Quite a lot of times, dealing with possibility of the
existence of higher dimensions we come across the example of how a two
dimensional being like an ant (just an assumption) can be unaware of the third
dimension of space and this analogy is extrapolated to make a hypothesis about
the higher dimensions there might be which are out of human sense of understanding.
Generally when we speak of the three dimensional objects, it’s the three
dimensions of space we are talking about. But in reality everything in the
physical(1) universe is made up of matter and as matter occupies space, all the
matter can be perceived as having three dimensions of space.
Let’s look at the question of higher dimensions from another
perspective. If they exist, then we can assume based on the similar analogy of
ant example that there cannot be something made of matter that exists only in
lower dimensions and not in higher ones. The question remains only to realize
it and depends on the awareness or as we say, consciousness of the being. Among the known life on earth we can assume
that human awareness and intelligence is the most complex of all the beings and
it can predict the existence of something which is beyond its own perception in
normal circumstances and levels of awareness. (2)
The structure of human brain is more complex as compared to
animal brains and from this we can deduce that the complexity in the
arrangement of matter leads to higher levels of consciousness. That means,
lower levels of complexity in the brain structure leads to lower levels of consciousness?(3)
If yes, then the simplest arrangements of matter like a crystal structure of
atoms of an element, or a stable
molecule formed by sharing a pair electron by two hydrogen atoms can
possess the very basic or lower levels of consciousness. So, this way we can
think of a relation between the existence of lower and higher dimensions with
the lower and higher levels of perception or consciousness. This approach could
also lead us to imagine the dimensions to be continues rather than made of
steps or quantized. (We see some people who are more aware of their self and
emotions than other people?)
The greatest challenge in physics is to understand the
nature of this universe, its origin and end, how everything works and so on.
The similar objective is aspired by the people walking on the spiritual path
also. Both these schools of thoughts try to explain in bits and pieces about
the relations between different laws of the universe and make attempts to
imagine the whole picture. The universe is made of matter and we are made of
matter and we are present in this universe so the similar laws should also be
applicable to us, then shouldn’t the capacity lie in the human brain to imagine
the whole picture without the help of any external equipments? For instance,
with the help of the telescopes and microscopes we are able to look beyond our
normal vision but it just gives us a certain range of data in the
infinitely(?4) ‘zoom-in and zoom-out able’
universe. I believe whatever we
are able to perceive with our normal senses, this range of data, also should be
sufficient to imagine and explain the universe.
So, we could correlate the questions of dimensions and
consciousness to our own self. Lets divide the levels of awareness as body,
senses, mind and intelligence. These could be said to be in ascending order of
awareness. All these things are made out of matter and exist in space but let’s
not number them as three dimensions or whatsoever. Now, we know our body is made
up of cells, they combine and form tissues, the organs are more complex than
cells and tissues etc. The different
organs in the body are alive and doing their function, its hard to imagine the
level of consciousness but there has to be a certain level as it is alive and
functioning. So they can be said to be at a certain level of dimension or
awareness. The five senses we have provide the brain with more information
about the outside world and what thus it knows what actions are needed to be
taken to be alive and thinking. Now, it sounds pretty vague to define mind as
something physical, but, for now let’s assume mind is a lower level of
awareness than intelligence. For instance, it can be said to be the part of the
brain to hinders the clear thinking and induces emotions like fear, desire,
illusions etc.. and intelligence can be said to be something that we possess by
which we get over the hindrances created by mind and be more aware and
conscious.
Till this level, the highest level of human intelligence,
everything is made up of matter. If our brains are made out of matter,
shouldn’t the thoughts (5) also be a result of some particle interactions?
There is a speculation which I believe to be true that even time arises out of
particle interactions and it is one of the properties of matter such as mass
and volume. So, can intelligence, in its full function said to be the highest
level of dimension or awareness the human beings are capable of realizing
without any effort(6)? And as it is the most complex arrangement of matter in
the known universe (probably?), then the perception of the world by a human
brain in terms of ‘space and time’ can be said to exist in the dimension of
intelligence. The ‘intelligence’ dimension helps us to perceive the world and
the events in terms of space and time. But, beyond this, the other levels of
awareness, are not yet dealt or accepted widely in science such as ‘soul’
(atma), ‘one soul’ (parmatma), and the
‘ultimate dimension’ (god or parmeshwar) and are mostly discussed in spiritual
school of thoughts. These are said to be made not out of matter (and hence
consciousness). But again, everything existing in universe should exist in all
the dimensions present in it. So shouldn’t there be a function inside the brain
by which it should be possible to realize and expand the awareness to the
ultimate (human) truth and be not bound anymore to the properties of matter
such as time, thoughts, identity, ego etc? We read in many ancient texts about
the enlightenment and being one with god? If it is possible, shouldn’t it be
then a ‘physical process’ as it is happening through our brain itself?
One of the classical questions about ‘free will’ discusses
that if everything in the universe happens because of particle interactions,
our thoughts and actions also, and these interactions seem random, then do we
have a free will or not? Can this question be answered by placing our identity
on a higher level than we usually do? I mean, we identify ourselves as the thinking brain, taking decisions, making voluntary
actions etc, but If we identify ourselves as a soul which is not made out of
matter, we could see that everything what is happening in the brain is because
of some form of conditioning or programming it has undergone (maybe through
generation) and some form of logic is stored In it to interpret the stimuli and
act according to it. So could we say its not really us that has a free will or
not, but it’s the intelligence, the instincts (7).
Moreover, restricting the identity to a soul should also
could be a hindrance to realize the higher dimension of ‘one soul’ as it is
discussed in spirituality? Can we extend the one human body and one soul logic?
Human body is matter and soul is not. In similar way can the matter in the
whole universe be a ‘body’ and can there be a soul of the universe which has
fragmented and got stuck in smaller and smaller identities or egos? It is
possible to imagine it then shouldn’t it also possible to realize it? Shouldn’t
everything imaginable be realizable? We can’t imagine a color that doesn’t
exist or a shape that doesn’t exist! All
the matter in the body is somehow linked together; in a similar way can all the
matter in the universe be linked together somehow? On atomic level, there is
mostly space / vacuum present everywhere.. so isn’t the whole universe like a
scattered matter, scattered alive matter that sometimes forms stars, sometimes
cats and sometimes traveling at very high speed which we call light? Let’s say
not everything matters but everything in fact is matter!
Posts
