Past-present-future as one truth / An Ai Creation

Explore the profound parallels between Buddhist philosophy and the Block Universe theory from relativity, revealing how past, present, and future coexist in an impermanent cosmos, with insights on karma, time, and liberation.

Introduction

This article is not a direct comparison or equating of Buddhist philosophy with the Block Universe model born from modern relativity theory. Instead, it discusses how I personally understand the profound concepts discussed in the Block Universe through the lens of Buddhism, and invites you to reflect on your own thoughts about it. Moreover, this is not a physical science concept but a sharing of the universal phenomenon I have perceived through the deep core of Buddhism.

 

                     Destruction is not the end—it is the seed of a new beginning. / An Ai Creation


What is the Block Universe?

At first glance, it evokes notions of "determinism" or "eternalism." However, upon deeper examination, it appears that even within it, there is a beginning, existence, and end to something. Thus, both Buddhism and modern physics acknowledge the impermanence inherent in all things. Nothing is eternal—this profound philosophical principle is accepted equally in both fields. The Block Universe theory emphasises that the past, present, and future are not separate entities but coexist simultaneously in a unified structure. In this concept, "time" does not flow; the flow of time is merely an illusion of our perception. (My personal view is that time is the speed of the current dynamics of an object. Simply put, if an object is moving at a certain speed in space in the present, that speed equates to time.) I curiously ask, what is your opinion?

Time = The Speed of Motion of Something 

For Earthlings, 24 hours in a day is the speed at which Earth rotates on its axis. A year of 365 days is the speed at which Earth orbits the Sun once.

This Block Universe concept, aligned with Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, considers the cosmic script—from the Big Bang that birthed our solar system or galaxy, to the moment billions of years later when that galaxy or solar system is destroyed—as a single "block." It can be called the universal theory or reality. Sometimes, figures like Baba Vanga, Nostradamus, and Edgar Cayce—who could seemingly access some inaccessible space-time beyond what most can—revealed controversial prophecies about the past and future (perhaps because they had a psychic mechanism to access the past and future). Yet, even they were merely observers and proclaimers in the face of past and future events. What does this imply? I will discuss this in the section on Buddhist teachings.

Content Within a Block Universe

It states that everything considered as past, present, and future exists within this single block. Thus, from beginning to end, everything that happens already exists in that block right now. It's exactly like watching a video or movie. A movie needs a clear script, known as the screenplay. Then, filming follows the script. When you watch it, the beginning, middle, and end are already created in the script. Even though you're watching a pre-written script, it doesn't unfold all at once for you. You watch the "now" part—that's the present. But the past, present, and future are all contents of that videotape. The content of the universal block structure is the same. Your thoughts on this are extremely important.

The Scientific Background Underlying This Concept

This is not a fanciful story but a philosophical interpretation born from the mathematical equations and understanding of Einstein's relativity.

1. **Special Relativity**: Einstein showed that "simultaneity" is relative. Two observers moving at different speeds might see the same events in different orders. Thus, there is no universal "now." Your "this moment" and mine may not be entirely the same. For the same event, your "past" could be my "now," and someone else's "future."

2. **Spacetime**: According to relativity, space and time are not separate; they form a four-dimensional structure called spacetime. Every event can be described by four coordinates (x, y, z, t). In Block Universe theory, this spacetime structure exists completely and simultaneously.

Four-Dimensional Sphere**: We usually see the world in three dimensions (length, width, height). But according to Block Universe theory, our universe is like a four-dimensional sphere. In it, everything—your birth, the moment you're reading this message, and your death—has its own place (spacetime coordinates).

Paradoxes in This Block Universe or Four-Dimensional Universal Unit

From a personal perspective, is a being just a pre-written script? Questions arise: Is there no room for free will or independent thought? If everything is already happened and fixed, are our decisions truly free? If so, can we change anything we do? This leads to determinism. Some philosophers say your "free will" is already built into the Block Universe unit based on your character and experiences. That is, how you make decisions is embedded in this structure. Thus, you do make decisions, but they are already written in the spacetime universal unit. You might think this sounds like fatalism, destiny, or a similar philosophy.

          The karmic nature of the form that carries on action even though there is no 'I'/An Ai Creation

The Buddhist Theory on the Universal Block Unit

Western philosophy lacks a clear answer to who writes this universal block unit, but Buddhism provides a highly logical and accurate response: "You write your own script." Here, paralleling Block Universe theory, Buddhism says that if you create a unit according to the script you've written (modern karma), resulting in future consequences, neither you, I, nor anyone can change it. However, if someone doesn't write another script in the present (through ignorance, karma, craving), you can avoid creating another Block Universe unit and become completely free from the universe.

 

According to Buddhism, this Block Universe theory is not a great discovery or a difficult, mysterious concept to understand. Buddhism teaches exactly this. In physics, the three-dimensional universe of length, width, and height includes a fourth dimension—the speed of dynamics, or time. In Buddhism, time is impermanent. It reveals that nothing can be taken as permanently eternal in the distant past, unborn future, or the ever-changing present. More importantly, while Buddhism appears deterministic at first glance, its dynamism clarifies reality. Buddhism categorizes all material aggregates into eleven types, transcending the universal block unit.

From Abhidhamma

Past form, present form, future form, internal form, external form, subtle form, gross form, inferior form, superior form, distant form, near form—as described in the Dhammasangani Prakarana of the Abhidhamma. This means the material aggregate containing all these forms is a universal block model. It indicates transcendence of time, with beginning, middle, and end clearly stated.

The Role of Buddhism in Block Universe Theory

According to Buddhism, the Block Universe—or the sequence of recurring events belonging to past, present, and future times—leads to the phenomenon called suffering on a personal level. By neutralizing the energy that causes the next block in the ever-changing present spacetime, no such block or universal model will arise again in the universe. It emphasizes that the opportunity for this exists only in the rapidly changing "now" or present moment. One theory in Block Universe aligns with Buddhism's revelation: The past arisen with causes cannot be changed with reasons. The future arising due to prior causes cannot be changed. Yet, it emphasizes that karma can be changed in the present instant.

Energy Can Be Changed

The past with causes and the future arising due to causes are karma and karmic results. That is, the energy causing the next block (rebirth) is karma and craving. The Block Universe model produced from karma and craving is called bhava (existence), and its inevitable result is birth or arising, viewed from a personal perspective. Considering that matter and time are illusions arising in the mind, the mind is bound to a physical body, and the physical body is a model belonging to Block Universes, the arising of that physical body is from data aligned with karma accumulated in a previous block model. Its existence and cessation (death) are embedded in the block model governed by the initial causes of ignorance, karma, and craving—this must be contemplated wisely.

 

There Is Cyclic Motion in Physics Too

Both Buddhism and modern science accept that our solar system, including the Sun, will one day become stellar remnants and be destroyed. According to Block Universe theory, the Sun's end is already written on the day it was born. The remnants of our Sun and other planets will give rise to another solar system. This reminds us of the personal samsara cycle in Buddhism. The universal matter repeatedly rebirths due to prior causes. The personal samsara journey also creates next existences due to prior causes. Both align with Block Universe theory.

Analyzing Block Universe Theory from a Personal Perspective

According to Buddhism, a person's previous existence's ignorance, karma, and craving prepare a new existence. The being in that new existence is not the same previous person but one arisen from the karma prepared by that person in the bhava. It is a block model. Within it, birth, existence, and death are all prepared as past, present, and future. Examples from the Tripitaka show that nothing happening or destined in this spacetime can be changed by astrology or mantras.

1. **King Pukkusati** - Coming to hear the Dhamma from the Buddha, the Buddha, seeing his future, knew he would die in an accident soon. The Buddha taught him Dhamma to change his karma so he wouldn't prepare another existence before dying—because even the Buddha couldn't change someone's Block Universe model.   - Dhatu Vibhanga Sutta - Read here: 

https://www.bps.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima3/140-dhatuvibhanga-e.html

2. **Bahiya Daruciriya** - Insisting the Buddha preach Dhamma, the Buddha, seeing his future, knew he would die soon and taught him to change future karma.  - Khuddaka Nikaya / Bodhi Vagga / Bahiya Sutta

3. **The Weaver's Daughter's Story** - Samyutta Nikaya

4. **Sapta Suriyodgamana Sutta** - A sutta where the Buddha, seeing with wisdom the gradual expansion of the Sun's mass after hydrogen burning, leading to extreme heat destroying Earth and all planets, realized even a Buddha cannot prevent it, and preached the impermanence of all conditioned things.

All these suttas imply that while the Buddha could direct his mind to see the realities of past and future ends, he couldn't stop events in the universal script.

 

                Dhamma is a silent vision examining the universe / An Ai Creation

Conclusion

Block Universe theory and Buddhist philosophy, at first glance traveling from opposite sides, meet at the same profound truth in the end.

In modern science's four-dimensional spacetime continuum, past, present, and future all exist on the same line. In Buddhism's bhava concept, life spans flow one after another according to karma and corresponding results. In both philosophies, the entire dynamic of creation and destruction is compressed into the "now" moment. Every action and thought of ours creates infinite ripples in this flowing stream.

The Buddha's insight showed that while we lack the power to change the "script" already written and released into the universe, we have the ability within us to become the writer of the next script. That is, through peaceful, meditative, and wise actions in the present, we can reprogram the basic code of future existences. The Buddha's final conclusion was that if we don't write basic codes (ignorance, karma, craving) for future existences in every "now" moment, there will be no next existence for you, and you won't create another Block Universe unit with beginning, middle, and end. Clarifying this to the world, the Buddha declared:

"Repeatedly creating existences and repeatedly facing the suffering of change—rebirth is truly suffering. Thus, I wandered seeking the builder of this house (Block Universe unit) called the five aggregates. I didn't find him. But now I have seen that builder. You will no longer build this house of five aggregates. I have broken the rafters. I have destroyed the ridge-pole. My mind has entered Nibbana. I have attained the arahantship that ends craving."

In this sense, if Block Universe theory provides us a map of the universe's nature, Buddhism offers a guide to successfully navigate life's difficult terrain using that map. Together, they become a profound understanding that helps us face life's greatest puzzles.


What do you think about this? It is very worthwhile to do such research.

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Sources

- Dhatu Vibhanga Sutta: https://www.bps.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima3/140-dhatuvibhanga-e.html

- Bahiya Sutta: Khuddaka Nikaya, Bodhi Vagga (Reference: Tipitaka texts)

- The Weaver's Daughter's Story: Samyutta Nikaya (Reference: Tipitaka texts)

- Sapta Suriyodgamana Sutta: Anguttara Nikaya (Reference: Tipitaka texts)

- General references to Abhidhamma: Dhammasangani Prakarana

- Scientific concepts: Based on Albert Einstein's Special and General Relativity theories (no specific external links provided in original; standard physics resources apply)