According to Yoga Shastra ether is not a nullity but a hidden noumenon of all things. It is a subtler state of space referred to in Esoteric philosophy as the Fifth dimension. Ether is described as containing an infinite amount of potential energy and as the source of various kinds of vibrations, especially those of sound and light which are the bases of the created universe. Divine sound or word gives the impulse to creation and the light condenses into matter as modern science has proved. This ether continuously supplies energy by which the universe is evolved and maintained.
Moreover ether is the divine screen reckoned as a permanent picture where every thought, word and need of any individual is indelibly impressed in this enigmatic medium. The wholeness of past, present and future is contained in its imperishable tablets which can be read by great Adepts who often speak of Akashic Records.
Among the moderns, H. C. Dudley is the first to speak of the ether as an energy of subs-quantic medium composed of extremely small neutral particles called neutrions, pervading all fields and interpenetrating all living matter. The notion of an ether as a medium existing in all states is a scientific necessity to account for the real model of an atom. On this basis a new conceptual model of the atom is required, to explain the entire atom as the basic unit system rather than reaction involving essentially mass/energy changes of only the nucleus.
The modern development of etheric concept began in 1951 when Paul Direc wrote an article with the title, “Is there an ether?”, he forthwith stated that ether does exist essentially as an all pervasive sea of neutrions in random motion.
In contrast with these discoveries nuclear science assumes that empty space is needed free of mass and free of charge. It is this assumption that makes it diametrically opposite to the new astronomy. On this basis there is a battle of ideas going on between astrophysics and the nuclear physics. With the mass of new evidence gained from the outer space, the case for the astrophysics becomes increasingly stronger.
Einstein says that relativity requires an energy free of mass and free of charge. Relativity assumes that there is no ether, no nuetrions, nosubs-quantic medium. Likewise Quantum mechanics maintain that the inter-actions of sub-nuclear particles and atoms take place in places which are free of energy and free of mass. These two systems of theory which govern the thinking of the modern nuclear physics relativity and quantum mechanics require absence of ether. These two theories suit the physical frame of the material universe which is a four dimensional space-time continuum. But they miserably fail to explain the Psi phenomena which occur in the etheric medium that is truly the Fifth dimension in space according to Esoteric knowledge. H. C. Dudley observed, “when Einstein’s famous equation E = MC2 Was first proposed, it was considered an interesting speculation, not a proven theory. But it is difficult to disprove the equation. It is true that ether did not enter into the composition either of relativity theory or of Quantum mechanics. But it is equally true that both the theories explain the physical phenomena in a sound manner. James Jeans in his the ‘Mysterious Universe’ says thus: “The outstanding achievement of 20th century physics is not the theory of relativity with its welding together of space and time or the theory of Quantum with its apparent negation of the laws of causation or the dissection of the atom with the resultant discovery that things are not what they seem. It is a general recognition that science has not yet been in contact with ultimate reality.” If we concede to the sayings of James Jeans the whole 20th century physics falls to the ground. We must bear in mind that physics and metaphysics are the two aspects of the same reality. There is no hard and fast demarcation between the two. Since physics is an aspect of reality it exists in its own right. In the physical realm all these theories hold good and serve well and wisely the purpose of the material universe. Events separated by an intervening event must be distinctive, they cannot overlap. While a physical representation of synchronicity eluded Yung, he found an explanation of his causal principle in the Eastern way of the Tao.
The range of Psi phenomena is vast and varied. The range embraces astral traveling, self auto-suggestion, hypnosis, shape shifting, physical invisibility, levitation, control of physical, etheric and astral matter, bi-location ( physically appearing in two places at the same time.), psychic surgery, psychic dentistry, teleportation, materialization, dematerialization, psycho-kinesis, psycho-tronics, personal magnetism, the conscious or involuntary use of magnetic or electro-static fields associated with the physical form causing so called non-physical events to occur such as starting or stopping watches or clocks causing noticeable energy, changes in radio, electronic and sound equipments.
The Psi phenomena do not happen in the material universe of the four dimensional space-time continuum, but they occur in the cosmic psi scale, the happenings of which resulted in the rediscovery of cosmic consciousness. The treatment of cosmic consciousness has been the constant theme of Indian Philosophy from ages past. Cosmic consciousness is known as Mahat and its realm is known as Maharloka – the world or plane of large consciousness which is the connecting and co-ordinating link between the lower half of nature and the higher half of the nature.
Here it is apt to remember that it is clearly arbitrary to divide nature into the domains leveled physical space-time, non-physical space-time, non-space, non-time. In the near future science is prone to find that there is only one energy which has manifold expressions depending on the state of consciousness which interact with the energy. This is an old truth which Yoga has discovered long ago and again it is Yoga that has reached the level of consciousness where unity can be seen and realized.
Scientists like Toben, Sarafatti and Wold opine that all is consciousness. Consciousness is identified with the hidden variable that restores continuity to the processes so that the next level up hierarchy is produced. Thus the secret thread with which plural realities are sewn together is consciousness and that consciousness is at the root of universe.
Here we may recollect the statements made by William A. Tiller. He likens conventional scientific understanding of the universe to the visible tip of iceberg. We know that tip very well but like iceberg most of the nature is still hidden from us. He has suggested some fascinating possibilities about the hidden iceberg or the hidden side of nature.
1)From experiments on telepathy, psycho-kinesis, astral traveling and clairvoyance, it is learnt that there are new fields of energy completely different from those known to us via conventional sciences.
2) The universe seems to be organized and radiates information in other dimensions than the physical space-time frame with which we are familiar. From experiments on P.K., radionics, materialization and dematerialization etc., the cause-effect relationship seems to follow a different line than we are accustomed with in the conventional space-time frame of reference.
3) At some level of the universe we are all interconnected to each other and to other things on this planet.
4) Time, space and the mass are deformable i.e. they are not as immutable and confining as we have tended to think.
5) A biological transformation seems to be taking place in humanity at this point. From observation of rapid rise of endocrine defunction i.e. hypoglycemia in humans, new energies appear to be circulating in mankind, man seems to be voyaging into a new world of perception but does not yet have reliable tools to cope with this apparently new environment. Here we would like to say that the new world of perception opens up suprasensible realm which eludes the grasp of conventional science.
These suggestions made by William A. Tiller simply confirm and strengthen the standpoint of Yoga. Yoga studies the hidden side of nature. Philosophically the cosmic mind is immanent in nature. Yoga not only studies this cosmic mind but unravels the network of supra-mental faculties. This plane of the cosmic mind, Mahat or super-mind is described as the cosmic medium which is beyond the plane of normal, sensual perceptions yet interpenetrating and binding up the material world. It is the arche typal word which is identical with yesod of the Kabalah and the perfect land of the old Egyptian religion in which the true or spirit forms of all created things are held to exist. In the words of philosophy, it is a plane of eternal objects which or entering into the flux of events, confer upon the physical world the characteristics which it is seen to possess.
Next, the supra-mental plane is regarded as constituting the cosmic memory where the images of all beings and events are preserved as they are preserved in the memory of the individual. There the concepts of future creation are present in their completeness, in the eternal now. On this theory prophesy i.e. to read the past and future is possible only if the eyes of mind open upon the supra-mental plane. There is a cosmic memory at the root of all growth and progress which is an informing and sustaining principle in the process of evolution. The sensuous memory of man is fickle and ephemeral but the cosmic memory which is inherent in all life is infallible in its reproduction of experiences.
Last, this plane is regarded as cosmic agent which connects soul with soul since all beings live and move there in an ineffable completeness and unalterable oneness. In this plane which is arche type of material world is the Logos or Prajna who is the locus of all souls. That prajna or cosmic intelligence is a power of effective will and intuitive knowledge, always apparent in its unfailing works and spontaneously perfect in every process. In this plane all meet the Atman and are so entirely one with the Atman that by merely being in contact with it one can known everything about it. Prajna is conscious in things unconscious, active in things inert. The energy of prajna is what we call nature. The tree does not and cannot shape itself, the stress of the hidden intelligence shapes it. That is why the Yogi sees the stress of the hidden spirit in all things.
The principle of Yoga Philosophy are as follows: the first of which is the recognition of the universal soul which is at once static and dynamic, personal and impersonal. The second principle is that there is an unbroken continuity of life, represented by various orders of beings of which the individual is only a unit. The third principle is that there is an unbroken line of communication through all these orders so that at whatever stage the individual may be, he will find the possibility of communicating with the individuals whether incarnate or disincarnate who represent a further stage than that which he himself has attained. Thus in principle we are bound to believe in Masters, initiates and higher beings in an unbroken line up to the Logos himself.
Yoga is neither a magic nor a witchcraft, it is not even a mesmerism nor a hypnotism. But it is a sustained and all comprehending effort at spiritual self-evolution, at self-knowledge or the knowledge of self working in and through all the seven levels of consciousness ranging from the material to the spiritual. In Yoga, matter is not an illusion but it is a foot-stool for ascending to the spiritual heights where matter and spirit are the first and the last terms of life.