WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE?
The origin and nature of life and the universe, very briefly explained.
Too lazy to read this? Good for you. Look to the right.
(p.s. This has nothing to do with pataphors.)
PART I: The Physical
1. How the Universe Works
Essentially, the universe is composed of two main actors: hydrogen and gravitation.
From the interaction of hydrogen and gravitation the main structure of the universe is created: the solar system, which fills spacetime in endless iterations.
The universe is filled with one main structure: the solar system.
2. What the Universe Is
Even if all stars were somehow extinguished tomorrow, new stars would form. Why? Because of the interplay between gravitation and hydrogen.
Gravity gathers and ignites hydrogen, producing stars (which in turn produce orbiting bodies), and shaping orbits.
The very architecture of the universe means the production of solar systems.
As a seed contains all the necessary elements to create a plant, the nature and structure of the universe means the elegant creation of stars, planets and orbiting bodies.
The architecture of the universe guarantees the production of solar systems.
3. The Goal of the Universe
If you place a heat lamp in a box with a number of fertilized eggs, the eggs will hatch.
Essentially, stars are heat lamps and orbiting bodies are nests. (The elements that compose and surround orbiting bodies are the “egg,” containing all the necessary ingredients for life.)
The universe is a machine that makes stars, which in turn grow life.
Life is not a fluke. Life is the inevitable end result of an unfolding process, beginning with hydrogen and gravitation.
Stars are incubators; orbiting bodies are nests.
PART II: THE SPIRITUAL
Here we pass from the “what” to the possible “why”.
4. The Possible Deeper Meaning of the Universe
As stated above, the universe can be seen as a purpose-built series of steps to generate life. But what is the purpose of life?
Life evolves in the direction of greater consciousness. As consciousness grows, both pleasure and suffering grow.
One possible interpretation for the presence of pleasure and suffering is to make choices that lead to the learning of true humility: which essentially means lack of self-centeredness. All other goodness is made possible by humility (including the highest ideal, which is service).
We may skip any other lesson in life (even kindness) but no one escapes the lesson of humility. Age and death guarantee that at some point we experience humility, even if we deny it.
All life forms must experience humility, even if we deny it. The purpose of life is to make choices toward good. (Note: I'm sort of still at work on this section.)
5. The Necessity of Suffering
If consciousness were composed of pure happiness, happiness would disappear, because there would be nothing to compare happiness against.
All action would also disappear. if consciousness were composed of pure happiness, non-action would produce the same degree of happiness as any action. Therefore action, having no impetus, would disappear.
Consciousness is by definition observation. Observation is an action. The disappearance of action would mean the disappearance of observation. The disappearance of observation would be the disappearance of consciousness.
Consciousness composed of pure happiness is impossible.
6. Conscious Source / Divine Plan / “God”
There can be no proof for the existence of a god, a cosmic plan, or a conscious source.
Such proof would violate the purpose of the universe, which is to make choices.
To know with any degree of certainty there was universal plan would alter the course of our actions.
So the possibility of a cosmic plan must remain eternally poised between possibility and impossibility. Between credibility and incredibility.
It could be no other way.
Any cosmic plan must never be provable.
7. The Tantalizing Clue
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
A) There is no more extraordinary claim than that of a Conscious Source (“god”). it is, in actuality, the MOST extraordinary of all claims.
Therefore, the existence of a Conscious Source (“god”) would require the most extraordinary evidence of all.
B) Oddly enough, that most extraordinary evidence actually EXISTS: existence / the universe itself.
Science will never be able to explain the origin of existence itself, even if it one day explains the origin of the universe.
Any explanation of any origin of the universe will never answer this simple question: “Where did THAT come from?”
Beneath the last playing card will always be another card.
It is this almost nearly perfect balance between credibility and in credibility, ironically, that is the most tantalizing clue that we may be the result of a divine plan. Because the balance is too perfect.
The tantalizingly perfect balance between an extraordinary claim and the extraordinary evidence is, in itself, the most fascinating “clue” to the existence of a divine plan.
1. The universe is filled with one main structure: the solar system.
2. The architecture of the universe guarantees the production of solar systems.
3. Stars are incubators; orbiting bodies are nests.
4. Consciousness composed of pure happiness is impossible.
5. The tantalizingly perfect balance between the most extraordinary claim and the most extraordinary evidence is, in itself, the most fascinating “clue” to the existence of some cosmic plan.
What is this plan? I don't know.