Science was tired. He had walked around in circles but had not arrived at that one insight. He knew about quantum fields and about the big bang. He was on the verge of unifying the various partial theories and propose the existence of a unified field… but here he was lost in time in an un-treaded space on the loftiest mountain on earth – the Himalayas. Since his last meeting with God, he had pondered on how to reach out to the ‘mother’ of creation. His research children had uncovered beautiful truths during the last six decades in the realm of physical existence. But the mind had eluded his children for quiet a while now. Studies in consciousness and sleep patterns were not as revealing as research in atoms! He was indeed tired…
In a long lost cave sat a young mendicant with his aged disciples all around. It wasn’t Science’s nature to accept things at face value. He needed to prod and enquire and arrive at a conclusion that was logical and universally acceptable. Unsure of the worth of a dialogue with that group Science was on the verge of turning back when one wise child of Science pointed at the haloed young master with the words – “He lives beyond Time!” Reluctantly Science decided it was time to have a dialogue with this child of God.
Science: O Young man! Would you like to have a dialogue with me? Do I call you just ‘man’ or perhaps you would prefer ‘Master’?
Master: Master indeed I am – not to another but mine. You may call me by any name. I shall be glad to converse with you Science.
Science: Well you seem to have lived in these isolated mountains all your youthful life. You may not really understand how profound my insights are. Yet little Master, I am here searching for a sign to find the origin of the universe before Time.
Master: I certainly understand your beautiful mind. Perhaps the language is different, the approach refined. But the truth you reveal is the same I understand.
Science: Oh No! Little Master! I don’t think you will understand all the theories I reveal and the structures I unfold. There is no dogma, no ritual. Science is for the whole of mankind.
Master: Indeed Science! But so was every religion’s goal! They just had a way of communicating that made some understand and some not so. See how this child writes about a dialogue between you and the Lord in her own style! To some it may appeal and to others it may sound mad. But the truth remains Science, nothing can be born outside of the divine will.
Science: Yes of course little Master! I do understand!
Master: Well! Didn’t your child Albert Einstein say – ‘The most incomprehensible things about the universe is that it is comprehensible!’ That dear Science, is the only goal of all religions, to make man realise that the greatest beauty is that it is beautiful in ‘your eyes’. How can I help you Science?
Science: Well, Tell me little master all that you have learnt about consciousness. What is this thing according to you that qualifies as consciousness.
Master: May I use my own style to teach O Science? You may understand better! Let me be the one to first ask questions and then perhaps we can elaborate on the insights.
Science: Alright. What questions did you have little Master?
Master: The word ‘little’ that you use to refer to me is relative. Who then is the ‘Big’ master to you?
Science: No offence sir! ‘Little’ was a term I used to denote your age. But I do understand the context of your question. Indeed relativity has helped mankind understand that everything comes from the same ‘energy’ but manifests itself individually. Man does understand that he is unique.
Master: If each man is unique, how come the world he experiences is similar to the one another man does? How come the tree looks the same to everyone? Why is ‘red’ always ‘red’ to everyone? Tell me O Science, does the world cease to be when one man dies? After all, as he is unique, so must be ‘his world’ he perceived!
Science: Well Master! It is true that we have uncovered quantum theories that prove that each atom participates in the making of the universe. Indeed it is very very clear that we are not mere observers. We live in a participatory universe. Yet the universe remains no single atom’s exclusive right. Every interaction makes this universe. And in that spirit every atom is indeed an intrinsic part and creator of this universe. But equally true, no individual atom holds the exclusive privilege of creating or annihilating existence. In Fritjof Capra’s words it is like this –The subatomic particles are dynamic patterns which do not exist as isolated entities but as integral parts of an inseparable network of interactions. These interactions involve a ceaseless flow of energy manifesting itself as the exchange of particles; a dynamic interplay in which particles are created and destroyed without end in a continual variation of energy patterns. The particle interactions give rise to stable structures which build up the material world, which again do not remain static, but oscillate in rhythmic movements. The whole universe is thus engaged in endless motion and activity; in a continual cosmic dance of energy.
Master: Now to the question you asked me Science – if every atom is indeed a ‘Master’ and participates in the making of this universe, would it mean that every atom is ‘conscious’?
Science: My child Peter Russell writes: “Nothing in western science predicts that any living creature should be conscious. It is easier to explain how hydrogen evolved into other elements, how they combined to form molecules and then simple living cells, and how these evolved into complex beings such as ourselves than it is to explain why we should ever have a single inner experience”. The faculty of consciousness, that is the capacity for inner experience, is not limited to human beings alone. Dogs, cats and all other living creatures too have an inner world of experience even if it is not to the same degree of self-awareness as humans. These arguments are applicable to creatures further down the evolutionary tree too. So man questioned ‘when did life or consciousness begin? Can any purely material process ever give rise to life or consciousness?’ In Peter Russell’s words – “…the capacity for inner experience could not evolve or emerge out of entirely insentient, non-experiencing matter. Experience can only come from that which already has experience. Therefore the faculty of consciousness must be present all the way down the evolutionary tree… there is nowhere we can draw a line between conscious and non-conscious entities; there is a trace of experience, however slight, in viruses, molecules, atoms, and even elementary particles… If a bacterium’s experience is a billionth of the richness and intensity of a human being’s, the degree of experience in the crystals of rock might be a billion times dimmer still. They would possess none of the qualities of human consciousness – just the faintest possible glimmer of experience. If the faculty of consciousness is universal, then consciousness is not something that emerged with human beings, or with vertebrates, or at any particular stage of biological evolution. What emerged was not the faculty of consciousness, but the various qualities and dimensions of conscious experience – the forms of consciousness.” Master! Consciousness is indeed in the very fabric of existence!
Master: Let me tell you Science what I have learnt in these mountain caves. Every atom is a master and capable of altering the way the universe operates. Indeed energy and matter are interchangeable. Yet every atom remains ‘individual’ As Isaac Newton said every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Indeed every mountain is also a valley, every pull, a push from the other side. When man’s hands fold at the joints, one group of muscles contract even as another extends. When one sees only one perspective, he doesn’t realise the opposite is equally true. After all death walks hand in hand with every breath of life! Science, from the depth of my being I can say, only when both polarities meet can you transcend time!
Science: But how do I find a methodology to teach every human mind to experience the unification of this duality?
Master: Ask the mother of creation!
The words reverberated to Science. God had bid him to do the same. Here he was still unaware who the mother was? Not wanting to sound as lost as he felt, Science floundered – ‘Mother… who… I mean where?’
Master: (with a smile) Let me ask you a question Science. Which came first the seed or the Tree?
Science was silent. He could enumerate his theories on evolution. But he somehow felt the Master was leading him to his goal.
Science: Why don’t you tell me Master!
Master: The Tree!
Science: And how do you say that?
Master: The tree came first as the idea of a deed precedes the deed itself. The tree was, in this way, a special creation. God, when he set the process in motion, gave the tree seeds that it might produce other trees like itself. Everything at first is an idea, a special creation. The seed is but a potential tree. It is not complete in itself. The seed was made in order to become a tree.
In a flash Science understood the message God wanted him to find. He now knew who the mother of creation was. All that remained was getting into her presence.
Written by Gita Krishna Raj | Published in infinithoughts in April 2009
When Science met God… | Segment One: A relative World | Chapter Four: The ‘little’ Master
