Consciousness is currently a great mystery in Science. The answer being sought to the question whether consciousness is secondary or primary, is a big one. Naturally, the answer depends on how the world is seen.
Western Science recognizes matter as comprising four elements: fire, earth, air, water as being present, to some degree, in all matter. Acceptance of the commonality of the elements in all matter is supported by the objective evaluation used in scientific methodology. There is no question about the tremendous contribution the Scientific Method has made to our understanding of the physical world. But, no matter how effectively matter has been dissected science has yet to identify the essence of any object.
Is it possible something is missing? Could it be what modern Physics is just starting to consider? It’s now recognized that space, which was once thought to be empty holds vast quantities of subtle matter. Western science now knows visible matter makes up less than 5% of the of subtle matter that actually exists. We just can’t see it. What we can’t see has been called Black or subtle matter. It’s called black matter, because we can’t see it. Could the 95% really be the source of what we are looking for? Is it what the ancients speak about?
Ancient Eastern Science acknowledges the four elements however, it adds an additional element and includes our senses as important factors with the elements, as they ultimately lead to matter. The additional element is represented, in their tradition, by sound and is called Ether, or space. The first verse in older copies of the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word and the word was God”. This may have been a coincidence, but basically that is what is says in the Vedas, where the word is recognized as OM, the sound of creation.
Ether. which is referred to as space or consciousness in their literature, is thought to be part of every animate and inanimate object, including humans and it is regarded as the source of all creation. A responsibility of Ether is to maintain the intended form of all creation in its specific and individual form. For example, an apple tree will produce another apple tree, not a walnut tree. A magnificent cedar tree will not produce oranges. Likewise, humans only produce humans, fish produce fish and birds produce birds. There is no mixing going on thanks to Ether, according to this specific philosophy.
The Eastern philosophical explanation of the sensual aspects of the elements goes like this: Air can be heard and touched. Fire can be heard, touched and seen. Going further, water can be heard, touched, seen and tasted. And finally, earth can be heard, touched, seen, tasted and smelt.
Is it possible the ancients knew something we are just learning? If consciousness really does produces matter, like the ancients say, we’re left with the need to look at major alternatives to our current way of seeing the world. What do you think? There will be steep consequences if this is true. In the weeks to come some will be looked at. We’ll also go deeper into what the ancients have said about consciousness, life and its purpose.
Each week or so, new, old, or strange thoughts will be offered for pondering. On occasion the ramifications of new ideas, or holding on to old ideas, will be explored.
