When I was small, I used to read books by Isaac Asimov. He wrote many stories about how the advancement of technology would allow humanity to explore and colonize space in just a few decades. It was not just me, since the 1950s, science fiction has been selling the idea of space exploration. Generations grew up believing that humanity would soon be able to colonize space. Many books were written on the subject but it never really happened. Apart from a few manned missions to our closest satellite and the construction of a small space station in lower orbit, not much happened. It doesn’t seem we are much closer to explore space than we were in the 1960s.
Many things we take as irrevocable facts can actually be different or even opposite in different contexts. For example, we all learn that water boils at 100 degrees celsius and this can easily be proved by just boiling some water and checking the temperature with a thermometer, right? Well, not exactly. For most of us, the water will not boil at 100 degrees, but at 99.5, 98, 95, or even 87, according to the altitude one lives. One would have a hard time cooking a meal on top of Mount Everest, for example, since there the water boils at just 68 degrees!
Things are also different according to the point of view. For example, we understand that the earth is round. However, for one who is standing on the ground, it appears quite flat. Since the earth is so big, the curvature can only be seen if one goes quite high. Although the earth is round, islands and continents are not, therefore one who lives on an island like Mauritius or Seychelles actually lives in a flat structure that is part of a round planet.
Nowadays, when we want to record information, we take our phone or a computer and write. With a simple click, this information can then be saved in the cloud and from there shared with people from all over the world, frequently combined with an image or video. However, the Internet and social networks are relatively new phenomena. Just two decades ago, people used to rely on books and magazines for getting new information. I remember that in my teenage years I used to spend time in libraries and spend most of my money in magazines and newspapers.
Books started to be printed in the middle ages. Before that, books existed, but they were copied by hand. In the legendary library of Alexandria, sailors had to pay an unusual tax: allow scholars to copy any books that they would be carrying in their ships, helping to enrich the library.
Before the invention of paper, writings were made using other materials, like papyrus, metal sheets, clay, or even rock. In this way, important information would be preserved for future generations.
A quick search on YouTube or practically any other platform will reveal several videos, articles, podcasts, etc. from flat earthers. Not only they produce a lot of content, but many can be quite forceful about their opinions.
In western societies, the first one to accurately measure the Earth’s circumference was the Greek astronomer Eratosthenes, more than 2000 years ago. By measuring the differences in the direction of the sun in the nearby cities of Alexandria and Syene, he concluded that the Earth’s circumference was 42,000 km, very close to modern estimates. Similarly, other simple experiments made by different astronomers and philosophers of antiquity successfully confirmed that the earth we live in is indeed a globe, without mentioning more recent information.
This is also confirmed in the Vedas. The Surya Siddhanta gives the diameter of the earth, as well as the diameters and orbits of different planets. Similarly, the Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 5.21.8-9) states that night prevails diametrically opposite to a point where it is day and, likewise, the sun sets at a point opposite where it rises, hinting to the fact that the Earth is a globe.
The Vedas state that not only the Earth but other planets of our Universe are spheres floating in space, and indeed that’s something we can confirm with our senses. Anyone who goes high enough in the sky can see the curvature of the planet. Therefore, we can say that according to our sense perception, our planet, as well as other planets are global spheres.
However, the Vedas also gives another view of the Universe, and that’s actually what is behind the flat earth theory.
One of the most basic aspects of our material universe discussed in the Vedas is the law of Karma. Many understand Karma as some kind of belief, but Karma is just an intrinsic part of this material world. It doesn’t have to do with God or supernatural forces, it is simply a Universal law that works automatically, just like gravity. The Universe maintains itself in balance and therefore gives back what we put on it, in the same intensity, but in the opposite direction. Therefore, one who is kind receives back kindness, and one who is violent receives back violence. One who is generous receives generosity in return and so on. Karma acts like a universal bank account based on merit.
Another factor for the results of karma is desire. Desire not only influences how we act but also influences how we receive the results of such actions. One can obtain what he desires, but only to the extent his karma allows. That’s the problem with books that describe the law of attraction like “The Secret”: they account for the desire factor, without taking into consideration the effects of karma. That’s why it doesn’t work. The Universe is going to satisfy one’s desires only to the extent he deserves it, and the currency for that is one’s past good deeds. It’s true that one can get things according to his desire, but only to the extent, his karma allows. The principle is that one has certain desires, and by obtaining the proper knowledge he can act in certain ways and then eventually receive what he desires. Once one understands this law, he can start changing his destiny by simply changing his actions and consciousness.
The Matrix trilogy captured the imagination of many, leading to many spin-off stories, as well as conspiracy theories. Many started to truly believe that we are really living inside a computer-simulated reality, just like depicted in the movie.
In 2003, University of Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrum propounded the idea that we could actually be part of a computer simulation ran by an advanced civilization with the purpose of better understanding their ancestors. His theory included elaborated statistics to “prove” that there actually a high percentage of chance of being so. Similarly, in 2016, a group of researchers in the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial discussed the possibility of our reality being actually a computer simulation. Interestingly enough, after much discussion they come to the conclusion that there actually is a 50-50 chance of being so. From examples like this, we can see how this topic captured the minds of many even in the high ranks of science. There is also a lot of pseudo-science and conspiracy theories around this topic, that became popular in the less educated circles.
Could it be that we are actually just part of a simulation running on someone else’s computer? Is our reality an illusion, with our true selves sleeping somewhere else? Could it be that the movie from 1999 is right after all?
In 1976 there was a football game between a Brazilian team, Cruzeiro and the European Bayern Munich, that would decide the winner of the Intercontinental Cup. The game was on 21 December in the Mineirão stadium, in Belo Horizonte. Both teams had 11 players, but the match started with the score as 2 x 0 for Bayern Munich. Cruzeiro would need to score at least three goals, otherwise the European team would be the champion.
Why did one of the teams started the match with such an advantage? Was this fair?
This is the kind of question people have to answer when they discuss the inequalities of the world. Some people are born into wealthy families, where they receive a good education and have all facilities in life. Others are born in very poor families and have to struggle for existence since their early days. Some are born with very healthy bodies, others are born with a weak constitution or some incurable disease. Some are born very intelligent, others not so much. Some are beautiful, others ugly, some are born with physical defects, others are killed in the womb, without the opportunity of being born at all.
Just like in the game, the opportunities are not the same. Some start life with a huge advantage and others in the opposite situation. How can this be explained?
Movies like the Terminator and AI popularized the idea of intelligent machines walking amongst us. In one scenario, the machines become enemies and try to exterminate humanity, leading to an apocalyptic future. In another, machines remain as docile slaves that perform all the hard labor humans don’t want to do. But, how feasible any of these two scenarios are?
The first discussions about artificial intelligence started in the 1950s and gained a place in the popular imagination in the 1970s when clever programmers started writing software capable of playing chess and answering simple questions. From there, many movies, novels, etc. were made on the subject. However, after more than half a century, intelligent machines are still not here.
According to modern astronomy, our universe is extremely vast but almost empty. The different stars and planets are separated by such extreme distances that it is practically impossible for one to go from one to the other. There is even doubt if life exists on other planets, or if it’s just an anomaly that just appeared once on our blue planet.
However, the Vedas give a very interesting description of the Universe, which is in many aspects much more far-out than the wildest science fiction. A Universe with multiple dimensions, cosmic passages, and mystical features, based not in matter and physical laws, but on different levels of consciousness.
To study the model of the Universe given in the Vedas is the key for not only understanding better the complexities and subtleties of our universe but also to expand and elevate our consciousness.
Nowadays most people feel that they don’t have enough energy and disposition to do everything they need to do. Modern life can be quite difficult and oppressive, especially when we are not in our best form. When this happens, we lose initiative and become just passengers in our own lives, just reacting to external events. This can be a quite disheartening experience.
Do the Vedas say anything about how to improve our mood, or how to have more energy and disposition to solve our practical problems and attain our goals in life? Actually, they speak quite a lot.
