Quantum Leap" -- where we "collapse" the quantum wave of possibility, thus making a choice. This is also an unconscious (or perhaps "unaware" is a better term) process that involves our highest level of consciousness. (Which is, as Goswami says, a downwardly causal force of consciousness that we are all a part of -- or in other words, God.) This is a spontaneous and discontinuous leap of creativity/intuition. It is the same underlying process that is supposed to occur in thoughtstorming.
- Manifestation -- where we become aware of this shift in consciousness and give it meaning. It is the point where it influences the material world -- either through our thoughts and actions, or some concrete physical manifestation. This is equivalent to the thoughtstorming realization of a “corecept” -- where "corecepts trigger intuitive recognition and agreement by the group, a "Why, of course!" reaction.” The process of thoughtstorming itself can apparently have other beneficial manifestations in your life.
Even though Goswami is promoting this process as a scientific way of thinking, I don’t think we need to understand the nuts and bolts of the underlying process in order to apply it to our lives. Even if this were taken as a scientific framework, it seems that part of the process is, by definition, beyond scientific study. For me, at least, it does offer some reassurance that the latest in scientific and spiritual thinking have a lot in common. I take this as a sign that our world is in the process of going through some positive changes toward spiritual growth.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Fear Not
Driving down the road, I saw a bumper sticker on the car in front of me. It said, simply, "Fear Not." So simple, and yet so incredibly profound. If there was just one message I could take to heart, and then convey to the world, it would be "Fear Not." It's one thing to intellectually understand the message behind this simple phrase, but quite another to live it.
In my previous blog, "The Power of Dis-Creation" I talked about using fear as a tool for growth. "Fear Not" does not mean the absence of fear. What it means is keeping the proper perspective on fear. Be an observer of your experience of fear, rather than being caught up in it. Use it to help keep you on your desired path.
You should not let fear prevent you from doing what is in your heart -- because it is impossible for you to fail. How can I say this when we experience failure every day? If you believe as I do that our separation from each other and from God is just an illusion -- then things are put into perspective. There can be no "bad" experience unless that's what we call it. It matters not which path we take because all paths lead back to God.
We could make what appear to be bad decisions. We could destroy ourselves -- destroy our world in fact, and it would not matter in the long run. Could anything we do possibly diminish the magnificence of God? Of course not.
This is not to say that we should act irresponsibly. In doing so, we deny who we really are -- which is love. We can not grow and evolve and live to our fullest potential when we deny who we are. But living in fear is also a denial of who we are. To live without fear is to always act in a way that is consistent with the highest vision we have for ourselves, regardless of the consequences. If that sounds irresponsible, read it again, carefully.
If we can always live with this perspective, it can be very empowering. Instead of focusing so much on particular outcomes, we focus on who we are and who we choose to become. This is the concept of detachment. As long as we are true to who we are (and help others be true to who they are), it does not really matter what the outcome is. There can be no dissapointment -- there is no failure -- if we are not attached to a particular outcome. And we can rest assured that regardless of what happens, we will always find our way back to God.
I'd like to leave you with this quote:
Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
In my previous blog, "The Power of Dis-Creation" I talked about using fear as a tool for growth. "Fear Not" does not mean the absence of fear. What it means is keeping the proper perspective on fear. Be an observer of your experience of fear, rather than being caught up in it. Use it to help keep you on your desired path.
You should not let fear prevent you from doing what is in your heart -- because it is impossible for you to fail. How can I say this when we experience failure every day? If you believe as I do that our separation from each other and from God is just an illusion -- then things are put into perspective. There can be no "bad" experience unless that's what we call it. It matters not which path we take because all paths lead back to God.
We could make what appear to be bad decisions. We could destroy ourselves -- destroy our world in fact, and it would not matter in the long run. Could anything we do possibly diminish the magnificence of God? Of course not.
This is not to say that we should act irresponsibly. In doing so, we deny who we really are -- which is love. We can not grow and evolve and live to our fullest potential when we deny who we are. But living in fear is also a denial of who we are. To live without fear is to always act in a way that is consistent with the highest vision we have for ourselves, regardless of the consequences. If that sounds irresponsible, read it again, carefully.
If we can always live with this perspective, it can be very empowering. Instead of focusing so much on particular outcomes, we focus on who we are and who we choose to become. This is the concept of detachment. As long as we are true to who we are (and help others be true to who they are), it does not really matter what the outcome is. There can be no dissapointment -- there is no failure -- if we are not attached to a particular outcome. And we can rest assured that regardless of what happens, we will always find our way back to God.
I'd like to leave you with this quote:
Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Power of Dis-Creation
I recently had a conversation with a friend that opened up a whole new way of thinking for me (you know who you are. :-) What I really should say is that it opened up a new way of feeling -- because that's what it's really about. When it comes to matters of the soul, over thinking tends to just get in the way.
Many of us understand that we create our own reality. What might not be so clear is that creation involves not just building up, but also tearing down. You wouldn't try to build a new house on the ruins of an old one. Before you can build a new set of beliefs about yourself and the world, you have to let the old ones go. What stops us is fear.
Fear is actually a blessing. First of all, it prevents you from doing stupid things, like walking out in the middle of the street. This kind of fear isn't really fear at all, but simply a healthy respect for the laws of nature. The kind of fear I'm really talking about is the kind that tries to stop you from doing something you know you really need to do, like give that speech in front of those thousands of people, or quit your old job to start that writing career.
If fear is stopping us from doing what we need to do, how can it be a blessing? It can be, because it is a sign. It is a signal to us that we are holding onto our creations beyond their usefulness. It is an indication that we have an opportunity to grow. These creations may have served us well in the past, but it is now time to move on.
Fear is rooted in belief: "I can't speak in front of all those people, because I believe I'm not good enough. I'm going to make mistakes and look stupid" or "I can't quit that job, because I believe that if I do, I won't be able to support myself or my family. We will no longer be happy and secure."
Fear arises because there is a conflict between what you believe, and your vision of who you are and what you'd like to become. In this case, your vision of yourself might be "I wish to be a successful politician." A requirement for this is that you can stand in front of large audiences and speak. And yet, inside you believe that you cannot do that. Or your vision might be "I wish to be a successful writer" and yet you believe you cannot do that because quitting your job would bring you insecurity. What is the feeling you experience because of this conflict? Fear.
You can not become your vision of yourself until you overcome that fear. How do you overcome the fear? You do it by changing the belief that is in conflict with your vision. This is what self-help guru's try to get you to do. Perhaps sometimes they succeed. Just remember, the source of change never comes from outside you. It can only be found inside. You have that infinite potential of the divine inside of you. Your beliefs are not a part of that pure white light -- they are the filters you have chosen to place in front of it. Before you can put a new belief in place, you need dis-create the old belief so that you can see that infinite potential. Through the strength of God's love present in you, re-create yourself with a new set of beliefs that are consistent with the highest vision of who you wish to be.
My friend compared our journey of growth to climbing a mountain. We can look forward and see some of how far we have yet to go as the mountain path rises up and disappears into the mist. This can seem pretty scary if we dwell on the challenges ahead. If we look back down the mountain, we can see how far we've come, and we can see others on their journey up the mountain. This can also be scary, because we can also see how far it is we could fall. It is best, therefore, to simply focus on the present -- just focus on that next step. And realize that you are never alone on your journey. Just as time passes quickly, and difficult tasks seem easy when we are with good friends, the journey will be effortless when we realize that we are all joined as one in God's creation.
Many of us understand that we create our own reality. What might not be so clear is that creation involves not just building up, but also tearing down. You wouldn't try to build a new house on the ruins of an old one. Before you can build a new set of beliefs about yourself and the world, you have to let the old ones go. What stops us is fear.
Fear is actually a blessing. First of all, it prevents you from doing stupid things, like walking out in the middle of the street. This kind of fear isn't really fear at all, but simply a healthy respect for the laws of nature. The kind of fear I'm really talking about is the kind that tries to stop you from doing something you know you really need to do, like give that speech in front of those thousands of people, or quit your old job to start that writing career.
If fear is stopping us from doing what we need to do, how can it be a blessing? It can be, because it is a sign. It is a signal to us that we are holding onto our creations beyond their usefulness. It is an indication that we have an opportunity to grow. These creations may have served us well in the past, but it is now time to move on.
Fear is rooted in belief: "I can't speak in front of all those people, because I believe I'm not good enough. I'm going to make mistakes and look stupid" or "I can't quit that job, because I believe that if I do, I won't be able to support myself or my family. We will no longer be happy and secure."
Fear arises because there is a conflict between what you believe, and your vision of who you are and what you'd like to become. In this case, your vision of yourself might be "I wish to be a successful politician." A requirement for this is that you can stand in front of large audiences and speak. And yet, inside you believe that you cannot do that. Or your vision might be "I wish to be a successful writer" and yet you believe you cannot do that because quitting your job would bring you insecurity. What is the feeling you experience because of this conflict? Fear.
You can not become your vision of yourself until you overcome that fear. How do you overcome the fear? You do it by changing the belief that is in conflict with your vision. This is what self-help guru's try to get you to do. Perhaps sometimes they succeed. Just remember, the source of change never comes from outside you. It can only be found inside. You have that infinite potential of the divine inside of you. Your beliefs are not a part of that pure white light -- they are the filters you have chosen to place in front of it. Before you can put a new belief in place, you need dis-create the old belief so that you can see that infinite potential. Through the strength of God's love present in you, re-create yourself with a new set of beliefs that are consistent with the highest vision of who you wish to be.
My friend compared our journey of growth to climbing a mountain. We can look forward and see some of how far we have yet to go as the mountain path rises up and disappears into the mist. This can seem pretty scary if we dwell on the challenges ahead. If we look back down the mountain, we can see how far we've come, and we can see others on their journey up the mountain. This can also be scary, because we can also see how far it is we could fall. It is best, therefore, to simply focus on the present -- just focus on that next step. And realize that you are never alone on your journey. Just as time passes quickly, and difficult tasks seem easy when we are with good friends, the journey will be effortless when we realize that we are all joined as one in God's creation.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Law of Passion
Walking can be a wonderfully meditative experience, especially when it is done in the midst of natural beauty. In this situation, it's easy to ask questions inwardly about the source of our world, and all the wonder and natural beauty we find in it. I was taking such a walk the other day, looking at the mountains in their majesty, the clear blue wide-open sky, and the trees with their intricate patterns of leaves. It's hard to imagine that all of this came about due purely to accident. It must have a purpose, right?
Thomas Edison is purported to have said "Genius is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration." I loathe to disagree with geniuses, but I don't think he got it quite right. Allow me to explain.
How many of us find ourselves in jobs that seem like drudgery -- that lack meaning? If we didn't have to perform these jobs to survive, or help our family survive, would we still do them? How many of us wish that we were blessed with work that also fulfilled our life's purpose -- that provided our lives with meaning and value? If we had this kind of job, work wouldn't seem like drudgery at all. We would wake up early, hardly being able to wait to take up where we left off the day before. In fact, work would seem a lot more like fun -- full of grace and ease, laughter and wonder.
Edison's quote seems on the surface to make a valid point, but it really misses the point. The part about "inspiration" is downplayed, while the "perspiration" part is given all the focus. It's true -- In order for Edison to create a working light bulb, he spent a great effort trying hundreds of different materials to use as filiments until he finally found the right one. It was a lot of work for him and his assistants. Or was it?
I ask you -- is it hard work for a tree to grow? Or the Earth's seasons to come and go? Of course not! The true wonder of a tree is not in the beauty of it's leaves, or its steadfastness through the seasons of time. It is the idea of a tree, contained in a tiny seed, from which a mighty giant grows. An individual tree will not likely last ten thousand years, but trees have been around for millions of years, because it is the idea of a tree that is persistent.
What would ease our burden here on Earth? If we could lounge around and have all of our needs met, would that make us happy? I doubt for long! What is it then, that so often illudes us -- that has the power to ease our burden and bring happiness to our lives? It's that little seed -- an idea -- a vision so small and simple, and yet so grand. Set a vision for yourself, and for the world. Follow it with passion -- with love and joy. It's the vision that is so often hard to find. But when we do, the rest is effortless!
Science can explain a lot about the world we live in, but it will never be able to explain where inspiration comes from. This is because the wellspring of ideas is a source far greater than what we can measure with instruments. Like a stream flowing from a spring, the source trickles down through all of creation. We have the power to claim that source as our own. One has only to look around at the wonders of human creation to realize this. More importantly, we can see this in the countless acts of selflessness commited each day, without fanfare, and without fame.
But the true wonder is not found in what we see. Look inside to find the source of your inspiration. Find the infinite potential of the limitless canvas of creation. Use it to set a vision. Follow that vision with passion. Use that passion to stimulate your thoughts and actions. Use your thoughts and actions to strip away everything from limitless possibilities that doesn't align with your vision until your grandest ideas about yourself and the world are achieved.
It is the passion that will keep you going. It is the passion that will serve your purpose to grow and evolve -- effortlessly. It is the passion that will allow you to be who you truly are, and which will lead the world to discover what it truly is. Find your passion, and you will find your purpose.
I have no doubt that Edison's work was an act of passion, rooted in the source of love and life for all of creation. His endless days and nights, toiling to find the right materials to bring his ideas to light must have been as effortless as it is for a tree to grow.
As I enjoyed the beauty of nature all around me on my walk, I understood that the universe itself is the outspring of an even grander idea. A vision in the mind of God, a vision which we have inherited, to continue the blessed and effortless work of creation.
Thomas Edison is purported to have said "Genius is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration." I loathe to disagree with geniuses, but I don't think he got it quite right. Allow me to explain.
How many of us find ourselves in jobs that seem like drudgery -- that lack meaning? If we didn't have to perform these jobs to survive, or help our family survive, would we still do them? How many of us wish that we were blessed with work that also fulfilled our life's purpose -- that provided our lives with meaning and value? If we had this kind of job, work wouldn't seem like drudgery at all. We would wake up early, hardly being able to wait to take up where we left off the day before. In fact, work would seem a lot more like fun -- full of grace and ease, laughter and wonder.
Edison's quote seems on the surface to make a valid point, but it really misses the point. The part about "inspiration" is downplayed, while the "perspiration" part is given all the focus. It's true -- In order for Edison to create a working light bulb, he spent a great effort trying hundreds of different materials to use as filiments until he finally found the right one. It was a lot of work for him and his assistants. Or was it?
I ask you -- is it hard work for a tree to grow? Or the Earth's seasons to come and go? Of course not! The true wonder of a tree is not in the beauty of it's leaves, or its steadfastness through the seasons of time. It is the idea of a tree, contained in a tiny seed, from which a mighty giant grows. An individual tree will not likely last ten thousand years, but trees have been around for millions of years, because it is the idea of a tree that is persistent.
What would ease our burden here on Earth? If we could lounge around and have all of our needs met, would that make us happy? I doubt for long! What is it then, that so often illudes us -- that has the power to ease our burden and bring happiness to our lives? It's that little seed -- an idea -- a vision so small and simple, and yet so grand. Set a vision for yourself, and for the world. Follow it with passion -- with love and joy. It's the vision that is so often hard to find. But when we do, the rest is effortless!
Science can explain a lot about the world we live in, but it will never be able to explain where inspiration comes from. This is because the wellspring of ideas is a source far greater than what we can measure with instruments. Like a stream flowing from a spring, the source trickles down through all of creation. We have the power to claim that source as our own. One has only to look around at the wonders of human creation to realize this. More importantly, we can see this in the countless acts of selflessness commited each day, without fanfare, and without fame.
But the true wonder is not found in what we see. Look inside to find the source of your inspiration. Find the infinite potential of the limitless canvas of creation. Use it to set a vision. Follow that vision with passion. Use that passion to stimulate your thoughts and actions. Use your thoughts and actions to strip away everything from limitless possibilities that doesn't align with your vision until your grandest ideas about yourself and the world are achieved.
It is the passion that will keep you going. It is the passion that will serve your purpose to grow and evolve -- effortlessly. It is the passion that will allow you to be who you truly are, and which will lead the world to discover what it truly is. Find your passion, and you will find your purpose.
I have no doubt that Edison's work was an act of passion, rooted in the source of love and life for all of creation. His endless days and nights, toiling to find the right materials to bring his ideas to light must have been as effortless as it is for a tree to grow.
As I enjoyed the beauty of nature all around me on my walk, I understood that the universe itself is the outspring of an even grander idea. A vision in the mind of God, a vision which we have inherited, to continue the blessed and effortless work of creation.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Go Within or Go Without
The last few days I've been pondering what I perceive as a need in my life -- a lack -- something getting in the way of my happiness. I wanted to share this experience with you so that it may help you find your own truth.
Specifically, I thought I was lacking in the experience of intimacy -- that is being able to share a deep feeling of connection and oneness with others.
I went so far as to question how I could remove myself from this desire -- to pull myself out of it and take a detached perspective.
Fortunately, I came to my senses. Or rather I moved away from my senses. In other words, I was previously looking in the wrong place. I was relying on what my senses told me about the world to decide what it is I need, and what it is I lack.
With a sudden clarity of insight (more like a "duh" kind of moment), I remembered what I knew all along, that everything is already inside of you. Inside everyone of us you have the infinite potential of the divine. The only thing coming between me and that great truth was my own fear -- a fear that I myself created. Through that realization, the fear no longer had any power. It became an illusion, and I could then let it go. This allowed me to open up to the truth, which is that you are already deeply connected to infinite consciousness. By extension, you are already deeply connected with everyone and everything.
With that realization, all that's left to do to turn this knowing into experience is to share that feeling with everyone I encounter in my life, but especially those I am already closest to.
I'm sure it'll take a little practice on my part for this to really sink in, but practice I shall.
I hope that when you start to dwell on something in your life that you think you are missing, that you'll take a moment to go inside where it will be waiting for you.
Specifically, I thought I was lacking in the experience of intimacy -- that is being able to share a deep feeling of connection and oneness with others.
I went so far as to question how I could remove myself from this desire -- to pull myself out of it and take a detached perspective.
Fortunately, I came to my senses. Or rather I moved away from my senses. In other words, I was previously looking in the wrong place. I was relying on what my senses told me about the world to decide what it is I need, and what it is I lack.
With a sudden clarity of insight (more like a "duh" kind of moment), I remembered what I knew all along, that everything is already inside of you. Inside everyone of us you have the infinite potential of the divine. The only thing coming between me and that great truth was my own fear -- a fear that I myself created. Through that realization, the fear no longer had any power. It became an illusion, and I could then let it go. This allowed me to open up to the truth, which is that you are already deeply connected to infinite consciousness. By extension, you are already deeply connected with everyone and everything.
With that realization, all that's left to do to turn this knowing into experience is to share that feeling with everyone I encounter in my life, but especially those I am already closest to.
I'm sure it'll take a little practice on my part for this to really sink in, but practice I shall.
I hope that when you start to dwell on something in your life that you think you are missing, that you'll take a moment to go inside where it will be waiting for you.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Process of Creation
One idea I've come across many times is that
Creation is a continuous process.
I would have a difficult time coming up with a statement more profound. This simple statement can be interpreted in many ways:
- Creation is ongoing
- Creation repeats itself in an endless cycle
- Creation spawns creation
- The universe is continuously recreated from moment to moment
- Creation is unlimited
- Creation is a contiguous, unbroken process
In fact, ALL of these interpretations are correct. And if we look at them more closely, we can find deep meaning in our existence, and the exciting revelation that our destiny is one of infinite, dynamic growth.
In "Science and the Akashic Field" (a recent inspiration for Deepak Chopra), Ervin Laszlo rationally explores the idea of a sea of energy and knowledge that is the wellspring of our physical reality. It is equivalent to the so-called quantum vaccuum or zero-point energy field that is gaining credibility in the scientific world. Laszlo's "A-Field" represents a more fundamental level of reality. One that is infinite and enduring. It explains all the unexpected connections we see. (Laszlo calls this "coherence.") It explains several important things:
- Everything is connected in a very meaningful way.
- There is a permanent record of all happenings in the universe.
- Because information is preserved, the universe always proceeds forward. There is unending dynamic growth.
These are joyous revelations! We can rest assured that our soul is eternal, and one with a greater existence, and that we personally, and as part of the whole, have unlimited creative potential for new experience and growth. This may simply be an affirmation of your own inner truth. I think most of us realize that nothing truly has meaning unless it is infinite and enduring. It is comforting to realize that in the deepest level of reality, no experience, no knowldege, no act of kindness, no expression of love is ever forgotten.
The process of creation itself is something few people have a firm grasp on. Most of us believe that to create something, we start with nothing, and add on what we think needs to be there in order to realize what it is we set out to create. This is exactly the opposite of what really happens! When we consider that we each contain infinite divine potential, then we realize that creation happens by starting with everything possible and then subtracting to create what we have imagined. Bernard Haisch, a prominent astrophysicist, explains this idea in his book "The God Theory", using the metephor of a slide projector:
"Turn it on without any slide inserted and project the pure white light onto the screen. That white light contains the potential to create every image you can imagine -- your Thanksgiving family gathering, your trip to the Rockies, your high school graduation. Every one of these images, and an infinite number of others, are contained in potentia in the formless white light flowing from the bulb to the screen. All you have to do to project the picture you want is to put in the slide that subtracts the proper colors in the proper places. The white light is thus the source of infinite possibility, and you create the desired image by intelligent subtraction, causing the real to emerge from the possible. By limiting the infinitely possible, you create the finitely real."
Haisch goes on to propose that consciousness is also infinite, and our brains work like a filter, subtracting from the infinite potential to produce what we experience as our own individual consciousnesses. Haisch cites cases of brain "impairment" through injury, drugs, or a meditative delta-wave states, where new, incredible perceptions and mental abilities appear.
There is evidence all around us of a universe that works by limiting the inifinite potential to create the reality we experience. It works on every level, from the subatomic to the entire universe itself. In quantum physics, particles exist in every possible state at once (in what physicists call "superposition"), until an observation is made, at which time they "decohere" to a specific, measurable state. Physicists are now trying to harness this capability to produce "quantum computers" that have the promise to be infinitely more capable than today's classical computers.
Recently, the well-know physicist Stephen Hawking, and Thomas Hertog proposed a model of the universe that is exactly like quantum superposition, but on the level of the universe itself. Basically, the universe exists in all possible states until we observe it. At this time, the universe "collapses" into a measurable state, with a history compatible with our observations. The universe is thus recreated from instant to instant. It also implies that the present creates the past, rather than the other way around!
The same process works in evolution of all kinds (biological, evolution of thoughts, technological progress, etc). Out of an infinite potential of ideas, a "selection" is made that is most consistent with what "works" or what we imagine to be the truth. This process of creation works every day when you form a vision of what you'd like to accomplish. You explore many possibilities to achieve that goal, work hard, and reject everything not consistent with that goal, keeping you on the right path until you achieve your vision. This is the "crudest", most physical approach to creation, but it works just the same.
A more esoteric and graceful approach is to once again realize your divine potential. All possibilities, all knowledge, already exist for you. You do not have to work hard to find them because they are already a part of you. By creating a vision in that context, you create an expectation for the universe, which collapses out of infinite possibility to meet that expectation. You may have heard of this before, explained as the "law of attraction." It is one and the same process. It is the process of creation.
It is very easy to deny this process, even when it works. This is because when the universe of infinite possibility collapses into an observed reality, it always does so in a way that is consistent with our classical notions of cause and effect. So, when we observe the final outcome and the chain of events leading up to it, everything will appear to have a perfectly reasonable explanation! It's no wonder that the "law of attraction" is hard to observe, even when it's happening all the time. However, when we open ourselves up to the grace and ease of creation that is part of our divine nature, so many good things "happen" to us that we must attribute it to more than good luck.
Creation is a continuous process.
I would have a difficult time coming up with a statement more profound. This simple statement can be interpreted in many ways:
- Creation is ongoing
- Creation repeats itself in an endless cycle
- Creation spawns creation
- The universe is continuously recreated from moment to moment
- Creation is unlimited
- Creation is a contiguous, unbroken process
In fact, ALL of these interpretations are correct. And if we look at them more closely, we can find deep meaning in our existence, and the exciting revelation that our destiny is one of infinite, dynamic growth.
In "Science and the Akashic Field" (a recent inspiration for Deepak Chopra), Ervin Laszlo rationally explores the idea of a sea of energy and knowledge that is the wellspring of our physical reality. It is equivalent to the so-called quantum vaccuum or zero-point energy field that is gaining credibility in the scientific world. Laszlo's "A-Field" represents a more fundamental level of reality. One that is infinite and enduring. It explains all the unexpected connections we see. (Laszlo calls this "coherence.") It explains several important things:
- Everything is connected in a very meaningful way.
- There is a permanent record of all happenings in the universe.
- Because information is preserved, the universe always proceeds forward. There is unending dynamic growth.
These are joyous revelations! We can rest assured that our soul is eternal, and one with a greater existence, and that we personally, and as part of the whole, have unlimited creative potential for new experience and growth. This may simply be an affirmation of your own inner truth. I think most of us realize that nothing truly has meaning unless it is infinite and enduring. It is comforting to realize that in the deepest level of reality, no experience, no knowldege, no act of kindness, no expression of love is ever forgotten.
The process of creation itself is something few people have a firm grasp on. Most of us believe that to create something, we start with nothing, and add on what we think needs to be there in order to realize what it is we set out to create. This is exactly the opposite of what really happens! When we consider that we each contain infinite divine potential, then we realize that creation happens by starting with everything possible and then subtracting to create what we have imagined. Bernard Haisch, a prominent astrophysicist, explains this idea in his book "The God Theory", using the metephor of a slide projector:
"Turn it on without any slide inserted and project the pure white light onto the screen. That white light contains the potential to create every image you can imagine -- your Thanksgiving family gathering, your trip to the Rockies, your high school graduation. Every one of these images, and an infinite number of others, are contained in potentia in the formless white light flowing from the bulb to the screen. All you have to do to project the picture you want is to put in the slide that subtracts the proper colors in the proper places. The white light is thus the source of infinite possibility, and you create the desired image by intelligent subtraction, causing the real to emerge from the possible. By limiting the infinitely possible, you create the finitely real."
Haisch goes on to propose that consciousness is also infinite, and our brains work like a filter, subtracting from the infinite potential to produce what we experience as our own individual consciousnesses. Haisch cites cases of brain "impairment" through injury, drugs, or a meditative delta-wave states, where new, incredible perceptions and mental abilities appear.
There is evidence all around us of a universe that works by limiting the inifinite potential to create the reality we experience. It works on every level, from the subatomic to the entire universe itself. In quantum physics, particles exist in every possible state at once (in what physicists call "superposition"), until an observation is made, at which time they "decohere" to a specific, measurable state. Physicists are now trying to harness this capability to produce "quantum computers" that have the promise to be infinitely more capable than today's classical computers.
Recently, the well-know physicist Stephen Hawking, and Thomas Hertog proposed a model of the universe that is exactly like quantum superposition, but on the level of the universe itself. Basically, the universe exists in all possible states until we observe it. At this time, the universe "collapses" into a measurable state, with a history compatible with our observations. The universe is thus recreated from instant to instant. It also implies that the present creates the past, rather than the other way around!
The same process works in evolution of all kinds (biological, evolution of thoughts, technological progress, etc). Out of an infinite potential of ideas, a "selection" is made that is most consistent with what "works" or what we imagine to be the truth. This process of creation works every day when you form a vision of what you'd like to accomplish. You explore many possibilities to achieve that goal, work hard, and reject everything not consistent with that goal, keeping you on the right path until you achieve your vision. This is the "crudest", most physical approach to creation, but it works just the same.
A more esoteric and graceful approach is to once again realize your divine potential. All possibilities, all knowledge, already exist for you. You do not have to work hard to find them because they are already a part of you. By creating a vision in that context, you create an expectation for the universe, which collapses out of infinite possibility to meet that expectation. You may have heard of this before, explained as the "law of attraction." It is one and the same process. It is the process of creation.
It is very easy to deny this process, even when it works. This is because when the universe of infinite possibility collapses into an observed reality, it always does so in a way that is consistent with our classical notions of cause and effect. So, when we observe the final outcome and the chain of events leading up to it, everything will appear to have a perfectly reasonable explanation! It's no wonder that the "law of attraction" is hard to observe, even when it's happening all the time. However, when we open ourselves up to the grace and ease of creation that is part of our divine nature, so many good things "happen" to us that we must attribute it to more than good luck.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Maya to Maya Inagural Post
Maya to Maya
Johnny Fargo
You are here for a purpose.
Your life has a deep, yet simple explanation.
You are in control of your life, even when it doesn't feel that way.
You have the tools needed to explore your own creative potential.
Humanity has the opportunity to understand its true nature -- in your lifetime.
Many new age spiritualists, philosophers, futurists, technologists, and cutting-edge scientific thinkers agree: Within the next couple of decades, we are headed for a nexus of ideas, where thoughts about the nature of our world, our very reality, will converge to give us a true understanding of who we are.
It is vital to understand that our knowledge and our self-view are interdependent. Our newfound knowledge will not only change how we view ourselves, but how we view ourselves determines how and when we receive that knowledge, and what we will choose to do with it.
We have a choice to let the future shape us, or we can choose to shape our future.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How can our worldview converge when there are so many disparate ideas in the world?
Religion and science have been at odds for centuries, and there is no resolution in sight. This is because both aggressively cling to and defend their own dogmas and narrow truths. In doing so, they both deny a wider reality.
Spiritualists say that the world we see is an illusion. They say our true reality can be found within. We should be "in this world, but not of it." To a great extent, this is true. This world does not represent our ultimate reality, and there is so much more to discover beyond what our five senses tell us.
If that's true, then why are we even here? We are here because we want to be here -- because it fulfills a purpose and serves our own personal interests, as well as we in the larger context of our true reality. We should therefore not dismiss the benefits of this existence.
Growth, both individual and collective, is a cornerstone of this purpose. Turning creative potential into actual experience is another. It is also the process through which we achieve growth. It is important to realize that our potential for growth is unlimited.
The tools we have to actualize our potential are both internal and external – in both the spiritual and physical. They must stay in balance. A society where practical matters are neglected would disintegrate. Likewise, a society that focuses only on the outward, practical matters of the physical world eventually loses perspective and purpose.
These two perspectives not only keep us in harmony with ourselves – but they also reinforce one another. For instance, our internal desires drive our technological advancements. At the same time, technology provides tools for us to reach beyond our basic physical needs, and fuel the desire to explore our creative potential.
Not everyone (understandably) has an interest in science and technology; however everyone should understand the implications of where technology is taking us. There are two primary benefits of technology. The first is that as a whole, it improves the ability for us to provide for the basic needs of our world’s people. In doing so, it frees us up to explore our creative potential. Some might say that we have a technology gap between the rich and poor. In fact, we do. The reality, though, is that this gap is getting smaller, not larger over time.
The second benefit of technology may be even more important. It brings us closer together. Just look at the massive changes that cell phones and the internet have brought into our lives. Beyond the effect of enabling an incredible wave of creativity, these technologies connect us together, and allow for us to interact more deeply and more often than ever before.
Deep down, we all have the desire to be connected in meaningful ways. Most conceptions of utopia or bliss involve not the fulfillment of our individual desires, but the realization of a unified consciousness. In fact, that is the nature of our ultimate reality. We can discover this unity by following a spiritual path – but it is not the only way. A balanced diet of the soul should also include a healthy dose of physical reality, and that comes through the application of technology.
In just a couple of decades, our world will be profoundly changed through technology. What’s important to understand is that the pace of technological development over time is accelerating rapidly. As a result, these changes can rapidly sneak up on us – and so we need to be prepared. Today, people already spend hours in front of their computers, interacting with people in social networks or through games in virtual worlds. The ability to create realistic virtual reality will, like all technology, dramatically accelerate over time. The prominent inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil rightly believes that we will spend the majority of the 21st century in virtual reality. The implications are remarkably profound.
Virtual reality will allow us to connect like never before. In fact, in its most advanced form it will allow us to experience the kind of one-ness we have only conceived of in our wildest utopian dreams. In many ways, this is a joyful thought – but let’s face it – it’s also a little on the scary side. We value our independence and individuality. There’s no need to fear --- these will not be lost. Just as each of us currently experiences individuality in the context of the greater reality of oneness, so will it remain in our new world. We will have the ability to experience our own individuality and creativity whenever we so desire.
There is a real danger here, however. Like any tool, technology can be abused. Without the proper context of a mature spiritual identity, we will not have the proper perspective and sense of purpose to use technology in a constructive way. It is inevitable that regardless of what we do, there will be individuals who will try to use technology for their own personal gain or agenda, to the detriment of others. If we are prepared, we will discourage most of these incidents, and when they do occur, we will be able to confront them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I welcome your comments on these thoughts and encourage discussion.
Please bookmark this blog, and check back in a few days. We’ll continue to explore these ideas in more depth. I’ll get something out at least once a week, or more often when I can.
- Johnny
Johnny Fargo
You are here for a purpose.
Your life has a deep, yet simple explanation.
You are in control of your life, even when it doesn't feel that way.
You have the tools needed to explore your own creative potential.
Humanity has the opportunity to understand its true nature -- in your lifetime.
Many new age spiritualists, philosophers, futurists, technologists, and cutting-edge scientific thinkers agree: Within the next couple of decades, we are headed for a nexus of ideas, where thoughts about the nature of our world, our very reality, will converge to give us a true understanding of who we are.
It is vital to understand that our knowledge and our self-view are interdependent. Our newfound knowledge will not only change how we view ourselves, but how we view ourselves determines how and when we receive that knowledge, and what we will choose to do with it.
We have a choice to let the future shape us, or we can choose to shape our future.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How can our worldview converge when there are so many disparate ideas in the world?
Religion and science have been at odds for centuries, and there is no resolution in sight. This is because both aggressively cling to and defend their own dogmas and narrow truths. In doing so, they both deny a wider reality.
Spiritualists say that the world we see is an illusion. They say our true reality can be found within. We should be "in this world, but not of it." To a great extent, this is true. This world does not represent our ultimate reality, and there is so much more to discover beyond what our five senses tell us.
If that's true, then why are we even here? We are here because we want to be here -- because it fulfills a purpose and serves our own personal interests, as well as we in the larger context of our true reality. We should therefore not dismiss the benefits of this existence.
Growth, both individual and collective, is a cornerstone of this purpose. Turning creative potential into actual experience is another. It is also the process through which we achieve growth. It is important to realize that our potential for growth is unlimited.
The tools we have to actualize our potential are both internal and external – in both the spiritual and physical. They must stay in balance. A society where practical matters are neglected would disintegrate. Likewise, a society that focuses only on the outward, practical matters of the physical world eventually loses perspective and purpose.
These two perspectives not only keep us in harmony with ourselves – but they also reinforce one another. For instance, our internal desires drive our technological advancements. At the same time, technology provides tools for us to reach beyond our basic physical needs, and fuel the desire to explore our creative potential.
Not everyone (understandably) has an interest in science and technology; however everyone should understand the implications of where technology is taking us. There are two primary benefits of technology. The first is that as a whole, it improves the ability for us to provide for the basic needs of our world’s people. In doing so, it frees us up to explore our creative potential. Some might say that we have a technology gap between the rich and poor. In fact, we do. The reality, though, is that this gap is getting smaller, not larger over time.
The second benefit of technology may be even more important. It brings us closer together. Just look at the massive changes that cell phones and the internet have brought into our lives. Beyond the effect of enabling an incredible wave of creativity, these technologies connect us together, and allow for us to interact more deeply and more often than ever before.
Deep down, we all have the desire to be connected in meaningful ways. Most conceptions of utopia or bliss involve not the fulfillment of our individual desires, but the realization of a unified consciousness. In fact, that is the nature of our ultimate reality. We can discover this unity by following a spiritual path – but it is not the only way. A balanced diet of the soul should also include a healthy dose of physical reality, and that comes through the application of technology.
In just a couple of decades, our world will be profoundly changed through technology. What’s important to understand is that the pace of technological development over time is accelerating rapidly. As a result, these changes can rapidly sneak up on us – and so we need to be prepared. Today, people already spend hours in front of their computers, interacting with people in social networks or through games in virtual worlds. The ability to create realistic virtual reality will, like all technology, dramatically accelerate over time. The prominent inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil rightly believes that we will spend the majority of the 21st century in virtual reality. The implications are remarkably profound.
Virtual reality will allow us to connect like never before. In fact, in its most advanced form it will allow us to experience the kind of one-ness we have only conceived of in our wildest utopian dreams. In many ways, this is a joyful thought – but let’s face it – it’s also a little on the scary side. We value our independence and individuality. There’s no need to fear --- these will not be lost. Just as each of us currently experiences individuality in the context of the greater reality of oneness, so will it remain in our new world. We will have the ability to experience our own individuality and creativity whenever we so desire.
There is a real danger here, however. Like any tool, technology can be abused. Without the proper context of a mature spiritual identity, we will not have the proper perspective and sense of purpose to use technology in a constructive way. It is inevitable that regardless of what we do, there will be individuals who will try to use technology for their own personal gain or agenda, to the detriment of others. If we are prepared, we will discourage most of these incidents, and when they do occur, we will be able to confront them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I welcome your comments on these thoughts and encourage discussion.
Please bookmark this blog, and check back in a few days. We’ll continue to explore these ideas in more depth. I’ll get something out at least once a week, or more often when I can.
- Johnny
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