Conservation of Energy: A Few Logical Inferences

As a student of Buddhism, I have long pondered the possibility of Rebirth. In other words, the possibility of experiencing multiple lives/lifetimes.

After learning about and contemplating the logical implications of the Law of Conservation of Energy (Émilie du Châtelet, Julius Mayer), which states that "Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another," a few inferences arose that lend support to the possibility of Rebirth, Immortality and Eternal Relationship.

First off, assuming that modern physics is still correct, and energy truly cannot be created or destroyed, and knowing that we are all composed of energy...we, therefore, cannot be created or destroyed and have Immortality right off the bat. The thought is that we experience lifetime after lifetime, always changing form, but never truly dying. Even when so-called "death" occurs, the energy that comprises the particular form (i.e. a flower, or a human body) that is being experienced is not actually destroyed, it simply changes form. This aligns with the concept of a benevolent creator (granting immortality right off the bat) if you are a Christian...and/or/also aligns with the Buddhist take on Rebirth, which is that we take our births and experience what we experience based on our own Karma: our mental, vocal and physical actions. Karma simply means action. And the resulting fruits of said action.

In other words, there may be no need to strive for Immortality; we may already have it. Striving for the permanence or continuation of a particular form, for example the human body, is a valid scientific pursuit, but assuming energy cannot be created or destroyed, the pursuit of Immortality is unnecessary...overkill, we already have it. We simply change form from lifetime to lifetime based on our own Karma. Therefore, the theory is that because energy cannot be created or destroyed, the human form is simply one configuration of the indestructible energy that comprises the universe. This form and how it changes, is dictated by Karma.

Sequentially, this assertion depends upon all these being true:

1) The Law of Conservation of Energy must be absolute. This is the commonly accepted view of modern physics. However, this is just our current understanding. Perhaps, in the future, this law will be replaced by a greater understanding. Who knows?

2) The Universe must be a closed system. I am not sure if the universe is a closed system or if Deus Ex Machina, or an intervention of God is possible. Or if interference from other universes (if they exist) is possible.

3) We take Rebirth in various forms based on our own Karma (a commonly accepted view in the Buddhist tradition). Our mental, vocal and physical actions.

Assuming these are all true, it seems logical to infer that we are Immortal (always changing form, but never truly dying). Also, I've never personally been able to destroy or create energy, have you? By this, I mean synthesize energy from nothing...or obliterate dense energetic forms into nothingness. I don't think we can extinguish even one single particle into nothingness. I am not sure if it is possible.

That being said, I do live by the adage that "anything is possible," so I'm keeping an open mind.

This is an alternative worldview to the single-life hypothesis, in which we only live this one, singular life. I've long pondered why I am who I am, and why other people are who they are...I don't think that God has a random lottery that arbitrarily assigns different lives in a nonchalant manner...Karma is a system of experiential allocation that makes sense to me...we are allocated these different experiences, these different lives, conditions and events, based on our own past actions.

My intention in writing this piece is to take the pressure off a little bit...we have eternity to figure it out. We can all breathe. However, this does not mean that I am recommending we all take it easy or allow ourselves to slip into complacency. This is where the Buddhist side kicks in.

The Buddhist theory is that we take Rebirth in a variety of different forms, experiencing different lots in life based on our own Karma, until we reach Enlightenment, whereby we escape the cycle of birth and death. I have combined my study of the Law of Attraction with my study of Karma, and believe that we all have an internal counter, that registers all of the good that we've ever done and registers all of the bad that we have ever done. And everything in between. Then, based on this ticker, my theory is that we ourselves, attract what we believe we deserve based on our own past actions. For example, if I do something good...say, feed a homeless person, I have planted a seed of goodness within myself that comes to fruition at a later date, whereupon I attract the goodness that I feel I deserve based on my own prior positive action...hypothetically, I may attract an abundance of food for myself and my family.

Conversely, if I harm another...for instance, I steal their food...at that moment, I have planted a seed of harm with my own consciousness and at a later date, will attract what I feel I deserve based on my own prior negative action. Therefore, in this example, I will attract a situation where someone steals MY food, which actually gives me a chance to understand the suffering of the person who I stole from in the past. I believe we attract events that give us opportunities to understand the experience of the person that we've harmed in the past. Viewed in a certain light, this "negative occurrence" is actually myself attracting a circumstance that gives me an opportunity to learn and cultivate empathy, compassion and understanding. Thus, the negative turns of Karma are necessary and can be viewed as learning experiences, and in some ways, blessings.

However, if we do not learn the lessons contained within the suffering, the negative cycles will repeat...and they will continue to repeat until we learn the lessons that they are trying to teach. I always say that "the lesson will keep repeating itself until it is learned." Therefore, even though we hypothetically may have Immortality, that does not mean that we should live carelessly or become complacent. Now back to Energy.

The Law of Conservation of Energy combined with the Law of Attraction, in my opinion, form a strong foundation for the validity of Karma...therefore, mastery of Karma and how it works seems to be a useful pursuit. Even if we ARE Immortal, if we do not have a good understanding of Karma, and how it works...basically that we get what we give, then we may experience lifetime after lifetime of suffering. Conversely, mastery of Karma and its workings may lead us to lifetime after lifetime of joy, happiness, abundance and bliss until we finally attain Enlightenment and are freed from this cycle of birth and death, this perpetual changing of forms. Even for those who wish to stay in the cycle and keep playing and experiencing life and death, it is useful to master Karma in order to manifest the best reality for oneself, others and the entire universe.

This is where the Hypothesis of Eternal Relationship comes in. I believe that we are all in Eternal Relationship with one another. If energy cannot be created or destroyed, that means that we have all been in a state of energetic unity since the beginning of everything. Also, it means that we will be together until the end of everything. We are inseparable. In other words, we are in Eternal (Energetic) Relationship with one another. What we do to someone in this lifetime, may come back 97 lifetimes later. Therefore, I believe that doing good, and most of all cultivating the right view of reality - the first step of the eight-fold noble path - is the best way to ensure a good current life and plant seeds for the experience of goodness in future lives.

This also plays back perfectly into Karma. If we do good to someone, it will come back. If we do bad to someone, it will come back. Therefore, I encourage you to cultivate an understanding of how reality actually works...and then live your life based on that understanding. This will net you the best life possible. In my experience, Karma, at the level of conventional reality has always functioned unceasingly, precisely and unerringly.

Finally, a little fun proposition...if energy cannot be created or destroyed, and we are all energy changing forms, that means that energetically, we are all the same age. If it's all been here since the beginning of everything, which is what the Law of Conservation of Energy implies, that means we are all, energetically, the same age. I am the same energetic age as my Dad, and my Mom, and my Grandpa, and my Grandpa and my Little Brother, and my Dogs...very interesting. We are all as old and young as the universe itself. Basically, assuming this is a closed system, I am the age of the universe. And so are you.

To sum up:

1) The Law of Conservation of Energy is a solid foundation for the Buddhist Theory of Karmic Rebirth.

2) We may be Immortal already.

3) We are all in Eternal Relationship.

4) We are all the same age.

That's it for now! I would love to hear your feedback on these logical inferences. Please let me know if I've erred anywhere and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic. I have thoroughly enjoyed this mind exercise, and look forward to throwing these ideas around with you all!