Changes

Most cosmologists today believe that the [[universe]] exploded into being some 13.7 billion years ago in a 'smeared-out singularity' called the big bang, meaning that space itself came into being at the moment of the big bang and has expanded ever since, creating and carrying the galaxies with it.  

Most cosmologists today believe that the [[universe]] exploded into being some 13.7 billion years ago in a 'smeared-out singularity' called the big bang, meaning that space itself came into being at the moment of the big bang and has expanded ever since, creating and carrying the galaxies with it.  

 

 

However, in esoteric cosmology expansion refers to the emanation or unfolding of steadily denser planes or spheres from the spiritual summit, what Greek mythology described as "Chaos", until the lowest and most material world is reached. As theosophist [[David Pratt]] emphasizes, at the midpoint of the evolutionary cycle, the reverse process begins: the lower worlds gradually dematerialize or etherealize and are infolded or indrawn into the higher worlds. Thus, outbreathing and inbreathing can refer to the expansion of the One into the many, and the subsequent reabsorption of the many into the One; not to any 'smeared-out singularity' and its subsequent physical expansion as postulated in the big bang theory. ''[http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dp5/cosmo.htm Cosmology and the Big Bang]''

However, in esoteric cosmology expansion refers to the emanation or unfolding of steadily denser planes or spheres from the spiritual summit, what Greek mythology described as "Chaos", until the lowest and most material world is reached. As theosophist [[David Pratt]] emphasizes, at the midpoint of the evolutionary cycle, the reverse process begins: the lower worlds gradually dematerialize or etherealize and are infolded or indrawn into the higher worlds. Thus, outbreathing and inbreathing can refer to the expansion of the One into the many, and the subsequent reabsorption of the many into the One; not to any 'smeared-out singularity' and its subsequent physical expansion as postulated in the big bang theory. ''[https://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dp5/cosmo.htm Cosmology and the Big Bang]''

 

 

According to [[Rosicrucian]]s, another difference is that there is no such thing as empty or void space.  

According to [[Rosicrucian]]s, another difference is that there is no such thing as empty or void space.  

<blockquote>"The space is Spirit in its attenuated form; while matter is crystallized space or Spirit. Spirit in manifestation is dual, that which we see as Form is the negative manifestation of Spirit--crystallized and inert. The positive pole of Spirit manifests as Life, galvanizing the negative Form into action, but both Life and Form originated in Spirit, Space, Chaos! On the other hand, Chaos is not a state which has existed in the past and has now entirely disappeared. It is all around us at the present moment. Were it not that old forms--having outlived their usefulness--are constantly being resolved back into that Chaos, which is also as constantly giving birth to new forms, there could be no progress; the work of evolution would cease and stagnation would prevent the possibility of advancement." [http://www.rosicrucian.com/rcc/rcceng11.htm The Genesis and Evolution of our Solar System]), 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0)

<blockquote>"The space is Spirit in its attenuated form; while matter is crystallized space or Spirit. Spirit in manifestation is dual, that which we see as Form is the negative manifestation of Spirit--crystallized and inert. The positive pole of Spirit manifests as Life, galvanizing the negative Form into action, but both Life and Form originated in Spirit, Space, Chaos! On the other hand, Chaos is not a state which has existed in the past and has now entirely disappeared. It is all around us at the present moment. Were it not that old forms--having outlived their usefulness--are constantly being resolved back into that Chaos, which is also as constantly giving birth to new forms, there could be no progress; the work of evolution would cease and stagnation would prevent the possibility of advancement." [https://www.rosicrucian.com/rcc/rcceng11.htm The Genesis and Evolution of our Solar System]), 1909, ISBN 0-911274-34-0)

</blockquote>

</blockquote>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Johannes Jacobus Poortman, ''Vehicles of Consciousness. The Concept of Hylic Pluralism'', The Theosophical Society in Netherlands, 1978

* Johannes Jacobus Poortman, ''Vehicles of Consciousness. The Concept of Hylic Pluralism'', The Theosophical Society in Netherlands, 1978

* Heindel, Max, ''The Rosicrucian Mysteries'' (Chapter III: [http://www.rosicrucian.com/rms/rmseng01.htm#Chapter_III The Visible and the Invisible Worlds]), 1911, ISBN 0-911274-86-3

* Heindel, Max, ''The Rosicrucian Mysteries'' (Chapter III: [https://www.rosicrucian.com/rms/rmseng01.htm#Chapter_III The Visible and the Invisible Worlds]), 1911, ISBN 0-911274-86-3

* H.P. Blavatsky, ''[[The Secret Doctrine]]'', Theosophical Publishing House, 1888

* H.P. Blavatsky, ''[[The Secret Doctrine]]'', Theosophical Publishing House, 1888

==External links (Planes' diagrams)==

==External links (Planes' diagrams)==

* [http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/planetarium/index.htm#15 Vedic cosmology - planetarium]

* [https://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/planetarium/index.htm#15 Vedic cosmology - planetarium]

* [http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/afterdeath/#2 Planes of Existence] - Spiritual Science Research Foundation

* [https://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/afterdeath/#2 Planes of Existence] - Spiritual Science Research Foundation

* [http://www.kheper.net/integral/planes.html Planes of Existence] - Kheper website

* [https://www.kheper.net/integral/planes.html Planes of Existence] - Kheper website

* [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/loka.html The Thirty-one Planes of Existence] - according to [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] cosmology

* [https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/loka.html The Thirty-one Planes of Existence] - according to [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] cosmology

* [http://spirits_quest.tripod.com/Genesis.htm Genesis, Planes of Creation, Positive & Negative Powers] - cosmology according to [[Radhasoami]]/[[Sant Mat]] teachings

* [https://spirits_quest.tripod.com/Genesis.htm Genesis, Planes of Creation, Positive & Negative Powers] - cosmology according to [[Radhasoami]]/[[Sant Mat]] teachings

* [http://www.santji.allegre.ca/planes-640.jpg “The Grand Scheme of All Creation”] - part of the [http://www.santji.allegre.ca/ Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Memorial Site] (a small Radhasoami cosmological diagram)

* [https://www.santji.allegre.ca/planes-640.jpg “The Grand Scheme of All Creation”] - part of the [https://www.santji.allegre.ca/ Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Memorial Site] (a small Radhasoami cosmological diagram)

* [http://www.geocities.com/santmat_mystic/ChartPlanes.jpg The creation according to Sant Mat]

* [https://www.geocities.com/santmat_mystic/ChartPlanes.jpg The creation according to Sant Mat]

* [http://www.geocities.com/santmat_mystic/Cat.pdf The inner planes of creation] (pdf) - a [[Surat Shabd Yoga]]/Sant Mat diagram

* [https://www.geocities.com/santmat_mystic/Cat.pdf The inner planes of creation] (pdf) - a [[Surat Shabd Yoga]]/Sant Mat diagram

* [http://www.mudrashram.com/GCC2.html The Great Continuum Of Consciousness] according to [[George A. Boyd]]

* [https://www.mudrashram.com/GCC2.html The Great Continuum Of Consciousness] according to [[George A. Boyd]]

* [http://www.rosicrucian.com/images/rccen001.gif The Material World a Reverse Reflection of the Spiritual Worlds] according to [[The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception|Rosicrucian cosmology]]:  

* [https://www.rosicrucian.com/images/rccen001.gif The Material World a Reverse Reflection of the Spiritual Worlds] according to [[The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception|Rosicrucian cosmology]]:  

** [http://www.rosicrucian.com/images/rccen002.gif The Seven Worlds]  

** [https://www.rosicrucian.com/images/rccen002.gif The Seven Worlds]  

** [http://www.rosicrucian.com/images/rccen006.gif The Supreme Being, The Cosmic Planes and God]

** [https://www.rosicrucian.com/images/rccen006.gif The Supreme Being, The Cosmic Planes and God]

* [http://new-ecopsychology.org/en/books/ecopsychology/eco-3.htm  Multidimensionality of the Universe] - based on the philosophy of [[Vladimir Antonov (scientist)|Vladimir Antonov]]

* [https://new-ecopsychology.org/en/books/ecopsychology/eco-3.htm  Multidimensionality of the Universe] - based on the philosophy of [[Vladimir Antonov (scientist)|Vladimir Antonov]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]