I’m an astrophysicist so it probably won’t surprise you that I want to talk
won’t surprise you that I want to talk
won’t surprise you that I want to talk about science but what I mean by that
about science but what I mean by that
about science but what I mean by that probably will surprise you I won’t be
probably will surprise you I won’t be
probably will surprise you I won’t be showing any equations so you can relax I
showing any equations so you can relax I
showing any equations so you can relax I won’t be referring to the periodic table
won’t be referring to the periodic table
won’t be referring to the periodic table or even highlighting any of the
or even highlighting any of the
or even highlighting any of the technology that science has made
technology that science has made
technology that science has made possible
possible
possible all those things are important but I
all those things are important but I
all those things are important but I want to emphasize something very
want to emphasize something very
want to emphasize something very different I’d actually like to focus on
different I’d actually like to focus on
different I’d actually like to focus on you Blandy each of us each of you and
you Blandy each of us each of you and
you Blandy each of us each of you and your relationship to yourself to your
your relationship to yourself to your
your relationship to yourself to your friends and family and the person
friends and family and the person
friends and family and the person sitting next to you to all the people in
sitting next to you to all the people in
sitting next to you to all the people in your life and to the rest of Earth and
your life and to the rest of Earth and
your life and to the rest of Earth and the universe as a whole science can
the universe as a whole science can
the universe as a whole science can teach us something that transcends
teach us something that transcends
teach us something that transcends technical intellectual knowledge it can
technical intellectual knowledge it can
technical intellectual knowledge it can teach us something about our experience
teach us something about our experience
teach us something about our experience that transforms that experience in our
that transforms that experience in our
that transforms that experience in our awareness of who we are and what we’re
awareness of who we are and what we’re
awareness of who we are and what we’re capable of I’ve been teaching astronomy
capable of I’ve been teaching astronomy
capable of I’ve been teaching astronomy in physics for over 20 years to a wide
in physics for over 20 years to a wide
in physics for over 20 years to a wide range of audiences from grade school
range of audiences from grade school
range of audiences from grade school kids to graduate students to the general
kids to graduate students to the general
kids to graduate students to the general public and throughout that time I’ve
public and throughout that time I’ve
public and throughout that time I’ve noticed a kind of contradiction on the
noticed a kind of contradiction on the
noticed a kind of contradiction on the surface I’m teaching specific technical
surface I’m teaching specific technical
surface I’m teaching specific technical knowledge and yet that’s not really the
knowledge and yet that’s not really the
knowledge and yet that’s not really the heart of the message I’m trying to
heart of the message I’m trying to
heart of the message I’m trying to convey it’s not what motivates me to
convey it’s not what motivates me to
convey it’s not what motivates me to teach and what students seem to resonate
teach and what students seem to resonate
teach and what students seem to resonate most deeply with know the core value of
most deeply with know the core value of
most deeply with know the core value of the science I teach is something that
the science I teach is something that
the science I teach is something that happens kind of in the spaces between my
happens kind of in the spaces between my
happens kind of in the spaces between my words between equations are right on the
words between equations are right on the
words between equations are right on the chalkboard between the laws and the
chalkboard between the laws and the
chalkboard between the laws and the theories that we study all those things
theories that we study all those things
theories that we study all those things are just pointers to help us see
are just pointers to help us see
are just pointers to help us see something much deeper that can’t be
something much deeper that can’t be
something much deeper that can’t be directly expressed in words or equations
directly expressed in words or equations
directly expressed in words or equations so let me give you an example that I
so let me give you an example that I
so let me give you an example that I hope will enable us to actually feel
hope will enable us to actually feel
hope will enable us to actually feel this experience together rather than you
this experience together rather than you
this experience together rather than you just listening to me talk about the
just listening to me talk about the
just listening to me talk about the experience so close your eyes for a
experience so close your eyes for a
experience so close your eyes for a moment and turn your full awareness to
moment and turn your full awareness to
moment and turn your full awareness to what it feels like
what it feels like
what it feels like internally to be you right now are you
internally to be you right now are you
internally to be you right now are you tired or hungry joyful bored
tired or hungry joyful bored
tired or hungry joyful bored anxious are worried about something
anxious are worried about something
anxious are worried about something maybe just curious to find out what I’ll
maybe just curious to find out what I’ll
maybe just curious to find out what I’ll say next sift through whatever stories
say next sift through whatever stories
say next sift through whatever stories you’re telling yourself in words about
you’re telling yourself in words about
you’re telling yourself in words about what’s happening in your life and try to
what’s happening in your life and try to
what’s happening in your life and try to get to the heart of the direct
get to the heart of the direct
get to the heart of the direct experience of being you what does it
experience of being you what does it
experience of being you what does it feel like does it have a color a smell a
feel like does it have a color a smell a
feel like does it have a color a smell a taste a texture
taste a texture
taste a texture perhaps a sound when you feel immersed
perhaps a sound when you feel immersed
perhaps a sound when you feel immersed in the experience of Yunus open your
in the experience of Yunus open your
in the experience of Yunus open your eyes and look around the room at all the
eyes and look around the room at all the
eyes and look around the room at all the other people here with you make eye
other people here with you make eye
other people here with you make eye contact if you can maybe go on a limb
contact if you can maybe go on a limb
contact if you can maybe go on a limb and smile acknowledge them acknowledging
and smile acknowledge them acknowledging
and smile acknowledge them acknowledging that although everyone’s experience is
that although everyone’s experience is
that although everyone’s experience is different in some ways we all have very
different in some ways we all have very
different in some ways we all have very much in common there’s something it’s
much in common there’s something it’s
much in common there’s something it’s like to be each person something not
like to be each person something not
like to be each person something not that different from what it feels like
that different from what it feels like
that different from what it feels like to be you now expand your awareness out
to be you now expand your awareness out
to be you now expand your awareness out beyond just the people in this room to
beyond just the people in this room to
beyond just the people in this room to our larger community of more than 7
our larger community of more than 7
our larger community of more than 7 billion humans and all the other beings
billion humans and all the other beings
billion humans and all the other beings with whom we share this planet hold this
with whom we share this planet hold this
with whom we share this planet hold this all in your awareness as concretely as
all in your awareness as concretely as
all in your awareness as concretely as you can this invisible but very real
you can this invisible but very real
you can this invisible but very real layer of subjective experience that
layer of subjective experience that
layer of subjective experience that permeates our planet and now add one
permeates our planet and now add one
permeates our planet and now add one more piece visualize the physical size
more piece visualize the physical size
more piece visualize the physical size of Earth the largest thing that most of
of Earth the largest thing that most of
of Earth the largest thing that most of us can concretely imagine so go
us can concretely imagine so go
us can concretely imagine so go somewhere in your mind’s eye where you
somewhere in your mind’s eye where you
somewhere in your mind’s eye where you can really feel the immensity of Earth
can really feel the immensity of Earth
can really feel the immensity of Earth maybe at the coast looking out over the
maybe at the coast looking out over the
maybe at the coast looking out over the ocean okay you’re there now take a look
ocean okay you’re there now take a look
ocean okay you’re there now take a look at this image it’s one of the most
at this image it’s one of the most
at this image it’s one of the most breathtakingly beautiful photographs
breathtakingly beautiful photographs
breathtakingly beautiful photographs I’ve ever seen it was taken by the
I’ve ever seen it was taken by the
I’ve ever seen it was taken by the spacecraft Cassini orbiting Saturn and
spacecraft Cassini orbiting Saturn and
spacecraft Cassini orbiting Saturn and looking back toward the Sun so you can
looking back toward the Sun so you can
looking back toward the Sun so you can see sunlight sparkling through ice
see sunlight sparkling through ice
see sunlight sparkling through ice crystals that make up the rings of
crystals that make up the rings of
crystals that make up the rings of Saturn much as you might enjoy sunlight
Saturn much as you might enjoy sunlight
Saturn much as you might enjoy sunlight sparkling through icicles you know
sparkling through icicles you know
sparkling through icicles you know hanging from a tree on a sunny winter
hanging from a tree on a sunny winter
hanging from a tree on a sunny winter day here on earth and now I’d like you
day here on earth and now I’d like you
day here on earth and now I’d like you to focus on that tiny dot indicated by
to focus on that tiny dot indicated by
to focus on that tiny dot indicated by the arrow I’ve added in the photo can
the arrow I’ve added in the photo can
the arrow I’ve added in the photo can you see it I don’t know if you can can
you see it I don’t know if you can can
you see it I don’t know if you can can you guess what it is yes it’s us earth
you guess what it is yes it’s us earth
you guess what it is yes it’s us earth everything that any of us has ever
everything that any of us has ever
everything that any of us has ever thought or felt enjoyed or worried about
thought or felt enjoyed or worried about
thought or felt enjoyed or worried about happened there within that dot well just
happened there within that dot well just
happened there within that dot well just take a breath and really let that soak
take a breath and really let that soak
take a breath and really let that soak in the value of science that I’m talking
in the value of science that I’m talking
in the value of science that I’m talking about is the transition that happens
about is the transition that happens
about is the transition that happens inside of you at the moment you
inside of you at the moment you
inside of you at the moment you recognize that you’re part of that tiny
recognize that you’re part of that tiny
recognize that you’re part of that tiny dot and that dot lives within a vast
dot and that dot lives within a vast
dot and that dot lives within a vast cosmic context as the impact of this
cosmic context as the impact of this
cosmic context as the impact of this awareness sinks in I suspect your
awareness sinks in I suspect your
awareness sinks in I suspect your thoughts and feelings change at first
thoughts and feelings change at first
thoughts and feelings change at first you may feel very very small as you
you may feel very very small as you
you may feel very very small as you become aware of the tiny physical size
become aware of the tiny physical size
become aware of the tiny physical size of Earth compared with the rest of our
of Earth compared with the rest of our
of Earth compared with the rest of our solar system not to mention our galaxy
solar system not to mention our galaxy
solar system not to mention our galaxy of hundreds of billions of Suns and our
of hundreds of billions of Suns and our
of hundreds of billions of Suns and our universe of at least that many galaxies
universe of at least that many galaxies
universe of at least that many galaxies yet the core insight is not about
yet the core insight is not about
yet the core insight is not about feeling small but about feeling
feeling small but about feeling
feeling small but about feeling connected to immensity to all of this
connected to immensity to all of this
connected to immensity to all of this and more your identity expands to fill
and more your identity expands to fill
and more your identity expands to fill the vastness and you become something
the vastness and you become something
the vastness and you become something different than you were a moment before
different than you were a moment before
different than you were a moment before your personal experience becomes an
your personal experience becomes an
your personal experience becomes an integral part of something much much
integral part of something much much
integral part of something much much bigger every time this transition
bigger every time this transition
bigger every time this transition happens for me I feel it viscerally I
happens for me I feel it viscerally I
happens for me I feel it viscerally I almost shudder and catch my breath Carl
almost shudder and catch my breath Carl
almost shudder and catch my breath Carl Sagan eloquently described the
Sagan eloquently described the
Sagan eloquently described the experience there is a tingling in the
experience there is a tingling in the
experience there is a tingling in the spine a catch in the voice a faint
spine a catch in the voice a faint
spine a catch in the voice a faint sensation as if a distant memory of
sensation as if a distant memory of
sensation as if a distant memory of falling from a great height we know we
falling from a great height we know we
falling from a great height we know we are approaching the grandest of
are approaching the grandest of
are approaching the grandest of mysteries if you remember only one thing
mysteries if you remember only one thing
mysteries if you remember only one thing from my talk I hope you’ll remember this
from my talk I hope you’ll remember this
from my talk I hope you’ll remember this feeling the sensation of being connected
feeling the sensation of being connected
feeling the sensation of being connected to your larger self your cosmic context
to your larger self your cosmic context
to your larger self your cosmic context and I hope you’ll remember how to get
and I hope you’ll remember how to get
and I hope you’ll remember how to get back to that feeling whenever you want
back to that feeling whenever you want
back to that feeling whenever you want to you can deliberately create this
to you can deliberately create this
to you can deliberately create this experience at any time insights from
experience at any time insights from
experience at any time insights from science offer portals into this
science offer portals into this
science offer portals into this experience
experience
experience I call them glimpses of wonder to
I call them glimpses of wonder to
I call them glimpses of wonder to emphasize that there are distinct
emphasize that there are distinct
emphasize that there are distinct moments of internal experience and not
moments of internal experience and not
moments of internal experience and not just the scientific facts by themselves
just the scientific facts by themselves
just the scientific facts by themselves they happen when something shocks us
they happen when something shocks us
they happen when something shocks us into recognizing concretely that we are
into recognizing concretely that we are
into recognizing concretely that we are part of a vast and deep and mysterious
part of a vast and deep and mysterious
part of a vast and deep and mysterious reality that extends far beyond any
reality that extends far beyond any
reality that extends far beyond any particular story we can tell about
particular story we can tell about
particular story we can tell about what’s happening to us at that moment
what’s happening to us at that moment
what’s happening to us at that moment astronomical insights do this well if
astronomical insights do this well if
astronomical insights do this well if they have high shock value because they
they have high shock value because they
they have high shock value because they transport us to far beyond our familiar
transport us to far beyond our familiar
transport us to far beyond our familiar experience they remind us of other
experience they remind us of other
experience they remind us of other worlds other life even the beginning and
worlds other life even the beginning and
worlds other life even the beginning and end of time itself whenever I set up a
end of time itself whenever I set up a
end of time itself whenever I set up a telescope on a street corner I’m amazed
telescope on a street corner I’m amazed
telescope on a street corner I’m amazed at how quickly people from all walks of
at how quickly people from all walks of
at how quickly people from all walks of life are drawn in to that cosmic
life are drawn in to that cosmic
life are drawn in to that cosmic perspective as they look with their own
perspective as they look with their own
perspective as they look with their own eyes at craters on the moon or the rings
eyes at craters on the moon or the rings
eyes at craters on the moon or the rings of Saturn or a nebula where baby stars
of Saturn or a nebula where baby stars
of Saturn or a nebula where baby stars are being born so astronomy is a great
are being born so astronomy is a great
are being born so astronomy is a great portal but other Sciences and even just
portal but other Sciences and even just
portal but other Sciences and even just ordinary everyday observations can be
ordinary everyday observations can be
ordinary everyday observations can be glimpses of wonder as well for example
glimpses of wonder as well for example
glimpses of wonder as well for example when a raindrop lands on the tip of your
when a raindrop lands on the tip of your
when a raindrop lands on the tip of your nucleus all you have to do is wonder
nucleus all you have to do is wonder
nucleus all you have to do is wonder what puddle of water or plant did it
what puddle of water or plant did it
what puddle of water or plant did it evaporate from or what distant star
evaporate from or what distant star
evaporate from or what distant star formed the oxygen atoms that are now
formed the oxygen atoms that are now
formed the oxygen atoms that are now part of that raindrop questions like
part of that raindrop questions like
part of that raindrop questions like these help you realize that the pattern
these help you realize that the pattern
these help you realize that the pattern forming your identity is part of a much
forming your identity is part of a much
forming your identity is part of a much faster pattern spanning billions of
faster pattern spanning billions of
faster pattern spanning billions of years and light-years it includes
years and light-years it includes
years and light-years it includes earth’s ecosystem that nourishes and
earth’s ecosystem that nourishes and
earth’s ecosystem that nourishes and sustains us it includes sunlight that
sustains us it includes sunlight that
sustains us it includes sunlight that drives and sustains our ecosystem it
drives and sustains our ecosystem it
drives and sustains our ecosystem it includes ancient Suns whose deaths
includes ancient Suns whose deaths
includes ancient Suns whose deaths literally formed the elements that now
literally formed the elements that now
literally formed the elements that now make up your body and even earlier
make up your body and even earlier
make up your body and even earlier cosmic conditions that created the
cosmic conditions that created the
cosmic conditions that created the environment in which these Suns could
environment in which these Suns could
environment in which these Suns could form at all in the long run I think its
form at all in the long run I think its
form at all in the long run I think its ability to transport us into these
ability to transport us into these
ability to transport us into these expanded states of awareness is the most
expanded states of awareness is the most
expanded states of awareness is the most important
important
important roll scientific knowledge will play in
roll scientific knowledge will play in
roll scientific knowledge will play in the future of humanity even more
the future of humanity even more
the future of humanity even more important than technology I believe this
important than technology I believe this
important than technology I believe this because many of our difficulties whether
because many of our difficulties whether
because many of our difficulties whether individual or social or planetary arise
individual or social or planetary arise
individual or social or planetary arise from narrowness of perspective we forget
from narrowness of perspective we forget
from narrowness of perspective we forget that no matter what situation we’re in
that no matter what situation we’re in
that no matter what situation we’re in there’s always another way to see things
there’s always another way to see things
there’s always another way to see things so expanding our awareness can help us
so expanding our awareness can help us
so expanding our awareness can help us avoid being stuck or trapped in one
avoid being stuck or trapped in one
avoid being stuck or trapped in one point of view kind of keeps our minds
point of view kind of keeps our minds
point of view kind of keeps our minds nimble right it gives us access to a
nimble right it gives us access to a
nimble right it gives us access to a much broader range of perspectives and
much broader range of perspectives and
much broader range of perspectives and tools and ultimately solutions of course
tools and ultimately solutions of course
tools and ultimately solutions of course this doesn’t mean you can or should stay
this doesn’t mean you can or should stay
this doesn’t mean you can or should stay in a cosmic perspective all the time
in a cosmic perspective all the time
in a cosmic perspective all the time which is my I might like to we need
which is my I might like to we need
which is my I might like to we need narrow focus sometimes to understand the
narrow focus sometimes to understand the
narrow focus sometimes to understand the details of a situation or simply to get
details of a situation or simply to get
details of a situation or simply to get things done but having ready access to a
things done but having ready access to a
things done but having ready access to a cosmic perspective is incredibly
cosmic perspective is incredibly
cosmic perspective is incredibly empowering it literally connects you to
empowering it literally connects you to
empowering it literally connects you to your larger self it reminds you that you
your larger self it reminds you that you
your larger self it reminds you that you are a moment of awareness within one
are a moment of awareness within one
are a moment of awareness within one strand of a vast and inner woven cosmic
strand of a vast and inner woven cosmic
strand of a vast and inner woven cosmic tapestry you’re part of a thread that
tapestry you’re part of a thread that
tapestry you’re part of a thread that traces all the way back to the Stars and
traces all the way back to the Stars and
traces all the way back to the Stars and beyond to the beginning the origins of
beyond to the beginning the origins of
beyond to the beginning the origins of the universe itself seeing yourself as
the universe itself seeing yourself as
the universe itself seeing yourself as an extension of the creative power of
an extension of the creative power of
an extension of the creative power of the whole universe empowers you to
the whole universe empowers you to
the whole universe empowers you to rewrite your story when you need to and
rewrite your story when you need to and
rewrite your story when you need to and not remain stuck in an unhealthy or
not remain stuck in an unhealthy or
not remain stuck in an unhealthy or limiting story I mean if your entire
limiting story I mean if your entire
limiting story I mean if your entire universe of thoughts and feelings can
universe of thoughts and feelings can
universe of thoughts and feelings can turn out to be a tiny dot in a photo of
turn out to be a tiny dot in a photo of
turn out to be a tiny dot in a photo of Saturn then what else may not be as it
Saturn then what else may not be as it
Saturn then what else may not be as it seems
perhaps we’ll think I’m naive to suggest
perhaps we’ll think I’m naive to suggest that such a simple change in perspective
that such a simple change in perspective
that such a simple change in perspective could make a real difference for the
could make a real difference for the
could make a real difference for the complex problems we find ourselves
complex problems we find ourselves
complex problems we find ourselves entangled within but I would love to see
entangled within but I would love to see
entangled within but I would love to see what might happen if every meeting among
what might happen if every meeting among
what might happen if every meeting among world leaders began with a brief
world leaders began with a brief
world leaders began with a brief ceremonial exercise designed to
ceremonial exercise designed to
ceremonial exercise designed to transport participants
transport participants
transport participants into this cosmic perspective an exercise
into this cosmic perspective an exercise
into this cosmic perspective an exercise that transcended local beliefs and
that transcended local beliefs and
that transcended local beliefs and cultural practices you know something
cultural practices you know something
cultural practices you know something like what we just did looking at the
like what we just did looking at the
like what we just did looking at the Cassini photo of Earth as a dot and just
Cassini photo of Earth as a dot and just
Cassini photo of Earth as a dot and just in my personal experience this simple
in my personal experience this simple
in my personal experience this simple change of perspective has helped me
change of perspective has helped me
change of perspective has helped me through countless challenges large and
through countless challenges large and
through countless challenges large and small from shaking off tiny
small from shaking off tiny
small from shaking off tiny inconveniences and perceived failures to
inconveniences and perceived failures to
inconveniences and perceived failures to a broken heart to illnesses and major
a broken heart to illnesses and major
a broken heart to illnesses and major life transitions to just finding new
life transitions to just finding new
life transitions to just finding new solutions to old problems it even helped
solutions to old problems it even helped
solutions to old problems it even helped me through the fairly significant
me through the fairly significant
me through the fairly significant anxiety of coming out on stage to talk
anxiety of coming out on stage to talk
anxiety of coming out on stage to talk with you here today the perspective by
with you here today the perspective by
with you here today the perspective by itself doesn’t solve your problems but
itself doesn’t solve your problems but
itself doesn’t solve your problems but it puts you in a frame of mind from
it puts you in a frame of mind from
it puts you in a frame of mind from which solutions seem to just kind of
which solutions seem to just kind of
which solutions seem to just kind of naturally arrive in any case you don’t
naturally arrive in any case you don’t
naturally arrive in any case you don’t have to take my word for it try it for
have to take my word for it try it for
have to take my word for it try it for yourself you can start right now look
yourself you can start right now look
yourself you can start right now look again the pic assini photo and then
again the pic assini photo and then
again the pic assini photo and then close your eyes and notice what it feels
close your eyes and notice what it feels
close your eyes and notice what it feels like to be you in this new moment notice
like to be you in this new moment notice
like to be you in this new moment notice what happens and who you become
what happens and who you become
what happens and who you become internally when you embrace the
internally when you embrace the
internally when you embrace the realization that you are an expression
realization that you are an expression
realization that you are an expression of the whole cosmos in human form
of the whole cosmos in human form
of the whole cosmos in human form whatever you create with each moment
whatever you create with each moment
whatever you create with each moment going forward into the future is a
going forward into the future is a
going forward into the future is a strand within a vast cosmic tapestry
strand within a vast cosmic tapestry
strand within a vast cosmic tapestry that transcends any particular attempt
that transcends any particular attempt
that transcends any particular attempt to describe it completely so there’s
to describe it completely so there’s
to describe it completely so there’s always room for you to redefine it with
always room for you to redefine it with
always room for you to redefine it with this perspective in mind look around the
this perspective in mind look around the
this perspective in mind look around the room once again at a few of your fellow
room once again at a few of your fellow
room once again at a few of your fellow humans what will you create with this
humans what will you create with this
humans what will you create with this moment before you and the next moment
moment before you and the next moment
moment before you and the next moment and the next
and the next
and the next I for one look forward to finding out
I for one look forward to finding out
I for one look forward to finding out and to marveling at the unfolding beauty
and to marveling at the unfolding beauty
and to marveling at the unfolding beauty of the cosmic tapestry a tapestry that
of the cosmic tapestry a tapestry that
of the cosmic tapestry a tapestry that all of us with a little help from the
all of us with a little help from the
all of us with a little help from the rest of the universe will create
rest of the universe will create
rest of the universe will create together thanks for listening
together thanks for listening
together thanks for listening [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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