Solving a Mystery of Space!

Let me begin by making a bold statement. The starting point of space and the end point of space are at the same location. Yes, that is correct. The exact location of both the start and the end point of space is within us, right within our innermost core. This seems counterintuitive. We all know that the outer edge of the universe is far away; scientists tell us that it is 13.7 billion years away. Light takes 13.7 billion years to reach us from the outer edge. It is that far. If this is so, how can the outer edge be present within our innermost core? That is what is so fascinating and mysterious about space. In this essay, we will try to understand this. We will use logic and scientific ideas to show that both the start and end point of space are within us.

To do this, it is critical to properly understand the framework of space. Unfortunately, there is confusion regarding this. So much is known about space, but still much is unknown. We have discussed this subject in many essays in my book, Science Meets Vedanta. This idea of both the starting and the end point of space being at the same location is a revelation for me. I am therefore excited to discuss the topic in this essay.

With this objective, let us start the discussion with the following two topics:

1. Where Is the Starting Point of Space?
2. Understanding the Outer Edge of Space

Where Is the Starting Point of Space?

Most people will answer that the Big Bang is the starting point of space. This is not an accurate statement. Scientists tell us that the Big Bang happened about 13.7 billion years ago. Yes, the Big Bang was the starting point of space 13.7 billion years ago, but it is no longer so. At this moment, the Big Bang is not the starting point of space; it is the outer edge of space.

The key criterion to locate the starting point of space is that it must be a non-moving location. Space cannot start from a moving location. It must start with a location which is fixed and stationary. This is only logical. So, is there a non-moving location in space? The answer is No. Everything is moving in space. Our Earth is moving around the sun in our solar system. Our solar system is moving around the central black hole (Sagittarius A) in our Milky Way galaxy. Fun fact—it takes our solar system 228 million years to complete one round of the galaxy. All the billions of galaxies are either moving closer or moving apart from each other. Everything in space is moving. This does mean that it is impossible to find a non-moving point within space.

So, how does one hunt down this non-moving point with the coordinates x=0, y=0, z=0, and t=0? These coordinates will be the starting point of space. We just saw that it is impossible to find the three coordinates x=0, y=0, and z=0 because space is always moving. The only alternative is to look for t=0 for space. This would require that we look at space from a different perspective. We are so used to looking at space in terms of distance. The tree is 100 feet away, the plane is flying at 30,000 feet, etc. We should look at space in terms of how much time light takes to reach us from different objects. This will help us locate the starting point of space, help us locate the t=0 for space.

If you look at external objects by studying the amount of time light takes to reach us from them, you will find that the starting point for space is the observer within us. Objects which are further away will take more time to reach us than objects which are closer to us. For example, light from the sun takes eight minutes to reach us, while light from the tree outside the window will take about 10 microseconds (10^-6) to reach us. As the distance reduces, the time taken for light to reach us also reduces. A question: where is the location where the light will take 0 seconds to reach us? The correct answer where light will take 0 seconds is the observer, who is watching all these objects. This indicates that the observer within us is the starting point of space. This t=0 is the beginning location of space. The observer is at t=0. If the observer is at t=0, then logically the observer is also at the x=0, y=0, and z=0 locations. This shows that space starts with the observer within us.

From this discussion we can draw the following key conclusions:

1. What is interesting is that t=0 applies to each one of us. The starting point for space for each one of us is the observer within us. If you travel from Delhi to New York, the starting point of space will travel with you. The starting point for space never leaves you. Space always starts with the observer within us. The observer is always the fixed non-moving point for space. Each one of us has their own starting point for space. This is an amazing conclusion.

2. The observer is the t=0 location for space, but it really means that the observer is outside space and time. The observer is never part of space or time. Location t=0+ will be within space, but the location t=0 will be outside space and time. Space starts with the observer point, but the observer within each one of us is outside space and time.

So, the observer is the starting point for space/time and this observer is outside space and time. This observer is a fixed non-moving point. How do we understand what is meant by “outside space and time”?

Understanding Outside Space and Time

We have just seen that the observer is outside space and time. We are also very sure that the observer is within us. The observer cannot be outside us; it must be within us. So, the location of “outside space and time” is right within us. We can call this our innermost core. The observer is part of the inner core.

Surprisingly, our inner core is a very busy place. It is a really happening place. There are many things and much activity within our inner core. There is a fully functioning subtle universe within us. For example:

• SatChitAnanda (Self-Shining Bulb of Awareness)
• Ishvara (God) with Maya Shakti
• Infinite Energy and Time
• Unlimited Intelligence and Knowledge
• Cosmic Mind and Individual Minds
• Subtle Universe Made of Intelligent Waveforms (vrittis)

Wow! There are a number of amazing things and activities within us. It sounds almost unbelievable—all this is within each of us! In fact, this is more complex and complete than anything in the physical world. This internal universe is pretty much unknown to us. We have discussed these topics in many different essays in my book, Science Meets Vedanta. If you properly understand the internal universe, you will realize that everything happens first in the internal universe and then in the gross universe “out there.”

Understanding the Outer Edge of Space

Now that we have located the starting point of space, let us try to understand the outer edge of space. To do that, it is important to see the connection between time and space.

Connection Between Time and Space: Yes, time and space are connected. Time is the cause, and space the effect. If there was no time, there would be no space. Space is nothing but stretched-out time. How should we understand this?

Scientists tell us that the universe is 13.7 billion years old. If light must travel from the outer edge of the universe, it will take 13.7 billion years to reach us. The distance that light must travel is 13.7 billion light-years. One light year is the distance that light travels in one year. One light-year is 9.46 trillion kilometers. Multiply this by 13.7 billion; you will get the size of space.

Let us play around with the age of the universe and the size of the universe. If we assume that the universe is 13.7 billion years old at this very “moment,” then the size of space is 13.7 billion light-years. After one second, the age of the universe will be 13.7 billion years + one second. Light must now travel an additional 186,000 miles to reach us, which means the size of the universe has grown by 186,000 miles. The size of space would be 13.7 billion light-years + 186,000 miles. After 10 seconds, the age of the universe would be 13.7 billion years + 10 seconds, and the size of space would be 13.7 billion light-years + 1,860,000 miles. So, we can see that with every second that passes, the outer edge of space grows by 186,000 miles.

From the above analysis, it is quite clear that time is the cause of space. As long as time flows, space will continue to expand. With each second of time, the universe expands by 186,000 miles. The day time stops flowing, that day the universe will stop expanding. This is an amazing conclusion connecting time and space.

Speed of Light and Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity: We have just seen that the outer edge of the universe is expanding at the speed of light—186,000 miles per second. Based on Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity, there are serious implications if anything travels at the speed of light. Let us try and understand this.

Without going into any technical details, the key point of the Theory of Special Relativity is that whenever there is motion, time slows down and space contracts. Yes, time and space are not a fixed entity but are dependent upon the speed of motion. This theory is a proven fact. The faster the motion, the slower the time, and the greater the contraction of space. And, finally, if you reach the speed of light, there is NO time and NO space. Time comes to a standstill and space disappears. This fact is known to science.

We have just seen that the outer edge of space is expanding at the speed of light. This would imply that there is NO space and NO Time at the outer edge of space. If there is no time and space, it would mean that the outer edge of space is outside space and time. So where is the location of something which is outside space and time? We have answered this question earlier. We have seen that our innermost core is outside space and time. This would suggest that the outer edge of space is within our inner core, that the outer edge of space is within us.

It must be understood that only the outer edge of space is within us. Anything closer to the outer edge is not traveling at the speed of light, therefore that location is part of space. The outer edge of space is within us while the remaining part of space is “out there.”

Understanding Space

Isn’t it amazing that both the starting point and the outer edge of space are within us? They are part of the inner core. If this is the case, how do we understand space “out there”? It is not easy. A good way to imagine it is that space and its content are like a mirage popping out of the internal universe, or a hologram being projected.

I guess science will not have an answer to this question. We will have to rely on the teachings of Vedanta. Vedanta is very clear on this topic. It teaches that our mind projects the universe we see around us. The mind is like a projector, projecting all the objects around us. The gross objects we see around us are the projection of the mind. Each mind is its own projector, and each mind projects its own content. I have covered this subject in detail in my book, Science Meets Vedanta. Please read Chapter 18, “Projection—The Only Truth.” A step-by-step process is given on how the projection of the universe works. Please read this to be convinced.

It is quite amazing that space is “out there” but the starting point and outer edge of space are within us. What a mystery and what an insight into our universe! Worth pondering over.

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