The vastness of the universe - getting lost in thought.

Lately I've been pondering the biggest thing of all - at least in my mind - the universe.

Now we've had some different definitions float around as to what that means exactly, some say what resulted from the big bang - several billion light years of galaxies, stars, matter. Some have multiple universe theories, some believe it extends on, some believe in multiple alternative realities, and that matter can perhaps take up the same physical space just in a different dimension. With all of these theories and ideas, sometimes I think of my own. How vast could it be? Could we wrap our minds around what is out there?

In my head, this universe in infinite, and by that I don't mean some odd theory or concept of infinity, I don't mean a vague term, I mean literally. I mean, imagine we could travel across our entire observable universe in nanoseconds, continue at that same speed for as long as the universe has existed, and we'd still have gotten no where at all, because there is infinitly more space to go on ever side. There's no way anything or anyone could ever explore, or interact with even a tiny amount of it - at least not in a physical, or literal way. Not with our five senses.

This mentality creates more questions, questions I haven't asked as much before this year. I used to follow a religion, which had its own answers, but now I'm looking for my own. Do we have a spirit, a soul, or some part of our mind that can tap into this infinite place we live?

Many books are written with the supposition that we can interact with things bigger than us - not just theism, but the universe itself, it's energy, perhaps even it's consciousness. The law of attraction is just one of these ideas, one I don't follow myself but do question.. Why do so many of us question what is out there? And within my assumption of an infinite universe, wouldn't it be guaranteed there is something higher than us out there?

Whether it's aliens, other humans, spirits,consciousness, God's, or anything else.. I personally can't imagine the answer being "no" - this isn't just rising from my fear that I could be alone, I do indeed have that fear. What if there is nothing more, what if I just die.. And nothing? Of course my brain would want to assure me there is something, that I don't need to have these fears. We are still a part of the animal kingdom, and with our more inquiring minds might ask why we should exist at all.. But the mind will do all it can to assure us our existence is worth something.

It goes beyond that, though. My imagination takes itself further, imagining if something is theoretically possible, if it obeys the laws of physics and science - ones understood by us, and others not - it's bound to exist. 1 in a billion chance, but taken into a real number that keeps going, means there's infinite instances of that one possibility.. Right ? It makes sense to my intellectual mind that there is something, and invariably something greater than us in ways. The question is.. Can we, have we interacted with them/it?

Anyways, just some food for thought, I'd like to hear what others think.

Cheers ats,

Deadlyhope

In my head, this universe in infinite, and by that I don't mean some odd theory or concept of infinity, I don't mean a vague term, I mean literally.

Thats the way I see it too.
I dont buy into all the "multiple universe theories"
Its BIG out there!

What if we are them / it?

Just remember that some infinities are larger than others.

i barely remember when i used to look at stars and they were just lights in the sky. these days i'm so aware of the amount of space between my perception and what i'm observing that i'm slightly overwhelmed when i glance up at the night sky. this summer i spent barely any time outside in the day but I would go to the center of my local park where there isn't too much light pollution (just kush pollution viva la canada ya feel me rastaman) and just lay in the grass with my girlfriend and stare at the sky. I felt so much energy; my hands would be sweaty, i would grip onto the grass as if there was nothing holding me down because I would just get so lost in the vast amount space. there was moments where i'd have to look away because it was so intense. i'd feel it in my feet mostly; it's a really weird sensation but it just feels like pure energy. it's even more intense to think it's all just 1 thing. no matter how you look at it, whatever you believe in, there's no denying everything together is just 1 thing at the most basic perception level. to look out and realize the amount of space and have that interconnected realization is unbelievably powerful and you can physically feel the energy

.. and that's just what we can perceive in this physical dimension. there's so much more

a reply to: PhoenixOD

There's infinity between one and two. But I'm talking about.. Just keep getting bigger, like never stop adding huge numbers. A trillion to the trillionth power in light years, multiplied by itself every nanosecond :p which amounts to no amount of space at all..

a reply to: deadlyhope

You know how you can imagine anything in your mind, and then move your perception any distance away from, or towards, that thing, so long as you remember the distance in relation to it? That, I think, is what reality actually is, and we, we are all just God's mental images.

a reply to: PhoenixOD


BOLLOX

a reply to: deadlyhope

I think this is great personal development. You are stepping away from what people or religions are teaching and try to make it on your own - to make your own conclusions, I think you are spiritually growing up

If you are maybe introverted or at least like to contemplate stuff, than I would suggest you try meditation for a while and see where it will lead you. And if you do start, then do not expect anything! You must do it regularly and with empty/clear mind. At the beginning mind will maybe be a problem, because it is like a monkey hopping from tree to tree, but when you go over that stage you will notice many new things.

There is so much we, with our senses are not sensing that it is mind blowing. If you will someday achieve deep meditation state you will understand what I just said.

Strangely enough, Star Trek The Next Generation is what got me really thinking about our reality, as it pertains to our perception of the universe.

The "people" who existed on the Star Trek "HollowDeck" thought they were real and that everything they experienced with their 5 senses was real. But they really weren't.

Perhaps we just exist in the mind of someone whom we'd label as beyond extremely advanced. Our world and perceived universe are just part of that entity's dream. We're just actors in that dream. When our part is finished, our perceived identity/soul/spirit ceases to exist, and our energy re-absorbs back into the sea of energy that all existence is composed of.

originally posted by: nonjudgementalist
a reply to: PhoenixOD


BOLLOX

lol whatever turns you on...

Ever heard of Cantor?

a reply to: deadlyhope

Beautiful & i am asking myself similiar questions.
Maybe someone else will stop by and have a new possibility, because i can only nod and say: yes, what he's/she's asking?
👌🌌💐❔❓

I don't believe we are the product of some huge computer, the memory power and disc space would have to be as big as the known universe, every blade of grass with its own program, leaf, bird, fish, cloud, dog, cat, cow, tree, ocean wave, drop of rain, flower, knife, fork, spoon, table, chair, that's just for one planet, the whole universe? really?

a reply to: pikestaff

Yes thats a lot for a computer to handle, now anyway, but remember Moore's Law?

Computing speeds double just every 2 years. Only a few decades later our smartphones have many more times the computing power of what got us into space.

If a civilizations is more advanced then us the universe is just a measly computing task. Were probably just a failed science project on some little aliens shelf.

www.mooreslaw.org...

a reply to: UniFinity


Thank you, I definitely feel like I'm on some type of new path, though I do not know what it holds. Religion is convenient and wraps things into a bundled effort for you, going beyond what they taught.. It's interesting. You can read articles online, you can hear others thoughts and experiences, but the journey itself is not one I feel I can inherit or simply learn - though learning does help.

I am definitely interested in meditation, I've read many great experiences about it, and hope I can learn how to, and when to.

a reply to: pikestaff

I don't believe we are, either, but that's just my own bias. If we were the product of a computer, it's not as if we would be inventing computers with the same processing power as the one that is emulating our universe. Computers run programs they can handle, so you'd have to imagine anything we could ever invent, is something the virtual reality computers could easily compute.

a reply to: deadlyhope

"Religion is a comfort for the weak minded" - Carl Sagan

I sense that you, like me prefer logic. Practical rather than principle. Am I right in saying that if you are going to put your faith in something you'd rather it be science than other peoples stories?

Remember that science requires just as much faith as religion, but do you prefer to put your faith into answers that you can research and find out for yourself? or follow a crowd?

Stay thirsty my friend, and remember you'll never be quenched.

originally posted by: 711117
i barely remember when i used to look at stars and they were just lights in the sky. these days i'm so aware of the amount of space between my perception and what i'm observing that i'm slightly overwhelmed when i glance up at the night sky. this summer i spent barely any time outside in the day but I would go to the center of my local park where there isn't too much light pollution (just kush pollution viva la canada ya feel me rastaman) and just lay in the grass with my girlfriend and stare at the sky. I felt so much energy; my hands would be sweaty, i would grip onto the grass as if there was nothing holding me down because I would just get so lost in the vast amount space. there was moments where i'd have to look away because it was so intense. i'd feel it in my feet mostly; it's a really weird sensation but it just feels like pure energy. it's even more intense to think it's all just 1 thing. no matter how you look at it, whatever you believe in, there's no denying everything together is just 1 thing at the most basic perception level. to look out and realize the amount of space and have that interconnected realization is unbelievably powerful and you can physically feel the energy

.. and that's just what we can perceive in this physical dimension. there's so much more

Love this.

a reply to: deadlyhope

An infinite universe is somewhat of a contradiction. A universe is a unit, one, meaning it is finite, an individual, it begins and ends, something with a boundary in which itself is contained. An infinite universe could not have such properties. It would have to be something other than a universe, not even an "it" at all.

I suppose as an analogy, picture a bag of marbles as the universe, the marbles as its galaxies or whatever. In order for it to be infinite, we must get rid of the bag, make the marbles exist in a boundless space. All that is left is the marbles.

a reply to: deadlyhope

What frustrates me is the incredible lack of knowledge the general population possess regarding the universe. It's as if they just accept they are a critter on a rock, or at least that's what they believe. I know so much of these people and they want to call me a 'space geek' because I enjoy talking about it, my partner included. When I talk about it to her I talk in layman's terms, you know, really dumb it down, and she's still uninterested. To throw salt in the wound she will then go and read a magazine about the Kardashians.

It's not just the vastness of the universe, it's the mechanics, the old faithful 'how did we get here?'...

I swear a girl at my work asked me yesterday how many planets I thought there was, because she had a bet on that there was around '10 other planets' with her mate (at work) who simply said 'nah, more than that'.