G-1 System of the Universe
by Khumatsarla
Preface
The following was first written some thirty years ago. At the time I was working on theories regarding the explanation, relation, and existence of God, infinity, and the limits of existence. Hence the title of "G-1" signifies "God minus one," which is an adaptation to the mathematical formulas where X-1 equates to all numbers less infinity itself. Since then, I have found that the G-1 System can easily extend to the Buddhist notion of the Absolute, or Ultimate Reality.
It matters very little as to one's background or basis for wanting to prove such a thing. A Christian may desire to focus on existence of God; a Buddhist, on Ultimate Reality, or the Absolute; a Mathematician, on infinity; a Spiritualist, on a Supreme Energy Force; etc.
So, kindly insert whatever medium you prefer as you read. Substitute God, Absolute, Ultimate Reality, Supreme Energy, Infinity, or whatever term you are most comfortable with.
The following system which I term "G-1" is an attempt to find a relational method for
understanding the concept of God or an Ultimate Reality, or, if you prefer, the Infinite Force or
Energy of the universe.
If we understand the relation of all things to an Absolute, then we posses the ability to understand everything in the universe. That is, we can understand everything in the universe from the infinite perspective of Absoluteness, and we can understand this Absoluteness from the perspective of everything else.
THE G-1 SYSTEM
Let's look at a model of the universe as a series of concentric rings. Let's say within Ring One
exists a single speck of matter, the smallest possible speck of matter. Within the next ring, Ring
Two, exists maybe a molecule made up of these smallest possible specks of matter. The rings
continue outward such that each ring contains the smaller rings. Eventually we will have the
super ring that within which all other rings are contained. This super-ring is the ring that denotes the most-infinite ring or simply the ring of infinity.
For example, our neighborhood exists in a ring. The next larger ring may be our city. The next
rings being our planet, then our solar system, then our galaxy, then our system of galaxies, etc.
Eventually, all rings are contained within the super-ring or infinite-most ring.
As a reverse example, we take a glass of water within which are water molecules. We then look
at a drop of water under a microscope. At zero-power, we see a water drop. At 50-power we
may see little organisms, at 500-power we may see tiny sub-organisms, at 5000-power we may
see molecular items, etc. Eventually we may get to some extreme magnification and see atoms. Then further still, we see specks that actually are part of our inner-most ring in our model where we see the smallest possible speck of matter.
From this example we can determine that in order to see into smaller rings of the model we had
to view the smaller ring from an outside, larger ring. So, if we want to view everything in the
universe we must therefore view the system from the largest possible ring. We can only view all
that is within the universe if we are viewing from the super-ring or the infinite-most ring.
Brief summary: we can only understand all that is in the universe if we step out of the boundaries
of the limited universe and step into the infinite-most ring. From the viewpoint of the
infinite-most ring, we can know about everything within the universe. We do not have to prove
that the infinite ring exist, we must only accept that this ring has the possibility of existence. Although we can not prove the existence of the super-ring we can accept that if the super-ring is a possibility then every other ring within the super-ring is everything within the universe except the infinite ring.
Why: by accepting the possibility of the super-ring without requiring the proof for its existence we allow ourselves to deal with everything that exists and is possible within all other sub-rings (ie. The Relative). We may think of the super-ring as the ring in which only an Absolute exists and no other things exists, or perhaps we can think of the super-ring as the spiritual glue that holds all other rings in containment, or perhaps we can simply view the outer-most super-ring as the realm of the impossible within which all that is possible exists.
What for: if we acknowledge that we will never understand or know the ring we call the
super-ring, but we accept that it is a possibility, we can therefore disregard the super-ring as something we will never understand, but also realize that we don't need to prove the existence of the super-ring to understand all other inner rings within this outer-most ring. So, we can therefore understand everything else in the universe as real and prove its existence provided we don't puzzle over the proof of the super-ring itself. If we sit and spin our wheels trying to prove something that can't be proven then we will get nowhere and will forever be lost in our attempts at understanding all that is Relative. It is not necessary that we prove the existence of the Absolute in order that we understand everything else except the Absolute. We can not move ahead in our thinking even if we do not understand all that is within the universe. If the Absolute is not of our universe then trying to understand the Absolute is not necessary to understand the Relative universe. In order that we proceed in life, we must know and understand every ring contained within the super-ring but we do not need to know nor understand the super-ring itself.
Hypothesis: everything in the universe including the super-ring we will call G. All inner rings within the G-ring will be known as G-1 (G minus 1). G-1 will comprise everything in the universe except G. We acknowledge that we will never be able to prove the existence of G nor will we ever be able to understand the existence of G but can prove, know and understand everything else in the realm of G-1. On these grounds, under these premises, everything proven or disproven either through scientific or philosophical means are a part of the realm of G-1. G-1 is therefore the common ground within which both science and philosophy can co-exist with a firm and correct stance.
RELATION TO MATHEMATICS
In mathematics: in order to have an understanding of the set of all numbers in the universe, we create infinity --- which I will write as X. Infinity is the absolute limit of all numbers. Within this definition, we can then speak of the set of all numbers except infinity as being all numbers up to but not including infinity, and to keep it simple we will call this X-1. By this we mean "X-1 = all numbers except infinity".
With this in mind:
(a) we now acknowledge the existence of infinity
(b) that we can not define infinity, but it is something
(c) that we will never be able to truly define nor understand infinity but can accept its purpose and existence in some context
(d) within that context, infinity exists, we just don't know what it is in physical terms
(e) we will never understand infinity but do understand that it exists, is something we can
identify indirectly, and is required to understand all other numbers of the universe
(f) it is the boundary or limits of all numbers
(g) and that X-1 is the universe of numbers within which we can understand all other numbers and systems
This leads us to the point of mathematics being a closed, finite system or model under which we
can speak of everything within the limits constrained by infinity.
RELATION TO RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
All religions have their basis in the explanation of the meaning of life, death, and an afterlife.
All religions have a common philosophy regarding the existence of God or an Absolute and the relationship of this Absoluteness to man. From the religious view point, God is a supernatural force that exists beyond the realm of man and all that is of man is created by God. From the philosophical view, an Absolute exists that is beyond all that is rational and Relative, and is therefore beyond the realm of man.
From this context, God is in the ring of G and all else (earthly realm of man) is contained within
the rings of G-1. Alternately, the Absolute is the G-ring and all else is the Relative realm contained within the rings of G-1.
One religion, or "religious" philosophy, has taken the step to examine existence in terms of life
with neither proving nor disproving the existence of God. That is, Buddhism has taken the
approach to examine the existence of life within the confines of all rings that we call G-1. In
Buddhism, all schools of thought are based in the relationship of "sems" and "rlung" to
"samsara".
"These two principles (sems and rlung) are the true shapers of human destiny; of the two, sems is
the more important. Sems is described as the creator (byed po) of samsara, of the unending cycle
of successive births and deaths, but it is also the creator of that which is beyond ('das) samsara.
This is because it is on the one hand the instrument of objectification, but on the other has the
capacity to transcend itself, in other words to change into transcendent consciousness (ye shes) and in this way through the attainment of pure consciousness to transcend duality."
"... In terms of its nature, it (mental body (yid lus) and karmic inheritance (las)) cannot be
distinguished from the innate mind (gnyug ma'i sems)... The distinction between the two (mental
body and the defilements which burden it) can be compared to that between earth and a vessel;
the vessel, made from earth, having earth as its material basis, is however not identical with
earth, it has a different function and destination."
(The Religions of Tibet, by Giuseppe Tucci)
From this context, we will view "rlung" and "samsara" as all rings within G-1 and "sems" as in
the ring of G.
With this in mind:
(a) we now acknowledge the existence of the infinite nature of sems
(b) that we can not define "infinity" but it is something that we will term "sems"
(c) that we will never be able to truly define nor understand "sems" but can accept its purpose
and existence in "some" context
(d) within that context, "sems" exists, we just don't know what it is in physical terms
(e) we will never understand "sems" but do understand that it exists, is something we can identify
indirectly, and is required to understand "rlung" and "samsara"
(f) "sems" is the boundary or limits of all existence
(g) and that "sems" and "rlung" is the universe of existence by which we can understand all other
existence
This leads us to the point of Buddhism being a closed, finite system or model under which we
can speak of everything within the limits constrained by "sems".
RELATION TO THE PHYSICAL REALM
In Medicine, all scientific knowledge and practice is based in the physical nature of life and its
existence and in the psychological nature of life in relation to the physical world.
Does a person die when the brain ceases or when the heart ceases? When our heart ceases, we
are clinically dead, yet we can be resuscitated provided our brain waves continue. At what point
are we physically dead in terms of life as we understand it? We can not conceptualize the
physical state of being if we can not use our brain, yet we can continue to live in a "brain dead" state provided our heart remains active. If this is the case, that our heart ultimately controls our
existence, then what sphere of power or dimension of influence does our heart control? We can
"live" temporarily without brain function provided we have heart function, or have brain function
without heart function. If this is true, which organ has the ultimate control over life? How does
the dependent link become reestablished between heart and mind during the transition from
afterlife back to life? If our brain controls all response to other organs, then why, in some cases,
is it that the heart continues to function after brain death? Therefore, there exists the possibility
that an as yet unmeasured life force must exist independent of heart or brain in order that the
dependent link between the two be reestablished during temporary death, or near-death,
experiences. If all physically known functions of heart and brain can be studied scientifically,
then the possibility of a non-scientific explanation must also be considered for the existence of this unknown life force.
From this context, we will consider all that is medically possible as being within the realm of G-1
and all infinitely unexplainable life force phenomena as being in the realm if the ring of G.
With this in mind:
(a) we now acknowledge the existence of the infinite nature of understanding a life force
(b) that we can not define this nature but it is something that we will term the life force
(c) that we will never be able to truly define nor understand the life force but can accept its purpose and existence in some context
(d) within that context, a life force exists, we just don't know what it is in physical terms
(e) we will never understand the life force but do understand that it exists, is something we can
identify indirectly, and is required to understand the physical nature of life and death
(f) the life force is the boundary or limits of all existence
(g) and that physical life and the life force is the universe of existence by which life can be understood.
This leads us to the point of the science of life, medicine, as being a closed, finite system or
model under which we can speak of everything within the limits constrained by this life force.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
As an additional comment, I add that G is not an isolated realm distinct from G-1. Rather, the super-ring (G) encompasses all other rings. Hence, we find the Absolute is not some isolated realm but permeates throughout every aspect of the Relative realm, and the Relative permeates throughout the Absolute. So, one may ask "Are the two one?" Just as with the relation of earth and vessel, the vessel is earth, but is the earth just vessel?
Whether one accepts or believes in the existence or non-existence of God, an Absolute, or an Ultimate Reality, one can know and understand everything else in the universe. Within the realm of the Relative lies the answers to our place in the universe, presence, samsara, karma, and all other imponderables. The imponderable aspect of the imponderables is the requirement to prove the existence of an Absolute reference point by which all Relative reference is based.
It is not important that one proves that God, an Absolute, or Infinity exist. The greatest obstacle caused by the imponderables is in trying to prove something that can not be proven. In the G-1 System, one only acknowledges the super-ring (G) as the limiting factor within which all else exists.
If one knows and understands everything defined within the rings of G-1, they will know and understand why samsara, karma, and suffering exists. In following the Four Noble Truths, one must diagnose what one's suffering is and what its cause is. If one can diagnose the basis for samsara, karma, and suffering, then one can also know the method to bring samsara to an end. Within the rings of G-1 lie the answers to all Relative questions.
Thank you for reading, and may all of you find peace and happiness as you travel through G-1.
Please send comments, corrections, add links, information, etc.
to ...
khumatsarla@hotmail.com
Thank you for participating on the Buddhist Forum. Many will learn from the
experiences and teachings you so graciously share.
Thank you for visiting.