Holarchy

Each day this week I will discuss the evidence for our interconnection in the world. Our feelings of separateness can lead us to feelings of dissatisfaction because we have lost our connection to the universe, to who we really are.

Monday – Origins - A Moment in Singularity (a.k.a. The Big Bang)
Today - Holarchy
Wednesday - Chaos and the Hidden Order of Life
Thursday - Synchrony
Friday - Time and Place

A few years ago, I became intrigued by the concept of the Holon in Ken Wilber’s book “A Brief History of Everything” and then my subsequent reading of Arthur Koestler’s book “The Ghost in the Machine”. The Holon frequently refers to philosophical hierarchies, but has relevance on a broader basis. It suggests that everything coexists as both a whole and a part of a greater whole at the same time. This is such a simple concept, it is pure genius. Our ability to understand this concept informs our view of the interrelatedness of the world.

A hierarchical example of Holons goes something like this: an atom is made up of smaller particles, and is part of a molecule which is part of a cell which is part of an organ which is part of a living organism. The hierarchy continues on in both directions. A Holonic hierarchy is known as a Holarchy.

The concept of the Holon is important for every decision that we make, exposing a greater responsibility past the part to the whole. If we take the Holon to its natural conclusion, we may find the roots of kharma. If everything is both part and whole, every act affects everything else, as everything is part of everything.

The Holarchies in Wilber’s work suggest that we are connected to a greater, shared, universal consciousness. Some of us may feel we are islands unto ourselves, alone. The concept of Holon suggests otherwise.

Most would agree that if we once had easy access to this shared consciousness, we have lost it. Maybe we still tap into it when we solve problems during sleep, day dreaming or meditation. It is said that Einstein came up with many of his theorems while “day dreaming”, not proving them until years later. I wonder if we lost access because of the insanity of our egoic mind, or, perhaps we have just forgotten how. Is finding our true nature the key to let us back inside?

Interconnection and Interdependence

Each day this week I will discuss the evidence for our interconnection in the world. Our feelings of separateness can lead us to feelings of dissatisfaction because we have lost our connection to the universe, to who we really are.

Most spiritual traditions attempt to teach us how to realize a unity of mind, body and spirit; to expand beyond our societal traditions of individuality and disconnectedness. My purpose here is not to deny your individuality, but to expand your vision of yourself with the evidence of your connection to the universe.

Today – Origins - A Moment in Singularity (a.k.a. The Big Bang)
Tuesday - Holarchy
Wednesday - Chaos and the Hidden Order of Life
Thursday - Synchrony
Friday - Time and Place

Origins - A Moment in Singularity (a.k.a. The Big Bang)
According to the theory of general relativity, the initial state of the universe just prior to the Big Bang, was a gravitational singularity. Imagine all the matter and energy of the universe condensed into a single focused point. And then, BANG!!!!

In that moment before the Big Bang all matter and energy was in close proximity, including the tiny amount that would become us. Let me say that again, to our best understanding, all matter and energy arose at the same time and in the same moment, leading to us as beings.

The materials that we are made of are the same materials that the oceans, and land, all the animals and plants are made. The air that we breathe, the water that we drink is shared with all living things, now, in the past and for ever more. As far as scientists know, no matter or energy is destroyed or created, only converted into a different form of matter or energy. Forms may change, the materials and energy stay the same (e=mc2).

In the pursuit of superconductors, scientists have developed new understandings of atoms and how they act. Starting with theories by Einstein and Bose in the 1920’s, scientists recently reported making atoms work in unison at very low temperatures. This has demonstrated interconnectedness at the atomic level. As this is the very substrate of life, our connection to the universe actually starts here.

With the advent of genetic research we find that the average two unrelated humans share 99.9% of the same genetic material. Humans share 98% with chimpanzees, 79% with whales, dolphins, hippos and camels. Clearly, we are more genetically and physiologically related to other animals than not.

So, from the beginning to now, and into the foreseeable future, the physical connections between us and everything else can be found everywhere we look.


Photo by laura_world_wide via deviantart.com