hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
Namasté
As I listened to several science programs this week, I am seeing a shift in thinking ( for the positive as I see it). Some years ago, many cosmologists took the universe to be ~ 8 billion years old. Then it became 9, 10, 11 and this week I now heard 13.7 billion years old.
On the next program they talked of time and postulated that perhaps the universe did not have a beginning ( and therefore not an end) and existed for all 'time' if there is such a thing.
Years ago, the going theory was the universe is slowing down and would then come to a halt and reverse the process and fall back onto itself ( the oscillating universe idea). Well this too is no longer the going theory, as observers find that not only is the universe expanding, but its velocity is increasing ( they have yet to figure out the rate of change of this velocity).
Another program also offered that this universe is not a one time deal, but additional levels of creation happening again and again. This concept ( from the best of my comprehension) is called membrane theory ( part of string theory) - where membranes come together and when they touch, a whole new level of creation takes place, yet the other 'creations' are still out there, doing what they are suppose to do, expand and evolve.
Since the universe is infinite there is plenty of room for multiple manifestations. They also coined the phrase multi-verse ( not my favorite word, but offer it as part of their rhetoric). vs. Universe.
So this process ( creation) occurs again and again… this solves the problem of no ultimate beginning , but individual beginnings where two membranes collide and produce off-spring. They in turn do not get consumed ( as far as I understood), but when they touch they would create the ~ same~ event like a big bang.
Why is this worthy of discussion? I see more 'enlightened' thinking beginning to occur. The notion of expansion is at the core of Brahman. Brahman ब्रह्मन् means expansion, growth, swelling of the spirit. It is rooted in bṛh बृह्- increase , expand , further , promote, to grow great or strong. Just as the universe continues to expand , it is reflecting the nature of Brahman.
Now that is mildly interesting, yet this śloka offered by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhāgavad gītā ( chapter 8 , 9th śloka) says the following:
prakṛtim svām avastabhya
visrjami punaḥ punaḥ |
bhūta-grāmam imaṁ kṛtsnam
avaśaṁ prakṛter vaśāt ||
What does this say in a nut-shell? It is Kṛṣṇa's Self-referral quality…
He says, curving back (leaning, resting-upon or avaṣṭabhya) onto my SELF (svām) I create (visṛjāmi) again and again (punaḥ punaḥ).
All this (kṛtsnam) which exists ( manifestation and variety bhūta-grāmam) , that comes into creation (prakṛti) is done by my authority or command (vaśāt).
For me, this is the notion the scientists are discussing regarding multiple creations, occurring again and again (punaḥ punaḥ) ; as the 'membranes' come together, more manifestion/creation occurs. Without effort and at the will (vaśāt) of the Supreme.
Why does this occur? For His enjoyment, for His sport say the wise. This is the part the scientists will need to work on.
praṇām
words
- prakṛti प्रकृति- the original or natural form or condition of anything ; original source ; the original producer of the material world consisting of 3 guṇas ( sattva , rajas and tamas); Nature (distinguished from Puruṣa , Spirit)
- svām or sva स्व- my own, ones own SELF; at times this word is used as a pronoun for ātman
- avaṣṭabhya अवष्टभ means to be seized or stopped, yet it also leads us to avaṣṭambha अवष्टम्भ- leaning or resting upon ; having recourse to anything
- visṛjāmi - visṛ विसृ to come forth , issue from, expand ; to open or unfold one's self + jā जा- is born, produced
- punaḥ is púnar पुनर् - again and again , repeatedly
- bhūta-grāmam - bhūta भूत- existing , present ; that which is or exists + grāma ग्रामan inhabited place , a multitude , class , collection or number
- imaṁ - is idam इदम् this, this here; some may look at it as imathā इमथा or in this way or manner; ( also used as - now , even , just ; there)
- kṛtsnam कृत्स्न - all , whole , entire
- avaśaṁ or avaśa अवश - independent , unrestrained , free
- prakṛter or prakṛti प्रकृति - as mentioned above, yet this is also considered the personified will of the Supreme in creation i.e. energy or force.
- vaśāt or vaśa वश - authority , power , control, command
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