Our Universe May Be One Of Many
The Diamond Approach presents a view of universal awareness that encompasses the concepts of the Universal Mind, the Universal Will, and the Universal Witness, all of which contribute to a profound understanding of the nature of existence and self-realization.
The Universe is all of space and time (spacetime) and its contents, including planets, moons, stars, galaxies, intergalactic space, and all matter and energy. While the size of the entire Universe is still unknown, it is possible to measure the observable universe.
Ancient Greek and Indian philosophers developed the earliest scientific models of the Universe and were geocentric, placing Earth at the center of the Universe. Over the centuries, more precise astronomical observations led Nicolaus Copernicus to develop the heliocentric model with the Sun at the center of the Solar System. In developing the law of universal gravitation, Sir Isaac Newton built upon Copernicus’s work and observations by Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
Further observational improvements led to the realization that our Solar System is located in the Milky Way galaxy, one of many galaxies in the Universe. It is assumed that galaxies are distributed uniformly and the same in all directions, meaning that the Universe has neither an edge nor a center. Discoveries in the early 20th century have suggested that the Universe had a beginning and is expanding at an increasing rate. Roughly eighty percent of the mass in the Universe appears to exist in an unknown form called dark matter which cannot be directly observed.
The current estimate of the size of the universe is approximately 95 billion light-years in diameter, which translates to about 540 sextillion (or 54 followed by 22 zeros) miles. However, it’s important to note that this measurement pertains to the observable universe, and the actual spatial size of the universe is unknown. The observable universe is the portion of the entire universe that we can potentially observe from Earth, given the universe’s age and the speed of light.
The universe’s age has been a subject of ongoing research and debate. Traditionally, astronomers have estimated the universe’s age to be around 13.7 billion years based on cosmic microwave background radiation measurements and observations of distant galaxies. However, a recent study suggests that the universe could be twice as old as these current estimates, making it approximately 26.7 billion years old [2]. This new model extends the galaxy formation time by several billion years and provides a more feasible explanation for the advanced level of development and mass observed in ancient galaxies.
“The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us— there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, or falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.”
— Carl Sagan, Astronomer
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological description of the development of the Universe. Under this theory, space and time emerged together 13.799±0.021 billion years ago with a fixed amount of energy and matter that has become less dense as the Universe has expanded. After the initial expansion, the Universe cooled, allowing the first subatomic particles to form and then simple atoms. Giant clouds later merged through gravity to form galaxies, stars, and everything else seen today. It is possible to see objects that are now further away than 13.799 billion light-years because space has expanded. This means that objects now 46 billion light years away can still be seen in their distant past because, at that time, they were much closer to us.
There are many competing hypotheses about the ultimate fate of the universe and about what, if anything, preceded the Big Bang. At the same time, other physicists and philosophers refuse to speculate, doubting that information about prior states will ever be accessible. Some physicists have suggested various multiverse hypotheses, in which the Universe might be one among many universes that likewise exist.
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Expands Our Knowledge of the Universe
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021, has been a pathfinder of scientific discovery, generating remarkable insights about galaxies, planets, stars, and other cosmic objects. Here are some of the breakthroughs and insights the JWST has provided in our knowledge of the universe:
- Greatest Science Breakthrough of 2022: The JWST was hailed as the greatest science breakthrough in 2022. Within days of coming online in late June 2022, researchers discovered thousands of new galaxies more distant and ancient than any previously documented, perhaps more than 150 million years older than the oldest identified by Hubble. The telescope can collect enough light from astronomical objects to reveal what they are made of and how they move through space. This data has already begun to reveal the atmospheric composition of planets hundreds of light-years from Earth in great detail, offering hints as to their ability to potentially support life as we know it.
- Stars Born in the Pillars of Creation: The JWST’s infrared imaging has captured the birth of stars in the “Pillars of Creation” in the Eagle Nebula. These protostars, appearing as tiny red dots against the backdrop of the pillars, are collections of dust and gas, each many times larger than our solar system, indicating stars being born.
- Understanding Galaxy Evolution: The JWST is designed to help scientists learn more about the early period of the universe and the formation of the first galaxies. By comparing the earliest galaxies with those of today, scientists hope to understand how they form, what gives them their shape, how chemical elements are distributed across galaxies, how central black holes influence their galaxies, and what happens when galaxies collide.
- Insights into Star and Planetary Systems Formation: The JWST is equipped with science instruments that use infrared light to peer into the hearts of stellar nurseries, providing insights into the formation of stars and their planetary systems. It’s impossible to see into these clouds with visible light, so the JWST’s infrared capabilities are crucial for this research.
- Discovery of Carbon Dioxide on Exoplanet: The JWST detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of exoplanet WASP-39b, a scorching world that orbits a star some 700 light-years from Earth. This was the first time carbon dioxide had been spotted in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, marking a significant discovery that could herald more exciting detections in the future.
The JWST continues to send down data to astronomers on Earth, and it is expected to transform our understanding of the distant universe, exoplanets, planet formation, galactic structure, and much more.
The “Universe:” Scientists vs. Mystics
The term “universe” and its use differ significantly between scientists and mystics, seers, and spiritual teachers.
From a scientific perspective, the universe is seen as a vast, physical entity composed of matter and energy governed by natural laws and principles. It is a cosmic hologram, intricately interconnected in a series of nested hierarchies of energy, repeating patterns, with the same essence of information running through it all. Scientists like Max Planck and Erwin Schroedinger have posited that consciousness is fundamental and matter is derivative from consciousness. This viewpoint suggests that consciousness, or mind, has to exist before matter, and everything emanates from this basic, informational domain of consciousness.
On the other hand, mystics, seers, and spiritual teachers view the universe in a more metaphysical and spiritual light. They see the universe as a manifestation of a higher power or divine essence and believe in the possibility of achieving a state of oneness or unity with this essence. This oneness is more than just interconnectedness; it is awakening to the reality that we are one with the material and spiritual reality in which we exist and is held in being by the One we call God or the Universe.
The concept of the “universe” in the context of mysticism often extends beyond the physical world to include spiritual realms and states of consciousness. Mystics, prophets, and seers often claim to have experiences or visions that transcend the physical universe and provide insights into spiritual truths.
Interestingly, the opposition between science and mysticism is of relatively modern origin. In primitive societies, the ‘scientific’ and the ‘mystical’ attitudes were often combined in the same person, such as the ‘medicine-man’ who was both a scientist and a mystic. He would enter into harmony with the universe; through this, his knowledge would increase, and he would gain organized knowledge of natural processes.
Outer and Inner Realities
When we perceive the physical universe and the essential universe from the perspective of non-conceptual reality, they look like thoughts; this is why we call them “mind.” The Nous can be seen as a structure or pattern of ideas, and just as we perceive mental images when we see through the concepts in the personal mind, we see these ideas in the Nous as images. From the perspective of the non-conceptual, the Universal Mind looks like images. The table looks like the image of a table. It’s not really a table. It remains real from the perspective of the personal mind, but from the perspective of the non-conceptual, it’s not that the table is not real; it’s just not as real as the non-conceptual. The non-conceptual is a much more fundamental reality. And the things in the physical world and in the essential realms are laid on it like images. That is why we call it the Universal Mind. – A. H. Almaas, Diamond Heart Book Four: Indestructible Innocence
FAQ: The Universe is a Big Place
- What is the Universe?
The Universe encompasses all of space and time (spacetime) and its contents, which include planets, moons, stars, galaxies, intergalactic space, and all matter and energy. - What is the Diamond Approach’s view on universal awareness?
The Diamond Approach presents a view of universal awareness that includes the concepts of the Universal Mind, the Universal Will, and the Universal Witness. These concepts contribute to a profound understanding of existence and self-realization. - How did ancient philosophers view the Universe?
Ancient Greek and Indian philosophers developed geocentric models, placing Earth at the center of the Universe. - Who developed the heliocentric model?
Nicolaus Copernicus developed the heliocentric model, placing the Sun at the center of the Solar System. - What is the current estimate of the size of the observable universe?
The observable universe is approximately 95 billion light-years in diameter. - What is the Big Bang Theory?
The Big Bang Theory describes the development of the Universe, suggesting that space and time emerged together around 13.799 billion years ago. After the initial expansion, the Universe cooled, leading to the formation of subatomic particles, atoms, galaxies, and stars. - How has the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) expanded our knowledge of the Universe?
The JWST has provided insights into galaxies, stars, and other cosmic objects. It has discovered thousands of new galaxies, captured the birth of stars in the “Pillars of Creation,” and detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, among other breakthroughs. - How do scientists and mystics differ in their views of the Universe?
Scientists view the universe as a vast, physical entity governed by natural laws, while mystics and spiritual teachers view it in a more metaphysical and spiritual light, seeing it as a manifestation of a higher power or divine essence. - What is the perspective of the non-conceptual reality on the physical universe?
From the perspective of non-conceptual reality, the physical universe and the essential universe appear as thoughts or images laid on a more fundamental reality.