Ofinter-dependence
Rajesh Bhola
Our passing through this finite world is but
an attempt to 'realise' the infinite
phenomena. Even after millennia we
remain overawed by many of the riddles
and mysteries of this universe - still
unexplained and unresolved by science.
Are there other universes, each governed by its own
set of 'laws'? Though, with the constant expansion of the
universe, it is unlikely that humanity will ever find the
answer. We have only discovered four percent of the
matter in the universe. Many
believe that the rest is in the form
of 'dark matter' – which we
cannot see or touch, and even
light and radio waves just seem to
pass right through it.
One of Albert Einstein's
greatest accomplishments was
proving, through mathematics,
the existence of 'black holes'.
We
now have been able to find
several black holes, and believe
one to be at the centre of our very
own Milky Way galaxy. What is astonishing, however, is
what Einstein also proved through his equations that
'white holes' also exist. The exact opposite of black holes,
white holes are believed to spit out
an incredible amount of matter from
seemingly nothing. Such an object
should be easy to find…yet none has
been. 'Dark Energy' is the greatest
mystery in the universe today,
because it is believed to be all around
us, and it explains why there seem to
be anomalies within the law of
gravity.
By the law of gravity, large objects,
like galaxy clusters, should attract
each other, and their gravitational pull should pull in
other objects. This, however, is not the case; most galaxy
clusters are moving farther apart - because the universe
is expanding at an incredible rate.
Scientists have thus developed the theory of Dark
Energy, which has the opposite effect of gravity – it
pushes things apart. Mathematical calculations have
shown that if it exists, it makes up 74% of our universe,
outweighing gravity - and probably explains why the
universe is stretching out.
In this cosmic 'reality', when we 'look out at space', we
are in fact looking back in time. The light arriving at our location from the farthest objects in the universe is light
that left those objects billions of years ago - so in effect
we see them as they appeared long ago.
One basic thing that we can learn from the whole
cosmic drama is that, for any phenomena to take place,
interdependence is necessary. Phenomena are
interdependent because they coexist in a global reality,
which functions according to mutual causality.
Phenomena are naturally simultaneous, because one
implies the presence of the other: 'This can only be if that
also exists; this can change only
if that also changes'.
The notion of
interdependence makes us
question our basic perception of
the world, which then helps to
lessen our attachments,
aversions and fears.
An
understanding of
interdependence should
demolish the wall of illusions
that our minds have built up
between 'the other' and me - it
should make nonsense of pride, jealousy, greed and
malice. If all living beings are indeed connected, then we
should feel deeply concerned about the happiness and
suffering of others. The attempt to
build our happiness on others'
miseries is not just amoral, it's also
unrealistic. Feelings of universal love
and compassion (the desire for all
beings to be freed of suffering) are
the direct consequence of
interdependence.
The knowledge of
interdependence leads to a
process of inner
transformation, which
continues throughout the
journey of spiritual
enlightenment.
The knowledge of
interdependence leads to a process
of inner transformation, which
continues throughout the journey of
spiritual enlightenment. We must put this knowledge into
practice.
As Einstein said: "A human being is part of a whole,
called by us the 'Universe' - a part limited in time and
space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings,
as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical
delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of
prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to
affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be
to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles
of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the
whole of nature in its beauty'.