Breaking the Mold: How Newtonian Physics Limits Our View of Reality

Chapter Twelve | Free One Million Minds: Breaking the Mold: How Newtonian Thinking Still Shapes

12/31/2024

Duration | 3 minutes 28 seconds
Guest: Dr. Symeon Rodger

synopsis

In this chapter, Dr. Symeon Rodger explores how our perception of reality has been shaped by a rigid, materialistic worldview rooted in Newtonian physics. He discusses how cultures steeped in spiritual traditions, which view reality as more fluid and interconnected, challenge this perspective. Dr. Rodger contrasts this with the Tibetan worldview, where death is seen not as an end, but as part of an ongoing cycle of existence. Through this lens, fear of death is replaced by a sense of continuity. Jamie Meyer references Robert Lanza’s Biocentrism, which offers an easier-to-understand explanation of the physics that supports these alternative views of reality, emphasising the interconnectedness of life and consciousness in understanding the universe.

dialogue summary

Dr. Symeon Rodger:
Every culture tells people how to perceive reality. And this is something we don’t often realise, but our culture tells us to perceive reality in a very rigid, materialistic way. That’s why people with spiritual ideas have been told for centuries, “You’re just fantasising. This is all unreal. You’re making it up.” Yet, the people who go deep into those ideas will say, “Actually, no, we have data. You just don’t like our data. You prefer yours.” That’s another story altogether. The fact is, we tend to live in a very materialistic perception of reality, which is, frankly, foolish.

And yet, other cultures that have not been so heavily influenced by the Newtonian worldview have very different ideas about reality. You can be with someone, inhabiting the same physical space, talking to them, and yet realise that they don’t interpret the space in the same way you do at all. To them, all of physical reality is very provisional—it’s there, but it’s really not. There’s an entire existence beyond that. It’s like the relationship between life and death.

We’re terrified of death, but cultures like Tibetan culture, which has been exposed to over 1,300 years of Buddhism, have a very different view. For them, death isn’t the end—it’s just a part of the cycle. One Tibetan sage, for example, said to a disciple, “You know that big encyclopedia I’ve been working on? I don’t think I’ll finish it. I think death is closer than I originally thought. So when I die, come and find my reincarnation. When I get to be about ten years old, remind me where I left off and light a fire under me to get going again.”

Jamie Meyer:
Right, leave a bookmark in the book.

Dr. Symeon Rodger:
Exactly. It’s this whole idea that everything is continuous, and there’s nothing to fear. We’ve been here before, we’ve left here before, and we’ll do it again. It’s okay. For those who aren’t deeply into subatomic physics, Robert Lanza actually wrote a book called Biocentrism, which offers an easier way of understanding the physics I’m describing here.

Credits Roll

References

Robert Lanza, M.D. – Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe
Originally Published: May 18, 2010
Google Search for Robert Lanza Biocentrism

Reading Recommendations

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach – Discusses how accepting yourself as you are, without judgment, is essential for self-growth and realising your true potential.