Source: “Science and the Akashic Field: An Integral Theory of Everything”; Inner Traditions, One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767; 2004 by Ervin Laszlo
This podcast introduces the concept of the informed universe, where a fundamental, non-material field called the A-field connects everything across space and time. Unlike traditional science that focuses solely on matter, this view posits that all things, from particles to galaxies, are interconnected through wave pressures carrying information within this field. The author use the metaphor of a fish tank to illustrate this interconnectedness, explaining that even after physical forms disappear, their information persists in the A-field, influencing subsequent universal evolution. This leads to a discussion of cosmic origins, suggesting a Metaverse where universes cyclically emerge and are informed by prior ones, ultimately hinting at a process of "design for evolution." The podcast also explores the nature of consciousness, proposing evolutionary panpsychism where mind and matter are fundamental aspects of reality that evolve together, with consciousness potentially existing at a cosmic level within the A-field, allowing for phenomena like near-death experiences and after-death communication through the accessing of these persistent information traces.
1. The concept of the Informed Universe and the A-field: This introduces a view of the cosmos where a real and significant element called the A-field exists. Thanks to this field, the universe is incredibly coherent, meaning that events in one place or time affect all other places and times. Nothing is purely local; all things are global or cosmic because the memory of everything extends everywhere and everywhen. The A-field is described as an active memory field encompassing space and time. This perspective differs from traditional materialistic science, which sees matter as the fundamental reality. In the informed universe, matter is energy bound in quantized wave-packets, and the key feature is that everything that happens affects and "informs" everything else. A fish tank is used as a metaphor to illustrate this interconnectedness through wave pressures, although important differences exist between the fish tank model and the A-field (e.g., A-field waves carry information without force and do not attenuate in a frictionless medium, and can travel faster than light).
2. The origins and destiny of the universe, including the Metaverse theory: The sources explore questions about where the universe came from and where it is going, contrasting traditional religious views (creation by a divine power) with scientific theories like Darwinian evolution and the Big Bang. While the Big Bang theory describes the birth of our universe from a random instability in a fluctuating cosmic vacuum, it struggles to explain why this happened or why the universe has its specific, life-tuned properties. The concept of the Metaverse is introduced as a reality larger than our universe, a "mother" from which our universe (and possibly myriad others) was born from the quantum vacuum in one of many "Bangs". The Metaverse is seen as having existed before and continuing after the life cycle of our universe. This framework is better positioned to address conditions before and after our universe and suggests that local universes leave traces in the vacuum, leading to an ongoing transfer of information between universes, making later universes more efficiently evolved and tuned for complexity and life ("design for evolution").
3. The debate between design and evolution: The text addresses the long-standing controversy, particularly focused on biological evolution, between creationists (who believe species were specifically designed or created) and evolutionists (who attribute life to random processes like mutation and natural selection). The sources suggest that this debate shifts from the origins of life to the origins of the universe and ultimately the Metaverse itself. While random processes seem inadequate to explain the astonishing complexity and fine-tuning of the universe required for life, the idea that everything is a result of "blind chance" is challenged. Instead, the sources propose that the alternative is not "design or evolution" but rather "design for evolution". This perspective suggests that the Metaverse was purposefully designed such that it could evolve, resolving the apparent conflict.
4. The prevalence and evolution of life in the universe, informed by the A-field: The sources explore the likelihood of life existing beyond Earth, citing astronomical estimates based on the vast number of stars and planets and the common presence of necessary chemical elements. Various estimates suggest a large number of potentially life-bearing planets and even advanced technological civilizations could exist in our galaxy and the universe. The text argues that in the informed universe, life is far more probable because the A-field facilitates the evolution of life in different places by sharing information. Life evolution doesn't always have to start from scratch or rely solely on random mutations. Instead, life on Earth may have been "informationally seeded" by traces of extraterrestrial life conveyed through the A-field, which acts as a subtle prompt speeding up the evolution of complex systems and favoring the rise of advanced life-forms.
5. The nature of consciousness, from human to cosmic, and its roots in the quantum vacuum:
This section delves into the question of whether consciousness is limited to humans or tied solely to the brain. It contrasts materialist views (brain produces consciousness) with idealist (consciousness is primary reality) and dualist (mind and matter are separate) perspectives. The sources critique the materialist "hard problem" of explaining how unconscious matter generates consciousness. Instead, they propose evolutionary panpsychism, suggesting that all reality has a mental aspect, and mind/proto-consciousness is fundamental, present in elementary particles and evolving alongside matter. Consciousness is seen as rooted in the quantum vacuum, which is not only the source of matter but also a field of proto-consciousness. Highly evolved structures like the human brain articulate this cosmic consciousness. The sources also discuss how the A-field might allow human consciousness to access broader information beyond sensory input, particularly in altered states.
1. What is the central concept of the "informed universe"?
The informed universe is a model of reality where a fundamental field, called the A-field, is a real and significant element. Unlike traditional materialistic views, this universe is not composed of separate, local things and events. Instead, everything is globally and cosmically interconnected through the A-field. This field acts as a kind of active memory, extending the influence and information of all things to all places and all times. The coherence and interconnectedness facilitated by the A-field are considered hallmarks of this concept, challenging classical ideas of isolated matter and event.