How the Spiritual Mirrors the Scientific

Spiritual principles are just as real and provable as scientific principles

In my book, The Hidden Teachings, I discuss each of seven core spiritual principles:

1. The Universe is compassionate and intelligent. We are all One

2. Avoid getting lost in the world. This allows for a conscious connection to the Universe.

3. The reality of karma. What you give, is what you receive.

4. Your inner consciousness creates your outer reality.

5. The Kingdom of Heaven is within. You can cultivate a conscious connection to the Universe.

6. Presence, Acceptance, and Meditation are all keys to the Kingdom of Heaven within.

7. Trust the Universe.

As I have reflected on these principles, I realize that they all have scientific analogs. That is, there appears to be corresponding scientific principles or theories that are mirrored in the physical world. It’s circumstantial evidence that these spiritual principles are just as real as scientific principles.

So, what are these scientific principles and how do they relate to the seven spiritual principles above?

1.       Consider the spiritual principle “We are all One.” The corresponding scientific principles can be illustrated by the work of Donald Hoffman (consciousness research) and David Bohm (quantum physicist who hypothesized an “Implicate Order”). I’ve written other articles about Hoffman and Bohm so I won’t rehash them here. However, a summary of their combined work might be that there is an implicate order that projects or creates an explicate order. This implicate order is a hidden dimension of connectedness. The explicate order is a projection from the implicate order. The explicate order is our familiar word of space and time and things. The implicate order could very well be thought of as consciousness, or at the very least, tightly intertwined with consciousness. So in a very real sense, Consciousness (which you are a part of) creates space-time and the forms we see in it.

2.       What about getting lost in the world? Our spiritual teachers tell us to avoid this trap. But why? If you are lost in the world, it is difficult to make a conscious connection to the Universe. There is scientific analog to this, and it is to do with how the brain works. Your brain has what is called a Default Mode Network (DMN)—some even hypothesize that this is the seat of the ego. When this DMN becomes too dominant, several pathologies can result: obsessiveness, addictions, depression, bad habits, etc. When this occurs, it becomes difficult to hear the whispers of the Universe. I will say more about this in #6, concerning presence, acceptance, and meditation.

3.       Consider karma as a spiritual principle. The corresponding scientific principle is related to the Second Law of thermodynamics and entropy. The Second Law states that the entropy of a closed system will never decrease. Or in more practical terms, a system will always evolve toward an equilibrium. When viewed as an energy system, karma states that when you give high energy, that the Universe will rush to refill this energy and bring the system back to equilibrium. What you give is what you receive, which is the definition of karma.

4.       What about “your inner consciousness creates your outer reality”? Stated simply you attract those things that are vibrating at your same energy. Consider two tuning forks. When you strike a tuning fork and hold another tuning fork near, the second fork will begin to vibrate at the same resonance. Like attracts like. Or even better, a frequency can create the same frequency in other people and things. Therefore, your very being-ness will attract things, people, and circumstances that are vibrating at your same frequency. Your thoughts have power so choose them wisely!

5.       The Kingdom of Heaven is within. That is, you can cultivate a conscious connection to the Universe. When you cultivate this connection, you are interacting with the Information Field (Consciousness). As discussed earlier, consciousness is primary. It creates space and time and form. You are a conscious agent living and moving and having your being in this field of Consciousness. When you connect to it directly and intentionally, your life improves in so many ways.

6.       Presence, Acceptance, and Meditation are all designed to quiet your mind—and specifically to quiet your Default Mode Network (DMN) we talked about in #2. For centuries, our teachers have taught us the benefits of prayer and meditation. It turns out that these practices are de-regulating the DMN. Or to put it simply, these practices are quieting the mind and stilling the incessant chatter that most people experience. When your mind is quiet, you are able to tune in to the whispers of the Universe.

7.       Trust the Universe. Why should we trust the Universe? If the Universe is intelligent and compassionate, then the natural corollary is that we should trust the Universe. A close scientific analog to this is the field of mathematics. Our physical universe is inextricably linked with math. There are some that believe that anything that can be proven mathematically, will have a corresponding reality in our space-time universe. Physicists and mathematicians will tell you repeatedly that math is the language of the universe. They trust their math so fully, that they will search for the reality of the math in the universe. And this approach has worked repeatedly. We can also place our trust in the Universe (that’s Universe with a capital U). The Universe will always conspire on your behalf, if you can only trust It.

I believe that spiritual principles are just as real and provable as scientific principles. The main difference is that the effects of practicing spiritual principles must be measured via your consciousness. This is a personal endeavor. You are the only person who can prove these principles to yourself.

Why not pick out a spiritual principle or two and try them for yourself? A good place to start would be practicing presence or starting a meditation practice. They are keys to the Kingdom of Heaven within.

But you get to decide. It’s your choice.

How will you let your light shine today?

Sean