Brahman, Shunya, and Cosmological Origins: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Consciousness in Indian Philosophy and Modern Physics

Abstract

Issues regarding consciousness, cosmological origins, and ultimate reality have preoccupied both philosophical and scientific thought for many years. The philosophies of India, especially that of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Advaita Vedanta philosophy, formulated highly advanced metaphysical systems revolving around ideas like Brahman, Shunya, Maya, and consciousness. Modern physics and cosmology, via the evolution of relativity, quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, and cosmology, have done the same regarding the nature and origin of the universe. In this research, interdisciplinary philosophical analysis is done on certain concepts of Indian metaphysics as well as those of modern physics so as to compare the approaches that both have in terms of understanding reality, creation of cosmos, and consciousness. Qualitative concept analysis and comparison have been used to investigate similarities between the metaphysical concepts of Brahman and scientific unification, Shunya and quantum vacuum, Maya and perceptual limits, and consciousness-centred metaphysics and consciousness theories. This study does not intend to scientifically validate any ancient philosophical principles or equate metaphysical concepts to scientific concepts. Rather, it addresses common philosophical preoccupations concerning issues such as unity, emergence, manifestation, and consciousness itself. The thesis suggests a cosmological interpretation grounded on consciousness as a means for philosophical discourse across multiple disciplines and makes contributions to debates about Indian philosophy, consciousness studies, comparative metaphysics, and cosmology.