Dear Mr. Hawking,
First, let me say I love your writings. I love your mind. I follow you as closely as a young teenage boy follows Playboy. Let me also say, I consider myself a ‘seeker’. I am a Christian in the tightest definition of the word. I love Christ. But by definition, I’m also a Buddhist, Gandhi-ist and a Lennon-ist. John Lennon, that is. I practice pagan and Native American faiths as well. I’m not trying to cover all the bases. I just think there are many paths to God, the Goddess, the Is, the divine Spirits of the Universe, etc.
So, please understand it is with the greatest love and admiration that I want to respond to a statement you made: "I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark."
Oh my....I certainly believe that you are correct in stating that the brain is a computer. And certainly, when it fails, the keyboard and monitor know as our bodies will certain fail to be of any use. However, have you considered the soul/spirit of the body? Surely you must concede that they exist? Because you exist. Your computer is par excellence. You keyboard is a little wonky. But what has driven you and enabled you to survive long past expectation? Is it not your spirit? You say you have lived with the prospect of an early death for 49 years, and yet you are still here. Is that your brain/computer? I would have certainly thought it was your spirit. Something greater in you than the sum of your parts.
As for broken down computers, I take that to be our brain and our physical body. You are correct. Even Christians believe ‘ashes to ashes and dust to dust’. And while one’s ‘computer’ might be breaking down, their spirit has passed to a different place. There is a ‘fairy tale ending’....or beginning if you please. There’s not much hope for the body after the brain ceases to function. However, I truly believe that our spirit-our soul-passes on to another place. Where? I have no idea. But, Mr. Hawking, you need to sit with someone while they die. Hold their hand, help them through the fear and give them permission to leave. I’ve had two such opportunities. While the brain is shutting down, the spirit is preparing to take flight. Souls reach out to other souls to help on the journey. Some leave as a ball of white light. Some leave so quietly that you wonder if they ever existed at all. I’ve shared this with others and it seems universally the same. The ‘computer’ passes. But the spirit moves beyond our realm of knowledge. Even yours.
Lastly, if we are computers, there has to be power. A computer doesn’t just plunk itself down and start operating. It must be plugged into a power source. That is the universe you are trying to define. And trying to limit. I don’t claim to understand it. Any of it. But, “there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
I believe you are wrong, Mr. Hawking. Because I’d hate to see such a spirit die with the computer. And I would love for you to have a happily ever after.
Sincerely,
Abbie Lyons
First, let me say I love your writings. I love your mind. I follow you as closely as a young teenage boy follows Playboy. Let me also say, I consider myself a ‘seeker’. I am a Christian in the tightest definition of the word. I love Christ. But by definition, I’m also a Buddhist, Gandhi-ist and a Lennon-ist. John Lennon, that is. I practice pagan and Native American faiths as well. I’m not trying to cover all the bases. I just think there are many paths to God, the Goddess, the Is, the divine Spirits of the Universe, etc.
So, please understand it is with the greatest love and admiration that I want to respond to a statement you made: "I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark."
Oh my....I certainly believe that you are correct in stating that the brain is a computer. And certainly, when it fails, the keyboard and monitor know as our bodies will certain fail to be of any use. However, have you considered the soul/spirit of the body? Surely you must concede that they exist? Because you exist. Your computer is par excellence. You keyboard is a little wonky. But what has driven you and enabled you to survive long past expectation? Is it not your spirit? You say you have lived with the prospect of an early death for 49 years, and yet you are still here. Is that your brain/computer? I would have certainly thought it was your spirit. Something greater in you than the sum of your parts.
As for broken down computers, I take that to be our brain and our physical body. You are correct. Even Christians believe ‘ashes to ashes and dust to dust’. And while one’s ‘computer’ might be breaking down, their spirit has passed to a different place. There is a ‘fairy tale ending’....or beginning if you please. There’s not much hope for the body after the brain ceases to function. However, I truly believe that our spirit-our soul-passes on to another place. Where? I have no idea. But, Mr. Hawking, you need to sit with someone while they die. Hold their hand, help them through the fear and give them permission to leave. I’ve had two such opportunities. While the brain is shutting down, the spirit is preparing to take flight. Souls reach out to other souls to help on the journey. Some leave as a ball of white light. Some leave so quietly that you wonder if they ever existed at all. I’ve shared this with others and it seems universally the same. The ‘computer’ passes. But the spirit moves beyond our realm of knowledge. Even yours.
Lastly, if we are computers, there has to be power. A computer doesn’t just plunk itself down and start operating. It must be plugged into a power source. That is the universe you are trying to define. And trying to limit. I don’t claim to understand it. Any of it. But, “there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
I believe you are wrong, Mr. Hawking. Because I’d hate to see such a spirit die with the computer. And I would love for you to have a happily ever after.
Sincerely,
Abbie Lyons
