Conceptions of Space and Time

Conceptions of Space and Time

In a remarkable passage of the Upanishads(ancient Indian philosophy) we read :

"All this , whatsoever moves in the Universe, is to be enveloped in the Self "

        The nature of Universe is to move, to change. But how do we perceive these changes? A movement exists in time. How do we get our conceptions of space and time ?

The ordinary theory is that we become aware that a thing which is near us is moving awy, and when that happens we perceive a movement in time in space. Again, when we experience that one thing follows another either in the same or another space, we get our sense of time, our ideas of now, earlier, later, present, past or futhur. Consider the pendulum of an old-fashioned clock which we see moving in space from one position to another, one movement following the other. The number of periods ( clock-time ) elapsed seves as a measure of time.

The modern theory of relativity, which many of us talk about but which few seem to understand, has effected a fundamental change in the scientific conception of space and time. In the words of the great scientist, Minkowski :

"From henceforth space in itself and time in itself sink into mere shadow, and only a kind of union between the two preserves an independent existence. Every event that happens in the world is determined by the space co-ordinates X, Y, Z, and time co-ordinate T. Thus physical dimensional right from beginning, "

Whatever it is , this measuring of outside events in terms of space and time is possible because of the sense of space and time we have in our mind. The objects we perceive is space have length,breadth, and thickness; change and movement arise in time, rest in time, and disappear in time. But if the sense of time and time exists only in ourselves, something must be done to enable us to rise above this limitation if we want to know the Reality.

Here some subtle questions arise :  Is it possible for us to have any conception of space without at least an indefinite idea of something beyond space?  Whenever we think of space there is also the idea of infinity, and when we talk of time there is the idea of timelessness.  Without these we cannot know anything.

The Hindu philosopher asks: How can we have any idea of movement or change?  And thus arrive at the conception of the Absolute, which is infinite, changeless, eternal. Hence they Declares :

"The Self is not born, nor does it die.  It has not come into being from anything.  This unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient One suffers no distractions with his seeming destruction of matter."*

(Katha Upanishad,II: 18.)