Alternate reality

Hope you have a great St. Patrick’s Day! I know I did! Wore green and went Irish pub crawling yesterday ;-)

An atom is the fundamental building block of matter - the ultimate and smallest division of matter. They say each atom has a charge or a spin to it – positive or negative and they attract or repel each other.

(Side note: Have you heard of the latest idea in nanotechnology? Making the world’s smallest motor is a snap assignment. Take 2 atoms with opposite charges, and put them close to each other – such that the charges cause it to spin.)

Now some of these atoms are bound together and make an object. Different permutations and combinations are possible - some of which make a human : you and me. Now with zillions of similar atoms floating around in space, don’t you think there could be another object with similar chemistry/constituency as yours? Could this be your doppelganger?

So I read a book on this topic – the existence of a parallel universe. We are only aware of 3 dimensions – actually four when you include time and rumor has it that they are infinite dimensions. There are some cosmological observations that demonstrate the possibility of a parallel universe – like how gravity is actually such a weak force in this universe but may be a bigger one in the parallel. Also some wise men think it could be like Schrodinger's cat. Will it be the end of the universe the day we stumble upon the parallel universe?

When will science catch up with philosophy? I'm dying to meet my double.

Update : The best comment on the post so far . . .

Paolo Magnone said...

VC, you have opened up such an awesome topic. In your Indian scriptures it is written that "The One who can understand an atom and experience at the atomic level shall be liberated from bondage eternally".

Yes! Thats right some of these atoms are bound to each other and they form objects such as stone, human, elephant etc etc. I have a theory ... just from an intellectual perspective .. no experience! Have you noticed that in an atom the tedency is to fall into the center? If such a thing happens there would be no atom! There would be no object! There would be no universe. There would be "nothing". But there seems to be an opposing force(?) that keeps them apart.

Have you noticed that when you have heard a wonderful song or have had a sad experience or have had the best experience through a movie, friend or a Master ... you want to share it? I remember when we were kids we used to listen to Heavy Metal songs and there were some songs that we loved and we would take the pains to take it to each others place and play it and make the others listen to it .. share it with the hope that they feel the way that you feel! I see it now as my innate nature to "merge" with the other .. looking for some common ground .. looking for understanding and some acknowledgement!

Then think about this .. your appreciation for the song was not felt by whom you shared with .. or when someone is not able to see your side of the story! You hear of family members fighting .. "You don't understand me" they scream ... My theory is at that point of time they are feeling the separation! The distance between the one and the other! This is the force that opposes the merging ... The force that keeps two beings apart .. so that they maintain their identity .. their chemical properties. So everytime you experience distance, if you remember, you could think that you were experiencing the force that opposes merging.

Think about the times when you were understood .. and without you having to speak a word someone had heard .. without you having to ask ... you were taken care of .. then I tell you .. you have expereinced the "oneness" ... the force that is propels you towards merging with the other.

Now we all understand that in the material plane if everything merges there would be nothing .. there would be only a void. There would be nothing at all isnt it ..

No one .. No other ..

No separation .. No merging ..

No freedom .. No attachment ..

So my questions are Should we really prefer one over another?Are'nt these forces supposed to co-exist to maintain the balance?So why seek understanding or why seek dispute?