The Living Universe

by Duane Elgin

  Where are we going? Humanity is growing up and growing into the reality that we are beings of both biological and cosmic dimension. We are on a heroic journey of awakening—learning how to live within the deep ecology of the Mother Universe. Our journey of awakening and discovery has reached a critical stage. We now confront the supreme test of living sustainably on the Earth, in harmony with one another, and in communion with the living universe. If we can make the great turn toward home—if we can move from a path of separation to a path of communion and connection with our home, the universe, then humanity’s journey can continue to unfold. We can move into an era of reflection and reconciliation as a human family, then beyond into an era of deep bonding and restoration, and then into an era of flowing creativity. We have far to go and much to learn to complete our magnificent journey of awakening.

  We live in momentous times and the choices we make now will powerfully influence the future course of evolution on the Earth. In these historic times, a paramount task for the human community is to discover a larger sense of identity and vision for the human journey, one that can bring us together in a common enterprise. The doorway into a larger understanding of who we are and where we are going can be found by becoming more conscious of where we already are—living within a living universe. In discovering we live within a living universe, we open to the heartening knowledge we are one of her precious offspring, seeking communion with her depths. We celebrate that the living universe has a central project—growing self-referencing streams of life at every scale—and that we are one flowering of an evolutionary dynamic at work throughout the cosmos. In seeing the universe around us as alive, we consciously seek to grow that aliveness within ourselves. What a wonderful paradox: We get our bearings for the journey ahead by recognizing that we are already home.

  Chapter 9

  Living in a Living Universe

  Reading about the living universe and what it means for our lives offers one level of learning. A deeper and more powerful level of learning unfolds when we bring these insights into our lives through direct experience and shared conversations. To suggest a few possibilities, I’ve drawn themes from the book and placed them in two sections—meditations and dialogues. I encourage you to explore and expand upon these as a way to deepen your engagement with our living universe. For additional resources, see my website at www.awakeningearth.org.

  Meditations

  Ultimately, the goal of meditation is simply to relax into “ordinary reality” which, as we have seen, is quite extraordinary. Because the universe is alive, when we slow down, calm down, and come into the moment, we are opening into a subtle field of conscious alive-ness. Instead of striving to reach some imagined state of awakening, in meditation we relax the thinking mind, rest in the simplicity of the moment, and allow the miracle of a living universe to present itself in our direct experience. We don’t have to do anything. We are only required to be open in our experience—to be curious and awake to everyday life—and the first miracle of a living universe will become self-evident in our awareness. In that spirit, here are a few meditations drawn from this book that can support our awakening to a living universe.

  Imagine Building a Universe (see Chapter 1)

  Find a space without distraction and reread this section. In your imagination, feel yourself meeting the challenge of these building requirements. This exercise is not about understanding physics, it is about amazement and wordless understanding. Without words, feel the questions: What kind of universe is this? What kind of reality are we living within? What am I? Can I notice creation happening? As you go through the day, notice that the universe is not static but instead is a dynamic, evolving entity that is being continuously regenerated at every moment—and you are one of its manifestations that can know this because you have a capacity for reflective consciousness.

  Seeing Ourselves as Giants (see Chapter 1)

  Take the time to clearly visualize the cosmic ruler that runs from the largest to the smallest scale in the known universe. Take time to get a direct, bodily feeling for the largest scale with its millions of galaxies. When the immensity of the universe beyond us is felt, then turn your attention inward to recognize that an even greater immensity lies within. Feeling ourselves between these immensities, we see that our true size (relative to the scale of the universe) is vastly bigger than we thought. Regularly notice yourself as a giant. Experience that we have more smallness within ourselves than there is bigness beyond ourselves.1 Appreciate that, without close attention, we could overlook much that is happening in the realm of the very small.

  Opening to Our Invisible Self (see Chapter 1)

  The known universe is almost entirely invisible and is comprised of two unseen forces—one pushing the universe outward in expansion and another pulling the universe inward in contraction. If the overwhelming majority of the universe is invisible, then how much of ourselves is invisible as well? If we participate in an ecology of consciousness, how far does our aliveness reach? We are giants in the material scale of things and we are colossal when we include the non-material scope of our being. When we relax into our direct experience, we are opening into a field of aliveness that is boundless. Every situation provides an opportunity to explore this invisible aspect of life and to make friends with your “self” as both a biological and cosmological being.

  Looking into Space (see Chapter 2)

  We tend to take space for granted and focus on the material objects in life. Instead of looking through space, we can look into space and see the aliveness of the universe. Space is not a pre-existing emptiness but a dynamically constructed transparency. Space is filled with energy, activity, and geometry. The fabric of space-time is being continuously created anew. Look for the subtle, dancing alive-ness of that process. With soft eyes and a relaxed awareness, open to the energy and dynamism that shimmers within the fabric of living space. This is a wonderful meditation to practice when you can sit quietly, look out into an open space and receive its presence.

  Cultivating Reflective Consciousness (see Chapter 7)

  The first step in awakening is to develop our capacity for paying attention to ourselves as we move through life. Instead of running on automatic, we can gently notice ourselves in the mirror of consciousness as we go through the world. We can cultivate a witnessing consciousness as we move through the day. From our bodily sensations and emotional responses to our ever-changing thoughts—all are suitable for reflection in the mirror of consciousness. Without any need for change, our only task is simply to observe ourselves moving through life. This requires that we make friends with ourselves and become comfortable with our self-presence. In this process we are also making friends with, and relaxing into, the living universe. Each spiritual tradition has its unique vehicle for awakening to life by cultivating a reflective consciousness; among these are meditation, contemplation, prayer, chanting, yoga, and more. It is important to discover the approach that fits your life and to make a commitment to cultivating a reflective consciousness.

  Opening to Oceanic Consciousness (see Chapter 7)

  We all exist within the same ocean of aliveness and, with heartfelt attention and openness, we can become permeable to the subtle presence of this larger ecology of life. As the polarity of “knower and known” merge into a unified awareness, we enter the infusing ecology of conscious aliveness that is the living universe. A precise and calm attention is required to sustain this centered experience of subtle communion. In experiencing ourselves as part of a much larger field of life, the well-being of all life becomes a compelling concern. A powerful meditation is to practice opening to the direct experience of the field of life. It is to be awake without judgment and from a place of stillness and centeredness. Include all faculties for wordless sensing and knowing. Celebrate glimpses. Communion is priceless.

  Practicing Flow Consciousness and Reality Surfing (see Chapter 7)

  As we become familiar with the subtle ocean of aliveness, we find that it i
s not still but forever flowing into existence. In letting go of the witnessing self, we experience reality surfing as we ride the wave of the ever-arising universe. When our movement through life as free beings is in harmony with the flow of the arising universe, then there is a feeling of being with the flow. Although this description is simple, the practice is exquisitely difficult and requires the highest levels of concentration and relaxation. A starting point is the practice of mindfulness and learning to live in the present moment. With mindfulness, everything we do provides an occasion for an observing consciousness: driving, walking, playing, eating, or washing the dishes. Flow consciousness is no different, except that it elevates attention to a much higher level of precision, openness, and continuity, enabling us to ride the regenerative wave of the ever-arising universe.

  Recognizing Ourselves Before We Die (see Chapter 5)

  Our responsibility is to use this life to recognize and develop ourselves as a body of light, love, music, and knowing. Light is a fundamental building block of the universe; we are literally beings of light. Rather than take qualities and textures of light for granted, we can notice and taste these differences in our awareness. Try sitting with soft eyes and relaxed attention, receiving the presence of the surrounding light.

  We are also a body of resonance, or music. All that exists is vibrating with its unique resonance. We can listen for the hum of existence. In meeting another person, we can listen for the unique song of their soul. In each new situation, we can open to the feeling-tones and qualities of resonance people express. We can discover subtle feelings of harmony or disharmony and express our unique songline as we move through life.

  The aliveness at the foundation of the universe has a distinct quality that has been called love. We can cultivate our awareness of the feeling tone of life.

  Finally, each person embodies a distinctive orchestration of knowing that reflects our unique life experience. That knowing is not confined to our physical body; it also infuses the ecology of the universe and the atmosphere of existence. A core practice is to nurture a body of knowing that feels whole and congruent.

  I often pay attention to one of these four qualities of the soul as I go through the day, and then spontaneously select a moment to ask myself, “If I were to die at this very moment, would I recognize myself?” I look for a wordless answer to the question, recognizing that death is an ally for awakening to my most authentic self.

  Conversations

  Another important way to bring the living universe into your life is in conversation with others. The idea of a living universe generates seeds for many conversations. With a spirit of open inquiry, where there are no right or wrong answers, discussions can move into interesting and unexpected areas. To keep the conversation alive, it is vital to have a balance of voices and the curiosity to discover other points of view. The purpose of these conversations is not to persuade but to understand one another and ourselves more fully.

  I encourage you to dive into these conversations—in your home, at school, at work, in your blogs, and on the web. Consider inviting friends and associates to explore these questions in a conversation circle. For support of conversation circles go to my website (www.awakeningearth.org), where you can find writings on diverse topics, streaming videos, key links, online courses, and more. Here are a few of my favorite conversations on the theme of a living universe.

  Is the Universe Dead or Alive at its Foundations?

  This is a powerful question. Be prepared for strong points of view; people often have an immediate response. Some people view the universe as non-living at the foundations, see space as empty, matter as inert, and believe that we as living creatures have evolved from empty space and inert matter. “It is nothing more than fantasy and superstition to think the whole universe is alive.” Other people respond instantly, saying “Of course it’s alive, how could you think otherwise? It is incomprehensible that the experiences of awe evoked by the universe could arise unless the world around us is alive.” This book provides ample information with which to begin a dialogue that includes both science and spirituality.

  What Difference Does It Make? (see Introduction)

  How will our lives be different with one perspective versus another? What difference does it make if we think the universe is unconscious and indifferent to humanity or else aware and non-interfering? Would we act differently if we knew that our actions and intentions were forever woven into the invisible ecology of a living universe? Would we look at our personal lives and time on this Earth differently if we were to regard the universe as a living and learning system that supports our awakening, in freedom, to ever greater aliveness and creative participation?

  What Is the Life Stage of Humanity? (see chapters 7 and 8)

  This is a great question to explore.2 (See my website for a short video, ongoing survey, and writing on this theme.) There are no right answers, but there is often a very high level of agreement that surprises everyone. I begin by asking people to discuss the life stage of our species as reflected in our collective behavior. After five to ten minutes, I ask them to come up with a “social average” and choose among these four stages for the species: toddler, teenager, adult, and elder. An overwhelming majority of the groups vote that humanity is in its adolescence. Interestingly, the reasons given are much the same around the world. Then I ask them to consider a second question: What was most important for you in making the journey from adolescence to adulthood?—the premise being that what was important for you at a personal level is probably going to be relevant to the human family at a global level. This conversation reveals that, as important as, for example, a new energy policy may be for humanity’s future, even more important are efforts to awaken a new level of collective maturity that includes a more conscious relationship with the living universe.

  Where Are We on the Hero’s Journey? (see Chapter 7)

  Instead of viewing ourselves as villains who are destroying the Earth, can we see ourselves as evolutionary heroes? Can we regard ourselves as a pioneering species that is on an epic journey of awakening? Around the world, people understand the hero’s journey; it is a classic journey with three major stages: separation, initiation, and return. A powerful conversation can emerge by asking people where they think we are as a human community relative to these three stages. Are we still separating from nature? Are we encountering a supreme test and a time of species initiation? Have we already turned the corner and begun a journey of return?

  Are We an Observing Species? (see Chapters 7 and 8)

  How fully are we living up to our species name? Our name expresses our potential: we are Homo sapien sapiens, the beings who “know that we know.” We have the ability to reflect upon ourselves, to see ourselves in the mirror of our own consciousness. How well are we using our tools of collective observation and reflection—the mass media—to assist in responding to the many challenges of our times? To what extent are the media awakening us to the world and to what extent are they distracting and deadening us? If there were a great emergency and threat to the Earth, could we collectively “wake up” and have a shared conversation as a species? If you had a minute or two of air time on global television, what story or vision for our species would you want to tell?

  Are We a Cosmic Species? (see Chapter 8)

  At the heart of this book is the insight that we are not separate from the flow of the ever-arising universe. This reality is so subtle that it is difficult to discern or describe. However, as we develop a literacy of consciousness and the ability to pay attention, we can experience firsthand our participation in the subtle field of aliveness and our connection with the ecology of the universe. In turn, we recognize that we are beings of both biological and cosmic dimension. Do you think of yourself as a being of both biological and cosmological nature and scope? In what ways?

  Imagining Scenarios for the Future? (see Chapter 8)

  Combining the four preceding archetypes in different ways, we can construct scen
arios from promising to ruinous. As the culmination of a series of conversations, you could ask a conversation circle to integrate these four archetypes into coherent scenarios or stories about how the world will unfold in the coming generation. Are we growing up? Moving through our time of initiation? Becoming more reflective as a species? Recognizing we are participants in cosmic scale evolution? What does “progress” look like with different combinations of archetypes? How important is high-consumption materialism to visions of progress?

  How Can Simplicity Support Engaging Aliveness? (see Chapter 8)

  Many questions can reveal the value of simplicity in a living universe. Assuming we are immersed within a living universe, how can I bring more of this subtle miracle into my everyday life? How can I reduce the unnecessary busyness, clutter, and complexity that distract me from this ever-present miracle? How can I live with greater balance between inner and outer aspects of my life? How can the core areas of my life—home, diet, work, transportation—reflect my concern and respect for the larger ecology of life? How can I live undivided and whole in my relationship between my work and humanity’s future?