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Hello Jason,

Civilisation is built by the ego for the ego. But for the 'mystic' it comes down to a choice between Self or self-concept. If the Self is our true identity, then the self-concept is our assumed or false identity. Those who have attained 'enlightenment' do not participate in civilisation, for they have transcended civilisation. Nevertheless, civilisation benefits greatly from what the 'enlightened' ones have to teach. Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Sai Baba are examples of 'enlightened' ones.

Let us leave it at that.

Robert

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I would also include Lao Tzu in that list.

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Robert: Thank you for a most interesting essay. I've always been intrigued by the unique nature of light and photons. While originally reading James Hartle's GR textbook "Gravity," I came across a passage that fascinated me: "The paths of light rays are straight lines in spacetime corresponding to the speed of light, that is, along null world lines ... The distance between two points along a light ray is zero!" It is frequently said that c can be considered not as a speed per se but as an equivalence, like the inches and centimeters on opposite sides of a ruler: one second of time is equivalent to 299,792 kilometers of length. John Wheeler wrote, "The numerical value of the ratio between the second and the centimeter totally lacks teaching power. It is a historical accident. Its occurrence in equation obscured for decades one of natures great simplicities."

As a subscriber of Wheeler's information-theoretic universe, I see the photon as merely the minimum unit of information ("it from bit") connecting two events. We are thrown way off course if we imagine photons as little bullets traveling through space, carrying information about the early universe for billions of years of travel. This is an entirely inaccurate conception of an object that doesn't experience proper time and does not have a reference frame.

Working from that idea, in my essay I propose a decoherence-based thought experiment to explain how we could observe classical features of the early universe "here" and "now," even if such classicality did not exist in that form "then" and "there." I think this position is somewhat audacious, but as far as I can tell it is not inconsistent with relativity or decoherence.

At any rate, I hope you get a chance to check out my essay sometime. Best of luck.

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    Hello Karl,

    I have read your essay, and also seen "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Of course you probably live in the wrong decade to write anything like that. Bring back the 60's!

    It would be preferable that my (audacious?) paper speak for itself. In your case it would ask: What is decoherence in the absence of Quantum Mechanics?

    Keep on rocking,

    Robert

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    Hello Karl,

    I was trying to bring some humour into this discussion. Please do not misconstrue that for cynicism. You raise some valid points. My essay does not deny phenomena, only the theories purported to explain them.

    Keep on rocking and thinking!

    Robert

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    Kalil Gibran,Herman Hesse,Siddartha Gottama,Jesus,,Gandhi,Lao Tzu indeed,Victor Hugo,Voltaire,you have read as many persons on this Earth....and so many universalists all over the world also.The real humility is with the Universe.The rest is vain, you can't say what you want, say that you know nothing or this or that...we are all uniques, precious, equals,....it's the real sense of the universality.You know on this Earth, it exists many persons who hope, dream,think,live simply...even some people who can't write or read,you can learn from these persons, if you understand that,you are humble hihihi.YOU CAN LEARN FROM A CHILD AS YOU CAN LEARN FROM A PEASANT OR FROM A BIRD AT MY HUMBLE KNOWLEDGE.

    Sincerelly,

    Steve, Human on Earth,from the milky way .....we turn thus we are.Humble star walkers...hihihi

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    Dear Robert,

    How does one transcend civilization? Should I quit my job? Abandon my cats? Leave my girlfriend? Live on the streets? Starve? Is this how we find enlightenment?

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    Personally, I like civilization; the more civilized, the better. I wish I could be more enlightened...and less grumpy. :-)

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    Hello Jason,

    There is nothing wrong with civilisation, for I would not have submitted my essay if I thought otherwise. Perhaps you interpret me as grumpy, however, I do not think this forum is the place to discuss 'non-physics' topics.

    Nevertheless, did Jesus leave his job and family, and live 'on the streets' with his disciples? Did Buddha leave the luxory of his palace to live 'on the streets?' Many go to monastaries. Some go it alone. Omly the individual can decide when he/she is ready to meet his/her maker, and since you are not an atheist I am bewildered you find that hard to understand.

    It IS my wish to be more enlightened above all else.

    Cheers from grumpy old,

    Robert

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    Hi Robert,

    What does it mean to be enlightened? I've had plentiful epiphanies. Yet, I keep bumping into the same problem; the laws of physics are stubbornly difficult to work with. In fact, maintaining financial health is difficult too (and stressful). I've pushed the limits towards grasping some kind of otherwordly power or simply knowledge. I think the essay I wrote is good stuff. The shift photon has run into an obstacle called conservation of energy. It is here that I wonder about the quest for power and the quest for technology. Is there more that is possible, or have we reached the upper limits of capability, either technologically or in terms of personal power.

    I may be guilty of seeking power that is not permitted for mere mortals. Yet I do wonder if such power is attainable by anyone? What does it mean to be enlightened? And how does that relate to power?

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    Hello Jason,

    You are very intelligent, that is obvious. Conservation of energy is a very tricky subject even in a universe presumed to be closed. How much trickier is it going to get if we introduce another 'mirror' universe of antimatter? Does that mean the universe is an open system, and if so what does that entail for conservation of energy? I am clueless, and could only speculate.

    My ignorance with respect to the details of my own theory precludes me from discussing the shift photon. That is why I said it may be ahead of its time. If there is no obvious physical objection to the shift photon, why not propose a detailed experiment, and providing it is not expensive you may even find an experimentalist willing to do it.

    The human race, in my opnion, has a long way to go before it has matured spiritually and technologically.

    Finally, here is a description by a modern Zen master of the Self:

    One day I wiped out all the notions from my mind. I gave up all desire. I discarded all the words with which I thought and stayed in quietude. I felt a little queer - as if I were being carried into something, or as if I were touching some power unknown to me....and Zzt! I entrered. I lost the boundary of my physical body. I had my skin, of course, but I felt I was standing in the centre of the cosmos. I spoke, but my words had lost their meaning. I saw people coming towards me, but all were the same man. All were myself! I had never known this world. I beleived that I was created, but now I must change my opnion: I was never created; I was the cosmos; no individual Mr Sasaki existed.

    That my friend is epithany!

    Cheers,

    Robert

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    Hi dear universalists,dear starwalkers,dear eternal brothers,

    here is a little poem in french,

    Miroitant, subjuguant, enfantant,

    Un cristal de lumière luit et enchante ,

    Vole sur les monts et Océans!

    Enfuis,tapis sous les tourments

    du premier jour et aprés mort ,

    naguère frappé ,fondu fût l'or....

    Avez-vous déjà aperçu un oiseau pleurer?

    O Cris! L'air ,le feu ,la terre, l'eau et ses milles secrets.

    Les roseaux ne plieront point! Triomphe sous les vents ,

    les peines effacées ,abreuvées ,le réconfortant ....

    Vole sur les fronts meurtris et ris !

    J'ai vu un oiseau bleu pleurer sous la voûte saine ,

    ses pattes serrées sur sa branche et ses étrennes .

    Blotti sur ses plumes d'azur ,une larme coule ,

    un moineau ailé tapi sous saisons qui roulent ....

    amicalement

    écrit un jour de pluie,jadis.

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    Hello Steve,

    Sorry brother but I do not speak french.

    While it is interesting to speak of things spiritual, we should be fair to FQXi and stick to what it would consider as physics.

    All the best,

    Robert

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    it's a passion, I love wrinting poems, theaters,films,....we write our hopes on the walls of townw.....viva el artists.....the writings rest, the speakings fly....

    Steve

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    The phsyics, the universality, the arts, the maths and all ...are purely linked.

    Ps it exists real universalits on this platfrom, and it's so essential,You Robert, Jason the creative,Stefan,Edwin,James,and so on.......the united of responsable scientists is important at this momment, simply for the creation of adapted solutions....of course the ideas of several are better than one, and of course it's difficult to turn off a big fire with one water drop, nevertheless a whole of drops makes Ocean........if one day I will success to create this UNIFIED SPHERE INSTITUTE,I will be happy if you can help us for helping our fellowmen, alone we are nothing after all.

    In all case I will tell you when I create it.I am persuaded you shall have very good ideas.

    Reghards

    Steve

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    Hello Steve,

    I thank you for your humanity. Your creativity is exemplary, as is your courage to communicate in a language not your own.

    It really does not matter who is right or wrong, what matters is that we grow in understanding.

    One does not stop asking question, one only changes the nature of the questions. I do not believe in organised religion, but I do believe in personal experience.

    You my friend have much to contribute to the human race. Keep building bridges to bring the people of this world closer. Use your creativity to open the eyes of others. I am flattered you consider me capable of helping you, but in my opinion you seem to be doing just fine as you are. Nevertheless, I will help you if I can.

    Keep well brother,

    Robert

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    Dear Reader,

    A brief summary of my essay.

    At the end of the 19th century we find four theories constituting Classical Physics: Newtonian Mechanics, Maxwell's Equations, Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. Whilst the 20th century left us with Einstein's Relativity theories (Special and General) and Quantum Mechanics.

    The derivation of 'the Light' given in my essay demonstrates the following:

    1) What remains of Maxwell's (wave) Equations is the constant c.

    2) Special Relativity did not go far enough.

    3) The advent of General Relativity was premature.

    4) Quantum Mechanics could have been avoided.

    Einstein's Relativity theories undermine the foundations of Newtonian Mechanics. When 'the Light' is used to derive the 'Equivalence Identity' all that remains of Newtonian Mechanics is the constant G. The two foundations imply a theory of 'General' Relativity without the loose ends. Further, the absence of mass implies the Higgs field is superfluous, and thus 'the Light' has implications for the standard model of physics.

    For those who appeal to the empirical evidence, I should stress that I do not deny phenomena only the theories purported to explain them.

    Thus there is only Relativity, and the two remaining Classical theories of Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. If we assume the Bekenstein-Hawking formula is consistent with Relativity, then we can subsume those two remaining Classical theories to leave Relativity alone.

    A theory collapses if its foundations are undermined. What is lacking in my 'theory' are details, and thus it is easier to undermine 'the Light' and 'Equivalence Identity', and if that is not possible then to build upon these foundations.

    Therefore I appeal to you to answer the question: Is Relativity the Holy Grail of Physics?

    Robert

      Hi Robert,

      Thank you for your words of wisdom from the other day. I guess I don't want to give up desire; particularly when it comes to something that can have lasting benefits to everyone. I find that my ideas are like place holders. In fact, my place-holders (Photon Theory, shift photons, wave-functions that describe both particles and space-time itself), these place-holders are correct and are logically sound to the degree that they are descriptive. The Higgs field is supposed to explain why particles have mass. I've already said that particles are wave-function clusters with photons trapped inside. The Higgs field would really be the wave-function clusters. But physicists are expecting to find a Higgs boson particle. There current understanding is not correct (or they would have measured the Higgs boson).

      Some physicists have also confused space-time (time dilation) with an opportunity to time travel. But time travel is impossible; instead, causality is upheld and is most fundamentally transmitted by photons.

      I really wish that I could be more spiritual and desire-less. But I don't want to be cloud that flows with the wind. I want to be the storm, the hurricane or tornado that changes how people think...about physics.

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      Hello Jason,

      My paper represents a radical depature from physics as we have known it, only because QM was on a misguided path away from the natural progression of physics pursued by Einstein. Therefore I cannot comment on any theory that uses QM in any way.

      What is important, however, is that we are all growing, each in their own way.

      Cheers,

      Robert

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      Hi Robert,

      Sorry, I have to disagree with you about wave mechanics. In fact, it's all waves! It's funny that the New Agers "tuned" to this idea before everyone else; with there good and bad "vibes". Anyway, it's all waves. I'm currently trying to figure out if the Einstein equations can be modeled using dampened longitudinal gravity waves.

      I try.