7. Praying To The Eluding Cosmic Universe
Dr. Basudeb Sen
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PREFACE
I am no philosopher and no scientist, but would love to get hold of the Truth and Knowledge of the Universe if someone imparts that to me. Science and technology has made tremendous progress considerably expanding the area of our knowledge but the zone of ignorance has increased manifold and seems to be expanding at a faster rate. The Universe still remains little known and appears largely unknown, greater the unknown part than ever before.
The greater is estimated zone of ignorance; greater are the efforts to take up the more formidable challenge of knowing the Unknown. The unknown has continued to remain an ever-increasing set of largely speculative guesses by scientists and clouded by mystic concepts on God, the Creator, among the spiritual thought leaders. For the layman like I am, it is certain that I would not know the ultimate truth scientifically and/ or spiritually before I die. An addiction to withstand this miserable agony of not being able to know and grasp the Ultimate Truth or Knowledge is to pray to the ever eluding Unknown Cosmic Universe. This document is merely a reflection of that addictive pastime in two ways: praying in songs that do not make sense and exploring difficult to understand cosmological knowledge for clues, if any.
Part One consists of 18 prayers, influenced by Upanishads as perceived, however inaccurately, through the writings of, mainly of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya and Swami Vivekananda as well as the poems and songs of Rabindranath Tagore. Part One is therefore a kind of worship of these great persons. I dedicate this part of the document to my father in-law late Amarendra Nath Chakravarty, a pious, honest Brahmin, who sought and got approval from his God while in worship to agree to her only daughter getting into an inter-caste marriage that he would not otherwise have liked, and also to my mother in-law, Maya Chakravarty, still the most ardent and uncritical in appreciating my voice mixing to Rabindra Sangeet. Part one is essentially a printed version of my posts in my blog at http://basudebsenpoetry.blogspot.in .
Part Two, a paper print documentation of the posts in another of my blog at http://universeofignorance.blogspot.in , is a reflection of the courage of the ignortant to make sense of the sensational knowledge gathering by scientists contributing mainly to the field of cosmology. I dedicate this Part to my parents, Manindranath and Lilavati, whom I had lost decades ago, as a token of worship in acknowledgement of my love for the person that they had created in me.
29 February 2012 Basudeb Sen
Kolkata, India
Part I: Sense Prayers (For the Bengaliscript version of the prayers, please send in a email requeast to basudebsen2005@yahoo.com)
[The eighteen prayers here are in Rabindrik style song form: the lyrics contain mostly words from Rabindra Nath Tagore’s songs and tune is lifted from his songs, often with one to one correspondence with select individual Tagore songs.
@B1 insert
Friday, July 10, 2009
1. Aamaar Khushir Biswarjan or Bliss of Lost Identity
Tumee Sudhu Aamaayee Niye Cholechho,
Patho Dishaa Aamaar Nije Rochechho.
Tomaar Chalaateyee Tumee-e
Bhabi Mone Seki Aamee-e.
Tomaar Chalaar Baankay Baankay
Aamaar Chinha Kichu thaakay,
Ratree Jemon Ro-beer Aalo-a Aankay.
Tomaar Cholaar Asheem Khando-taa-te
Dao en-e Daa-o Aammar Aleek Purnataare.
Tomaar Cholaar Beeshaal Khudra-taa-te
Daao Bhor-a Daao Aammaaye Sakol Ahankaare.
Say-ee Khaneek-er Garob Sab-ee Sheshay
Haraa-a Tomaar Chalar Shrote-ee Bheshay
Jakhom Jaanee Tumee Sudhu Tumee-e Cheeronton
Takhon Aamaar Sukher Aamaar Khusir Biswarjan.
Takhon Sudhu Tumee, Tumee Sudhu Aamaye Niye cholechho.
(Listen to a rendering of this Rabindrik style song composed in the 21st century at http://soundcloud.com/user7073242/tumi-sudhu-amayee-aamaar)
English Translation: Bliss of Lost Identity
You only have been powering me,
You only have mapped my journey.
You exist in your operating mechanism,
I marvel at it as my creative dynamism.
At the turns of the path you follow,
I merely see only my own footprints glow:
Just as the ignorance of dark night
Signs on the Truth canvass of day-light.
Your path is so divided into parts infinity
To build in me the fullness of false identity.
Your Journey so vast and infinitesimal
Fills me with ego - strong and tall.
In the end, these innumerable moments of pride
Get washed away by the waves of your stride.
That's when I realize You as the sole Eternity.
Then only I enjoy the Great Bliss of losing my identity.
@B2 insert
Saturday, July 18, 2009
2. Sesher Khela Tomaar Saathey or The Final Game with You
(Aamaar) Sesh bela-teer Sesh Kabey Kee Jaanee?
Sesh Rekhatee Tumi Sesh Rekhatee Debey Kakhon Taanee?
Haaraay-e Sok-tee Jato Bhaab-naa Baaraa-ye Kato,
Sob Sho(n)pey Tomaaye Aachee Sookhay Abodh Seeshoor Mot-o.
Maayaar Bhadon Tootao Toomee, Bhaabnaa Sab-ee Ghoonchao
Natoon Khelar Aanan-de taee Aamaye Tumee Bhoolao
Jakhon Sabaa-ee Jeebon Di-ye Shrant-o Kaajer Bhaar-a
Magno Aam-ee A-kaa-jay-tay Taader pather Dhaar-a
Sudhaa-ey O-ra, Hataath Keno a-mon aboojh motee?
Bol-ee Aam-ee Roi-le Tumee Sath-ee Aaamaar Kee Baa Khot-ee!
Jai paraa-jai neiko a-mon khelaa Maatee-ye dee-lo Aamar a shesh bela
A-e Seshe Khela-tay Sudhu Tomay-e Sathee Maanee.
(listen to this prayer song in Rabindrik tune at http://soundcloud.com/user7073242/seshbelatir-sesh-kabe )
English Translation:
Till when does this last phase of my game last?
Your end-move can I ever forecast!
As strengths erode, worries gush in with abundance,
I transfer them to you and remain happy in ignorance.
All illusion of attachment, you demolish.
Forcing all clouds of worry to vanish.
You keep me enchanted with this new game.
When others tire carrying life's work load to the best of their ability,
You lead me alone beside them, keeping me engrossed in irrelevant activity.
Others inquire with me,' Why suddenly this childish choice'?
I respond, 'With You as playmate, I have reasons to rejoice'.
In this last phase you seduce me
To play this game that's win-loss free.
In this end game, you alone play with me.
@B3 inser
Sunday, July 26, 2009
3. A Katha Bujheenee Mo-nay: The Simple Truth Didn't Occur to Me
Saaraa-tee Jeeban Dho-ray Bhu-bono De-khaa-le Mo- ray.
Shoo-naa-le ka-to-je Baa-nee Mo-ne Pros-no Jaagaa-le Aa-nee.
Chho- raa-a Ta-Bo Pa-rosh Bha-raa-le Hriday-e Ha-rosh.
Loo-kaa-ye Ont-o-poo-ray Roihee-lay Neejay jay Doo-ray.
Pheraa-le Path-e Path-e Baan-dhee-le Ka-to Aaanshay
Tomaa-ree Bree-thaa Khon-jay Rohilay Jay Mor Paashay.
Aa-nee-le Tabo Dwaa-re Aamaa-re Aboshay-shay
Ta-boo-to Deelay na de-khaa, deelay na dha-ra esh-e.
Jaa De-khay-chee Doo-chokh bho-ray Bujhay-chee Aapo-no Ko-re
Parini Dekh-ee-te Chey-a Sa-ko-lee Royechho Chhay-a
Sabo -khaanay, sabo kho-nay E-kath-aa Boojhee-nee mo-nay.
(Listen to a version of how the song may be sung in Rabindrik style, click http://soundcloud.com/user7073242/bhuban-dekhale-more )
English Translation:
Throughout this life unbound,.You made me look all around
Hear worldly music and sound, Raising thoughts in my mind.
Made me feel your touch so kind, Filled my heart with joy and pain.
Yet far away, deep inside, you remain.
You make me search for You in vain Though always beside me you remain.
Guiding me to Your doorstep, Yet, You did not allow me to get to see You,
You did not permit me to get hold of you.)
Whatever could arise in my vision, I understood all that in my own way.
That in all that is everywhere You do prevail.
This simple truth to realize, how could I fail?
@B4 insert
Saturday, August 8, 2009
4. Jaageecho Ontoray: Arise In My Heart
Jaageechhe Antor-e, Jaageechhe Aseem.
Jaageechhe Satyo Jago, Adee Akrit-teem.
Jaageechhe Ja(d)ro, Anaadee Ananto,
Jaageechhe Praano, Chha(d)raa-a Diganto.
Jaageechh-o Tabo Sristi-te Tumee Srosta,
Jageechh-o Tabo Dristi-te Tumee Droshta.
Jaageechho Mrittoonjoy Jaageechho Janom –heen
Jaageechho Praacheen Too-mee Jaageechho No-been,
Jaageechho On-ta-ray Too-mee Jaago Ek Obee-naa-shee,
Mahaa Soon-nay Jaa-gay Ta-bo Roo-po Raashee
Oot-Saarit-o Tumee, Sokol Prabhaa-hayr Oot-so
Jaagaale Paraane Momo Kem-on A Gaveer Rahoshyo!
(Try tune in as in the beginning of Tagore song ‘Jagicho Ontoray OzntoroJaamee’)
English Translation: Arise In My Heart
In my heart, the Infinte arises,
Your original Absolute Truth emerges.
The inanimate, the aboriginal, the limitless arises,
The vibrant life arises spread over the entire horizon.
You arise as the Creator within your creation,
To envision You, You impart me Your vision.
In the heart emerge the Death-free and the birth-less,
The ageless You arise as the fresh new.
You arise in my heart as the One indestructible,
In the Great Null space, your infinite forms arise.
You flow out from the limitless source of all that You are.
And You plant this great mystery in my heart.
@B5 Inser
Saturday, August 29, 2009
5. Neerob Aaraadhonaa: Silent Worship
Jatoee Chhobee Ootthook Phootey Dooee Nayaaney
Chhaibo Naa Say-ee Paane Aamee Chaaeebo Naa. Dekhbo Naa.
Jatoi Dhwonee Ootthook Bey-jey Mor Kaane
Raakhbo Naa Dhyaan Say-ee Khaane, Aamee Soonbo Naa, Soonbo na
Jatoee Baanee Ootthook Je-gay Kon-tthay Aamaar
Say-ee Kathaa Aaamee Koibo naa R Koibo naa, Bolbo naa
Jatoee Hridoy Ootthook NayChay On -ek Sookhay
Doolbo Naa Say-ee Taaley, Doo-khay Aaamee tolbo naa, Doolbo Naa
Jatooee Bhoray Ootthuk Monay prosh-no Baanay Porbo na Taar Samaa-dhaane jo-ree-ye Aamee Poerbo naa ,Dho-raa Por-bo Naa.
Tomaar Naanaa Roop-er Maa-jhay Aa-maa-ye Aamee Chin-bo Naa
Ro-ee-bay Nee-rob Neeraakaare Aamaaar Sakol Aaraa- dhonaa.
Bhoolbo na, Aamaar Parthana Aamee Bhoolbo naa.
(Start tune in as in Tagore song ‘Sayee jay Aamar Nana Ronger Deengoolee)
English Translation:
All pictures that the two eyes capture, I shall not focus my vision on them: I shall not look at them.
All sounds that ring in my ears, I shall not keep my attention on them: I shall not listen to them.
All messages that arise in my throat, I shall not express them: I shall not lend my voice to them.
My heart may dance in the midst of all happiness; I shall not move my steps in sync with dance
Nor shall I allow myself to be shaken by any sorrow and allow my steps to falter.
All questions that storm into my mind; I shall not attach myself to the answers that address them.
I shall no longer search myself amongst your various forms; I shall worship in formless silence.
I shall never forget my prayer.
@B6 Insert
Sunday, September 20, 2009
6. Aaamaa-a Srostaa Maynay: Treat me as Your Creator
Kobey Tomaayee daykhay cheelem Aamaar Mo-nayer Darponay
Se Mon tomaaree daan tomaree
Bhoye tomaaye kunjee pelem abhoyeree sandhaane
Se bhoy tomaaree daan tomaaree.
Bhoobon chheyee Rooper melaa, Aseem shoktee korejay khelaa
Bismoyee Taaee Neelem Cheenay Tomaayee monayer gahonay
Se mon tomaaree daan tomaaree.
Jatoee Tomaaye Soree-ya doo-ray, Cholechee poth Aapnee ghoo-ray
Baan-jeay Baan-shee Joyer Soo-ray Takh-on Gay-lame Jay-nay
Se joy tomaaree gar(d)aa tomaaree.
Jeebon dho-ray tomaaye go(d)ray, Neeye-chee jay aapon koray,
Tem-nee tomaar srosta may-nay,
Daao-go aa-maa-a mook-tee a-nay, Se daa-ye tomaaree daa-ye tomaa-ree.
(Follow tune as in Tagore song ‘ Kobay Aamee Baaheer holem tomaaree gaan gayyay)
English Translation:
I saw you in my mind's mirror ages ago,
A mind that is your creation.
Fear made me search you for protection,
That fear in mind was your own creation.
The Universe is a display of infinite forms,
And, limitless power and energy dynamics.
Bewildered, I locate your presence deep in my mind,
A mind that is you only gifted me.
Whenever I had tried to keep you away,
Wandering around as if on my own,
Playing the tune signifying my triumph,
I realized that the success was charted by You.
Over the days of my life, I have built you as my own creation
And in the process made you an integral part of my life now.
In a similar manner, why don't You accept me as your Creator,
And bring me the liberation from this worldly life –
That is Your obligation, that is your duty.
@B7 Insert
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
7. Bhoolaao Goon-er Adhee-nataa: Forgetting Subjugation to Implanted Properties
Jakhon Sobay Annodo Koloro-bay Sakol Karmer Milono Ootsa-bay,
Jaagaao Kaajer Ta-ray Jaagaao Ghabheer Byakoolataa.
Kolaa-halaye Jagot Jooray Baazaao Baanshee Neerob Sooray
Soonaao Tomar Baanee Soonaao Gopon Se Baarotaa
Baandh-lay Sabaye Se Baarotaye Premer Leelaaye, Mohe Maayaa-ye
Goteer Dhaaraa-ye, Grohay Taaraa-ye Bha-raao Sakol Goonay Bha-raao Sakol Doorba-lotaa
Sayee Baarotaa Prakaash Jay Paaye, Dhwo-neer Khey-laa-ye Aalor Chotaaye,
Koshayer Kreeaaye, Anoor Konaaye,
Bhoolaao Goon-er Jaa-lay Bhoolao Gooner Adheenotaa.
(Start tune in in Tagre song ‘Jakhon Toomee Baandhcheelay Taar’)
English Translation:
Everyone is engrossed in the festive union of simultaneous activities,
As You cause ceaseless and intense agitation for action among all.
In this noisy Universe of activity, You play Your Flute in a silent notes
Imparting and communicating secret messages to each and all.
You bind everyone with these messages coded in love and illusion,
In the flow of motion and in planets and stars:
You fill in different properties from strengths to weaknesses.
Your Property-encoded messages drive the play of sounds, the rays of light,
The working of cells and the particles of atoms.
With the veil of property-net, you makes all oblivious
Of their complete subjugation to the properties you impart.
@B8 Insert
Friday, February 12, 2010
8. Paromo Shuvokshon: The Greatest Moment
Cheenbay Jobay Folayer toray Sakol kaajayer Sakol Bhaaber
Sakol Dhyanayer Beefall Nidarshan Karma Lovay Joger Niyantran:
Sayeeto Hobay Paromo Subhokshon.
Chharbay Chaaoaa Paaoaar Payshaa Adheer Monay-er A-hong Neshaa
Aneescheetay Korbay Bisarjon, Sayeeto Hobay Paromo Shoobvokshon.
Bhoolbay Aashaa Mohay-er Bhasha Chharbay Maya Bhaalobaasaa
Bhakti Jogay Korbay Samarpon, Sayeeto Hobay Paromo Shoovokhon.
Gyan-er Aalo Oothbay Naychay Joger Taalay Aapnee jechay
Korbay Sabaaye Somaan Aalingon, Poorno Hobay Aatmo daroshon.
Sayeeto Hobay Paromo Shoovokhon.
(Tune mix of various Tagore songs like ‘Aamaar Sakol Roshayer Dhaaraa’) .
English Translation:
When the evidence of failure of all fruit-seeking
Actions, thoughts and meditation get recognized,
Performance gets situated in Yoga.
That is the greatest moment in life.
When desire stops pursuing fulfillment
Restless mind shakes off addiction to ego,
And, sacrifices at the alter of unalterable uncertainty,
That is the greatest moment in life.
When hope forgets the language of attachment,
When love abandons all illusion,
When ego yields to devotion in Yoga,
That is the greatest moment in life.
When Knowledge dances to the tune of Yoga
Seeking to embrace all with equanimity,
The Self envisions the ultimate Truth,
That is the greatest moment in life.
@B9 Insert
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
9. Aaamaar Aapon Dhaakbay: Hide My Real Self
Jakhon Roeebaynaa More Aapon Cheenoho Aee Tonay
Aar Boeebaynaa, Boeebaynaa mor monon dhara Aee Monay,
Fooreeay Jaabay Sakol Chaaoaa, Haareea Jaabay Go,
Sayeeto Hobay Param Paaoaa, Bhoolay Jaabay
Dayoaa Nayoaa Sayee Khonay.
Takhon Kaybaa Aaamaay Cheenbay
Biswa Bhoraa Roopay-er Haan-tay, Kay-baa Aamaay-A Khoonjbay.
Jakhon Baajbay Praanay Sakol Praa-nay-er Oikotaan
Neerob Sooray, Nee-rob Sooray Oothbay Bhoray Saamyo Gyaan
Aaa haa aa, Baajbay Praa-nay Sakol praanayer Oikotaan.
Takhon Aaabaar, Mormay Abbar Jaagbay Goveer Taan
Daakbay Moray Byakul Sooray, Gaaeebay Madhoor Gaan,
Baandhbay Moray Maayaar Doray, Aabaar Bhaalo Baasbay
Bhoolee-ay Aamaar Sakol Saadhon, Aaamar Aapon Dhhakbay.
(Tune in in Tagore song ‘Jakon Parrbay naa more paayer Chinhoe’ to start and mix others as needed)
English Traslation: Hide My Real Self
When the body will no longer identify with my name,
No thought will flow through the mind,
All desires will exhaust and disappear,
That only will bring the greatest fulfillment.
The moment when all giving and receiving ends:
That’s when there will be none to identify myself,
No one to search for me in this world of infinite forms.
When life will get alive to the music of unity of all forms of life,
And, get filled with the silent tune of the Truth of oneness equality.
Then, the heart will once again vibrate in deep attraction,
And, the mystic music will beckon me in melodious tune.
Tie me with the ribbon of delusion and love once again.
And, make me forget all my meditation, hiding my Real Self.
@ B10 Insert
Saturday, March 27, 2010
10. Chay-A Roi Tabo Potho Paanay
Sayee Bhaab Jaagay Mo-nay, Sayee Soor Baajay Kaanay,
Taaree Loy Taalay Taalay Naychay Othhay Khooshee Praanay.
Parosho Tomaar A-say, Maromay Aaamaar Mayshay,
Onooraage Onoobhobay, Chhay-A Raw-a Sabo Khaane.
Taboo-O Daykhee-chhay Aankhee, Beerohayero Byathaa Tootay,
Aankoolee Ootheechhay Tabo Aporoop Chobee Footay,
Taboo-O Meelono Toray, Aasha-A Hree-doy Bho-ray.
Taa-ee Nee-ya Mon Chay-A, Raw-a Tabo Patho Paane.
( Tune in to follow Tagore song ‘Ektookoo Chhonaa Laagay’)
English Translation:
That thought arises in the mind, that tune rings in the ears,
In concert with that rhythm, happiness dances in my heart.
Your touch arrives and pervade my entire existence,
Love and realisation fill and spread all around.
Yet, as the pain of separation breaks out, the eyes behold
The earnest flash of the image of Your Infinite Beauty .
Yet, in the longing for merger, the heart is filled with hope.
With all this, the mind remains in expectant watch on Your incoming path.
@ B11 Insert
Saturday, April 10, 2010
11. Nayee Jay Taaray Paabay Kothaa?
Where to find that does not exist?
Byaraai Khunjay Aapomnaaray, Aee Dayhay Aee Monay Praanay.
Lookeeaa Boojhjee Ogo-Cho-ray, Roy Chhaya Sayee Sabo khaanay.
Byartho Proyas Shayshay Bhaa-bay, Nay-ee Jay Taaray Kothaa Paabay?
Sotyyo Jaynay Amon Soja, Saango Koray Aapon Khonjaa.
Bhoobon Bhoray Onoor Khyalaa, Biswa Jooray Koshayer Myalaa,
Taahaar Goonay Dayhay Monay, Sakol Kichhu Oothay Photay
Taahaar Taanay Obohaylay, Jeebon Moron Paanay Chhotay.
Sayee Khyelatay Karmo Eshay, Sayee Myalatay Jaabay Bhaysay,
Onoo-Konaar Koshayer Dhaa-raa, Taar Maajhay Taanree Saarra.
Chhayray Oleek Aaponaaray, Onoo Konaa-a Paabay Jaan-ray,
Beeleen Sabee Maajhay Taa-haar, Roeebay Naa Aaar Keechoo Khonjaar.
(Tune mixed: try a few Tagore songs referred to earlier)
English Translation:
In vain I search myself in the body, mind and life,
Perhaps, it hides making its presence felt everywhere.
The failed effort at the end realizes concludes:
How can one find that isn’t not in existence?
If the Universe is only a play of atoms and the World a fair of cells,
Their properties cause every thing to emerge in body and mind,
And force life run with ease towards death.
In that play of atoms and cells, all actions get performed,
In all these performance, His presence is felt.
If atoms and cells explain Him, why to search Self as separate?
If in Him does all merge and rest, there remains nothing to search.
@ B12 Insert
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
12. Rawho Sabaaro Gohono Maajhaaray: You Remain within All
O Hay Ajaana Obeenaashee, Chhay-a Neekheelo Bhoobano Byaapeeya
Gorro Oseemo Noyono-Baahaaray,
Oshaysho Koroonaa Baareetay Kyamonay
Kaamonaa Baasonaa Bhoreeya Jobay Saajaalay Kotojay Kaahaaray
Sabay Raakheelay Goonaytay Baandhaaray.
Sobay Aapono Ahonkaaray Sayee Deelayjay Maya-a Sonpeeyaa,
Monay Jaagaalay Katojay Ashaaray
Soodhoo Daykheechho Neerobay Kyamonay Sakolay
Ootheechhay Khyalaatay Maanteeyaa
Meechhay Garobay Bhoolay Taanhaaray
Mohay Dreeshtee Pordeechay Dhaakaaray.
O Hay Okhmoyo Onoobhobee, Kyano Aapono Gopono Raakheeyaa
Mookto Koreebay Kabayjay Aamaaray Jobay Gyanayro Manonay
Dhyanayro Saadhonay Ootheebay Hridoaya Jaageeyaa,
Saykee Aalokay, Saykee Aandhharay,
Raho Sabaaro Gahono Maajhaaray.
(Try start tuning in Tagore song ‘Tumee Sondhyaaro MeghoMaalaa)
English Translation:
O, the Unkown Ceaseless filling the Universe with infinite eye-bewildering variety,
With unlimited shower of blessings, You cover all in desires and lust,
How You arrange every thing every where, tying all to the Guna properties you imprint.
You filled all with self-ego for submission to Illusion, raising ambitions and hopes in the minds. And, You observe silently how all immerse in the game driven by false pride,
Forgetting You as lust blinds their vision.
O the Imperishable, the Realized, how do you hide Yourself to obstruct my liberation?
Residing in the depth of all, in light and darkness,
When will You reveal Yourself as Knowledge in my heart in meditation?.
{Tune in as in Rabindra Sangeet ‘Toomee Sandhyaro MeghoMala’}.
@ B13 Insert
Sunday, May 9, 2010
13. Toemaaye Shoron Koree: I Submit to You
Mongolo-Moyee Mongolo-Daaee,Tree-Noyonee Shivo Soondaree,
Saadhana Siddha Naaraayonee, Toboo Sharono Koree.
Sreestee Sakolo StheTee Beenasho, Shokteero Prakaashay.
TreeGunoMo-ee GunoProbahee, Prokreetee Hay Sanaaatonee,
Pranotee Gunee Naaraayoni , Tabo Charano Dhoree
Sharonaagoto Dino-Janayro, Uddhaaro Koro Hay
Baydonaa- Dookho Horono-kaaree, Namo Hay Bhakto Tomaaree.
Sadhika Shivo Naaraayonee, Tabo Sharano koree,
Sreestee Sakolo Sthetee Beenaasho, Sokteero Prakaashay
Mongolo-Mo-ee Mongolo-Daa-ee, Hay Daybee Sotyo-Sundaree.
[This is based on a Sanskrit Hymn (Mantra verse) from the Chandi: Tune as in Ravindra Sangeet ‘Aanondolokay Mongolalokay Beerajo’, This was composed on 25 Biaskakh 2010 :150th Birth Anniversary of Tagore]
English Translation:
O, the Magnificent Visionary, the eternal shower of Wellbeing,
The Realised in Meditation, I invoke and salute You,
In your manifestation of all forces of Creation, Preservation and Destruction
O the Eternal source and transmission of all properties of Nature,
I salute You and surrender to You in complete submission.
You rescue the unfortunate seeking Your favour.
I am thy dovotee, O the Reliever from all pain and suffering.
O the Fountain of Peace and Good, I pray to You,
All powers of Creation, Preservation and Destruction,
You, the source of wellbeing, beauty of Truth and Knowledge.
@ B14 Insert
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
14. Omkaaray Paaee Taaee: Find You in Primordial Aum
Aalok-Jharaa Treelok-Bhoraa, Sunyo-Joraa Sthaan
Atmaree Ak Sonay Jorro Roaychhay Roaychhay Mon Praan
Omkaaray Paaee Taaee, Taaeee Aamaar Dhyaan.
Aseem Aakash Bhoobon Jooray, Taaraar Maalaa-a Neekot Dooray
Bandeelay Sob DaiboDhaa-raaye, Soorayer Aika-taan
Omkaaray Paaee Taaee Taaee Aamar Dhyaan.
Sooray Soo-ray Jay-Jhoreechhay
Tabo Robeer Keeron
Taaree Maajhay Chhoreeye Aachhay
Sakolo Jeebon
Lookeeye Aachhay Sakol Satyo Gyaan
Omkaaray Taaee Paaee Taaee Aamaar Dhyaan.
Soorjyo Keeronay Mor Mononay
Hreedoy Jooray Dhyan Gohonay
Jaanaar Toray Sathik Pothayer
Koreec-Jay Sandhaan
Omkaaray Paaee Taaee Taaye Aamaar Dhyaan.
[This is based on the Gayatri Mantra in Sanskrit: Om (Primordial Sound) Bhur (Physical World) Bhuba (Mental World) Sva (Celestial World) Tath (Paramatma, God) Sabitu ( Sun) Varanyam (Supreme Enchanting) Vargo (Radiant Glow like Sun or Sun Rays) Debashya ( Divine) Dheeyo (Meditation) Dheeyo ( Understanding or pusuing Knowledge) Yo (that Radiant Light) Nah (Our)
Prachodayat ( Guide in Proer Direction). Try tune in as in RabindraSangeet " Akash Bhara Suryo Tara"]
English Translation:
Soul, Life, mind and innate elements fill this physical world,
The mental world and the entire space in vacuum,
Ringing the primordial sound Aum – Onkar:
In Omkar I get that illumination to meditate on Knowledge.
You bind the constellations near and far in the infinite sky,
In a single sound Omkar, all in the Universe, You tie:
In Omkar I get that illumination to meditate on Knowledge.
That same tune Omkar transmits continuous radiant light through Your Suns,
The sunrays carry the seeds of all vitality, body, mind and life:
In Omkar I get that illumination to meditate on Knowledge.
The same radiant light of Your Suns guides my intellect,
Fill my heart and illuminate my meditation
Direct my pursuit of Knowledge on the right track:
In Omkar I get illuminated by Knowledge in my meditation.
@ B15 Insert
May 25, 2011
15. Ac- Ee Aaameeray: The Sole Existence
Ahongkaray Jay Koonjay Chheelem Aamaar Baaheeray
Ontoray Dhyam Jaanaaye, Sethaa Keechooee Naaheeray
Jakhon Khoodro Chhinno Aapon, Bhaanglo Seemaar Sakol Baandhon,
Aamaar Majhay Aseem kaalayer, Sabaa-A Paaeeray.
Taader Neeya Maytay Chheelem Bohoor Khelaatay.
Hareeya Taaraa Meeleeya Gaylo Kokhon Aamaatay?
Bheenno-taa-ree Chhaa-reeyay Maayaa, Dekhi Sobay Aapon Chhaayaa
Bhoobon Chhaye Roibo, Soodhoo Akee Aamee-ray.
[This may be one interpretation of Advaitobad (Unified Unique Existence Reality) of Upanishad. The prayer’s tune may be as in the Tagore song "Chokher Aaloyay Dekhay- Chheelayem"]
English Translation
The identity of self as separate illuminates my exploration beyond me,
Meditation tells me that there exists none out there..
When the insignificant, truncated piece of the Self breaks all barriers of boundary,
The Self finds within itself every one, every thing in infinite time.
I was busy playing with many forms and suddenly they all merged in my Self.
With the illusion of different forms over, I perceive the image of the Self everywhere:
I know now that I alone remain in this entire Universe.
@ B16 Insert
May 28, 2010
16. Aasbay Toome: Thou will Arrive
Sayee Osomo Kaalay Kothino Deenay Aasbay Toomee Naybay Cheenay
Joto DhormoNash-er Glaanee Jaanee, Jaanee Probhoo Soonee
Tomaar Sayeejay Abhoy Baanee..
Jobay Bolobaaanayer Ohong-Kaaray Sot Knaypaychay Baaray Baaray
Tokhon Somoya Hobay
Maanob-Lokay Tomaaye Aanbay Taanee
Jaanee, Jaanee Probhoo Jaanee.
Neeteer Baandhon charay Jabay Samaaj Heengsa-bhoraa
Naayer Bichaar HaaraayA Klaanto Basoondhoraa.
Amon Somoye Jugay Jugay Saandhoo-Jonay Baachhaao Sookhay,
Beenash Koro Doojonayray Dharmo Je Poono Aanee.
Jaanee, Jaanee Probhoo Jaanee.
[This prayer is based on an oft-quoted verse couplet from ShreeMadBagwat Geeta quting Lord Krishna saying" Yada yada He Dharmasyo GlaanerBhavoti Bharata, obhyuthanamadharmasyo Tadatmannog Sreejaamahom. Paritranayo Sadhunaam Binashaye cha Dushkritaam, Dharmo Sanhstaponarthoyo Sambhovaamee Yugay Yugay: meaning -" I create myself as human being during those periods when dharmyo (not religion) weakens and adharmyo spreads. To protect the honest, eradicate the evil miscreants and establish Dharmyo, I emerge in different eras."
The prayer has been composed following the lyrics and tune of Tagore Song "Aajee Bijon Ghorer Nishito Ratey Aasbay Jodi.." ]
English Translation:
In such days and times of disequilibrium and disorder, You will arrive, Lord,
Signs of systemic failure,destruction of order and unsustainable imbalance of attributes,
Will cause you to Repair: Your message of assuurance rings in my ears.)
When oppresive and unjust acts of the powerful repeatedly repress honesty and fainess,
Time comes to attract You to emerge as the One Saviour Force in Nature and Humanity.
Thoughts and actions completely bereft of principles of stability fill the society with violence, frustrate delivery of justice and the Earthly habitat runs out of steam.
During such unstable periods in different eras, You are pleased to appear
As the Force to rescue the honest, to destroy the evil and re-establish the equilibrium,
Recreate order and restore the balance of attributes and properties that drive Your creation.
@ B17 Insert
January 15, 2012
17. Haaraaee Apono Haaraaee Jay: Losing Distinctive Identity
Haaraaye Aamaaye Sabaaro Maajaye, Sakolo Shristee Sakolo Kaajay
Baaheeray Ontoray Sudhaabhora Praymay
Kon Oikotaane Okheelo Bhoobonay, Haaraaee Jay.
Haaraaye Aapon Ojaana Baansheetay, Suray Suray Taaree Mookti Jaachay.
Sayeejay Aapono Ohonkaaray Feeree Taanree Gorobo Fhuraye Jay.
Sokol Chaaoaar Bandhono Chaareeaa Haaraaee Aapono Haaraaee Jay.
Raag Onooraagay Horosho Baydonay Mook-toe Mononay
Mook-toe Chaytonay Haaraayee Jay
Haaraaee Jakhon Hreedoy Gahanay Kaahaaro Baasheer Soor Jay Baajay.
(Tune in as in Tagore song ‘Daanraao Aamaar Aakheeroe Aaagay’)
English Translation:
I lose myself amidst all, merging with the entire creation and immersed in all activities.
Addictive love flows to blur all internal external divide
The Self seeks liberation in the tunes of a mystical flute.
Pride that drove me all along wanes to vanish,
Untying the bond of all desires, the Self loses it identity.
With mind and consciousness, free of all attachment
And all distinctions of pleasure and pain,
I lose myself in the depth of my heart filled with the music of the stranger’s flute.
@ B18 Insert
Feb 11, 2011/ Feb 21, 2012
18. Script A Different Story
Tomaar Soonyo Aakaashay
Chhorreeay Daanaa, Hridoy-bhora Khusee anay
Oorrbo Pakheer Motoe, Aamee Bhaashboe Pakheer Motoe.
Dukher Sakol Smiriti Bhoolay, Sishoor Swapon Deejay Maylay,
Praanay Aamaar Bhoree Aabaar Sookhayer Haanshee Jotoe.
Chokhayer Baaree-dhaaraa muchay, Bhoykay Chhooray Dooray,
Baandhee Jeebon Notoon Aamee Notoon Aashar Sooray.
Aashbay Aasook Kon Ojaanaa, Chharbo Aamee Sayee Bhaabona
Neejayer Torayee Veenno Gaanthaa Gaayeetay Aamee Rotoe..
(Try tuning in as in Tagore song ‘ Tomaar Kholaa Haaoaa’)
English Translation:
Let me float, as birds do in Your empty sky,
Fill my heart in happiness, spread wings and fly.
Let me shirk off sad memories and fill every new day
Full of happiness and smiles, in child's dreamy way.
Let me throw off tears and fears away.
Let me with new hope build a fresh life from today.
Come whatever unknown may. Let me remain worry-free
And, script a new, different story for me.
Note: English version was composed first and edited after the Bengali version was composed a year later.
Part Two: Cosmological Thoughts
(http://universeofignorance.blogspot.in/)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
1. Expanding Knowledge Unlocking Widening Ignorance
Man's Quest to know the Universe or the Creation, has continued since prehistoric ages and will continue till Human civilization lasts. The knowledge gathered as a result is vast and yet the knowledge has progressively expanded the universe of ignorance about the Universe. It seems to be the case of losing battle to comprehend the Universe. But this journey has been amazing and absorbing for human minds, besides being addictive. Search the Internet and you know more and more about what is known about the Universe and still you feel a lack of comprehension with more and more questions arising in your mind. Over the centuries and millenniums, Man has speculated about the origin and the nature of the Universe with the concept of Universe itself changing and the methodologies dividing themselves into separate disciplines like religion, metaphysics, philosophy, astronomy, physics, astrophysics, particle physics, space research and so on. This has probably created greater problems to comprehension. Occasionally smart minds like that of Stephen Hawkins shared a perspective for the layman (his book: A History of Time).
Wikipedia quotes NASA of the US: “Cosmology is the study of the structure and changes in the present universe, while the scientific field of cosmogony is concerned with the origin of the universe. Observations about our present universe may not only allow predictions to be made about the future, but they also provide clues to events that happened long ago when...the cosmos began. So, the work of cosmologists and cosmogonists overlaps."
Babylonian Literature is as far as the Western countries can go back to trace the earliest elements of Cosmology (earliest point 1900BC). This literature was more to do with concept of earth and heavens and linked to deities or God. Although dated earliest by the Westerns at 1700 BC for the Hindu Rig-Veda, the concept of Cosmology had already gone beyond the concept of religion and God in Rig-Veda. Clearly what was passed through over generations through recitation and memorizing verses composed at the time of Rig-Veda must have been in the pursuit of knowledge quite a few centuries earlier than 1700 BC. The propositions they made then are amazingly scientific, testable hypothesis - the same way the hypothesis of Big Bang is now treated as a scientific theory. In Brahmanda Purana, one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a set of Hindu religious texts, Brahmāṇḍa, means "Brahma's egg" or the created world (loka). This text contains twelve thousand verses. The major sections of this Purana include a description of creation of cosmos, discussion about the time as a dimension and details of Kalpa and Yuga. The universe, as a living entity, is bound to the perpetual cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmology).
It is amazing that even 4000 years ago, the knowledge seekers in India worked out duration of the phases in the cyclical evolution of the Universe: The universe sustains for around 311 trillion and 40 billion years that is 100 years of the cosmic creator Brahma. There is a smaller period of non-manifested universe of around 4 billion years equal to one day in the life of Brahma. The universe cycles between expansion and total collapse. After one cycle of the life of Brahma another universe follows up to an infinite number each of which exists for a time period of 311 trillion and 40 billion years. It also speaks of an infinite number of universes at one given point of time. Universe expanded from a concentrated form —a point called a Bindu. The Purana traces the origin of the Universe as a golden egg, Sounds like the dime-sized infinitely dense matter of particles that, as per the currently accepted Big Bang theory, exploded to create the Universe we are part of.
But all this is too old and could not have been empirically tested using modern scientific methods and instruments at that time. We have since traversed a long journey in acquiring knowledge now called Cosmology. Have we still come to grips with the Question of Creation and the Creator that we started with 4000 years or more back in the Rig Vedas or little later in the Upanishads or Gita - the later Hindu Scriptures - much before most of the major religions of today were born? Does today's Cosmology smell intrinsically any significant less story telling than the Rig-Veda? Science has also accepted at least one limit on getting to the complete truth by objective observation: the Heisenberg uncertainty principle states a fundamental limit on the accuracy with which certain pairs of physical properties of a particle, such as position and momentum, can be simultaneously known. In layman's terms, the more precisely one property is measured, the less precisely the other can be controlled, determined, or known. In his Nobel Laureate speech, Max Born said: “...To measure space coordinates and instants of time, rigid measuring rods and clocks are required. On the other hand, to measure momenta and energies, devices are necessary with movable parts to absorb the impact of the test object and to indicate the size of its momentum. Paying regard to the fact that quantum mechanics is competent for dealing with the interaction of object and apparatus, it is seen that no arrangement is possible that will fulfill both requirements simultaneously...” The Upanishads seem to have implied not to ask who created the Creator as Creation’s existence and Creators emergence from a Creative source cannot be simultaneously known. Meanwhile, science has progressed to gather enormous amount of knowledge about the Creation and the Cosmos. In the process, Science has traversed a path of continually identifying new areas of Ignorance at an accelerating rate. In the following chapters, we try to get a sense of our expanding knowledge and ignorance about the Universe, its contents and its creation.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2. Universe: Definition & Content
Universe in the normal course would mean the observer (say, Man or any other form of life) and his surroundings. For an infant, the Universe is all that the infant can see, touch, feel, small, hear and perceive in the process. As the infant grows up his/her concept of the Universe expands. As the earliest Man would have perceived, we as children, were introduced at some stage to the three parts of the Universe: the Heavenly layers in the skies above (Swarga Lokas in the ancient Hindu/ Indian scriptures), the top layers on the surface of the Earth where we live (Martya) and the part underneath the Surface of the Earth (Patal). The grand parents would then narrate the ancient age stories of these three kingdoms of the Universe, their inhabitants and their interactions. As the child would grow up further start going to school, the knowledge and perceptions would undergo a dramatic revolution. He/she would come to know more about what different things are there in the skies and how they behave, what different things are their on the earth surfaces at different locations and in the different layers deep inside the Earth's crust. He would come to know that the Earth itself is one large spherical body of materials in the sky now perceived more broadly as the Space. The Hindu child may also come to learn from the quotes of the ancient Indian texts about what the most ancient knowledge seekers described as the fundamental constituents of the Universe: the Mrithhika (solid particles of the landmass of the earth, the Apaa (the liquid water), the Agni (fire or light), the Marut (the wind that moves all around) and the Boym (the space all around). He/ she would also hear about Kaal or Mahakaal (time) as the fundamental element in which all that is there in the Universe witness changes including change of form.
As one grows of further and studies in school getting introduced to the chapters of Physics and Chemistry like heat, sound, light, Mass, atomic and subatomic particles, energy, acids, evaporation, oxidisation, distillation, mixtures and etc., he would have known many new things about the Universe to forget what he had heard about the five fundamental elements of Mritthika, Apaa (symbolizing matter), Agni and Marut (symbolizing energy) and Boym (space) as also of the concept of Mahakal (Time). By the time a course on astronomy has been introduced to the student who has learnt about the theory of general and special relativity and basics of quantum theory, the perception of the Universe has become the most modern. He now is competent to deal with the fundamentals of the Physical Universe the four elements of which are Matter, Energy, Space and Time with a few laws governing their behaviour, though since 1990s vigorously struggling to deal with his concepts of dark energy (a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and tends to accelerate the expansion of the dark energy currently and accounts for an estimated 22% of the total mass-energy of the universe) and vacuum energy (an underlying background energy that exists in space even when the free space is devoid of matter - a concept of vacuum energy has been deduced from the concept of virtual particles, which is itself derived from the energy-time uncertainty principle).
Yet, is he adequately informed about the boundaries and coverage of the Universe of which he is a part? Does he perceive his emotions as those governed by the laws of physics and chemistry? Does he/ she enjoy the feeling of love and romance as the interaction of matter, energy and space over time? Does he/ she trace origin of the thoughts and ideas that arise in his/her mind, the emergence of the questions to which he/ she seeks answers, to the fundamentals of the physical universe of matter-energy, space-time and laws or forces of electromagnetism, gravitation or weak and strong forms? Who helps the young knowledge seeker to improve his comprehension about the Universe?
The youth now has to study more: needs to know about molecular biology, proteins, cells, genetics and also of the proofs being obtained in support of the Big Bang Theory like the increasing distances between strictly held together multi-bodied galaxies. If he is in the academics, he has a chance to pick up the knowledge cross disciplines, though he may not have enough time to go beyond the specific field of his research/ study. For a Cosmologist that is fine. For the rest of the mankind, the universe remains as mysterious as the learned man of the ancient times: what stories will he tell or write in the Internet for his grand children to enjoy.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
3. The Cosmic Myth @ 200 BC
It was a summer evening in 200 BC in India. The Grand Child (GC) asked the Grand Father (GF): ‘How did all that we see around and in the sky come about’?
GF was a learned person who had been taught by his Gurus and had considerable knowledge contained in the Vedas, parts of the Upanishads and Vedanta and the Puranas - thousands of verses that reflected the thoughts of Indian seekers of Truth and Knowledge during previous 5-7 centuries..
He responded, ‘My dear, young one. You have asked the most significant question for any human being. The little that we know so far suggest that all these that you see, feel, touch, smell, hear, sense and perceive around you and all that you cannot can be termed as the present form of the Universe or the Creation. And all these are an infinite variety of names and forms that have come about through an infinite series of transformations over time and space that originated in the One nameless, formless entity we call Consciousness or The Supreme, Ultimate God or the Creator. And, this God or Consciousness was never born, never ceases to exist and has been pervading the entire Creation in its different forms and phases through infinite time without a beginning and without an end. By definition therefore the question as to how this God came about is ruled out.’
‘What did this God or Consciousness do to create all that we see, perceive and imagine?
asked GC.
GF replied, ‘My dear child, this God or Consciousness is Sayambhu or Self-created and bound by the Law of Self Creation and transformation (creative process) and contained within It all that was necessary and sufficient transform the Creator into Creation (including time and space) that can be witnessed, observed, imagined, known or yet to be unknown by human beings who are also part result of the same creative process. So, God did not have to do anything to create anything: the creative process is also implicit in the concept of God: the Creator, the Creative process and the Creation are all One and the same thing. That is why we say God exists in everything and nothing and we say everything and nothing all exists in God.’
‘Then, please describe me how did it all begin?’ asked GC
GF elaborated, ‘There has been no beginning and no end, as I had pointed out earlier. The Universe or the Creation can be consistently and best explained by this Basic Concept of ever-existing limitless, infinite, all comprehensive, self-contained ultimate of integrated Creator, Creation and Creative Process. Certainly, you can ask how the current observable form of Universe arose. Once you have understood the Basic Concept or Model, the answer to your question is simple. You can trace back from the Current Universe backwards to the infinite series of earlier forms of the Universe. Or, you can start at any of the early forms of the Universe and move forward to the current form. One such attempt has been tried by learned men to better understand the Basic Concept and its implications.
Here, one starts an arbitrary point where the Creation or the Creator was only Consciousness without any form. This is a state of the Universe that human beings cannot visualize, except that the Creator, the Creation and the Creative process at this stage in unobservable or yet unknown. We do not know for how long the Universe is/ was in that state and how many times it recurs? But we can imagine that before the Universe takes the shape of an observable state, the creative process must have gone through a sequence that could lead to an observable state. The State of Pure Consciousness only Universe has to have a desire to express itself partly in observable / physical form within the Consciousness Itself and remaining within each and every constituent of the observable, physical part of Its expression (Narayana exists in each and everything, and each and everything exists in Narayana). This desire is termed as Narayana that gets expressed when Consciousness splits under the impact of the immutable law of the Creative process to give rise to the womb or the egg of the physically observable component of the Universe. We call this as ‘Hiranyagarbha’ or the golden womb or egg of the Nature. The Consciousness always has within Itself the incredibly power of designing (Purusha) and implementation (Prakriti or Nature). Hiranyagarbha is the first step to implementation of the design. This womb (not a human womb but a concept of the first step in the process of generating phenomena that are self-sustaining) yields Prajapati, the all pervasive Law of Nature with the basic ingredients that would soon transform to the physical, observable Universe with its numerous constituents (subjects). Prajapati gives rise to Brahma, the initial State of the physical component of the Universe.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiranyagarbha and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_cosmology)
Then, through a succession of states the physical part of the Universe becomes bigger and bigger to arrive at the current physical form. In various states in between, the Universe witnessed the transformation of the basic germ of physical universe to generate within itself the process of formation, stability and destruction of physical elements. Thus, we have come to know that Brahma, the law and content of physical Universe has within itself the powers and processes of preservation and destruction of forms as part of the process of transformation. That is why we call the trinity of forces of Creation (Brahma), Preservation (Vishnu) and Destruction (Siva) and we know all these three forces are intertwined and inseparable parts of the process of transformation of the physical Universe. It is through these processes that the Hiranyagarbha has given rise to the land, the water, the light or fire, the wind that moves things, the sky (space) which in turn have created the physical bodies on the earth, inside the crust of the earth below our feet and in the skies above our heads. All that you see and perceive on earth including various life forms like you and me as mortal humans are all the result of the same process that began at the state of Hiranyagarbha. Every thing including 8,400,400 life-form species - 900,000 aquatic ones, 2,000,000 tree and plant forms, 1,100,000 small living species, insects and reptiles, 1,000,000 species of birds, 3,000,000 types of beasts and 400,000 human forms - all come from the same single ultimate source of our Basic Concept of Consciousness, Narayana, Hiranyagarbha, Prajapati, Brahma, Bishnu and Siva. ’
‘All this is interesting, Grand Father. But what about the future states of the universe? asked GC.
GF said, ‘As you might have observed that the process of transformation involves continuous and intermingled circular processes of creation, preservation (stability) and destruction (instability). The future States of the Universe will be the result of these forces / processes only. The Universe is created, destroyed, and re-created in an eternally repetitive series of cycles of cycles. The process of creation, preservation and destruction of Universe for one cycle endures for about 4,320,000 years—one day/Kalpa of Brahma. At the end of destruction, Brahma rests for one night, just as long as the day. This cycle of day and night repeats for 100 Brahma years (311 trillion, 40 billion human years) – the life span of one Brahma before another Brahma arises from Prajapati emanating from Hiranyagarbha. We are currently believed to be in the middle of the current Brahma's life and so about 158.7 trillion years have elapsed since the birth of Brahma. After Brahma's "death", it is necessary that another 100 Brahma years pass until Brahma is reborn and the whole process of creating observable, physical part of the Universe/ Creation begins anew. This process is repeated. This goes on again and again, forever.
Brahma's day is divided in one thousand cycles (Maha Yuga, or the Great Year). Maha Yuga, during which life, including the human race appears and then disappears, made of 14 Manav-antarahas each has 71 divisions. Each Maha Yuga lasts for 4,320,000 years. Manvantara is Manu's cycle, the one who gives birth and governs the human race.
Each Maha Yuga consists of a series of four shorter yugas, or ages as described earlier. The degree of happiness, prosperity and righteousness progressively decays as one proceeds from one Yuga to another. Each Yuga is of shorter duration than the age that preceded it. The physical Universe in the generic sense is thus infinite and uncountable and oscillating in cycles of expansion from a virtually dimensionless and infinitesimal entity and total collapse into an infinitesimal entity but always containing the same that is available in the most expanded form of the Universe.’
‘But, Grand Father’, asked the Grand Child, ‘ how do we know all that you have said is correct about the Universe because there is no single or successive set of human beings all throughout to have observed the infinite cycles of the physical universe?’
GF replied, ‘You are absolutely right. We need to know that what we know is correct. That also is part of the cycle of the physical universe. The only method of knowing about the Universe is through observation, analysis and revelation that appears plausible and acceptable at any given point of time. So far the story of the Universe that I have described to you is a gist of what knowledge-seekers have come to gather based on observations, analysis and revelations over the last few centuries in India. As we proceed into the future, our knowledge is also going to expand exponentially. Maybe within a few thousand years, human beings would be able to observe or simulate what have happened billion of years back and make the story of the Universe more refined and acceptable to the more intelligent minds of the future generation of human beings. You and the generations after you will be dealing with greater knowledge acquisition to make the story more acceptable as reality rather than as fiction of imagination. As for me, I have to be content with the knowledge acquired so far and acceptable to the present day generation of brilliant minds. And, given the Basic Concept that they have evolved to explain the Universe and its dynamics, I can only try to remind me continuously that all that is in the Universe is nothing but different forms of the same single ultimate source and develop in me a vision of equanimity.’
Thursday, January 6, 2011
4. The Cosmic Myth @ 2011 AD
The Grand Father (GF) was chatting with his Grand Child (GC) over the Internet. The GC asked: Grand Father, could you please tell me ‘How did all that we see around and in the sky come about’?
GF: But I have very little knowledge about this, my dear. You have to learn all this by yourself.
GC: This is not fair Grand Dad. More than 2210 years back, a Grand Father told his Grand Child the story about the Universe. You should do the same favour to me if you love me.
GF: How do you know about grand father story of 2ooBC?
GC: Well, that is in the Internet. You can visit the story Grand Dad by clicking on http://universeofignorance.blogspot.com .
GF: Then, what is the problem? You read the story there yourself.
GC: I read it, Dadu. But the story is based on knowledge gathered in the 5-7 centuries prior to 200 before Christ. I need you to update that story for me.
GF: But I am old and have virtually no knowledge on the subject. You are the only Sun in my Universe now dear young one.
GC: Grand Dad, you must make some efforts to help me. Search the Internet and spin your story as far as your capability allows you. That would be a good start for me and I promise I will refer to your contribution when I spin my story for my grand children.
GF: OK. Let me try. You come back to me after seven days on this subject.
GC: I love you, Grand Pa. You are so sweet.
The chat gets over. After seven days, the chat resumes on the subject.
GC: So, Grandpa, tell me now ‘How did all that we see around and in the sky come about’?
GF: About 13.58 - 13.92 billion human years ago, there was only an infinitesimal volume, infinitesimal point-like entity filled homogeneously and isotropically with an incredibly very high density energy density characterised by huge temperature and pressures. As soon as that entity emerged, it instantaneously started expanding and in 10−37 seconds, a phase transition caused a cosmic inflation of exponential expansion. After about 10−11 seconds, the particle energies dropped to values that can be attained in particle physics experiments. Soon the expansion witnessed the appearance of quark–gluon plasma and other elementary particles: high temperature caused random motions of particles at relativistic speeds with particle–antiparticle pairs of all kinds were being continuously created and destroyed in collisions. At about 10−6 seconds, quarks and gluons combined to form baryons such as protons and neutrons. More stable particles protons and neutrons started to form when the expansion was one second old.
At some point into the expansion, an unknown reaction called baryon-genesis led to a small excess of quarks and leptons over anti-quarks and anti-leptons — of about one part in 30 million. The small excess of quarks over anti-quarks led to a small excess of baryons over anti-baryons. The temperature was now no longer high enough to create new proton–antiproton pairs (similarly for neutrons–antineutrons), so a mass annihilation immediately followed, leaving just one in 1010 of the original protons and neutrons, and none of their antiparticles. A similar process happened at about 1 second for electrons and positrons. After this annihilation, the remaining protons, neutrons and electrons were no longer moving relativistic and the energy density of the expanding entity was dominated by photons (with a minor contribution from neutrinos). This resulted in the predominance of matter over antimatter. The entity continued to grow in size and fall in temperature, hence the typical energy of each particle was decreasing. Symmetry breaking phase transitions put the fundamental forces of physics and the parameters of elementary particles into their present form.
A few minutes into the expansion, when the temperature was about a billion Kelvin and the density was about that of air, neutrons combined with protons to form deuterium and helium nuclei in a process called Big Bang nucleo-synthesis. Most protons remained uncombined as hydrogen nuclei. As the entity cooled down further, the rest mass energy density of matter came to gravitationally dominate that of the photon radiation.
The expanding entity was getting filled with a uniform glow from its white-hot fog of hydrogen plasma. With the continuous expansion, both the plasma and the thermal radiation filling it grew cooler. When the entity cooled enough, stable atoms could form. These atoms could no longer absorb the thermal radiation; the opaque fog was replaced gradually by a transparent entity. The photons that existed at that time have been propagating ever since, though growing fainter and less energetic (there being exactly the same number of photons in a progressively larger entity).
With the entity expanding and the density of energy and matter falling, progressively more space was being created. The fabric of space itself began expanding like the surface of an inflating balloon – matter simply rode along the stretching space like dust on the balloon's surface. The big bang is not like an explosion of matter in otherwise empty space; rather, space itself began with the Big Bang and carried matter with it as it expanded. The entity grew from smaller than a single atom to bigger than a galaxy. And it kept on growing at a fantastic rate. It is still expanding even as we chat now.
After about 379,000 years of expansion, the electrons and nuclei combined into atoms (mostly hydrogen). Galaxies and stars and other bodies formed later. Much later did the entity witness within it the emergence of trees, animals, birds and human beings through this process of transformation of and interaction energy, matter and its constituents, the space and the resulting time of continuous change in them. This is the entity that we call as the Universe now.
GC: Very interesting story, Grandpa, though many words that you spoke is not yet in the domain of my knowledge.
GF: I also do not understand or comprehend the meaning of many of these words. But each word has a definitive meaning, even if often somewhat abstract. These are coined by the scientists who work with such concepts as are meaningful and I have narrated a simplified, even if not absolutely perfect, story that they have developed with lot of efforts.
GC: But how do the scientists know that they have a correct and true story? They were not there for the overwhelmingly greater part of the time of 14 billion years covered by their story.
GF: They have used the method of extrapolation of successive periods of time in the recent periods into the past to get to the beginning of the story 14 billion years ago.
GC: Method of extrapolation of the recent period into the period long, long time past! However, they always try to make a mathematical or stochastic model to capture to
GF: Yes. First, one observes the behaviour of the Universe in the recent period to formulate a dynamic model of a set of differential equations based on certain reasonable assumptions that are testable/ verifiable and then from the solution of the set of equations to find the time path of the variables describing the Universe. Once the time path is known, you work backwards in time to get the picture/ snapshots at different points of time in the past as far as you can go.
The two basic assumptions are that the physical laws are universally applicable and the Cosmological Principle that on large scales the Universe is homogeneous and isotropic. These assumptions have been tested to be true. Einstein's nine field equations based on General Relativity is then used to get into the past. That the individual galaxies still remain bounded by the same size under the pressure of their respective gravitational forces, while the space between any two of them are observed to be increasing over time (resulting in the increasing distances between them), is a proof that the Universe is still expanding the way it had been doing since the Big Bang expansion started from an infinitesimal entity of incredibly high density energy, high temperature, high pressure phenomenon.
If the large-scale Universe appears isotropic as viewed from Earth, the cosmological principle can be derived from the simpler Copernican Principle that there is no preferred (or special) observer or vantage point. The observed abundances of the light elements throughout the cosmos closely match the calculated predictions for the formation of these elements from nuclear processes in the rapidly expanding and cooling first minutes of the universe, as logically and quantitatively detailed according to Big Bang nucleo-synthesis.
The "Big Bang" was not an explosion but the abrupt appearance of expanding space time containing radiation at temperatures of around 1015 K. This was immediately (within 10−29 second) followed by an exponential expansion of space by a scale multiplier of 1027 or more. The early universe remained hot (above 10,000 K) for several hundred thousand years, a state that is detectable as a residual cosmic microwave background or CMB, a very low energy radiation emanating from all parts of the sky. The "Big Bang" scenario, with cosmic inflation and standard particle physics, is the only current cosmological model consistent with the observed continuing expansion of space, the observed distribution of lighter elements (hydrogen, helium, lithium, oxygen) in the universe, and the spatial texture of minute irregularities (anisotropies) in the CMB radiation.
I do not understand these proofs of the Big Bang and the associated mathematics, but it looks like that the proofs are valid scientifically. So, if you wish you can go and study these scientific details. Unlike the Cosmic Myth @ 200 BC, the Cosmic Myth @ 2011 AD provides enough scientific proofs for scrutiny.
GC: What does the Myth @ 2011 AD forecast for the future?
GF: The continued expansion that more and more of the currently visible Universe will pass beyond our event horizon and out of contact with us. The eventual result is not known. The Universe contains massive quantity of dark energy in the form of a cosmological constant. If the density in the Universe were equal to or below the critical density, the expansion would slow down, but never stop. Star formation would cease as all the interstellar gas in each galaxy is consumed; stars would burn out leaving white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Very gradually, collisions between these would result in mass accumulating into larger and larger black holes. The average temperature of the Universe would asymptotically approach absolute zero — a Big Freeze.
There is a possibility that only gravitationally bound systems, such as galaxies, would remain together, and they too would be subject to heat death, as the Universe expands and cools. If the protons were unstable, then baryon matter would disappear, leaving only radiation and black holes. Eventually, black holes would evaporate by emitting Hawking radiation. The entropy of the Universe would increase to the point where no organized form of energy could be extracted from it, a scenario known as heat death. I do not know whether that means the terminal date of the Universe. Phantom energy theories suggest that ultimately galaxy clusters, stars, planets, atoms, nuclei and matter itself will be torn apart by the ever-increasing expansion in a so-called Big Rip.
There is also a possibility that there could be a Big Crunch. If the mass density of the Universe were greater than the critical density, then the Universe would reach a maximum size and then begin to collapse. It would become denser and hotter again, ending with a state that was similar to that in which it started — a Big Crunch. This theory says the universe will one day stop expanding. Then, as gravity pulls on matter, the universe will begin to contract, falling inward until it has collapsed into a super hot, super-dense singularity. The universe is like a giant soufflé. It starts out small, expands as it heats up, and eventually, as the soufflé cools, begins to collapse. Big Crunch is the consequence of the Big Bang and vice verse.
GC: But repeated cycles of Big Bang and Big Crunch bring us back to Myth @ 200 BC.
GF: You are right. The Cosmological Myth that you would spin when you become a grand father may in fact be one that is more akin to the Cosmological Myth of Indians in second to sixth century BC.
GC: Was not there any sound when the Big Bang Explosion suddenly began?
GF: There could have been such a sound. These sound waves must have been in the Universe somewhere or got converted into some other waves, if that was possible. Scientists would know that. The concept of ‘OM’ or “AUM’ (defined as the primordial sound) looks interesting in that context.
GC: Yes, there are lots of questions that remain unanswered by the Cosmological Myth that you have narrated.
GF: Some of these questions are the subject matter of interest in the subsequent set of posts in this blog, my dear. If you have time just have a glance time to time.
GC: Thanks Grandpa.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
5. Space in Search for Domain
Concept of space is so crucial to human beings. We need abstract spaces to satisfy our intellectual needs and nebulous spaces to satisfy our emotional needs and physical spaces to satisfy our need to accommodate everything that we come across. When we have plenty of space in supply, we space out the all that we need to keep in space and when we have more things to be accommodated; we squeeze out space from the available space through compacting.
In mathematics, a space is a set whose members satisfy some defined structure. And, there are many types of mathematical spaces like (arranged alphabetically) Affine Space, Baire Space, Bannach Space, Base Space, Bergman Space, Besov Space, Borel Space, Calabi-Yau Space, Cellular Space, Chu Space, Dimension, Dodecahedral Space, Drinfeld's Symmetric Space, Eilenberg-Mac Lane Space, Euclidean Space, Fiber Space, Finsler Space, First-Countable Space, Fréchet Space, Function Space, G-Space, Green Space, Hausdorff Space, Heisenberg Space, Hilbert Space, Hyperbolic Space, Inner Product Space, L2-Space, Lens Space, Line Space, Linear Space, Liouville Space, Locally Convex Space, Locally Finite Space, Loop Space, Mapping Space, Measure Space, Metric Space, Minkowski Space, Müntz Space, Non-Euclidean Spaces, Normed Space, Para-compact Space, Planar Space, Polish Space, Probability Space, Projective Space, Quotient Space, Riemann's Moduli Space, Riemann Space, Sample Space, Standard Space, State Space, Stone Space, Symplectic Space, Teichmüller Space, Tensor Space, Topological Space, Topological Vector Space, Total Space, Vector Space . Topological spaces are the most general type of spaces, while the most familiar and popular space in everyday life is the Euclidean space: we all started with Euclidean geometry and in Einstein's theory of Special Relativity, Euclidean three-space plus time are unified into the so-called Minkowski space. The supply of newer mathematical spaces however cannot meet the ever-growing demand for physical and emotional spaces. Now almost every one/ group ask for his/her/ their spaces.
Every moment is in search for space. The growing human population needs more space to live more prosperous and quality life. The endangered species need space. Houses need more living, dinning and partying space. Cars need more communication space as well as parking space. The woman needs space as much to the men. The children need space. Computers need more disk space. Data storage and transmission need infinite cyberspace. Human mind needs space to explore and work out the shape of space and reach the edges of space if any. Matter occupies space. The balloon expands in space. Light travels and radiates in space. Energy fills space. Fields needs space to work on. The stars and planets are in the space and the galaxies have space within the formations as well between any two of them. Even invisible energy and matter occupy space. Space seems to get filled in with something or the other, so there is no empty space that remains to be occupied. So, it seems that the space has to expand itself to keep the Universe going.
Is that why the Cosmic Myth 2011 AD (Big Bang, Big Crunch etc) provides for creation and expansion/ contraction of space depending on the emerging requirement for space? It says that Space, matter, energy and time arose out of the continuous inflation of the dimension-less primordial point of maximum density energy with high pressure and temperature that appeared from no where suddenly 14 billion human years ago to begin the journey of the Universe. This myth does not explain how that point came about and where did it appear to exist? Scientists could go as far back as the Big Bang only: for Science this was the beginning of everything all of a sudden. Of course, the idea of Big Crunch helps to explain that the primordial infinitesimal, dimension-less point of concentrated energy is not primordial but the result of cosmic contraction. But that does not help answer the question from where did this energy - concentrated or dispersed - come from: it is just like the Cosmic Myth @ 200 BC not explaining when and how the Consciousness come from. Well, there are two ways to deal with this issue. First, just as God has been there as Consciousness all the time as Self created / Sayambhu, the same property applies to Energy that moves from the State of maximum possible density to the State of minimum possible density (cosmic inflation) and then back to maximum density (through cosmic deflation) phase. Second, if there are continuous cycles of alternating contraction and expansion phases, there is no need to ask where and when did it all begin. This is just as the Hindus know: God has been in existence for ever without a beginning and end.
In the cosmic inflation phase, energy density continually decreases, even as part of the energy converts itself into matter and matter converts itself into energy, creating more and more space in the process. It is tautological: energy density is defined as amount of energy per unit of space: increase / decrease in energy density imply that space must expand/ contract at a faster rate than dispersal/ concentration of energy. Thus, the Universe is essentially defined by Energy and its properties - matter and space are mere derivatives/ consequence of the properties of energy.
And, energy loses density to create space. And, the space in the Universe is expanding. Between ant two galaxies, the amount of space is expanding. And, this is how currently the Universe is expanding in size. The balloon expands in space, but in what does the space or the Universe expand? Either we assume that expansion or contraction of space is a mere illusion or assumes that expansion of space creates its own required space. Both are interesting concepts but not very appealing without proof.
There is still another alternative. The total energy of the Universe in its most concentrated form exists in an infinite, end-less, indestructible, unperturbed, non-expandable, non-contractible, non-tearing, non-breakable, seamless, transparent, color-less, all-pervasive and medium, named, say, Illusion-net (MayaJaal) or Netillude. Space and the Universe expand and contracts in that Illusion-net. What does that illusion contain: it contains all that is there in the space including spaces occupied by energy, matter, fields, time and strings as also spaces free of these and containing dark energy, vacuum energy and probably something yet unknown. Of the total of energy, dark energy and vacuum energy, energy however is still estimated to be a small component – about a mere 4%. It is like the 200 BC mythological concept of Narayana which is present in each and everything with complete density and in which each and everything exists. It is the only concept that allows for existence of the same particle to be present simultaneously at different locations and time. All spaces, whether or not occupied/ tainted by any physical component/ matter/ energy/ field, may have to lie in some domain like Narayana or Neillude.
Let us forget for the present such illusive concepts as Narayana or Netilude. Let's be comfortable with the idea that the space between any two galaxies are expanding. Two issues need to be addressed. First, if the space is expanding, it must be doing so because the invisible/ visible energy content in those parts of the space must still be becoming less dense. Where is this energy or matter going? Is it crossing over to fall inside the boundaries of the galaxies and their gravitational fields? When will, if possible, the space between galaxies become completely bereft of any matter or energy or anything else? And, when it does happen, what would happen to that empty space (space that does not contain anything that we know of or can imagine)? Will it collapse or become static. If so, the distances between galaxies will at some point stop increasing.
Second, if the distances between galaxies are expanding (at an ever increasing rate of acceleration according to Science after 1900 and especially after 2000 AD), it is possible some galaxies may have already gone out of our Milky Way galaxies and those nearby. And, may be some galaxies may have gone out of the horizon of the galaxies that are at the edge of our Horizon. What is happening to those galaxies that have gone out of the horizon of the end of our horizon? Unless we assume that the infinite Universe has no edge, the question of the position of the set of galaxies going beyond the horizon of the infinite horizon will arise. Are there spaces beyond them? Are the edges of the infinite Universe bordered by galaxies or empty spaces? Does the natural number system end with an odd or even number? Being infinite, the question does not arise: the series of natural numbers cannot ever have an end point?)
Is the concept of Space up for a grand de-conceptualisation and re-conceptualisation?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
6. Eternity Nicks in the Nick of Time
Time is so much an integral part of human life, that we have time for everything except time. Time and existence of time is taken for granted. We are born in the nick of time. Our time starts some 42 weeks before we see the light of the World. We record the time of birth and time of death both on Calendar time and clock/ wrist watch time. We enjoy happy times and find time to introspect. We have the habit of even killing time, even though we know time is money. We forget things from time to time and even with time. Time is supposed to be a great healer. Sometimes we have idle or spare time, sometimes we run short of time, Sometimes we schedule time for appointment and sometimes we failed to reach the destination in time. We complain of scarcity of time. When we do not know we hope time will tell. We desire good things to be done in time and aircraft's departing, flying and landing on time. We know time runs out fast and yet waiting at the end of a long queue we seem to find time taking its own sweet time to reach us at the head of the queue.
We schedule our programs to best utilize time. We need leisure time, bedtime, breakfast time and dinner time. Some say that any time is tea time. We distinguish between day time and night time. We dislike time consuming work and time delays. Some likes winter time but dislike summer times. Television channels want their prime time ratings to go up. We do not like time delays but wait to act when the time is ripe. Many things take time to make an impact.
We place events in chronological time and maintain records as per Calendar time. Executives want information online on real time basis. We pass time in pastimes and get worried during war times. We read about events in historical times with interest and are amazed to know that some scholars have discovered about things during pre-historic time. In arithmetic, there were sums involving time and work. In college they taught differential calculus and difference equations to deal with time dynamics. In science fiction, we travel backwards and forward in time.
If our lives are so time dependent and intertwined with time, we could perhaps allocate time to explore the concept of and independent existence of time. It is better to start with the stupid question: what is Time (not what is the time)? Does Time have an existence or is it only a construct to make living more comfortable?
The concept of Time helps us to sequence events/ happenings and future outcomes in a manner to place them in the order of their occurrence: which occurred before and which after which. Time also helps us have an idea of the distance between two events as also measure the duration of an event or happening. Thus, Kurukshetra War happened before Arjun died and after Arjun's father died, the distance between Arjun's father's death and Arjun's death was x number of years and that the battle of Kurukshtra lasted for say 18 days. It is like a number system where the numbers are placed in a sequence of ascending/ descending order of magnitude and where the distance between two numbers are capable of being measured and distances between two different pairs of numbers can be compared. This is applicable not in the past tense, past continuous tense and past perfect tense, but also of the different categories of present and future tense.
We are therefore very particular about measuring time, time periods and time intervals. Units of measurement are small as well as very large. One Planck time is the time it would take a photon travelling at the speed of light to cross a distance equal to one Planck length (1.616252(81)×10^−35 meters). Theoretically, the smallest time measurement that will ever be possible is roughly 10^-43 seconds (change in time less than one Planck time apart, is beyond physical measurement and detection: the smallest time interval that was directly measured was one of 12 attoseconds (12 x 10−18 seconds), about 1024 times larger than the Planck time. Planck Epoch Planck epoch (or Planck era), named after Max Planck, is the earliest period of time in the history of the universe, from zero to approximately 10−43 seconds (Planck time), during which, it is believed, quantum effects of gravity were significant. Division and combination of time units have been in practice among ancient Indians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_units_of_measurement). The smallest unit of time is a miniscule of a currently known second while the largest is Brahma's day equivalent to 4.32 billion human years. But what we measure as time my not be really in existence: we measure change or movement and call it time!
Does Time have any real existence beyond such use to deal with past, present and future which are essentially a classification for human convenience? Was Time there when human beings did not exist? Is Time an independent component of the Universe as Energy-Matter is or it is just another derivative of the phenomenon called Energy-Matter? We have discussed in the previous post, how Space is a mere derivative of Energy: energy reduces its density to produce and expand space. This is what Big Bang theory of the creation of Universe says. The same is true of Time. Time started with the Big Bang and merely reflects the change in energy density and the consequential creation and expansion of space. That is why just like we have energy-matter equivalence a la Einstein, we have space-time as one dimension or a single space-time continuum. Einstein showed that with electromagnetic measurement, time and space get entangled in what is called Minnows space.
We could derive a formula following Einstein. Time = Distance travelled by light in space divided by the square-root of energy per unit of mass. You are right. I expressed the famous E = m*c^2 in a different way. For Einstein energy per unit of mass and speed of light are constants of equal values (speed of light is nothing but a ratio of related intervals of space and time covered by light as it travels). If particles of light have to move, they should get space to move in. The interval space between which a light particle moved is nothing but a change of position. This change of position is alternatively measured in time so that one can derive a notion called speed or velocity. If there is no change, there is no time. Time disappears. Time does not have any existence of its own. It started with Big Bang and will end with Heat Death of Big Rip. What was the time before Big Bang is a meaningless question if we understand Stephen Hawkins, the great scientist of our time. Ultimately, we arrive at Energy as the sole element of the Universe (energy, dark energy and vacuum energy).
But equations are equations. What is a dependent variable and which is an independent often depends on our choice. So, one can if one so wish can say that energy, mass and space - all exists only in time. Without Time, nothing exists: Kaal, the Eternal Time, as per the Cosmic Myth of 200 BC, shapes the path of behaviour of all beings and non-beings in the Universe and the Universe. But for the Cosmic Myth of 2011 AD, Time is just about 14 billion years of age and was created only by the Big Bang, meaning that the origin of the Big Bang was beyond Time.
By just adding Big Crunch to Big Bang, however, one can easily extend the lifetime of Time to Infinity: never-ending repeated cycles of contraction and expansion of space along with increasing and decreasing density of energy. This means Time never ends as change never ends. Change in energy density and amount of space occurs only in Time. If change never ceases permanently, Time is Infinite just as the numbers are.
We thus go back to the Cosmic Myth of 200BC. In the five to two millenniums BC, the source of all creation was traced back to the Infinite Kaal (Time) by the knowledge seekers in India: Everything exists in Time and Time exists in everything. And yes, that is the Concept of God in Sanatana Hindu Cosmology (not religion). Eternity nicked Time in the nick of time.
Question about Time would persist. Energy (or for that matter or latent matter) was there to start with and never ceases to exist (conservation principle that nothing is lost in the Universe). Even space is not created by human beings. Time is the creation of human beings just as the numbers are. They may be uncountable infinite, but they are not fundamental to the Universe. Stars are part of the Universe but their numbers, however counted, are not part of the Universe. So time is not a fundamental and independent constituent/ ingredient/ feature of the Universe.
There is no human being in the Mars or the Jupiter. So, there is no Number or Time in the Universe outside the Earth. Even at the time the Planet Earth was formed, there were no human beings and hence there would not have been numbers or Time. Could it not be that both the Number System and Time existed all along in the Universe just as Energy and matter and possibly Space did. Human beings only discovered them that all these existed in the Universe. Internet technology was not discovered until recently: does it mean that Internet communication did not exist in the Universe from the very beginning?
Science is still trying to find answers to these questions. We may to live with their opinions and hunches, speculative guesses and hypotheses yet to be tested or waiting for construction of suitable devices to enable testing/ verification? For how long Time do we have to wait for their final verdict on Truth? Till eternity? Or, is it that since energy, mass, space and time get entangled, the quadruplet is nothing but the same thing: there is nothing to distinguish among time, energy, mass and time!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
7. Eluding Elementary Source (mother) Sub-particles
The Universe is so huge and expanding. It seems to be infinite. The Macro-universe is so wonderful thing to explore with infinite number of celestial physical bodies of matter like comets, planets, stars, constellations, galaxies, expanding space with cosmic radiation and colourful lights: the Micro-universe of particles and elementary particles that are believed to be the building blocks of the Universe are equally absorbing infinity of exploration. All colours, lights, energy, forces, consolidation / disintegration of matter and movements seem to be the play of particles.
All matter, the substance of all physical objects from atoms and other particles to stars have mass and occupy a volume of space (we ignore the fact that alternative scientific meanings of "matter" in different subjects of study may be even incompatible). But the smallest bits of matter are called particles. The ultimate goal of scientific investigators would be breakdown into the internal substructure of all particles to find out the unique fundamental source of all matter in the Universe. This could be the smallest and invisible to any microscope that human beings may be able to construct in finite calendar time. Science has already discovered mass-less sub-particles. The ultimate source could be mass-less and moving in infinite speed through anything that exists or imagined to exist without any deflection or deformation. This ultimate source may be infinitely abundant and therefore exist in each and everything and therefore be containing everything.
As the scientists delved deeper and deeper into particles, they identified Elementary or Fundamental particles that are believed not to have substructure. The process seems to be never ending: instead of one or a few elementary particles, they have come to identify, speculate and detect many such elementary particles! The small particle, Atom, which was thought to be an elementary particle initially soon turned out to have a substructure with even smaller particles like electrons, protons and neutron forming the nuclei of atoms. Even protons and neutrons are not elementary particles.
In the Standard Model of particle physics, the quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons are elementary particles.
Quarks, an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter, combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons.
Gluons are elementary particles which act as the exchange particles (gauge bosons) for the color force between quarks, analogous to the exchange of photons in the electromagnetic force between two charged particles. Quarks make up the baryons (composite of three quarks) and the strong interaction takes place between baryons, one could say that the color force is the source of the strong interaction or that the strong interaction is like a residual color force which extends beyond the baryons, for example when protons and neutrons are bound together in a nucleus.
Bosonic particles that act as carriers of the fundamental forces of nature: particles exert forces on each other by the exchange of gauge bosons.
The best known of all leptons is the electron which governs nearly all of chemistry as it is found in atoms and is directly tied to all chemical properties. Two main classes of leptons exist: charged leptons (also known as the electron-like leptons), and neutral leptons (better known as neutrinos). Charged leptons can combine with other particles to form various composite particles such as atoms and positron's, while neutrinos rarely interact with anything, and are consequently rarely observed: neutrino usually travels close to the speed of light, is electrically neutral, and is able to pass through ordinary matter almost undisturbed. This makes neutrinos extremely difficult to detect. Neutrinos have a very small, but non-zero rest mass.
A fermion can be an elementary particle, like the electron, or a composite particle, like the proton. There are 12 flavors of elementary fermions, plus their corresponding antiparticles, as well as elementary bosons that mediate the forces and the still undiscovered Higgs boson. There may also be elementary particles not described by the Standard Model, such as the graviton, the particle that would carry the gravitational force or the sparticles, supersymmetric partners of the ordinary particles.
The 12 fundamental fermionic flavours are divided into three generations of four particles each. Six of the particles are quarks. The remaining six are leptons, three of which are neutrinos, and the remaining three of which have an electric charge of −1: the electron and its two cousins, the muon and the tau. So, we have electron, electron nutrino, muon, muon nutrino, tau, tau nutrino, up quark, down quark, charm quark, strange quark, top quark and bottom quark. The best known of all leptons is the electron which governs nearly all of chemistry as it is found in atoms and is directly tied to all chemical properties. Two main classes of leptons exist: charged leptons (also known as the electron-like leptons), and neutral leptons (better known as neutrinos). Charged leptons can combine with other particles to form various composite particles such as atoms and positronium, while neutrinos rarely interact with anything, and are consequently rarely observed. There are also 12 fundamental fermionic antiparticles: anti-electron (positron), electron anti-neutrino, antimuon, muon anti-neutrino, tau, tau anti-neutrino, up antiquark, down antiquark, charm antiquark, strange antiquark, top antiquark and bottom antiquark.
Isolated quarks and antiquarks have never been detected, a fact explained by confinement. Every quark carries one of three color charges of the strong interaction; antiquarks similarly carry anticolor. Color charged particles interact via gluon exchange in the same way that charged particles interact via photon exchange. However, gluons are themselves color charged, resulting in an amplification of the strong force as color charged particles are separated. Unlike the electromagnetic force which diminishes as charged particles separate, color charged particles feel increasing force. Color charged particles may combine to form color neutral composite particles called hadrons.
A quark may pair up with an antiquark: the quark has a color and the antiquark has the corresponding anticolor. The color and anticolor cancel out, forming a color neutral meson. Alternatively, three quarks can exist together, one quark being "red", another "blue", and another "green". These three colored quarks together form a color-neutral baryon. Symmetrically, three antiquarks with the colors "antired", "antiblue" and "antigreen" can form a color-neutral antibaryon. Evidence for the existence of quarks comes from deep inelastic scattering: firing electrons at nuclei to determine the distribution of charge within nucleons (which are baryons). If the charge is uniform, the electric field around the proton should be uniform and the electron should scatter elastically. Low-energy electrons do scatter in this way, but above a particular energy, the protons deflect some electrons through large angles. The recoiling electron has much less energy and a jet of particles is emitted. This inelastic scattering suggests that the charge in the proton is not uniform but split among smaller charged particles: quarks.
Gluons are the mediators of the strong interaction and carry both colour and anticolour. Although gluons are massless, they are never observed in detectors due to colour confinement; rather, they produce jets of hadrons, similar to single quarks. The first evidence for gluons came from annihilations of electrons and anti-electrons at high energies which sometimes produced three jets — a quark, an anti-quark, and a gluon.
The fundamental forces of nature are mediated by gauge bosons, and mass are hypothesized to be created by the Higgs boson. There are three weak gauge bosons: W+, W−, and Z0; these mediate the weak interaction. The mass-less photon mediates the electromagnetic interaction. The Higgs boson itself has not yet been observed in detectors.
Existence of more elementary particles have been identified or speculated by the scientists: one class of these is super-symmetric particles or sparticles. Each particle in the Standard Model would have a super-partner whose spin differs by 1/2 from the ordinary particle. There are a whole list of names of elementary particles / particles here: neutrilinos (super-partners of neutral Higgs bosons, Z bosons and photon), chargino (super-partner of charged bosons), photino (sp of photon), wino ( sp of W bosons), zino (sp of Z boson), Higgisions (sp of Higgs bosons), gluino (sp of gluons), gravitino (sp of graviton), sleptons (sp of leptons), sneutrino (sp of neutrino) and squarks (sp of quarks).
There are still more elementary particles: graviscalar, graviphoton, axion, saxion, axino, saxion, branon, dilaton, dilatino, leptoquarks X and Y bosons, magnetic photon, majoron and majorana.
We are virtually flooded with elementary particles of different kinds. But then the Universe is dependent on too many fundamental building blocks. We do not know how they came into existence except from the Big Bang general source of Energy Concentrate in the continuous process of losing density. In that case, they are not the building blocks of the Universe: they are the result of the dilution of energy.
The Truly Fundamental Particle could not have been more than one and must be capable of explaining the high density energy concentrate itself and its inflationary behaviour. The Fundamental Elementary Particles or constituent of the Universe are still eluding us. What we know so far and in the process of knowing is the properties and characteristics of particles that help explain the operation of other particles and forces but not yet amenable to investigation as how they are sourced from the basic origin of all matter. The String Theory talks of particles not being point particles but closed or open strings and may help better explain how the particles behave. But does string theory yet solve our problem of too many elementary particles? Maybe the concepts of strings and branes have given us the desired direction of investigation. If the vibration of strings produces elementary particles, the strings themselves may be the path to the origin of all matter, energy, space and time! Or, the belief that there has to be single unique ultimate source sub-particle is questionable.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
8. Universe Emerges from Nothing (Maha Sunnya)
The Cosmologists always have this dilemma: did the Universe come out of Nothing or something cannot come out of Nothing? The Cosmologists have always been obsessed with finding the beginning of the Uinverse and obsessed with the idea that the beginning must be small.
As per the Cosmic Myth @2011, in the beginning there was only infinitely dense energy in an infinitesimal point. But this small beginning had to immediately adopt of Big Bang - not an explosion but a sudden large expansion. Space, elementary particles of matter and time did not exist at the beginning and emerged from the very small energy concentrate. The only things that the Cosmic Myth of 2011 did not explain are: where did the energy-concentrate come from, where did this high-density energy point lie and why did the original energy start reducing its density. Maybe someday we shall be able to answer these three questions. We can explore these questions later.
But at this point it is clear that the Cosmic Myth @2011 based on Big Bang theory, has identified a beginning and that the beginning is a small size one. And, this small size energy concentrate apparently came from Nothing, If we combine Big Bang with Big Crunch, we avoid the obsession of a beginning (and therefore also avoid the obsession with small beginning) because with Cosmic expansion and cosmic contraction alternating like a sinusoidal curve, the question of when did it all start vanishes. But the question of where from the energy come still remains and the answer is that it has always been there. This is the same thing as saying that the energy came from Nothing.
One surprising thing about elementary particles of matter is particles! It is not clear why particles, rather elementary particles, emerged as particles - whether point particles or string particle? Why was it necessary for the Universe to start with Energy being converted into elementary particles like Quarks and Gluons? Could not energy directly produce atoms and then atoms started splitting of into elementary particles and the latter started recombining, re-splitting add infinitum? The obvious answer is that from a point-like concentrated and condensed energy one cannot produce atoms as these required more space which was scarce in the beginning: cosmic inflation has to generate space first to accommodate larger units of matter like atoms.
True, but why not we start with a huge mass of matter in concentrated or condensed form that then converts into high density energy and then energy start reducing its density rapidly?
Alternatively, why could not the beginning start with the most expanded form of the Universe and then let the process of a Big Crunch start. If we could start with, for example, a multiple of the present size of the Universe with space, matter and energy all available and then through a continuous process of deflation we arrive at a point-like energy concentrate?
If we start with the an infinitely large Universe with galaxies, black holes, stars and planets and then start the process of concentration or deflation, we need a domain of the largest size of the Universe. This is the Domain of every thing: the space, the matter and the energy. Cosmic Deflation would have led to a point-like energy or matter concentrate floating in an infinitely large Domain. Once this Domain is available, energy or matter or space could then undergo both, inflation as it had happened after the Big Bang and contraction as explained by Big Crunch.
This Domain can in fact be called as a Great Zero (Maha Sunnya or MS) or Nothing in which all physical matter, energy, space and time rests. At any point of time, any point in Nothing or MS will have either some matter or energy or space or a mixture of all three or something beyond them called say Maha Sunya or MS that we do not yet know of (if, there is really nothing like MS proved later on, we can drop U from our model. This was what the Cosmic Myth 200 had done: they assumed part of God that is unknown and worked on the model: an alternative variant said there is nothing like unknown God to be assumed. But in 2011, one can start with the existence of something called Nothing. Let's explore this concept of Nothing or MS from which the Universe has arisen later. After all, we cannot explain the Creation of the beginning of the Universe in terms of where from the beginning came, we may have no way out of the conclusion that there is a possibility that the Universe has come out of Nothing.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
9. Attributes of the Acceptable Nothing
Even if the Universe had come out of Nothing, any definition or specification of Nothing will not do. Most religions (major exception being Hinduism or rather Sanatana Dharma or more specifically the Upanishad Philosophy expounded 4000+ years ago) defined this Nothing as God: God desired and said let me create the Universe. He must indeed have been enormously powerful.
Science has defined this Nothing as nothing that the scientists know of or have been so far able to perceive or identify.
But, we can try to define this Nothing by what we would consider as possible source of the Universe in terms of the characteristic it must have in order to be a source of the Universe.
First, Nothing, as the source of the Universe, must be perpetually ceaseless, permanent, indestructible and inexhaustible even after the Universe comes out of Nothing: otherwise the Universe cannot be explained continually on a permanent basis. If Nothing had suddenly come into existence, we have to find another Nothing that was the source of subsequent Nothing.
Second, Nothing must be uncharged, unchanging, unaffected and unperturbed by the Universe: other wise, it becomes part of the continually changing Universe whose source we are exploring. If the source has been changing or lost for ever, we cannot really trust it as a reliable source.
Third, Nothing must never have been born or dead: otherwise it would be contradicting with the first two requirements above. Fourth, Nothing should be as infinite as a Source capable of explaining the infinite nature of the Universe.
Fifth, Nothing, as the source from which all energy, matter, space and time have emerged, must be powerful enough to contain at least all these in implicit form in it: if it did not contain these, Nothing cannot be the source of the Universe and if it contained only these and only in explicit form, it would become part of the physical Universe rather than the source of the Universe.
Sixth, Nothing should be incomprehensible, unexplainable, inexpressible, unimaginable, unalterable and original: otherwise, we cannot use it as the source from which the Universe has come.
Seventh, Nothing should be capable of making its impact felt in any part or the whole of the Universe: if there is no impact of Nothing on the Universe, we cannot say that the Universe has come out of Nothing. Nothing must make its presence felt in each and everything in the Universe: Nothing must be felt to be present everywhere and in everything. Otherwise it would be difficult to accept that Nothing existed ceaselessly and it still contains the Universe.
Eighth, Nothing must be formless in the sense of the Universe, i.e., it cannot have any physical form that matter, energy or space or time can take. But Nothing must be capable of generating matter, energy, space, time and all that directly and through a process of transformation that it imparts to everything in the Universe.
In sum, Nothing should satisfy the following criteria to be eligible to be the source of the Universe: be implicitly present ceaselessly in everything and everywhere of the Universe, and yet remain formless, indestructible, indivisible, infinite and permanent unlike the continuous transient phenomenon that continually transform in the Universe under the impact of a process or set of process that Nothing imparts to anything in the Universe.
You are right. Nothing satisfying the above criteria is close to the description of God in the Upanishads of the ancient Indians (ancestors of Hindus) (some references are http://senland.blogspot.com/2009/02/gita-and-god-0002.html and http://senland.blogspot.com/2009/02/gita-and-god-0007.html). But that is beside the point.
We have some acceptable criteria now to imagine (cannot really describe it properly as per the specifications above) Nothing from which the Universe have had to come out. Neither that we do hope to satisfy all these criteria by imagining the Nothing, nor we necessarily like all criteria to be satisfied. But we can explore and experiment. Let us imagine One Nothing in the next post.
February 2, 2011
10. Imagining the Nothing: Extension of the 200BC Myth
Imagination is imagination. We can be logical and consistent in imagination but that may not be entirely scientific because no generally acceptable scientific method may be available to test imagination of Nothing. In any case, we are not scientists and therefore do not possess the skills needed to use their tools, devices, methods, etc. We therefore depend simply on words and imagination.
By definition Nothing cannot be described given the accepted specifications that Nothing must satisfy. We can only have imaginary, probably alternative hazy ideas. We try imagining one now and here as a start.
Let us consider any two points in the (current) Universe and pass as many imaginary lines as possible through them and extend the lines beyond the two points on either side for infinitely long stretches. These lines need not only be straight lines: they can also be curved in any manner through random choice or on any ad hoc basis (though for simplicity and without loss of generality, one can think in terms of straight lines).
Now let us imagine passing such lines through all possible pairs of points in the universe. The entire Universe will now be covered by infinite number of such lines. You may call these lines or strings. And, Nothing is nothing but the entangled mess of imaginary lines or strings of infinite lengths. We cannot see them but the whole Universe as we see and observe now still functions in this entangled mess of imaginary lines. Nothing remains unperturbed by what goes on in the Universe by our imagined construction.
This Imaginary Nothing satisfies already six out of the eight desirable criteria.
One, Nothing is perpetually ceaseless, permanent, indestructible and inexhaustible even after the Universe comes out of Nothing.
Two, Nothing is uncharged, unchanging, unaffected and unperturbed by the Universe.
Three, Nothing must never have been born or dead: as the imagination today could have been done any time in the infinite past
Four, Nothing is incomprehensible, unexplainable, inexpressible, unalterable and original.
Five, Nothing is as infinite as a Source capable of explaining the infinite nature of the Universe.
Sixth, Nothing is formless in the sense of the Universe, i.e., it does not itself express any physical form that matter, energy or space or time can take.
The above SIX criteria are satisfied by simple construction of imaginary lines.
To see whether the other two criteria are met, we need to imagine some thing more about these imaginary lines.
Before we do this, we need to refer to the elementary particles called Neutrinos. Neutrinos are virtually mass less no-electrical charge particles that can and do pass through any type of bigger particles without being affected themselves and without affecting those through which they pass through (see http://universeofignorance.blogspot.com/2011/01/7-eluding-elementary-particles.html). It is now known that beams of neutrinos pass through our physical bodies all the time. We also have come to surmise that vacuum energy particles seem not only invisible as dark energy is, but also capable of continuously coming into and going out of existence. Such queer phenomenon is not just imagination but scientific speculation. To accommodate this queer behavior of vacuum energy, we may have to take recourse to string theory’s assertion that there exists at least six cosmological dimensions and the Universe is not limited by just three dimensions of length, breadth and height: may be the vacuum energy particles often shift to and from other dimensions (see chapte 12. Beauty of the Universe of Quantum Dancing below for string theory). Scientists are investigating into these possibilities.
We can be bold enough now to imagine that our imaginary lines or strings pass through all space, all matter and all energy (including dark energy and vacuum energy) all the time: by construction these imaginary lines remain unaffected by the mass, energy and space in the Universe all the time. Thus, by construction, our Nothing is all pervading: it always exists in each and every thing, biggest of physical bodies or smallest of particles, space, time and energy in the Universe.
The question is how this Nothing leads to the emergence of energy, matter, space and time. If we can get energy from this Nothing, energy in turn will produce all other elements as per the Big Bang theory. How do we get Energy in the first place from Nothing? For this, we need to expand our imagination of lines passing through every thing just a little. We imagine these imaginary lines to be in continual motion at infinite speed. By this extension of imagination, we ensure that the Nothing remains unaltered all the time: since the lines move in infinite speed, it remains all the time static - unchanged and unaltered. Most important, this infinite speed continual motion generates energy (including dark energy, vacuum energy and any other form of energy yet to be identified): here E=mc^2 doe not apply. There is no mass as yet (the imaginary lines being mass-less, dimension-less and physical form-free) but their speed of motion is infinitely higher than the speed of light (and therefore the imaginary lines appear to be static irrespective of whether or not the Universe is flat or curved or has edges: in imagination speed can be so infinitely high that one cannot observe the displacement of the moving lines).
We have now generated energy from Nothing (the continually moving imaginary lines at infinite speed). This energy is initially stuck with the lines in a uniform manner but gets clustered in some stochastic (probabilistic) way in around some point in one of the imaginary lines. Over a period of trillions of human years the concentration of this energy is so dense at certain point(s) that we get that infinitely dense energy concentrate with which the Big Bang started.
We now have the entire Universe produced from Nothing. The Nothing now satisfies the other two criteria. Nothing is apparently powerful enough to contain at least energy )including dark energy and vacuum energy), matter, time and space in implicit form in itself.
And, Nothing is now capable of making its impact felt in any part or the whole of the Nothing in each and everything in the Universe: Nothing must be felt to be present everywhere and in everything.
To get back to the Cosmic Myth @ 200 BC, the Universe had Nothing at some point of time. This Nothing existed ceaselessly all the Time and permanently. Because of its internal infinite speed motion, Nothing generates energy. That energy gets concentrated at infinitesimal part/s of one or more of the imaginary lines to create the infinitely dense energy concentrate (Hiranyagarbha) that, owing to the continued impact of the spin generated by the infinite speed motion of the imaginary lines of Nothing, starts a process of inflation reducing energy density, creating space, elementary particles and so on. The Big Bang inflationary expansion takes place in the domain of the Nothing only. Thus, that Nothing still remains permanently and ceaselessly unaltered, unaffected and Infinite containing the entire universe - space, energy, matter and time and remaining within each and everything in the universe in an indivisible formless existence.
If we so desire, we can assume that the process of inflation imparted by the infinite speed moving imaginary lines makes it possible also to impart an accelerating speed of inflation of the Universe that would in a sinusoidal manner converts to a deceleration in expansion and then to a deflation/ contraction of the Universe. Yes, if we wish to imagine, we can impart the process and properties that we desire of our model to explain the Universe. Proof of whether such imagination being True will remain in the efforts of scientists in the same way as the proof of w = cosmological constant = -1 is in their hands since long ( it is negative because dark energy has a negative pressure: for cosmological constant see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_constant and http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/cosmo_constant.html . So far w has been experimentally estimated between -1.1 and -0.9, while Einstein require w to be exactly equal to -1 to ensure that the Universe is in static equilibrium and is neither shrinking nor expanding. But since 1994 the scientists have confirmed that the Universe is expanding. Then, w must be different from -1 and Einstein’s equation must get modified. Alternatively, we one can explore a more generalized theory which allows w as a cosmological constant whose value can fluctuate over successive periods of very long time lengths. Scientists are attending to these problems of getting to the Truth.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
11. Questions on Nothing of Cosmic Myth@200BC
An imaginary Nothing has been developed in the previous post. That Nothing is a consistent extension of the Cosmic Myth @200BC and Cosmic Myth @2010. We can now imagine the Creation of the Universe from Nothing and within an all pervasive, indestructible and infinite Nothing.
But there may be many doubts about this imaginary Nothing.
First, if Nothing is continuously generating energy, where does the new energy go after our Universe has been created. There are many ways to deal with this. First, there may be many more Universes being created (Multi-verse Creation). Second, if the infinite speed of motion of the imaginary lines is variable, we can provide for energy utilisation within the system of Nothing. Third, if infinite speed of magnitude x generates energy, a higher infinite speed of magnitude y could absorb energy. We do not really have a problem.
Second, how did Time arise from Nothing? It is possible in two ways: the speed of movement of the lines gives rise to a concept of time. Second, if Time came after Big Bang which is the creation of Nothing, Time is ultimately sourced in the Nothing.
Third, if the imaginary lines are continually moving, then does Nothing any longer remain static and unperturbed? Yes, it does. First, infinite speed movement of indistinguishable imaginary lines leaves no scope for change in the formless content of Nothing. Second, even after generating energy, the imaginary lines remain the same and do the same thing.
Fourth, how did Space get generated from Nothing. It is just the same way as the Big Bang did. And, the space gets created over the domain of the Nothing of imaginary lines. The imaginary lines passes through all the points in the universe whether matter, energy or space including empty spaces. The Universe is in the Nothing and expanding in Nothing. Nothing has only to be of higher order infinity than the infinite Universe (and even the infinity of the union of multiple universes).
Fifth, does the Universe get back into a State that there is nothing called Universe in the Nothing? Rather, does the Universe die in the Nothing? Yes, all this is possible but not necessary. Big Bank expansion emerging from Nothing can give way to Big Crunch and the Universe continues all the time occupying from just an infinitesimal part of the Nothing or a lower order infinite part of the infinite order infinite Nothing. If there is Black Death, this also can occur in the Nothing and the continuous energy generation/ absorption processes can revive Black Death into action too.
Six, how do the imaginary lines intersect, overlap and create a mess and yet remain in perpetual infinite speed motion? The imaginary lines are no-mass, charge neutral constructs and therefore there is frictionless intersections and overlap, especially as the Nothing as an agglomeration is indivisible. The lines are merely an imaginary analytical construct to help understand the phenomenon of motion within the Nothing. The imaginary lines do not divide, split or compartmentalise any part of the Nothing.
Seventh, how does then any motion of infinite speed take pace within Nothing? Clearly, Nothing is not a body of energy or matter or volume of space: it is something like awareness and dissemination of knowledge, information and thought and therefore can be in continuous motion. Infinite speed ensures complete awareness of whatever is happening all over Nothing. Any two points through which the imaginary lines pass are therefore instantaneously interchangeable. It is because of these characteristics of Nothing that the Cosmic Myth @200BC coined the term Consciousness.
Eighth, what happens to the mess of imaginary lines as the Universe expands and collapses in time? Nothing happens to the imaginary lines set: the Universe appears smaller in size or bigger in size but they always remain in the domain of the Nothing.
But all these answers to various doubts are broad ones. Before we get deep into the concept of Nothing, we need to explore many other parts of the emerging Cosmic Myth of the future. This is what we do in the next few chapters.
Monday, February 7, 2011
12. Beauty of the Universe of Quantum Dancing
We know that the ultimate, unique source elementary particle is eluding us now that we have identified so many elementary particles (including antiparticles and super-particles): from which fundamental particle did these elementary particles emerge from or the source of so many particles was nothing but the infinitesimal infinitely-dense point-like energy concentrate with which the Big Bang started?
We have not yet been able to settle the issue: whether the energy concentrate was the egg and the elementary particles the eggs or the elementary particles formed the multiplicity of eggs that produced the single chicken of energy concentrate that preceded the formation of eggs. We just explored the possibility of a Nothing from which the energy concentrate emerged. But the question remained: Energy first or the elementary particles first. The only solution is to treat them as one and the same thing in different forms.
But more perplexing possibilities haunt us in our investigation into the elementary particles. Energy is now known to be available in discrete units of one Quanta particle and not as continuous! On top of this, we have come to know that the elementary particles appear as particles or as waves depending on how to interact with them with our detecting and measuring instruments. Quantum physics deals with discrete, indivisible units of energy called quanta. Quantum Theory tells us about the behavior and characteristics of sub-atomic matter (electrons, protons and neutrons) and energy. The physical properties of the subatomic particles, like the momentum and position cannot be determined at a time. If one value is known precisely, the measurement of the other value is less accurate.
Energy is discontinuous and exists in small packets, called quanta. According to the Principle of Wave-Particle Duality, the subatomic particles behave as particles, as well as waves. The same “object” may appear to be a particle (locatable in a single place), or a wave, spread out over space and time (A particle is a solid object with a specific location in space and time while a wave is neither solid nor localized but spread out like a wave in water). Recent experiments assert that the elementary particles may in fact exhibit simultaneously both particle like and wave -like behavior. This duality may be arising out of Entanglement of particles: particles are never independent - they get linked
The subatomic particles move in a random manner. Particles being in more than one place at once (a recent experiment found that one particle could be in up to 3,000 places!), subatomic particles seem to travel instantaneously over any expanse of space (even though Einstein said that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light). In classical physics one could determine with certainty where a particle would go, given any set of conditions, but in quantum physics, one can never know with absolute certainty how a specific thing will turn out and can only specify probabilities of alternative locations to which a particle may shift. It is physically impossible to know both the position and the momentum of a particle at the same time. The more precisely one is known, the less precise the measurement of the other is.
As per Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, the process of observing appears to influence what is being observed: when the observer attempts to observe or interact with the dancing damsels of subatomic matter/ energy, the observed changes nature from being a state/wave of probability to a particle. The act of measurement is creating that very reality it is measuring. Thus, when one is not observing or measuring, the electrons or photons (particles of light) act as waves: they have no precise location, but exist as “probability fields”. But, when one is observing or measuring, they appear as particles: the probability field “collapses” into a solid object locatable in a specific place and time.
The magical dance of quantum energy is the greatest shock that science have ever experienced and enjoyed for the last eleven decades bewildering the smartest men like Einstein. When an electron moves from orbit to orbit around the nucleus, it does not move through space the way we would think, instead it moves instantaneously: it just disappears from one place in one orbit to appear instantaneously in another place in another orbit. The best the scientists could do is give up the attempt to determine with certainty exactly where the electron would appear or jump on to but calculate the probabilities of its jumping into different alternative locations using Schrödinger’s wave equation.
Weirdness of the microscopic universe of particles is fascinating. The thoughts of the ancient Indians 4000 years back that seemed to us as unscientific and imagination of the child now seems to no longer weird. Modern scientists’ claim that a change in the spin of one particle in a two-particle system seem to affect its twin simultaneously even if the two are separated by great distance in space: separated articles seem to in contact despite their distance in space. There may not be any transmission of signals between different particles separated by space: information seems to get transmitted from one to the other particle. We are still unable to figure out how?
Maybe information on the entire universe is contained in each of its parts (like any part of a Hologram providing the same image of the whole hologram itself. That looks like a solution to the Impossibility theorem: no part of a system can contain all the knowledge or information that the entire system has, unless of course each infinitesimal part is a miniature replica of the entire system. So, either Man (or, a cell / atom/ or neutrino) as a part will never be able to know the Universe completely or Man has all the knowledge in latent state within Man. If the latter is true, then all Men are just equivalent and identical: I exist in everyone else and everyone else exists in me in terms of equivalence of knowledge.
Finally, we are still not sure of the illusion that gets created in the process of gaining (latent) knowledge): some elementary particles may be soon termed as fairy tales: light appears quantized only because of the way it interacts with matter and protons may not really exist.
The perspective of Science has undergone a radical change with the discovery of the magical dance of the quantum damsels. The Knower itself seems to be a part of the Knowledge acquired or to be known. The reality is no longer an objective independent of the experience of the Knower. Each part of the Universe, however small or big part, seems to have multiple existences separated by distances over space. It is not just three: particle, anti-particle and super symmetry particles but infinite number of existences. The Universe may be an agglomeration of multiple universes. You and I may be in existence simultaneously in different locations of the Universe. And, therefore, it may be difficult to distinguish ourselves from dancing each other and the entire creation from a holistic cosmological perspective of quantum dancing. Why do I have to identify myself with this tiny phenomenon of the body, mind, intellect and ego that developed since I was born? I would love to perceive myself as the entire, infinite Creation, simultaneously existing in each of the infinitesimal part of the Universe. When will my scientific knowledge be good enough to enable me to reach that stage? Whom do I pray to reach that stage
