Frank,
human beings in general cannot visualize in dimensions more than three. A small fraction can, and apparently Stephen Hawking is one of them, which may be one reason why he is so good at what he does. So it is hard for us to get a ‘picture’ of multiple three-dimensional spaces.
But we can get a picture of it by analogy. You may have heard of this analogy before.
Imagine a two-dimensional space with two-dimensional creatures in it. If their space is infinite, they might look to us like flat creatures living right inside a flat and infinitely large, infinitely thin plate of glass. Got that picture? They are flat and inside the flat glass. They cannot look outside the glass. The lines of sight from their eyes trace lines inside the glass sheet.
Now instead of an infinitely large and flat plate of glass, imagine an enormous glass bubble. Again, the flat creatures live inside the surface of the enormous glass bubble. In the example, their space is not actually infinite, because it curves on itself.
Now, imagine lots of such bubbles in our space.
Things that happen within a particular glass bubble affect other things inside the same glass bubble, but have no affect on things that happen inside other glass bubbles.
These flat-creatures have no ability to visualize in three dimensions (though there is a Flat-Hawking who can visualize in three and more dimensions). So they have a difficulty visualizing the picture of their living in separate, closed three-dimensional universes.
They have a difficulty visualizing it, but they can conceptualize it.
Likewise we as three-dimensional creatures have a difficulty visualizing the possibility of separate three-dimensional spaces. But we can conceptualize it, and if we want to visualize it, we may be stuck with visualizing the two-dimensional analogy – I certainly am.
Now regarding ‘akasha’, watch out for semantics. To those 2D creatures in the glass bubble, their ‘space’ is the 2D glass bubble and they may call their glass bubble space ‘akasha’. Within that word-definition though, it would NOT be true that not all is accessible through ‘akasha’.
But they may use the word ‘akasha’ to refer to THE ALL. This is, in our rough analogy, the 3D space which contains all of the glass bubbles. The 2D creatures can conceptualize this, but cannot visualize it. This is probably closer to the intended meaning of ‘akasha’.
Likewise, I think that the intended meaning of ‘akasha’ is more than our four-dimensional space-time. It is the fabric in which all space-time universes exist. Our entire space-time is only a part of akasha.
Akasha = space of THE ALL
Contains : ‘universes’
Universes contain galaxies
Galaxies contain solar systems
Solar systems contain planets
I hope that helps,
Regards,
-David
Hari Om
Hello David/etherfish
thx for your help on this…good analogies. Let me extend the conversation one more idea. This is just some thinking I have had for a while and thought to put it to paper.
When talking of a multi-dimensional universe, physicists are considering super-sting set theory e.g. 10 dimensions http://www.sukidog.com/jpierre/strings/extradim.htm if you care to take a look ( the Hawkins’s world I believe).
From this multidimensional idea ( not super sting stuff) let me develop an idea I have been kicking around - you folks critique it and comment/kick it as you care to…it may have some entertainment value.
Setting the Stage
In our ‘space’ its considered in 5 dimensions:
X,Y,Z ( length, height, depth) + Time + Space ( with time, having past, present, future states) - so say the experts.
So, if we look at these 5 dimensions that are accepted: ‘space’ is X,Y,Z + Time: past+present+future = 6 components to Space + Time.
What are other components ? Cause, or an action that happens in Space+Time. Now there are 6 components: X,Y,Z + past+present+future + cause. What’s next? effect from the cause. So, now there’s (X,Y,Z) +(past+present+future) + (Cause+effect).
Why do I add Cause+Effect ? As far as I can tell this is a fundamental axiom of the universe we live in a universe that operates like this: IF this happens, THEN that happens, ELSE ___
(nice programming language statement eh?)
Delivering another ‘Universe’
Now we have 8 components of SPACE+TIME+CAUSE + EFFECT universe ~ = to Akasa(space) + Kalpa or Kali (time) + Karma (cause+effect)
If we can add or alter one of the 8 components perhaps you may have a glimpse of another ‘universe’.
What can be done by humans to alter this fabric of SPACE+TIME+CAUSE + EFFECT ? Its my contention that becoming enlightened alters this universe or adds another dimension.
How so? Its my understanding that when one becomes fully enlightened the fabric of cause and effect ( called the 3 gunas - rajas, tamas, sattva) gets retired , or becomes ‘like a roasted seed’ they bear no fruit. So, what happens to the individual? There is no more binding karmic actions - this is the notion of freedom or liberation in a Moksa state. It’s not freedom of choice - we have that today ( choose the action you care to, but w/o perfect control over the fruit of ones actions ). In Moksha , ones actions are non-binding. Because of this, there is no boundary to space and time, because no one action locks the person into a particular space-time point. The person is now unbounded.
PERHAPs at this time the universe opens up to all the dimensions that are possible, all the permutations available. Now this person is working with the ‘raw materials’ of any universe possible - FULL consciousness w/o any boundary what so ever …not constrained by any dimension.
Perhaps this person can (choose)to be in any universe that is possible? Because , as I believe and think it through, any universe of any permutation to be known or unknown to our level of perception or existence, must have a fundamental building block even subtler then my favorite, akasha, and that is consciousness.
So, this person being of the “Absolute Consciousness” type is like your person David, that lived in Flat land (2 dimensional space) and developed to this completely new dimension and can see all the other ‘universes’ throughout. Yet the people below in 2D and 3D land can only conceive of 5D,6D…8D land.
Just a thought.
Frank In San Diego
just a note:
Yes, I think definitely a result of unbounded consciousness would be removal of the barriers between universes. After all, it’s all God energy, and all boundaries are illusions.
So being one with God would make consciousness of any point possible. unless there’s another God in another system. but by then you would know that.
I hope i’m not making a fool of myself by not reading the link first, but is space a dimension?
I thought length, height, depth, and time defined space?
What’s interesting about space is that the first three dimensions are defined by comparing them, either to themselves, or to a standard measurement. So length, width, and depth are the same type of measurement (distance) in different directions. But if you’re travelling in space, there are no road markers, so the only way you can define the length of travel is by time and speed.
The only way you can define speed is by energy expended by your propulsion system, or triangulation to known celestial bodies. It’s interesting to note that you are sort of quantifying nothing. Space travel is measured easier in time than distance.
Maybe I’m easily amused, but it seems mind boggling to me to think about this.
Let’s say you’re travelling between galaxies. Your engines are running, but there’s no air, no water, no road between you and your destination. There’s a vacuum. Nothing. So what are you doing? why does it take so long to traverse nothing?
Hari Om
Hello Etherfish,
thcx for continuing this conversation…its kinda amusing and fun to kick ‘round ideas like this - it stretches the imagination and doesn’t really make a difference when it’s all said and done 
.
re: Space - yes, height, width, depth ( or X,Y,Z coordinates)is one mathmatical way to define space… I don’t think time is a factor , as it stands on its own e.g. past present and future.
re: Galaxy hopping - there is an interesting phenomenon as you approach the speed of light, the energy used to propel the craft increases the mass of the object you are propelling , so more energy is needed ( so says Mr. Einstein and how it was explained to me, Yet I no rocket scientist).
Now at speeds below that of light ’ why does it take so long to get across space?’ - its just a big place!
Even light take takes 100,000 years to go from one side of our galaxy to the other. Light from the sun to the earth ~ 7 min ( + or -. Light to Pluto ~ 5 hrs ( + or -).
We live in a big place and its mostly space ( aksaha) - that why I am so intrigued with it…even matter (stuff) is mostly space , even though it looks solid; much of every thing is akasha, nothing!
Go figure, eh?
Frank In San Diego
Frank
I’m glad you excluded Time from the equation.
If you consider Time which comprises of Past, Present and Future.
The whole of evolution, the expansion of the universe, the growth of plants, the lives of animals are all totally dependant on time.
Without the passage of events from one instant to the next to the next to the next, none of it/us would exist in physical form.
It could be considered that Stillness is a state that takes a step out of this Time, not even to an instant but beyond an instant – and if we are in this state what do we experience – Pure Love (talking now from very very limited experience and from what others have said).
By going beyond Time then, we also go beyond the creation of the universe, beyond the Big Bang – what a journey, and its right in front of us. 
(These are not facts, they are unproven insights 
)
S
I included time in the definition of space, because it’s sort of integral;
two things can exist in the same space, but not at the same time. Time sort of connects our consciousness to space. The description of what exists in space is totally dependent on time. You can’t keep anything the same in space for very long as time changes. Conversely, you can’t hold the same time as you change things in space.
I do agree that inner silence helps us step outside time, also space by the way.
i know Frank, that this akasha is a big place; I should have said it was sort of a rhetorical question for pondering.
If you imagine being aboard one of the intergalactic transporation modes we have now, just think about what it would be like:
the engines running for years. The rest of your entire life you would be in the same metal box. When you look out the window, things would never seem to change. You would know you are travelling, but it wouldn’t seem like it. I bet you would come to grips with what life is really about! I bet a lot of people wish they could be left alone forever to meditate all the time, but don’t really realize what that would mean.
Etrfsh
Hari Om
Hello Sparkle/Etherfish,
thanks for your contributions and thoughts… good points made.
Peace,
Frank In San Diego
Hari Om
Hello,
I thought I would finally post one of the 3 things I find most amazing.
In the Bhagavad-gita, Krisha ( who is the embodiment of Pure Consciousness) says:
patram–a leaf; puspam–a flower; phalam–a fruit; toyam–water; yah–whoever; me–unto Me; bhaktya–with devotion; prayacchati–offers; tat–that; aham–I; bhakti-upahrtam–offered in devotion; asnami–accept; prayata-atmanah–of one in pure consciousness.
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.
For those that practice Sanatana Dharma - this offering of a leaf, fruit, water, etc is done on a regular basis and called puja from “puj” to worship honor,or serve. The offerer is called the Pujari.
What is amazing is that the Infinite accepts this, and keeps it simple. Offerings of simple things , a leaf, water, etc. and that one can do this without financial pinch.
The profound part is once a person is Enlightened , each and every action is an offering to Brahman - the offer, the offering and the offerer (Pujari) are all Brahman as is an offering; Every action becomes a spiritual action. How then could someone not be doing the will of God in this state? This is the goal for all seekers, and the beneficiaries are society as a whole.
Brahmavid brahmaiva bhavati
The knower of Brahman is Brahman itself -Mundaka Upanishad
Frank In San Diego