Universe IS A Projection of Our Mind

According to Vedanta, the universe we experience as being “out there” is a projection of our own mind. This is the exact inverse of the scientific model, in which external physical objects give rise to internal mental representations. 

Clearly, these two viewpoints are fundamentally opposed—only one can be true. Vedanta’s explanation offers a compelling framework: the mind projects the universe, making this the foundational truth for our discussion. 

In the following sections, we will examine this concept from several perspectives to demonstrate its validity:

1. Scientific analysis
2. Logical reasoning
3. Mathematical interpretation
4. Applying Quantum physics 
5. The structure of the universe
6. Memory Objects vs. Now Objects

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Transcript

According to Vedanta, the universe we experience as being “out there” is a projection of our own mind. This perspective stands in stark contrast to the scientific viewpoint. Science asserts that the external universe exists independently, made up of countless objects, and that our perception relies on light traveling from these objects to our eyes. When light enters the eye, it forms an inverted image on the retina, which is then corrected and converted into optical signals sent to the brain. Although the precise processes within the brain remain a mystery, science holds that our perception is ultimately a reconstruction of these external stimuli.

Vedanta, on the other hand, claims that subtle objects made up of waveforms arise first within the mind and are then projected outward to become the tangible world we observe. This is the exact inverse of the scientific model, in which external physical objects give rise to internal mental representations. Clearly, these two viewpoints are fundamentally opposed—only one can be true. To proceed meaningfully with this episode, it’s essential to resolve this contradiction. Given our focus on the idea of projection, Vedanta’s explanation offers a compelling framework: the mind projects the universe, making this the foundational truth for our discussion. In the following sections, we will examine this concept from several perspectives to demonstrate its validity:

1.      Scientific analysis

2.      Logical reasoning

3.      Mathematical interpretation

4.      Applying Quantum physics 

5.      The structure of the universe

6.      Memory Objects vs. Now Objects

1. Scientific analysis —Theory of Special Relativity

Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity revolutionized our understanding of the relationship between motion and time. A key principle of this theory shows how motion influences time and space. Based on this, whenever there is motion—even something as simple as walking or as extreme as traveling at 40% the speed of light—time slows down for the moving observer. The extent to which time slows depends on the speed: the faster the motion, the greater the effect. At the speed of light, time effectively stops. Please listen to my episode “Einstein Theory of Relativity” for a detailed explanation on these amazing happenings. 

This profound connection between motion and time has far-reaching consequences in our everyday lives, even if we don’t notice or feel it directly. Motion is everywhere—we see ants crawling, people walking, cyclists pedaling, and cars speeding by. If we apply Einstein’s principles, it means that the passage of time is unique to everyone based on their movement. Two people standing still experience time at the same rate, but once one starts moving, their experience of time slows relative to the one who remains stationary.

If you remain stationary while I begin to walk, the ticking rate of my internal clock shifts—even if only by a tiny amount. Because time moves differently for each of us, the vibration of atoms in objects would be different, making the objects we perceive unique to our own perspective. In this sense, we each experience a personalized reality, shaping our own version of the universe. Just as I create my universe, you create yours, and so does every other living being.

Therefore, the conclusion is clear: each person projects a unique universe shaped by the rhythm of their own internal clock. This aspect of Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity aligns with the teachings of Vedanta, which suggest that the universe is a projection of individual minds.

2. Logical Reasoning

We have explored this in various discussions that the true origin of space is the observer within each of us. This insight carries profound implications, so it’s important to revisit this line of reasoning for clarity. Let’s examine the nature of external objects. For example, if we observe a distant star located five million light-years away, the light we see from that star began its journey toward us five million years ago. When we look at the sun, its light takes about eight minutes to reach our eyes. Observing the moon, we see light that took three seconds to arrive. If we notice an airplane flying at 30,000 feet, the light from it reaches us in roughly 300 milliseconds. The closer the object, the less time light takes to reach us.

Now, consider staring at a tree just outside your window—the light travels to you in only 10 microseconds. Glancing at a computer screen just a foot away, the light’s journey is even shorter: about one nanosecond. As the distance between observer and object decreases, so does the time it takes for light to travel. If we continue this pattern, we find that the only logical point where light takes zero seconds to reach us is the observer—the very center of perception. This means the observer within is the true starting point of space.

No matter who observes the universe, each will arrive at the same conclusion: the starting point for space lies within themselves. This holds true for every living being. Consequently, it appears that everyone has their own unique starting point of space. The logical implication is that every living being generates their own universe, with space beginning from their own point of observation.

Thus, this logical progression demonstrates that each living being projects a personal universe, and the fabric of that universe originates from the observer within.

3. Mathematical Interpretation — The Hubble Constant

Scientists developed the Hubble constant to measure how quickly the universe is expanding. According to this constant, the universe expands at approximately 72 kilometers per second for every megaparsec of distance. A megaparsec is equal to one million parsecs, which translates to about 3.3 million light-years. This means that if an object is 3.3 million light-years away, it appears to be moving away at 72 kilometers per second due to the expansion of space.

The Hubble constant is derived from observational data, not from any mathematical proof. However, if you grasp the correct principles behind the universe's expansion, you can use mathematics to verify the Hubble constant. In my episode, “Hubble Constant—A Mathematical Proof,” I demonstrate that the value of the Hubble constant aligns with mathematical calculations, confirming that space at a distance of 3.3 million light-years expands at 72 km/second. This validation supports the expansion model used to determine the Hubble constant.

The model for calculating the Hubble constant shows that the starting point for space is the observer—essentially you. This is the same conclusion we reached in the earlier section - the starting point for space is the observer within you. Since each person has their own perspective, each individual mind projects their own universe, creating space and populating it with objects upon the spacetime fabric. Therefore, the mathematical approach to the Hubble Constant reinforces the idea that each observer projects their own universe

4. Applying Quantum Physics

Quantum physics emerged when scientists uncovered the dual nature of light, known as wave-particle duality. They observed that light could behave both as a wave and as a particle. In 1929, Nobel laureate Louis de Broglie extended this concept, demonstrating that all matter—not just light—exhibits this duality. This means that every object in the universe, from people and trees to cars and planets, possesses both wave and particle characteristics. In essence, everything around us, including ourselves, exists as both waves and particles.

To deepen our understanding of this phenomenon, Erwin Schrödinger renowned equation mathematically describes the wave aspect of wave-particle duality. According to quantum theory, the wave representing an object collapses into a particle when measured or observed. This process explains how a particle emerges from a wave.

The key insight here is that the wave exists before the particle. The presence of an observer causes the wave to collapse, resulting in the formation of a particle—indicating that the wave is the cause and the particle is the effect. As discussed in the episode “Quantum Physics and Vedanta,” these quantum waves are the same as mental waveforms, while particles represent the physical world we experience. The mental waveform collapses under observation, manifesting as the tangible world around us.

In summary, quantum physics suggests that the subtle, mental realm of waveforms precedes the physical world of particles. Our individual Awareness projects these mental waveforms, which then become the external world we perceive. This perspective supports the idea that each observer plays a role in projecting and shaping the universe.

5. The Structure of the Universe

The challenge lies in how we perceive the vastness of space. Typically, we think about space in terms of physical distance—whether it's a tree 100 feet away, a house a mile off, or a plane cruising at 30,000 feet. This way of seeing things is practical, but it tends to obscure the rich complexity of the cosmos. Many of the most fascinating aspects of space are hidden when we focus only on distance.

Instead, consider viewing space through the lens of time. If we measure how long light takes to travel from different objects to us, a new layer of complexity emerges. Suddenly, the universe reveals its deeper intricacies when we shift our perspective from distance to time.

For example, imagine you’re standing 100 feet from a tree, while your friend stands 600 feet away. Since light travels at 186,000 miles per second, it takes a tiny fraction of a second to reach each of you. For you, light from the tree takes about 0.1 microseconds to arrive, meaning you’re seeing the tree as it was 0.1 microseconds ago, not as it is at this exact moment. Your friend, being farther away, sees the tree as it was 0.6 microseconds ago. Even though these differences are minuscule, they mean that you and your friend are seeing slightly different versions of the same tree.

This may seem odd, but it’s a fundamental truth: anyone standing at a different distance from an object will see a different version of it, determined by the time light takes to reach them. This principle applies to all objects in the universe, so each of us perceives a unique version of reality. No two people ever see the exact same universe; we each experience our own projected version of it. This idea reinforces the concept that what we perceive is a projection, shaped by our unique position in space and time.

6. Memory Objects vs. Now Objects

Everything we perceive or interact with in our world is essentially a "memory" object—something we experience as already dated. What does this mean? Consider the sun: the sun we see in the sky is not the sun as it exists at this very moment, but rather as it was eight minutes ago. This is because it takes light eight minutes to travel from the sun to us, so our experience is always delayed by that amount of time. In other words, we see a "now minus eight minutes" version of the sun—never the true "now" sun, but always a sun that is eight minutes old.

This concept extends beyond the sun. No matter how close an object is—even if it’s just a few millimeters away—light still takes a finite amount of time to reach our eyes, meaning we always see a slightly outdated version. As a result, everything we observe in the physical universe, whether objects, people, animals, or other living beings, appears to us as memory objects. Incredible as it may seem, our entire sensory world is built from these memory images.

This leads to an intriguing question: Where are the true "now" objects? The simplest way to pinpoint the "now" location is to identify the point where light takes zero time to reach us. Using the sun as an example, if we could somehow see the sun as it was four minutes ago, the sun would be closer—at a distance where light takes four minutes to arrive. If it takes only 30 seconds for light to reach us from the sun, then we’d see a "now minus 30 seconds" sun. By following this logic all the way to zero, the "now minus zero seconds" sun would be at the place where light needs no time to reach us—essentially, within ourselves.

This realization points to the presence of an Observer within us—the aspect of ourselves that experiences things in the present moment. It's this Observer who perceives the universe, and for whom all "now" objects exist. In fact, this principle applies not just to the sun, but to every object and being in the universe. The entire "now" universe resides within the Observer. Take a moment to let this idea sink in—it’s truly awe-inspiring.

So, it becomes clear that the universe as it exists in the present moment is within us, projected outward as the memory objects we experience. In this way, all that we see "out there" is a projection originating from the now universe within us.

I hope you found this discussion thought provoking and convincing. We have demonstrated in various ways that there is not a single, objective universe existing independently "out there." Instead, every living being creates and projects their own unique universe. While this idea may be challenging to accept, it represents the true nature of reality. The only universe you can truly know is the one you project into the world; it is impossible to perceive the universe as others experience it. All that you encounter is a manifestation of the mind. Findings from quantum physics, mathematical proof of the Hubble Constant and other perspectives we have discussed here clearly show that traditional scientific teachings may be incomplete or inaccurate, and that projection of the universe is the underlying reality.

For this projection to function, subtle objects must come first, which are then translated into the physical forms we perceive. In the following episode, we will outline a step-by-step method explaining how the mind projects the universe we perceive.

If you’re interested in delving deeper into topics like this, we invite you to discover more in my book, Science Meets Vedanta, available on Amazon. Additionally, we offer a growing library of podcasts covering many different topics —feel free to browse through them at your convenience.

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