Chapter 4-4 Law of Conservation of Energy
The term "energy" seems to be universally understood, but it is worth discussing from a scientific perspective.
Energy is a measure of the potential for changes in the spatiotemporal distribution of mass, used to denote the capacity of a physical system to perform work. We often hear this term in everyday life, generally referring to the ability of an object to perform work or metaphorically describing a person's activity capacity in a certain area, such as political energy or spiritual energy.
How is energy formed? It is generated by the internal motion or vibration of matter. From atoms and molecules to the movement of celestial bodies, everything is in constant motion and vibration. Einstein's teacher, the quantum physicist Max Planck, formulated a famous energy equation: E = hf (energy = Planck's constant×vibration frequency), which means that energy E is equal to Planck's constant multiplied by frequency. Using the wavelength equation we mentioned earlier,λ= v/f (wavelength = wave speed / frequency), the energy of each photon is E = hf = hv/λ. Electromagnetic waves (light waves) are a form of energy, with varying energies of different photons: the shorter the wavelength and the higher the frequency, the greater the photon energy, and vice versa.
Photons are the most abundant entities in the universe. Whether it is day or night, photons surround us, and with a simple clap of our hands, countless photons strike our palms. Any object with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15℃) and capable of releasing energy emits electromagnetic waves. The higher the temperature, the higher the frequency of the electromagnetic waves, and the shorter the wavelength. Thus, all tangible and intangible substances are formed by different periods of motion and vibration frequencies, resulting in various forms of energy. The different periods and frequencies give rise to different manifestations.
Let's revisit an introductory law from middle school physics: the "Law of Conservation of Energy". Wikipedia's first annotation when introducing this law is that it "applies to all fields."
The Law of Conservation of Energy is one of the fundamental laws universally present in nature. Generally, it is expressed as follows: energy cannot be created or destroyed out of nothing; it can only be transferred from one object to another or converted from one form to another. During this transfer or conversion, the total amount of energy remains constant. It can also be stated as: the change in the total energy of a system can only equal the amount of energy transferred into or out of the system. Discovered in the 1840s, it is remarkable that this law was independently discovered by more than a dozen scientists from five countries, all from different professions and fields.
The scientific community's further understanding of the "Law of Conservation of Energy" is embodied in Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula in the theory of special relativity: E = mc2 (where m is mass and c is the speed of light). This formula tells us that, due to the constant speed of light, mass and energy can be converted into each other. For every increase in an object's energy by △E, the corresponding inertial mass must increase by a certain proportion △m; conversely, every decrease in mass △m means the release of a tremendous amount of energy ΔE. This formula has been acclaimed as the "equation that changed the world", signifying not only that a relatively "stationary" object still possesses energy but also that a small amount of mass can be converted into a tremendous amount of energy. This laid the theoretical foundation for the utilization of atomic energy and the development of cosmology. (Figure 4.10)
Figure 4.10: Einstein and the Mass-Energy Equation
Einstein taught us that everything in the world can be expressed in terms of energy. Consequently, we can consider all matter as energy, including consciousness and thoughts. People in different industries, professions, educational levels, genders, and ages each have corresponding energy (or frequency). Often, people cannot perceive this energy, but it is always present, just like we live in the air without being able to see it with our eyes.
If the human spirit (or consciousness, soul) has energy, then it must also have mass.
The origin of the concept of a "21-gram Soul" comes from Dr. Duncan Macdougall, a medical doctor from Massachusetts, USA, who based it on the results of experiments conducted over 3 years with dozens of volunteers. His paper, "Hypothesis Concerning Soul Substance Together with Experimental Evidence of The Existence of Such Substance", published in the American Medicine in 1907, shocked the world. In 1987, Mexican parapsychologist Julian Malzaras released a photograph of what appeared to be a soul leaving the body at the moment of a patient's death, causing a stir and heated discussion in the scientific community. The photograph showed a white entity departing from the body at the moment of death. Parapsychologists explained that this was the "soul particle" leaving the shell, after which the body was just an empty vessel that would soon decay.
American Professor Robert Lanza also claimed that from the perspective of quantum physics, there is sufficient evidence to prove that consciousness messages continue to exist in quantum form even after the physical body ceases to function. In 2005, British psychologist David Fontana published a book titled "Is There An Afterlife?" (Figure 4.11) which reviewed systematic studies of evidence accumulated over the past 150 years regarding the afterlife. In 2020, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to British physicist Roger Penrose for proposing that the soul continues to exist in "quantum form" after death. This scientist had upheld the idea of the immortality of the soul for 20 years. In subsequent years, breakthroughs in the field of "Quantum Entanglement" have been closely linked to the Nobel Prize in Physics annually.
Figure 4.11: Simulation of the Departure of the Soul and "Is There An Afterlife?"
Here, it should be noted that scientists believe that the "soul particles" leaving the human body typically float in the air like duckweed on water, without an attachment point, appearing in a particle state (quantum state). Sometimes, these particles gather into objects visible to the naked eye, which are seen as "ghosts" by people. However, it is rare for ghosts to appear in photographs. Therefore, "soul photos" or "magnetic field" images found on the internet are most likely "post-production" creations, with very little credibility. This is because the quantum state of the soul cannot absorb or reflect light, making it invisible to the human eye, just as we cannot see magnetic fields or the "souls" (yin state) of all things in nature. The principles behind cameras or photographic equipment cannot capture or render these images.
However, what the camera cannot capture, the human eye may still be able to see. In the "Diamond Sutra", the Buddha discusses with his disciple Subhuti the abilities of "Five Eyes" (flesh eye, divine eye, wisdom eye, dharma eye, and Buddha eye) and "Six Supernatural Powers". These "Five Eyes" represent the stages of spiritual practice and the ability to observe the beginning and end of phenomena. Ordinary people do not have such abilities, but children or certain individuals with special abilities might be able to perceive the yin state of things.
Remember: the same dimension is true; a higher dimension is false. In other words, what is real in the same dimension is false in a higher dimension.
I once watched a video where a young monk asked his master about the meaning of life. The master replied, "When a clear spring flows, don't miss its sweetness; when flowers bloom brilliantly, have someone by your side; when wind and rain sway, have something to protect." These are the most real experiences of you in three-dimensional space and time. With our mortal bodies, every moment we spend in this world is absolutely real. All the harm and insult are piercing pain; all diseases and childbirth are excruciating; joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, separation, reunion, the various tastes of life, the six senses, the seven perceptions, and the eight consciousnesses, love, hate, and emotions—all these are deeply felt and cannot be more real! However, from a higher dimension, Buddhas see beings entangled in the cycles of "karma" from the "projection source" and teach people to transcend their roles, let go of attachments to "greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt" (refer to Chapter 12), and focus on the true meaning of this life to accumulate the energy for their own spiritual upgrade.
Similarly, when we leave this world, our souls leave the three-dimensional space, and we will see the yin state of ourselves and all things. There will be mountains, water, roads, and bridges. The living may dismiss these as "false" due to the lack of personal experience, but only in another dimensional space will we realize that spiritual entities also experience sorrow, pain, hunger, and satisfaction. Ancient texts such as the "Relentless Laws of the Netherworld", record the punishments in the underworld and hell for sinful spirits, repeatedly torturing them after they faint from pain, which is truly painful. Therefore, do not think that you cannot feel the suffering of the soul and act recklessly in this world. Do not think that the universe is unaware when you do evil deeds. It's just that you, currently in the three-dimensional space, temporarily cannot feel it.
