The Universe in Liberation
As we traverse the intricate corridors of Hindu philosophy, a term that emerges as a beacon of liberation is ‘Moksha’. This concept, commonly associated with individual salvation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, presents a spiritual zenith. However, what if we zoom out from the individual perspective and consider Moksha at a cosmic level? What if the Universe itself were to attain Moksha?
The Big Bang marked the birth of the Universe, setting forth an infinite dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. Stars were born, galaxies sculpted, and planets formed, only to one day succumb to the grand design of entropy. This cyclical nature bears a striking resemblance to the cycle of Samsara in Hindu thought, where souls are continuously born and reborn in different forms until Moksha is achieved.
If the Universe could experience Moksha, it would transcend its cycle of cosmic Samsara – from the Big Bang to the eventual Big Crunch or Heat Death, depending on which theoretical physicist you ask. This liberation would mean breaking free from the constraints of time, space, and causality, reaching a state of infinite, timeless existence.
So, what would this feel like for the Universe?
When we ponder this question, we must acknowledge that the Universe’s experience, in this context, is beyond human comprehension. But let’s indulge in the thought experiment. We could imagine this state as one of perfect harmony and unity. There would be no ‘other’, no ‘alien’, and no ‘external’. The galaxies, stars, planets, and even the tiniest quantum particles would exist in a state of interconnection and oneness.
From the perspective of sentient beings, this would mean a profound sense of unity with everything else. Distinctions that currently cause division – species, races, cultures, even life and non-life – would become irrelevant. All of existence, inanimate and animate, would be seen as expressions of the same cosmic consciousness.
And yet, paradoxically, this unified existence would also mean the cessation of experience as we know it. Experience implies a subject and an object, an experiencer and the experienced. But in the absolute unity of cosmic Moksha, these dualities would dissolve. Therefore, in a sense, the Universe would be in a state of ‘experiencing without an experiencer’ or ‘knowing without a knower’.
In the grand scheme of cosmic liberation, human Moksha could be seen as a fractal microcosm – a ripple that mirrors the pattern of the whole. Each being achieving liberation contributes to the whole Universe moving towards its own Moksha, its release from the cosmic cycle of birth and death. This profound realization places our spiritual quests in a broader context and imbues them with a universal significance.
However, the implications of this concept are not just metaphysical, but deeply ethical. Recognizing our shared journey toward liberation fosters compassion, humility, and a sense of stewardship for all of existence. Our actions, in this view, can either facilitate or hinder the Universe’s journey toward Moksha.
In conclusion, contemplating Moksha at a universal scale stretches the boundaries of our imagination and empathy. It invites us to view ourselves not as isolated entities but as integral parts of a grand cosmic dance seeking the ultimate liberation.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 