Source: “The Interconnected Universe”, Rodger Ricke, Psy.D.,2024.
THE INTERCONNECTED UNIVERSE.wav
This podcast explores the concept of an interconnected universe, where everything is mutually dependent and part of a larger whole. It draws upon both ancient spiritual teachings and modern scientific discoveries like quantum physics to support this idea. Ultimately, the podcast suggests that information plays a fundamental role in organizing and linking all aspects of reality, challenging traditional views of independent objects and simple cause-and-effect.
1. The Concept of an Interconnected Universe and Interdependence: A central theme is the idea that all things and events in the universe are deeply interconnected and part of a greater Whole. This concept is recognized in both science and spiritual and metaphysical teachings. Spiritual traditions throughout history, such as those found in Egyptian, Greek, Hindu (like the Avatamsaka Sutra), Buddhist (including Zen and Tibetan Buddhism), and Oglala Sioux teachings, describe the universe as a basic oneness, where everything is mutually interrelated, interdependent, and inseparable. For example, some teachings illustrate this using metaphors like a room full of mirrors reflecting a candle or crystal, showing the relationship of the One to the Many and vice versa. The Eastern worldview, in particular, is described as being based on the underlying unity and interdependent relationship of all phenomena, where the division of nature into separate objects is not fundamental, and all things have a fluid, ever-changing, and intrinsically dynamic character. From a Buddhist perspective, the interdependent nature of all things forms an infinite network of interrelationships among all forms of existence, meaning all things depend upon one another, influencing and mutually permeating each other to create a harmonious totality. This interdependence is directly tied to the concept of non-identity, suggesting that the existence of things is grounded in the convergence of interdependent conditions, existing through the play of various factors that are directly or indirectly connected to them, rather than possessing intrinsic, objective reality independent of their interrelations. Science, from minute sub-atomic physics to vast cosmic structures, reveals a pattern of mutual relationships and an intrinsic interconnectivity pervading the entire universe, linking disparate phenomena in a harmonious, indivisible whole. The universe is described as a dynamic web of interrelated events where the properties of any part follow from the properties of other parts, and the overall consistency of their mutual interrelations determines the structure of the entire web. The concept of the hologram is used to describe a universe where everything is interrelated, part of a greater whole, and supposed dualities are seen as complementary polarities, with the holographic nature enabling the coherent oneness to be expressed through the many facets of cosmic order, allowing every aspect to relate to and interface with every other aspect and the whole. Modern physics supports the notion of a basic interconnectedness, viewing the universe not as a collection of discrete objects but as a vast nexus of relationships, where inseparable quantum interconnectedness is the fundamental reality, and apparently independent parts are merely contingent forms within this whole. Relationships between parts may depend on the state of the whole system, extending ultimately to the entire universe. This deep interrelation is even seen at the human physiological level, where the body is constantly renewing itself and exchanging elements with the environment and even cosmic sources, suggesting a strictly bounded, static body does not exist, and we are richly connected with the world around us, anchored in the stars.
2. Critique of Simple Cause and Effect Models: The traditional understanding of reality based on simple cause and effect models is presented as being at odds with the concept of an interconnected universe where all parts are related. The source argues that no event occurs in isolation, as multiple interdependent causes are involved. It suggests that focusing on a single cause and effect is a "primitive short-term rule of thumb" because everything is interlinked, and therefore everything has numerous causes; the entire universe contributes to the least thing. We tend to look at events one-sidedly and assume they happen in a vacuum, but in reality, all events are associated with all other events. Actions are prompted by many possible stimuli and are never isolated, having consequences that are often unexpected and unplanned. Some spiritual traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta, agree that the principle of cause and effect is merely a conceptual category. From this perspective, it is the illusion of time that leads to the idea of causality; when the past and future are seen in a timeless now as parts of a common pattern, the concept of cause-effect loses its validity, replaced by creative freedom. The idea of a single, particular cause for anything in existence is seen as incorrect because the entire universe contributes to the existence of even the smallest thing; nothing could be as it is without the universe being what it is. While one might trace how a thing happens, the source of all that is is described as the Infinite possibility, the Supreme Reality, which is in everything, but this source is not a cause, and no cause is a source, suggesting that everything is fundamentally uncaused.
3. Gurdjieff's Concept of Reciprocal Maintenance (Trogoautoegocrat): This is described as a cornerstone of Gurdjieff’s Fourth Way cosmological teachings, also termed "Trogoautoegocrat," meaning "I keep myself by feeding." It is presented as a universal principle that interrelates all levels of the universe, resulting in the mutual maintenance or feeding of "All and Everything." This cosmic process is based on the transformation of energies, which depends on the relationship of entities whereby each maintains the existence of others in a universal mutual support system. According to this concept, each order of beings is endowed with a form of energy enabling it to play its part in the cosmic process. Reciprocal maintenance implies a built-in structure or pattern in the universe where every class of existing things produces energies or substances required for maintaining the existence of other classes. Gurdjieff uses the terms involution and evolution to describe this process. Involution is the transformation process where a high level of energy acts on lower energies through an apparatus (like a human body or the Earth) providing the necessary environment; it is described as entropic, lowering the overall energy level. Evolution is the reverse process, the production of high-level energy from a lower level source, which requires a different kind of apparatus and is described as improbable, going against the direction of probability unless some high-level energy is present. The work by which man is transformed is seen as evolutionary, going against the stream of life. The theoretical basis of reciprocal maintenance involves the transformation of matter and energy as a universal process of descent (involution) and ascent (evolution). Everything is material and constantly being transformed, moving from the finest matter to the coarsest and vice versa, with intermediate stops or transmitting stations (organisms) that transform matter in both directions. This transformation branches out at all levels, with entities absorbing substances they need and also serving as food for others, creating a reciprocal exchange that occurs in organic and inorganic matter. The universe is seen as an unending chain of systems bound by universal interdependence, where nothing is separate, and everything is dependent on and connected to everything else through this "exchange of substances." While the principle of universal interdependence appears in many traditional teachings, Gurdjieff's exposition is noted as original. His universe is characterized by a generalized non-separability and is not static but in perpetual movement and change on physical, biological, and psychic planes. Reciprocal maintenance emphasizes how existing forms interact in a symbiotic relationship of mutual support. Higher levels of reality "spiritualize" lower levels by organizing and transforming them under cosmic laws into higher patterns of meaning and value. Gurdjieff saw the world as the universal process of the transformation of energies regulated by fundamental laws and various 'second-grade' laws, with the two basic realities being relations and transformations. The universe is seen as existing because 'being' and 'time' are mutually destructive; things perish without renewal, and full renewal requires full mutuality through the universal giving and receiving of energies that maintain cosmic harmony, facilitated by the organized structure provided by the interaction of different classes and levels of reality. Some contemporary physicists have noted a correspondence between reciprocal maintenance and the 'bootstrap' principle of modern physics, which implies an underlying unity maintained by a dynamic intelligence in permanent evolution, suggesting a universe capable of self-creation and self-organization from within its own physical nature. The bootstrap concept implies self-consistency and challenges the notion of a particle's identity, substituting it with the notion of the relationship between "events"; a particle is what it is because all other particles exist, with its attributes resulting from interactions with all others, embodying a "law of reciprocal maintenance" for quantum particles and systems.
4. Systems Theory: Systems theory, or "general systems theory," is presented as a useful approach to understanding the interrelationship of all things, viewing the world in terms of patterns and relationships. A system is defined as an integrated whole whose properties cannot be reduced to those of its parts; individual objects and events exist but are secondary to their being part of the unity of the pattern, which is itself part of larger patterns up to the universe. Natural systems are wholes whose specific structures arise from the interactions and interdependence of their parts. Systemic properties are lost when a system is physically or theoretically dissected into isolated elements. While parts can be discerned, the nature of the whole is always different from the mere sum of its parts. Systems are intrinsically dynamic, with flexible yet stable forms arising from underlying processes. Living systems tend to form multi-leveled structures of systems within systems, such as the human body containing organ systems made of organs, tissues, and cells, all acting as both systems and parts of larger wholes. This stratified order involves interconnections and interdependencies between all system levels, each interacting and communicating with its environment. Examples of systems in nature include organisms, cells, tissues, organs (like the brain), social systems (like ant colonies or beehives), and ecosystems. Highly integrated insect communities are extreme examples where members are so interdependent that the whole system resembles a large, multi-creatured organism with collective intelligence and capabilities exceeding individual members. What is preserved in a wilderness area is the complex web of relationships between organisms and matter, not just individual entities. Systems theorists have identified principal laws exhibited by systems: ◦Coherence: Complex systems are organized so parts are linked, maintaining internal viability and external adaptation. ◦Interaction: New forms and functions emerge from diverse elements interacting, creating interconnection and coherence. What happens to one part affects others and the whole. ◦Complementarity: Polarity is a basic characteristic, with opposites balancing each other in equilibrium (like yin/yang). ◦Recursion: Parts and elements repeat similar patterns at deeper levels, adding novelty while retaining invariant key patterns. ◦Instability: There are limits to growth; beyond a critical point, systems become unstable and break down.
Evolution: Natural systems evolve towards higher levels of coherence and complexity, progressing through levels of structure and complexity from atomic to molecular, cellular, ecological, and bio-spherical. Through these laws, complexity emerges as evolution creates more complex and coherent structures and systems. The self-organization of systems is a recurring feature at all levels, where each new layer regulates the prior layer, ensuring complexity is not random but emerges from and regulates pre-existing layers. Self-organization is embedded in the fabric of the cosmos and in nature, including the human body (cells forming tissues, organs, systems, culminating in the brain). Existence requires balance, which demands feedback, allowing systems to correct imbalances automatically. Every new part of the universe must create a feedback loop with what gave rise to it to remain connected to the whole. Systems are often organized hierarchically, determining levels of organization and interconnections. Each living component has self-organization and autonomy within the larger system, and these systems exist in hierarchies where higher levels subsume and regulate lower ones. Nature appears structured in levels of organization or complexity, from elementary particles to galaxies. Evolution is seen as a progressive complexification, a dynamic process of increasing levels of complexity and organization. Hierarchy, viewed as nested systems with permeable boundaries, permits the flow of information and energy up, down, and laterally, involving "upward causation" from less complex to more complex systems and "downward causation" from higher to lower levels, as well as horizontal causation. In this view, power resides in the cooperative relationships between systems and parts. In summary, the systems view is holistic and integrative, seeing the world in terms of interrelatedness and interdependency, linking all levels of existence in a unified whole, where entities are both integrated wholes and parts of larger wholes at higher complexity levels.
5. The Role of Information as a Fundamental Factor: An emerging viewpoint posits that information is a subtle but equally fundamental factor in physical reality, alongside matter and energy. Information is stressed as important for the interdependent functioning of the cosmos, linking all things in the universe, from atoms to galaxies, organisms and minds, transforming a fragmented view into an integral, holistic worldview. To account for the number of particles and the ongoing evolution of things, recognizing a factor that is neither matter nor energy is seen as necessary. This factor is information, acknowledged across sciences, acting as a real and effective factor setting universal parameters at its birth and governing the evolution of elements into complex systems. Information is considered an inherent aspect of both physical and biological nature, not merely a human artifact, but present independently and decisive in the evolution of things, forming the basis for a genuine "theory of everything." Information ("in-formation") is defined as a subtle, quasi-instant, non-evanescent, and non-energetic connection between things at different locations in space and events at different points in time, described as "nonlocal" in science and "transpersonal" in consciousness research. It links things regardless of distance or time. Some scientists suggest information can resolve quandaries in cosmological theories, proposing it lies at the root of all things. Discoveries in quantum physics revealing the universe as a "heaving sea of energy – one vast quantum field" imply everything is connected. Living beings are seen as packets of quantum energy constantly exchanging information with this field. Information about all aspects of life, including cellular communication and DNA control, is relayed through a quantum-level information exchange. Even minds operate via quantum processes, with thinking, feeling, and higher cognitive functions involving quantum information pulsing through the brain and body. Human perception occurs through interaction between subatomic particles in our brains and the quantum energy sea, suggesting we literally resonate with our world. This challenges basic laws of biology and physics and may be key to all information processing and exchange, providing evidence that we are all connected at the deepest level. A strange feature of quantum physics is "nonlocality" or "entanglement," where correlated sub-atomic particles or atoms remain instantly connected over time and space, regardless of distance. Once in contact, they remain forever influenced instantaneously, acting like a pair connected by an "invisible wire." Early quantum pioneers like Niels Bohr observed this, though Albert Einstein resisted it, calling it "spooky action at a distance" as it implied information faster than light. However, experiments, such as Alain Aspect's in Paris, confirmed this phenomenon, showing that measuring one photon affected a separated entangled photon instantaneously. Nonlocality and information transmission appear across diverse fields beyond the quantum level, including macroscopic scales and fields, signaling a subtle yet real element that connects and produces coherence. Identifying this element could resolve scientific puzzles and point to a fertile paradigm where nonlocality is a basic feature of an intrinsically nonlocal, integral world. This view is based on understanding how parts interact within wholes, ultimately how quanta and macroscale entities interact within the cosmos through fields, which connect phenomena universally, even though they are not directly observable. Scientists are recognizing the primary role of information in describing physical reality, suggesting it is physical and literally "in-forms" the universe. Laws of motion and thermodynamics are being viewed as laws of information. Quantum and relativity theories are being re-evaluated as informational theories, potentially unifying these perspectives. This leads to a broader perception aiming to understand not just how reality is, but why, proposing a cosmology encompassing all aspects of existence and experience. Information exchange occurs at all levels; even electrons use information, suggesting the ability to respond to meaning is innate to all matter, not just consciousness. Space-time at the smallest scale may be pixellated, suggesting this as the foundational level for information and holographic reality. The content and flow of information create patterns and relationships across all scales, determining events and processes, which are not random but depend on the information they embody. The universe is fundamentally interconnected and underpinned by information, with the speed of light ensuring causality within space-time, enabling experience and evolution. Information literally "in-forms" physical reality, and from its instructions, conditions, ingredients, recipe, and container, it enables a universe that nurtures complexity and self-aware consciousness. To understand the wholeness of reality, physics must be restated in informational terms, revealing the universe as constituted of holographically expressed information that is more fundamental than space-time and energy-matter. There's no fundamental difference between quantum and macroscopic scales; apparent differences are due to the difficulty of informationally isolating larger entities. The universe is innately coherent and nonlocally unified, fundamentally interconnected and informational. The flow of information is integral to universal ordering and evolution, and biological development. The network of information applies to all scales, from the universe's genesis to complex biological systems expressing self-awareness. Information exchange is key to understanding cosmic evolution. Laws and processes of information flow provide a deeper understanding of reality and integrate quantum theory (conserved energy-matter) and relativity theory (entropic space-time). The origin of the universe in an ordered state embodied minimum informational entropy, which has since increased, causing the arrow of time and causality within space-time. This increasing entropy has enabled the development of higher consciousness and self-awareness. The nature of time can be seen as accumulated informational entropy. The source proposes two laws of information: the first law is the generalized expression of quantum theory, enabling the universe to exist, based on universal conservation of information expressed as energy-matter which balances to zero; the second law is that for relativity theory, enabling the universe to evolve, based on the continually increasing entropic flow of information within space-time.