Our unique worlds

It is said that my world is different to your world. Sure, we all have very different experiences and different understandings. But have you ever wondered that what we see in this world - the trees, the buildings, the people or whatever it may be, also be very different for each of us. Well, how do we see this world? Through our eyes. And how do we understand this world? Through our brain. Let's see what science tells us how this works.

Our eyes work just like camera. They take pictures of the world around us and send the pictures to our brains. Our brain then makes sense of what we see.

In the picture above, is "the actual image" real for us or "the final image"? Let me elaborate on this question. Let's say my brain is little different to yours, in the sense my brain doesn't twist the image full 180 degrees, but 179 degrees. This means I may see this world a little twisted like 1 degree twisted. For me, a straight line would mean a line with 1 degree angle. This will always be normal for me because there may never be a way to know what I think is normal is actually not normal. I may think the real straight line is having 1 degree twist rather. There can be many other deformations which are even harder to percieve like angle in some other axis, or very little blur, or some slight color blindness. 

There can also be differences in the eyes which can result in different images. Now just think if you and me are looking at the very same object, how many chances are there that we can see it differently. Think of a very basic object, let's say a ball.

Environment can also have effect on it. Different lightening can show this ball in different colors and shades. Distance can change the shape and size of the ball.

These are just physical modulations. But the most common modulation is psychological. Often we see things the way we think it is rather than what it actually is. We all have read things wrong some time or the other. We all see different things in the same cloud. That is because our mind percieves the same image differently.

Now, for a moment let's assume that we all already have the images stored in our brains. These pictures are projected on the eye lenses and in turn reflected outside. If that can be true, we all may be making our own world every single moment. Despite, we all being together at one level, we may keep living in our own very unique worlds.

Dance of Shiva

As per Hinduism, the Trinity of Bhrahma - the creator, Vishnu - the preserver and Shiva - the destroyer or the transformer, governs this universe. This is the theory of eternal cycle of beginning and end. Bhrahma creates a universe, Vishnu preserves it and then Shiva destroys it so that Bhrahma can create another one.

As per quantum physics, existence of two forces matter and anti-matter is responsible for the creation of universe. This is the basis of the Big Bang theory. 

We have an interesting overlap of spiritual concepts and quantum physics. Everything is made up of atoms which are made of proton, electron and neutron. Proton is the basis of creation, represented by Lord Brahma. Electron protects the atom with it's reactions, respresented by Lord Vishnu. Finally, neutron, which can destroy everything with the nuclear energy, is represented by Lord Shiva. Each of them have consorts in the form of Goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati, respectively. These are representations of anti-matter; anti-proton, positron and anti-neutron. 

It has been proved scientifically that three balanced forces can rotate forever. Similarly, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are the three forces described in Bhagwad Geeta which are responsible for anything that happens in this universe. The three Goddesses again represent each one of these forces. Saraswati is Goddess of knowledge, full of Sattva. Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and fame, basis of rajas. Husband of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva is often described as one who remains intoxicated and dwells on tamas diet. The three forces can be experienced in the nature during Navratri. During these nine days, season changes. The energy moves from tamas to rajas to sattva.

Now, at some point a universe comes to an end or a more appropriate way is to say transforms into a new universe. The Big Bang theory also implies universe starts at some point and may culminate at some point. With time, universe keeps changing. There is a constant change. It is said in our Vedas that there are multiple Bhrahmas, Vishnus and Shivas, which resonates with the concept of parallel universes. 

Who rules over all the universes? What is the beginning of all the universes? It is said that it's only one energy manifested in different forms. Even matter is a form of energy. So, what is the sum total of all energies in all the universes? We call it MahaShiv or MahaKaal, that which is always present and is beyond time. Think of one energy - sum total of everything. This is enormous potential energy, beyond any measurements. This is total stillness - Infinite potential energy. Now, what if a part of this potential energy transforms into kinetic energy. That is Goddess Shakti, consort of Mahadev. 

It is the existence of this kinetic energy due to which any universe appears. This Shiva and Shakti, the potential and the kinetic energy, together is the Dance of Shiva. The Nataraja is when one leg is firm on the ground, representing the potential energy and one leg in the air, representing the kinetic energy.