What do your teachings say?

Question

In physics they say we are 99.9% ‘empty’ space. Not empty as far as ‘nothing’ is there, but empty as far as no existence of matter.

This is an extremely important concept to understand in Buddhism. There are meditations and contemplations on the topic. You cannot become enlightened, or have any clear understanding of the world, without understanding this ‘Void’.

What do your religious teachings say about this idea of ‘emptiness’?

Answer 1

To be polite what does this empty space have to do with salvation of your soul? My religion believes that spiritual things such as everlasting life are more important than contemplating empty space.

Answer 2

In Islam... when you achieve 100% emptiness, you have reached God. The .01% you believe exists (even on a physical level) is illusion. At one time it did not exist (i.e. what was before the Big Bang?) and there will come a time when it will all be destroyed.

There is a belief in Islam that when God commences the Day of Judgment, an angel will blow a horn and all of creation will be destroyed. Nothing that ever existed will exist. God will be alone. Then God will call out: Who is God now? He will wait for 40 years for someone to respond. After that, God will answer His own question saying: I am The God. Then He will recreate the creation and resurrect mankind. Therefore, mankind and all of creation is temporal.

100%

There is also the belief in Islam that God created the universe but cannot be contained in the universe. However, God can be contained in a believer's heart -- a heart that is 100% empty of all that is not God (i.e. worldly desires and wants).

Answer 3

I study computer science, which gives me a background in mathematics and physics. That's not religion, but it is "teachings."

This "emptiness" you're describing is more or less a matter of definition. After all, how can you measure the "amount" of space between two objects? You can divide that space into infinitely small units and come out with wildly different figures. Also, there is point of reference to be considered: you can say that there is empty space between your face and your computer screen, but it's actually filled with trillions of particles you can't see or feel.

Continuing with such abstraction, if your point of reference is subatomic particles, you could surmise that there is empty space between them, but this space might actually contain something you aren't aware of.

Additionally, the space between such particles is large when compared to the size of the particles themselves, but altogether the net effect of their forces makes that space rather insignificant.

This space contains a framework for the actions of such forces as gravity and electromagnetism; as far as we know, very small particles can only be represented by fields--no one knows what they are or look like. If that space is said to "contain something", then so must space that accommodates larger fields!

I've studied lots of religions. I'm very fond of Hinduism, which I much prefer to Buddhism in a theological sense. As a jnana yogi, I would say that this emptiness you perceive is merely an illusion to distract you from realizing your oneness with the universe and, ultimately, God. This is one of many perceptions you face that separate you further from God (the supreme existence).

As a Taoist, I would say that emptiness and fullness are one and the same, and that the fact that you are yourself a solid object while at the same time filled with emptiness is an example of the perfection of the Tao. This is a very deep and important aspect of existence itself, and represents the mother of all things (even God).

Answer 4

Classical thought:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics

Just a place to start:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ppox/research/princeton.html

Check out Princeton University.

Answer 5

thats interesting, i dont think the bible even mentions that because its so out of date, but i do like to learn. if u have more info on this subject email me please, thanx best of luck 2 u

Answer 6

It might take a decade to realize how this is an answer to your question. It took me maybe two.

John 16

"I have told you this so that you may not fall away....I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.

"But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

"A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me."

So some of his disciples said to one another, "What does this mean that he is saying to us, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"

So they said, "What is this 'little while' (of which he speaks)? We do not know what he means."

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Are you discussing with one another what I said, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.

"When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

"I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

His disciples said, "Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God."

Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."