An Introduction to Vedanta
Part XXVIII
Dr. K. Sadananda

Part XXVIII – The Paradox of Space and Time

Can we see space or more accurately can we perceive space? Space is the distance between objects or between two points that are separated. If there are no two points, will there be space as an entity by itself? Infinity and eternity are beyond the concepts of space and time. In discussing the big bang theory, we raised the question: did the bang occur in space or was space created with the bang too, as one became many by fragmentation? One cannot be fragmented unless one consists of fragments. Space cannot be fragmented, although we try to divide it into my space and your space, etc.

The senses cannot perceive space directly and the mind infers it, based on the object-object relation. In fact, due to the separation of the two eyes by nearly 7 degrees, I get a stereographic image of the object and thus a perceived dimension of depth. This aspect is used in 3-D movies, where polarized light is used to take two images and rotate each by at least 7 degrees and project them onto the screen simultaneously. Polarized glasses are provided, by using which the left eye sees only one image while the right eye sees the other. Both are resolved in the mind as one image giving a 3-D perspective. If you close one eye and watch the 3-D movie, you will not see the 3-D. Space and a third dimension are visualized because of the way the eyes are located.

But just as objects still exist outside, the space between the objects also exists. Hence space can be deduced by the movement in time. Even a blind man can feel space by moving his hands and thereby getting a sense of separation between the objects. According to Vedanta, space is the subtlest creation from Atma (AtmAnam AkAShas sambhUtaH ...) There are essentially five primordial elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. These cover the fundamental states of matter, vapor, liquid and solid, plus energy, a subtler form of matter and space. Krishna says they are my lower nature (vyavahAra) and my higher nature is that which supports all these (pAramArthika). Space pervades everything but is unaffected by anything. But even this space is in my consciousness which means that the consciousness that I am pervades the space too. Hence, during the deep-sleep state when the mind gets folded, the objects as well as the space that separates the objects get folded too. I do not have any concept of space and time in deep sleep. But I am there to sleep well. My existence is never dismissed. Along with space, the concept of time is also dismissed. I am not located in space but space is located in me, since I can exist without space but space cannot exist without me.

The paradox of time is even more revealing. Einstein’s definition of Time is a gap between two sequential events in space, observed by an observer who does not change with time. Two simultaneous events define space and two sequential events define time. Vedanta defines time more subjectively, since ‘subject’ is included in the perception of time too. Time is the sequence of two experiences by the same experiencer who does not change with the experience. Each event-observation is counted as one experience. By bringing the experiencer and the mind associated with it to observe and record the experience, time is reduced to a concept in the mind. Hence perception of time depends on the mind too. When there is no mind, or to put it more accurately when there are no thoughts, there is no time either. This is what we experience in the deep-sleep state, where sleep is considered as only one experience and not two. Hence there is no time or space in the deep-sleep state. Do time and space have any validity, then? They are valid as long as thoughts are there. The paradox of time arises strangely with the notions in the mind. There is objective time and subjective time. The world continuously changes – starting from sunrise to sunset – two sequential events. We completely forget the time when we are fully involved in one event, particularly when we are happy, since we are with ourselves.

Proceed to the next essay.