Gaudiya Vaishnavas believe in the existence of Goloka: the eternal abode of supreme personality of godhead. Attaining the Goloka is the ultimate objective of all initiates or Sadhakas. The initiates are given to assume that such a world exists. So, the question of doubting Goloka doesn’t arise. But examining this question in the light of current research on multiverse will be relevant. “When one Universe Isn’t Enough” by Brian Clegg delves into ideas of multiverse. Reading this book compels you to conclude that you can’t dismiss such beliefs as unscientific.

Presence of many worlds

What lies beyond the boundaries of our universe? Is there another universe? The universe started with a singularity. But, then, where was this singularity? Such questions have perplexed the minds of physicists.

The answer to these may not be found in the lifetime of many in current generation. Or even for many generations to come. We can’t possibly access these regions physically. But there are some states where we can experience things like extra dimensions. When a person meets with death or near-death experience, the subtle body may get transferred to regions where we physically can’t go.

But extra dimensions may be a reality. These dimensions are so curled up that we can’t experience them with our senses. Goloka, for example, may be present between us. But because these dimensions don’t interact with material things, they remain hidden.

Unobservable Things

What we observe with our eyes need not be true. For example, we can’t experience dark matter with naked eyes. But we know that there is a ‘dark matter’. This is not mere speculation. Only 3% of the universe can be viewed with eyes. The rest of our universe is dark matter.

Like other material things, dark matter doesn’t interact with electromagnetic waves. So, even if we shine a torch on it, we wouldn’t be able perceive it. Likewise, even if there is Goloka between us, it may not be visible with our naked eyes. Just like we can’t see dark matter.  

Reality and Fiction

The distinction between reality and virtual world blurs at the quantum level. One can’t say for sure about the position of a sub-atomic particle. You can only state a probability of where exactly a sub-atomic particle.

The number of states in which a sub-atomic particle might exist should be into hundreds. Likewise, there could be many versions of us in parallel universes. Maybe one of the versions of Vaishnava acharyas is in Goloka at present.

Lokas above and below

Gaudiya Vaishnavas postulate that there are several lokas that are beneath us and above us. There are 6 lokas above us and 7 lokas below us. The lokas that are above us include Swargloka, Indraloka and the lokas below us are Pataal and Rasatal loka. The lokas which are above us may have conditions that are more favorable for a decent living. We can only imagine what could be ‘good‘. Because none of us has actually seen Goloka and Swargaloka. But presumably, it must be more blissful. Because devatas and supreme personality of godhead himself is residing there. Maybe one would be able to enjoy longevity and live forever in Goloka. Maybe we could go on eating sweet things forever. Or maybe there are precious gems strewn all over.  

This universe had the right conditions for life to prosper. For example, the distance of Earth from Sun is ideal. Should it have been a little less or little more, then the Earth wouldn’t support life. How is it possible that the fundamental constants were perfectly the same as required? Possibly, there is a creator.

Since physicists know only about this universe, they are only aware of the fundamental constants that are right for humans. In other lokas, these fundamental constants may differ. Imagine what kind of fundamental constants would be required for devatas or the supreme personality of godhead.

Multiverse, Universes and Sub-universes

Cosmologists believe that the universe is infinite. So, theoretically, there could be sub-universes in it. As a physical body, we may not be able to reach these regions of the universe. So perhaps when we die, we are sent to a region according to our karma. The highest place Gaudiya Vaishnavas believe is Goloka.

We don’t know whether the universe has any boundary or not. But the universe is expanding for sure. The interstellar space is becoming larger. Even if we tried, we wouldn’t be able to escape out of this universe. At least, theoretically. But if we were to, we may find ourselves reentering from the other side. That is because the space-time is curved. It is just like going around the earth and never falling off.

Mystery of portals

The idea that there are portals which can give us access to higher realms is supported by many yogis. They claim that these portals exist on Earth. Some of them exist in the Himalayan mountains. And that is why yogis went to the Himalayas to meditate.

We all have a gross (sthula sharira) and subtle body (sukshma sharira) according Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta. So, this subtle body may travel to the higher planes. Even if the sadhaks or yogis are in this physical world, their subtle bodies may be in the higher realms. Or, to say that they are in Goloka even when they are alive.

Conclusion

Brian Clegg’s When One Universe Isn’t Enough talks briefly about why we shouldn’t dismiss ideas of a metaverse. But a paradigm shift in the idea of metaverse has not yet taken place. Because there is not enough scientific data to support it. Many sadhaks and yogis are said to be living in realms that are not earthly. So, we can perhaps take the help of metaphysics to understand concepts like Goloka. That is why Sadhaks and yogis meditate for long periods to understand the reality.