The Profound Shift Science Will Undergo When It Recognizes the Ultimate Nature of All Things.

How can we be sure that our understanding of ourselves, other and existence is accurate? Scientists claim to have probed the depths of the physical world, yet they rely heavily on sensory perceptions, often accepting their results as unquestionable. All known scientific discoveries and theories have been based on our current sensory data, but have these perceptions been thoroughly tested for their reliability? Shouldn't we question whether our senses might be deceiving us? And if there’s even the slightest chance they are, wouldn't it be irresponsible to continue drawing conclusions without investigating further?

Are Our Senses Deceiving Us?

Most of us perceive the world in a way that suggests each person possesses a unique and separate self. This is the universal experience: we see ourselves as individuals, distinct from those around us. But have we ever stopped to ask if this perception is accurate? Do we truly possess individual selves, or are we selfless and identical in essence to everyone and everything?

If this perception of separateness were true, simple science and common sense should easily confirm it. We should be able to find irrefutable evidence that each person is a singular, self-generated entity with an individual essence different from everything else. However, honest observation reveals something quite different with many benefits previously unattainable.

What Honest Observation Tells Us About Our True Essence.

Let’s take any person we perceive as possessing a self and examine whether they are truly a singular, self-generated entity, unique in essence from everyone else. When we search for such a person, we discover that no one is a singular, unchanging being. What we call a “self” is, in fact, composed of countless parts—limbs, organs, cells, atoms—that are not singular entities but made of infinite number of ever-smaller components also without a chance of being singular. From the body to the smallest particle of an atom, or even a quark, nothing is singular or exists independently.

Moreover, what we call the body, or its parts, cannot self-generate. Everything that exists is a product of something else, meaning that no part possesses an individual nature capable of self-generation. This applies universally: from quarks and atoms to entire galaxies, nothing exists independently of everything else. Each entity is reliant on external forces, and none is full of its own essence, but of everything else that produced it.

Before atoms existed, there were countless smaller particles, each a product of an infinite chain of ever-smaller parts, none of which had an individual nature of their own. Under the influence of universal forces, these particles merged and eventually formed what we now label "atoms"—the building blocks of everything. The atoms making up bodies today are the same ones that composed the first living cells billions of years ago. These same elements have cycled through plants, animals, and humans long before they were labeled as "me," "them," "animals," or "trees." 

An atom, like everything else, is not a singular, self-generated entity. No particle within it is singular or self-produced. There is no entity in the universe that is singular or independent, full of its own essence. If we trace our body’s lineage through countless ancestors, each a product of countless other forms we call “food”, we see that our bodies today are continuous expressions of an ever-unfolding process of life itself, one that has no singular beginning. This perpetual unfolding of nature produces everything, with no point of origin existing independently of all else.

Is the Mind a Singular Entity?

Just as our bodies are composed of interconnected elements, our minds are composed of fleeting moments of perception, thought, and feeling. Each moment is the product of the one that preceded it, and no single moment is a single moment as all moments to the shorter moment of consciousness are made up of an infinite number of ever-shorter moments without a chance of fixed unchanged moments that exist independently of the others. Like the body, the mind is not a singular, fixed, self-contained entity. Instead, it is a continuous flow of experiences that belong to the whole of existence, not to an individual self.

This flow of consciousness is constantly evolving and changing, shaped by countless conditions. There is no fixed "self" in the mind, just as there is no fixed self in the body. There is no fixed "self" that endures over time or is of a different essence from what produced it. The mind is composed of fleeting moments of perception, thought, and feeling, each influenced by the previous moment and by a multitude of factors. There is no enduring self that remains unchanged or separate from the causes and conditions that continuously produce it. Everything is interconnected—each thought, each experience is a product of what came before and what surrounds it. 

Often, we may feel as though there is an independent "self" that owns and controls the body and mind. However, if such a self existed, it would have to be separate from and unrelated to the body and mind—an external observer of sorts. In that case, the experiences of the body and mind would belong to something other than the self. But this is not our reality. Our experience is entirely bound to the body and mind, inseparable from them. We cannot step outside of this flow or disconnect from it as an independent owner would. The illusion of a self separate from the body and mind is precisely that—an illusion, unsupported by direct experience or logical observation. There is no self that can stand apart from the body and mind; what we call "self" is simply a product of the ever-evolving processes of mind and body, deeply intertwined with the universe itself.

The Illusion of the Self and the Reality of Interdependence.

The idea that each person is a singular, self-contained entity is not a fact but an illusion. It is a belief that has been passed down through generations, but it is not supported by the facts of life. In reality, no one possesses a self; we are all expressions of the same universal nature. 

The distinction we make between the cause (universal nature) and the effect (ourselves) is a false one. In truth, cause and effect are one and the same; the only difference lies in the labels we attach to them. We perceive ourselves as separate from the universe, but this is an illusion created by our minds. In reality, we are inseparable from the entirety of nature.

What Science Needs to Acknowledge.

Mainstream science has yet to recognize the ultimate nature of existence: that nothing is a self-generated, singular entity. Instead, all things are products of everything else. This truth challenges the way we currently view the world, but it is a necessary step toward a deeper understanding of reality.

When science finally acknowledges the interconnectedness of all things, the world will undergo a profound transformation. This realization will reveal that all living beings share the same universal essence, and that no one is separate from the universe. This shift in understanding will not only resolve many of our current problems but will also prevent future conflicts from arising.

The Path to World Peace and Happiness.

Recognizing the ultimate nature of existence is the key to achieving world peace, justice, and happiness. As long as we cling to the false belief in individual selves, we will continue to experience conflict and suffering. But when we accept that we are all expressions of the same universal nature, we will see that there is no "other" to fight against. We are all one.

By taking an honest look at the facts of life, science can lead the way toward a future where the illusion of separation is replaced by the reality of interdependence. This is the most crucial realization humanity can make, and it holds the potential to change the world in ways we can scarcely imagine. We hope science takes an honest look at anything and shows us a way to unimaginable happiness and peace we all crave but don’t know how to have it.

Big thanks to the editor Alexandra Sullivan.