Models of the Universe


It is vital to form within your own mind a model of the Universe in which you are living. As with all my pages on "models", I will start with the conventional scientific models, and progress into the esoteric. Don't look for the one true correct complete model - all models may have something to offer.

Conventional
Relativistic
Holographic
5-planes
7-planes
New Age densities
Astarian model



Conventional Model

The Big Bang Theory is the dominant scientific theory about the origin of the universe. According to the big bang, the universe was created sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from a cosmic explosion that hurled matter and in all directions. In 1927, the Belgian priest Georges Lemaître was the first to propose that the universe began with the explosion of a primeval atom. His proposal came after observing the red shift in distant nebulas by astronomers to a model of the universe based on relativity. Years later, Edwin Hubble found experimental evidence to help justify Lemaître's theory. He found that distant galaxies in every direction are going away from us with speeds proportional to their distance.The big bang was initially suggested because it explains why distant galaxies are traveling away from us at great speeds. The theory also predicts the existence of cosmic background radiation (the glow left over from the explosion itself). The Big Bang Theory received its strongest confirmation when this radiation was discovered in 1964 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, who later won the Nobel Prize for this discovery. Although the Big Bang Theory is widely accepted, it probably will never be proved; consequentially, leaving a number of tough, unanswered questions.



Relativistic Model

In 1915 Einstein developed the theory of general relativity in which he considered objects accelerated with respect to one another. This theory is based on the Special Theory of relativity which Einstein introduced in 1905. I don't want to go in to details here - read Physics textbooks or follow some of the links below. I am mentioning it because Einstein proposed these theories to explain things which we don't generally observe in our little corner of the universe, but at the quantum level or Universal levels things happen which are quite unfamiliar to us. These include:

Time dilation
Length contraction
Mass increase
These effects can be observed with atomic particles travelling close to the speed of light. The theory includes the dimension of time, which has imaginary axes (ie complex number theory, using the operator "i"), and also the base assumption that the speed of light is a constant. These models have been exhaustively tried and tested by physicists and have consistently been found to be correct. An understanding of the theory of relativity will likely shatter your current views of what you perceive reality to be. Everything is energy. The dimensions of space and time are curved.

The theory of relativity does allow for objects to travel faster than the speed of light - such particles are called Tachyons. The mass of Tachyons are imaginary, and they can never slow down below the speed of light (that would violate the theory of Special Relativity).





Holographic Model

In 1991 Michael Talbot published a book called "The Holographic Universe", which was a model of the Universe based on the theories of David Bohm and Karl Pribram. His theory is still very contraversial, but does have many interesting aspects including its ability to explain many paranormal experiences include the telepathy, out-of-body experiences, lucid dreaming, after-life, channelling, etc. The theory is that the entire physical universe is a 3-D projection, similar to the holodecks on the Starship Enterprise. David Bohm's theories are drawn from on the scientific front, and Karl Pribram is a neurophysiologist doing brain research.

For thousands of years the mystics and Yogi's have been telling us the the observable world is illusory, and this Holographic model indeed fits exactly with their explanations. I highly recommend reading Michael Talbot's Holographic Universe.




5-Planes Models

The 5-planes and 7-planes models are based on the Universe being a number of separate planes, on which life or intelligence exists. The plane we are familiar with is the physical plane (called Earth in some cultures), the lowest. I don't find this model complete, but am including it because it shows the relationship between the names for the planes of existence in various cultures. For synchronisation with the other material on my pages, use the medieval and Indian terminology. Note that in different cultures the same name, eg water, can be used to refer to different places - hence confusion can easily arise. What I find interesting is the almost universal belief through all cultures in that there are additional planes of existence above the physical.

Classical Hindu tradition teaches that the universe is composed of 5 elements:

akasa - ether, space or sky
vayu - air
agni - fire
ap - water
prthvi - earth



7-Planes Models

Following on from teh 5-planes models, I find Esoteric teachings provide a more complete 7 layer model. These planes are called:

Plane
Divine Godhead The highest plane achievable through spiritual attainment
Monadic Plane where the Monad or divine spark, resides
Nirvanic, Atmic or Celestial Plane of divine will, the real spiritual self
Intuitional or Buddhic Plane of genius
Mental Lower mental plane of concrete thought, and higher mental plane or causal body of abstract thought
Emotional or Astral Lower desires (kama rupa) and higher desires of the astral body
Physical Lower body of solids, liquids and gases, and the etheric double composed of the electromagnetic, pranic, light and intuitional ether (see further description below)

The "soul" comprises higher Mental, Buddhic and Nirvanic planes. In this model, the Divine Godhead releases countless divine sparks or Monads, which in turn each release a number of souls which build the lower bodies around them. The soul extends multiple personalities (lower Mental, Emotional and Physical bodies) - ie "us"!

The planes above the mental are not generally familiar to the average person. Each plane can be broken down into sub-layers, such as the 7 layers of the physical body, of which the first 3 (and perhaps 4) are familiar to us:

Layer of Physical Body Description
Intuitional ether Responsible for the inspiration of higher thought (Shakespeare's Muse), and for abilities such as Telepathy.
Light body Employed in astral projection, and in Merkaba meditation techniques.
Pranic body This is the life force flowing through the Chakras. It is the force employed in Reiki and other healing techniques, and gives rise the the aura. It cannot be measured with any known scientific technique.
Electromagnetic body Nerve currents traversing the body give rise to electromagnetic radiation. This can be measured, eg with Kirlian photography. It is there, but not often thought to be important. It is non-physical, but is an easily measured scientific fact.
Gas Familiar - eg oxygen, air
Liquid Familiar - eg blood, water
Solid Familiar - eg flesh & bones





Hindu model - classical Hindu tradition has fourteen world, 7 above, and 7 below.

Upper Worlds Lower Worlds
Satyam - these 3 upper worlds are those of Brahmaloka, representing liberation. Few come to earth from these upper world.
Tapah
Janah

Mahah- intermediary between the lower and higher

Swah - celestial world (heaven)
Bhuvah - intermediate world
Bhuh or Prthvi - the earth Atala
Vitala
Sutala
Rasatala
Talatala
Mahatala
Patala - the lowest




New Age Densities

The idea of densities of consciousness were popularised recently through channelled material. One of the earliest references I have found was in the Ra channelled material, and they are also mentioned in the Alice Bailey works. Hopi Indian legends seem to have a similar concept. The idea of density relates to planes of consciousness. Human beings are currently at 3rd density or 3rd dimensional consciousness. Christ consciousness is said to be 4th density or 4th dimensional.

Relating this back to physical models, we do indeed live in a world of three dimensions, and the fourth dimension we recognise is time (see my notes above about how our conventional views of reality break down with the theories of relativity, which are based on a curved space-time continuum).

1st density - mineral consciousness level, awareness as a point.
2nd density - animal/vegetable level, also the level of the elementals working on subtle levels with the planet. Awareness as a line. No individual self-awareness, eg awareness at the level of all grasshoppers in the world.
3rd density - volumetric awareness, ego and sense of individual identify. This is where us human beings fit it! Polarity consciousness.
4th density - superconsciousness level, group identity without loss of ego. Fluid time perception and interface to multi-dimensional realities. Human beings are transitioning from the 3rd to the 4th density. Still retain physical body.
5th density - awareness as a group identity, not bound by linear time, and no physical body required. Mergence with the higher self. Level of wisdom.
6th density - this is the level of awareness of the Ascended Masters (such as Jesus, Buddha, etc.). Awareness at a dimensional level. Concerned with the good of the whole.
7th density - awareness at multi-dimensional level.
8th density - higher cosmic awareness.
9th density - has been described as awareness at level of the sun.
Other sources say there are 12 levels of density within our Universe. Between each level there are 12 sub-levels. Human beings are said to be near the top of 3rd density (10th sub-level). Recognising advancement in density to be evolution of consciousness, we have another path which beings tread. The progression along this path is much slower than others - a soul may spend hundreds of millions of years at the 1st density level; millions of years at 2nd and 3rd density, etc. Hindu teachings also carry the idea of soul progression through many different levels of existence.




Astarian model

This model of the Universe comes from the teachings of Astara (Dr Earlyne Chaney). When Burton Bigelow passed on, he made channelled contact with Earlyne and described the structure of the after-life (this is in keeping with the Holographic model of the Universe above). We are unaware of the planes above the physical, because (as per the 7-plane model above) we are really only aware of the three lowest levels of physical matter, solid, liquid and gas. The higher planes are composed of electromagnetic and higher vibrations. The planes described include:

Physical - the material world familiar to use
Borderland - the abode of souls immediately after death. Life is very similar to life on earth, including political and religious beliefs.
Midland - above borderland, similar, but the souls have more freedom and life is more pleasant. Souls typically progress from Borderland to the Midlands over a period of time.
Highland - the lower mental realm, of considerably higher vibration, and hence a better place than the lower astral planes.
Summerland - this would be described as paradise. A soul moving in to Summerland would be said to be "liberated".
In this Astarian model, there is no hard and fast division between the planes. There is no heaven or hell. At death, a soul moves to the place most appropriate to its vibration. Typically souls will move to the lower or middle astral planes, and slowly move towards Highlands or Summerland.

Dear forum members,

For some unknown reason, well unknown to me at this present moment in time, someone else is posting in this forum under my callsign -J-.

My posts are always accompanied by my signature.
My post are rife with spelling mistakes and punctuation errors ( all for reasons )

For the person who is posting I would just like to say I have read this thread and found it very informative and very positive, if in future you have considered posting more of this kind of information then please do, any help in getting this world off of its knees is appreciated, but other members should be aware that it doesnt stem from the same source as all other posts with my signature attached.

Thank you all.

-J-