MONISM - A GRAND UNIFICATION

INTRODUCTION :

In any branch of knowledge, an unified approach always leads one to a greater level of understanding of that branch. For example, it is such unified approaches that have made Physics what it is today. To mention a few, the unification of Electricity and Magnetism by Maxwell, the unification of Maxwell's Electromagnetic theory of Newtonian Mechanics by Albert Einstein, the unification of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics by Dirac, etc., are some of the landmarks in the development of Physics. The more the unification is achieved, the nearer we are to the ultimate cause. Isolated areas of knowledge which are apparently exclusive can be united when given a proper unified approach and when they are united, we arrive at laws with greater and broader jurisdiction. This journey towards the ultimate cause has been and remains the central theme of the development of Science. Newton, the father of Science, clearly echoes this sentiment in his observation. "The aim of my science is to find the cause for the every effect we observe till we arrive at the ultimate cause which is certainly not mechanical".

THE FIRST UNIFICATION :

We indicate in the following paragraphs some of the unifications achieved in Physics and the lessons drawn from the same. It was James Clark Maxwell who first initiated, around 1850, the process of unification. When he unified electricity and magnetism into a single formation, he was able to derive many significant results. This unification gave the world a new theory of light- the electromagnetic theory of light and it is in this unification that scientists first met a novel medium -- the ether medium which remains even today a centre of great controversy: To be or not to be.

THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY :

Closely following Maxwell came Einstein. Instead of allowing himself to be engulfed in the above ether controversy, he tried another unification in 1905 - this time, of Maxwell's electromagnetic theory with Newtonian Mechanics, Result? He got the theory of Relativity.

After the theory of Relativity, Physics was never again the same as it was before. It underwent a sea change. Finally, due to this unification, Einstein got a new model of the universe, very different from the Newtonian Model.

How do these two models differ? In Newtonian model, space and time are treated as two different fundamental entities and mass and energy are also treated as two more different fundamental entities. But in Einstein's model of Universe, space and time merge into a single space-time structure through the Lorentz’s transformations, and mass and energy merge into an equivalence through the famous equation E=mc2. By reducing the four fundamental entities to two, Einstein moved the western science towards its ultimate destination — the monism (only one fundamental) — a concept which is the essence of eastern philosophy.

THE GRAND HISTORY :

The unifications discussed above have one common limitation. They are confined to one narrow area of knowledge — Physics, Today, knowledge remains fragmented and divided into several areas — Chemistry, Biology, Genetics, Psychology, Cosmology etc., with lots of man-made barriers. Unification leads to a higher level of understanding. True, but what is needed today is not unification merely within a branch of knowledge, but rather a grand unification of all the branches of knowledge into a single history - a history of that One Ultimate, Single Entity becoming the present universe, in all its aspects. When such grand unification is achieved, we will come to realize what Newton referred to the "the Ultimate cause which is certainly not mechanical". Today, the world needs and looks for such realization.

THE ETERNAL SPACE :

How do we look at the Universe in a unified way? It is here we need the intuitive realization of Shri Vethathiri Maharishi, a saint from South India. To quote him: "You are able to see millions of stars and planets. They are at various distances and of multifarious volumes and with different characteristics of magnetic, electrical and chemical qualities.

Among all of them one common feature exists: without a doubt, all are the association of mass of energy particles. Beyond and apart from the energy particles, what else remains in the universe? Only the Eternal Space remains, so there are two main principles: Space and energy particles, which represent the whole universe. Again, you have to think deeply to understand whether the Eternal Space could have evolved out of energy particle or the energy particle from Eternal Space. Beyond doubt, the energy particle must have come from the Eternal Space. "Here is a great conundrum for the human mind; how has the powerful energy particle come from nothingness? The reason for this conundrum is that so far, the mind has a false perception that the Eternal Space is empty — without any power.

I will enlighten you with my revelatory experience that the Eternal Space is very powerful, more so than anything in the universe. In the universe, millions of planets arc existing and moving in a rhythmic and precise manner. Each one may be of incalculable tons in weight. All are floating on the space. That is to say, the space is supporting and containing the whole universe. Therefore, the space is not nothingness or powerless; it is almighty — plenum". According to Shri Vethathiri Maharishi, Space is all penetrative, thoroughly permeable, self-compressive, surrounding pressure force, a potential of inexhaustible stock-force, omniscient conscientious consciousness which transformed into universe manifesting and functioning with all its capacity and qualities from the formative dust up to the greatest stars.

THE GRAND MONISM AND LIBERATION :

Each structure in the Universe — from dust to quasars— is of space and by space and is maintained by two forces :

One is the compressive surrounding force (Gravity) (See "Gravity in Vethathirian Model", Wide Spectrum, January,2004 ) which decreases the distance between the various constituents of the structure and the other is repulsive force (magnetic wave energy) arising out of the `spin', of the constituent particles, which tends to increase the distance between the constituents.

The consciousness which is the inherent property of the Eternal Space functions in every structure as its pattern, precision and regularity. In inanimate structures, its magnetic wave energy transforms as pressure, sound, light, taste and smell; and in animate structures the magnetism (called bio-magnetism) manifests as mind. The above history linking the primordial Space and the present universe with its various manifestations constitutes a grand unification; here the so-called western science and eastern philosophy merge together leading to the concept of monism: one transforming as many!

The realization that there is only One Thing existing and operating is liberation. That One Thing is given different names in different religions. Every religion in its own way, is leading its followers to attain this liberation. For a liberated mind, crores and crores of world population today are nothing but crores and crores of manifestations of the same thing — the Primordial Eternal Space. It is to emphasis this Unified approach we have the Sufi saying: "When I am myself, I am the other". When this oneness becomes a part and parcel of our outlook, the divinity in us manifests and our ability to love others knows no bounds. The notion of "I and mine" vanishes and with that our desire, anger, possessiveness, ego and intrigues also vanish. The world today needs this transformation: From pluralism to monism. Pluralism means "asat"; it means ignorance, it means divisiveness and contraction to death. Monism means Sath; it means Gnana