The Universe in a Breath
There is an ancient Indian myth that describes the process by which the Universe as we know it came to be:
One day the god Vishnu awoke from a very deep sleep and found himself lying on a snake, floating on dark waters. He inhaled, and then he exhaled. As he exhaled, a lotus sprung up from his navel. As the lotus unfolded, the god Brahma emerged from within its enfolded petals. Thus began the first day of Brahma’s life. As the day progressed, the Universe unfolded into creation. As the day came to a close, Brahma began to fall asleep, and with his sleep came the dissolution of the Universe.
The next day, Brahma awoke and the Universe once again unfolded into creation. This cycle continued on and on for 100 years until one day Brahma died of old age. Upon his death, the lotus folded back into Vishnu’s navel, and Vishnu inhaled. After inhaling, Vishnu exhaled. As he exhaled, a lotus sprang from his navel and Brahma was reborn. Thus began the 100 year process all over again. (Srimad Bhagavatam)
This story takes on epic proportions when we later learn that a full day and night of Brahma lasts 8.649 billion human years, and thus the 100 year lifespan of Brahma lasts for roughly 311 trillion human years. This time span becomes even more immense when we consider that it takes 311 trillion years for Vishnu to exhale one breath, and 311 trillion years for Vishnu to inhale the next breath. If we consider that Vishnu also lives a 100 year life span, then we are left with a Universe that has existed for longer than the human imagination can even begin to grasp.
Timeless Energy
From the perspective of Yoga, this present structure and organization of the Universe is unique. Yet at the same time, this Universe is one in an infinite series of unique Universes that have bubbled up in the course of endless time. Though no one Universe is ever exactly the same, the energy that creates these cosmic structures of experience is forever the same. Therefore, energy has no age; it has existed since beginningless time, and will continue to exist throughout the endless future.
Although we can grasp the concept of timeless energy, this idea is at odds with the very real observation that the evolution of our Universe began at a specific point in time and space. Many cultures, religions, and philosophies have proposed differing explanations for how the Universe began. All of these explanations must overcome the obvious paradox of Creation: How can something come out of nothing?
Ageless Force
There really are only two perspectives that can answer this question: The supernatural, and the realistic. The supernatural perspective proposes that a transcendental entity known as God provided the initial Force necessary to create the domino effect of Universal evolution. God is the First Cause, the Prime Mover.
Yoga takes the realistic perspective. There is no such thing as a First Cause because every cause is the effect of a preceding cause. Without a First Cause, there can never have been a Prime Mover. Without a Prime Mover or a First Cause, Reality begins to take on the appearance of an eternal infinity: ageless forces have been shaping timeless energy into unique forms forever and ever without ending or beginning. Though these forms are created and destroyed by the rising and falling waves of force and energy, energy and force have never been created and can never be destroyed. They simply are the eternal building blocks of infinite experiences.
Yogic Cosmology & Modern Science
Although the roots of yogic cosmology date back thousands of years, it is amazing to observe how the cosmological theories of modern science are beginning to eclipse those of the ancient yogis.
The following quote from preeminent physicist Dr. Michio Kaku might as well be stripped from an an ancient Yogic text:
String theory predicts the universe is like a soap bubble that is expanding and dying. Billions of years from now stars will blink out; the night sky will be dark and the oceans will freeze over. But we may have an escape route. Our soap bubble co-exists with other soap bubbles; every time a black hole forms it may be creating a baby universe. The matter being sucked in may be blown out the other side, creating a white hole in a twin universe, which will expand very rapidly, like our own Big Bang. (The Guardian)
String theory is at the forefront of modern physics. It is currently overturning many paradigms of thought that our culture has held to be fact. The notion that this is not the only universe is awe-inspiring and certainly boggles our limited minds. And yet equally as shocking must have been the theory that the Earth was round to people raised with the notion that the Earth was flat.
The Fractal Mind & Reincarnation
Looking outward through the senses at the world of objectivity we can thus observe that Universal Energy undergoes a process of energetic differentiation at the hands of Universal Force. Though countless energetic forms differentiate over Time, these forms are still just shapes and transformations of one single Universe. Therefore the many visible objects are in truth one object, the Universe.
Looking within our mind at the world of subjectivity we can thus intuit that one Universal Mind undergoes a process of psychic differentiation. Though countless forms of consciousness differentiate over Time, these mental forms are still just shapes and transformations of one single Mind. Therefore the many minds are in truth one Mind, one Self, one Universe.
Yogic cosmology declares that the Many are the One, and that the One is the Many. This observation that the infinite diversity of individuals, worlds, and universes are just so many forms of the one Whole is the point where yogic cosmology ends and the discussion of reincarnation begins.
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References
Aurobindo, Sri. (1939). The Life Divine. Pondicherry, India: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press
Feuestein, G. (1998). Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy. Boston: Shambhala Publications
Satchidananda, Sri S. (1978). The Yoga Sutras. Virginia: Integral Yoga Publications
big bang photo courtesy of Flickr user Eurritimia published under the CC license.
Big Andromeda galaxy (M13) photo courtesy of Flickr user xamad published under the CC license.
Olive oil photo courtesy of Flickr user fdecomite published under the CC license.
Human expression … photo courtesy of Flickr user claudiogenneri published under the CC license.
10 Comments
The Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy was not violated during this post.
The more I learn of Eastern philosophies, the more similar to modern cosmology and physics it seems. It blows my mind that metaphors, some of which are thousands of years old, represent what we now believe to be true through scientific observation and theoretical extrapolation.
What I find interesting is that 311 trillion years is somewhere in the ballpark of the prediction made about when the universe will end based on the big bang and cosmological expansion theories. Without the introduction of Dark Matter and Energy, the universe is postulated to continuously expand until all of the matter and energy are so spread out that they become meaningless in their isolation without the ability to interact with anything else. With the inclusion of Dark Matter and Energy, the universe is postulated to end in a “big crunch” in which all of the matter, energy, and space-time collapses back in on itself, thus leading to another singularity and possibly a new big bang. Awesome stuff, when you consider that the Vishnu-Brahma metaphor hits very close to home if Dark Matter and Dark Energy are indeed out there.
I happened upon the Vishnu-Brahma creation myth when I was 17, and looking back I realize that was the pivotal turning point in my thinking. The time scales that the Hindus were playing with thousands of years ago is just completely nuts.
Its historical fact that astronomy was a highly developed art in ancient India, and because there was no separation of church and state, their astronomical discoveries and consequent extrapolations concerning cosmology would inevitably have influenced the ancient myths and writings. But still…it’s eerie that they might have made such accurate educated guesses so long ago.
Similar to the mathematical and astrological prowess of the ancient Maya.
Awesome post Andrew. I love how yoga is so intertwined with astronomy. The things you talked about in this post are very closely related to my own thoughts and beliefs. I can’t wait till you get to the part that I can start practicing in my own life.
Thanks man. I’m gonna try to get to the practical side of Yoga before the next decade rolls around, lol
Practice involves work and commitment…I’m more of a theory kind of guy.
The following may shed light on the Hindu creation story:
The question I am left with after reading this – and in light of what I have written on this topic – is:
If the cosmology of modern science is beginning to mirror the cosmology of the ancient Hindu’s (which it is), then how do we reconcile what seems to be the most irreconcilable point of all: Matter.
Is our experience of Matter and the Universe just a massive shared dream, albeit the most lucid we’ve ever experienced, or is Matter and the Universe a tangible substance, which seems to be the most obvious answer based on the evidence of our senses.
….or is it both…?
Hmmm… In my armchair scientific opinion it is difficult to philosophically oppose your query based on how you posed the question. Matter is most certainly read—as real as it gets. Atoms are observable, fundamental building blocks responsible for everything. Jack uses the little buggers to produce energy every day.
That said the phrasing of your question leads to an eternal loophole, much like Ananta: if Matter is not real, than the Universe we so precariously dwell in is most certainly a dream.
Certainly a question that can lead to much unconventional thought. If the ancients can teach us anything it is to always think outside of the box.
This is the exact question that created a “schism” in the philosophical traditions of Ancient India. It remains a bone of contention between the Buddhists who view life as ultimately a perceptual illusion, and the Hindu’s who view life as ultimately a tangible living reality.
From the point of view of the body, reality is obviously a tangible stable substance. This isn’t even worth debating. How else can you explain gravity, electricity, chemical reactions, etc…
But from the point of view of the mind, life appears as a perceptual illusion due to the fact that the mind is constantly shifting from a state of waking, to sleeping, to dreaming, and then back again to waking. Even while fully awake, a person can find themselves transported into a day-dream.
This dream-perspective takes on epic proportions when you follow the ancient’s lead, and apply the concept of eternal reincarnation. From that point of view, some kind of eternally surviving mind experiences every new life cycle as a “waking dream”, and every new death cycle as some kind of “deep sleep”.
However, even on that epic scale one still has the choice of viewing reality from either the perspective of the mind that transcends the life cycles (thus making life appear as a waking-dream), or from the perspective of the body involved in the life cycles (thus making life appear tangible and substantial).
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