The Influence of Vedic Philosophy on
Nikola Tesla's Understanding of Free Energy
An Article by
Toby Grotz
Web Publication by Mountain
Man Graphics, Australia - Southern Autumn of 1997
Abstract ...
Nikola Tesla used ancient Sanskrit terminology in his descriptions
of natural phenomena. As early as 1891 Tesla described the universe as
a kinetic system filled with energy which could be harnessed at any location.
His concepts during the following years were greatly influenced by the
teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda was the first of a succession
of eastern yogi's who brought Vedic philosophy and religion to the west.
After meeting the Swami and after continued study of the Eastern view of
the mechanisms driving the material world, Tesla began using the Sanskrit
words Akasha, Prana, and the concept of a luminiferous ether to describe
the source, existence and construction of matter. This paper will trace
the development of Tesla's understanding of Vedic Science, his correspondence
with Lord Kelvin concerning these matters, and the relation between Tesla
and Walter Russell and other turn of the century scientists concerning
advanced understanding of physics. Finally, after being obscured for many
years, the author will give a description of what he believes is the the
pre-requisite for the free energy systems envisioned by Tesla.
Tesla's Earler Description of the Physical Universe
By the year 1891, Nikola Tesla had invented many useful devices. These
included a system of arc lighting (1886), the alternating current motor,
power generation and transmission systems (1888), systems of electrical
conversion and distribution by oscillatory discharges (1889), and a generator
of high frequency currents (1890), to name a few. The most well known patent
centers around an inspiration that occurred while walking with a friend
in a park in Budapest, Hungry. It was while observing the sunset that Tesla
had a vision of how rotating electromagnetic fields could be used in a
new form of electric motor. his led to the well known system of alternating
current power distribution. In 1891 however, Tesla patented what one day
may become his most famous invention. It is the basis for the wireless
transmission of electrical power and is know as the Tesla Coil Transformer.
It was during this year that Tesla made the following comments during a
speech before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers:
"Ere many generations pass, our machinery will be driven by
a power obtainable at any point in the universe. This idea is not novel...
We find it in the delightful myth of Antheus, who derives power from the
earth; we find it among the subtle speculations of one of your splendid
mathematicians... Throughout space there is energy. Is this energy static
or kinetic.? If static our hopes are in vain; if kinetic - and this we
know it is, for certain - then it is a mere question of time when men will
succeed in attaching their machinery to the very wheelwork of nature."
[1]
This description of the physical mechanisms of the universe was given before
Tesla became familiar with the Vedic science of the eastern Nations of
India, Tibet, and Nepal. This science was first popualized in the United
States and the west during the three year visit of Swami Vivekananda.
Vedic Science and Swami Vivekananda
The Vedas are a collection of writings consisting of hymns, prayers,
myths, historical accounting, dissertations on science, and the nature
of reality, which date back at least 5,000 years. The nature of matter,
antimatter, and the make up of atomic structure are described in the Vedas.
The language of the Vedas is known as Sanskrit. The origin of Sanskrit
is not fully understood. Western scholars suggest that it was brought into
the Himalayas and thence south into India by the southward migrations of
the Aryan culture. Paramahansa Yogananda and other historians however do
not subscribe to that theory, pointing out that there is no evidence within
India to substantiate such claims. [2]
There are words in Sanskrit that describe concepts totally foreign
to the western mind. Single words may require a full paragraph for translation
into english. Having studied Sanskrit for a brief period during the late
70's, it finally occurred to this writer that Tesla's use of Vedic terminology
could provide a key to understanding his view of electromagnetism and the
nature of the universe. But where did Tesla learn Vedic concepts and Sanskrit
terminology? A review of the well known biographies by Cheney, Hunt and
Draper, and O'Neil [3], [4], [5], reveal no mention of Tesla's knowledge
of Sanskrit. O'Neal however includes the following excerpt from an unpublished
article called Man's Greatest Achievement:
"There manifests itself in the fully developed being , Man,
a desire mysterious, inscrutable and irresistible: to imitate nature, to
create, to work himself the wonders he perceives.... Long ago he recognized
that all perceptible matter comes from a primary substance, or tenuity
beyond conception, filling all space, the Akasha or luminiferous ether,
which is acted upon by the life giving Prana or creative force, calling
into existence, in never ending cycles all things and phenomena. The primary
substance, thrown into infinitesimal whirls of prodigious velocity, becomes
gross matter; the force subsiding, the motion ceases and matter disappears,
reverting to the primary substance."
According to Leland Anderson the article was written May 13th, 1907. Anderson
also suggested that it was through association with Swami Vivekananda that
Tesla may have come into contact with Sanskrit terminology and that John
Dobson of the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers Association had researched
that association. [6]
Swami Vivekananda was born in Calcutta, India in 1863. He was
inspired by his teacher, Ramakrishna to serve men as visible manifestations
of God. In 1893 Swami Vivekananda began a tour of the west by attending
the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago. During the three years that
he toured the United States and Europe, Vivekananda met with many of the
well known scientists of the time including Lord Kelvin and Nikola Tesla.
[7] According to Swami Nikhilananda:
Nikola Tesla, the great scientist who specialized in the field
of electricity, was much impressed to hear from the Swami his explanation
of the Samkhya cosmogony and the theory of cycles given by the Hindus.
He was particularly struck by the resemblance between the Samkhya theory
of matter and energy and that of modern physics. The Swami also met in
New York Sir William Thompson, afterwards Lord Kelvin, and Professor Helmholtz,
two leading representatives of western science. Sarah Bernhardt, the famous
French actress had an interview with the Swami and greatly admired his
teachings. [8]
It was at a party given by Sarah Bernhardt that Nikola Tesla probably first
met Swami Vivekananda. [9] Sarah Bernhardt was playing the part of 'Iziel'
in a play of the same name. It was a French version about the life of Bhudda.
The actress upon seeing Swami Vivekananda in the audience, arranged a meeting
which was also attended by Nikola Tesla. In a letter to a friend, dated
February 13th, 1896, Swami Vivekananda noted the following:
...Mr. Tesla was charmed to hear about the Vedantic Prana
and Akasha and the Kalpas, which according to him are the only theories
modern science can entertain.....Mr Tesla thinks he can demonstrate that
mathematically that force and matter are reducible to potential energy.
I am to go see him next week to get this mathematical demonstration.
[10]
Swami Vivekananda was hopeful that Tesla would be able to show that what
we call matter is simply potential energy because that would reconcile
the teachings of the Vedas with modern science. The Swami realized that
"In that case, the Vedantic cosmology [would] be placed on the surest of
foundations". The harmony between Vedantic theories and and western science
was explained by the following diagram:
BRAHMAN = THE ABSOLUTE
| |
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MAHAT OR ISHVARA = PRIMAL CREATIVE ENERGY
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+---------+ +---------+
PRANA and AKASHA = ENERGY and MATTER
Tesla understood the Sanskrit terminology and philosophy and found that
it was a good means to describe the physical mechanisms of the universe
as seen through his eyes. It would behoove those who would attempt to understand
the science behind the inventions of Nikola Tesla to study Sanskrit and
Vedic philosophy.
Tesla apparently failed to show the identity of energy and matter. If
he had, certainly Swami Vivekananda would have recorded that occasion.
The mathematical proof of the principle did come until about ten years
later when Albert Einstein published his paper on relativity. What had
been known in the East for the last 5,000 years was then known to the West.
Brahman is defined as the one self existent impersonal spirit;
the Divine Essence, from which all things emanate, by which they are sustained,
and to which they return. Notice that this is very similar to the concept
of the Great Spirit as understood by Native American cultures. Ishvara
is the Supreme Ruler; the highest possible conception of the Absolute,
which is beyond all thought. Mahat means literally the Great One, and is
also interpreted as meaning universal mind or cosmic intelligence. Prana
means energy (usually translated as life force) and Akasha means matter
(usually translated as ether). Dobson points out that the more common translations
for Akasha and Prana are not quite correct, but that Tesla did understand
their true meanings.
The meeting with Swami Vivekananda greatly stimulated Nikola Tesla's
interest in Eastern Science. The Swami later remarked during a lecture
in India, "I myself have been told by some of the best scientific minds
of the day, how wonderfully rational the conclusions of the Vedanta are.
I know of one of them personally, who scarcely has time to eat his meal,
or go out of his laboratory, but who would stand by the hour to attend
my lectures on the Vedanta; for, as he expresses it, they are so scientific,
they so exactly harmonize with the aspirations of the age and with the
conclusions to which modern science is coming at the present time". [11]
Tesla and Lord Kelvin
William S. Thompson was one of the prominent scientists and engineers
of the 1800s. He developed analogies between heat and electricity and his
work influenced the theories developed by James Clerk Maxwell, one of the
founders of electromagnetic theory. Thompson supervised the successful
laying of the Trans Atlantic Cable and for that work was knighted Lord
Kelvin. Kelvin had endorsed Tesla's theories and proposed system for the
wireless transmission of electrical power. [12] FootNOTE- Grotz PACE
Tesla continued to study Hindu and Vedic philosophy for a number
of years as indicated by the following letter written to him by Lord Kelvin.
15, Eaton Place
London, S.W.
May 20, 1902
Dear Mr. Tesla,
I do not know how I can ever thank you enough for the
most kind letter of May, 10, which I found in my cabin in the
Lucania, with the beautiful books which you most kindly sent
me along with it: -"The Buried Temple", "The Gospel of
Bhudda", Les Grands Inities", the exquisite edition of
Rossetti's "House of Life", and last but not least the
Century Magazine for June, 1900 with the splendid and
marvelous photographs on pp. 176, 187, 190, 191, 192, full of
electrical lessons.
We had a most beautiful passage across the Atlantic, much
the finest I have ever had. I was trying hard nearly all the
way, but quite unsuccessfully, to find something definite as
to the functions of ether in respect to plain, old fashioned
magnetism. A propos of this, I have instructed the
publishers, Messrs. Macmillan, to send you at the Waldorf a
copy of my book (Collection of Separate Papers) on
Electrostatics and Magnetism. I shall be glad if you will
accept it from me as a very small mark of my gratitude to you
for your kindness. You may possibly find something
interesting in the articles on Atmospheric Electricity which
it contains.
Lady Kelvin joins me in kind regards, and I remain,
Yours always truly,
Kelvin
Thank you also warmly for the beautiful flowers [13]
Tesla and Russell
Walter Russell was one of the most accomplished artists, sculptors,
writers and scientists of this century. His periodic chart of the elements
accurately predicted the location and characteristics of four elements
years before they were discovered in laboratories. These are now known
as Deuterium, Tritium, Neptunium, and Plutonium. Russell apparently entered
into a heightened state of awareness after being struck by lightning. He
began several weeks of drawing and writing about the basic nature and make
up of the physical universe. Russells' family finally called the family
doctor to determine if Russell should be committed to an mental institution.
The doctor, upon seeing the results of Russells weeks of work, said that
he did not know what Russell was doing, but that he definitely was not
mad.
Although the exact time and occasion of their meeting has not yet been
determined, Nikola Tesla and Walter Russell did meet and discuss their
respective cosmologies. 14 Tesla recognized the wisdom and power of Russells'
teaching and urged Russell to lock up his knowledge in a safe for 1,000
years until man was ready for it. [15]
The Appearance of Free Energy
Or Why Free Energy has not yet Happened
Comments, Possibilities and Socio Economic Implications
Although Tesla did not accept many of the tenants of relativity and quantum
theory and never made the connection between matter and energy, he did
recognize the possibility of free and unlimited energy as demonstrated
by the following statement.
Can Man control [the ] grandest, most awe inspiring of all
processes in nature?...If he could do this, he would have powers almost
unlimited and supernatural... He could cause planes to collide and produce
his suns and stars, his heat and light. He could originate and develop
life in all its infinite forms....[Such powers] would place him beside
his creator, make him fulfill his ultimate destiny. [16]
We see that Tesla is asking a question, speculating, searching for an answer.
If Tesla had developed free energy sources or learned how to manipulate
space time and gravity, during the time of his most public and productive
years, (up until about 1920), he would have had answers to those questions.
Tesla's most misunderstood invention is popularly known as the
"Death Ray". It was simply a particle beam weapon which he proposed in
1937 and was fabricated under contracts with Alcoa Aluminum and the English
and Italian governments. [17] It used electrostatic propulsion techniques
and similar devices are being developed today by the Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization (SDIO) and the US Army Strategic Defense Command.
[18]
So we see that mankind has not yet harnessed the infinite power
of the universe as envisioned by Nikola Tesla. The question remains, why
not?
Free energy devices, if they are feasible, are not about smaller
faster microcircuits or a bigger better mouse traps. This is a technology
which may revolutionize the socio-economic status quo on planet Earth.
At this moment the big pie is unevenly divided. One quarter of the population
on this rock, the third stone from the sun, consumes three quarters of
the yearly resource output. As one can easily deduce, from a brief study
of world affairs, there are about three billion people who have just about
had it with this scenario. There are wars starvation and strife in every
nook and cranny of the planet. So what do we do about it?
Spaceship Earth Needs A Flight Plan
Either we divide the pie more evenly or we make the pie larger. The first
option requires that our standard of living must fall so that the standard
of living in the third world may rise. The second option allows us to maintain
our standard of living while we help raise the standard of living of under
privileged nations. This we must do. It is our destiny. It is our responsibility.
It is our final test.
Thirty thousand people starve to death every day on this planet,
most of them are children. Nations fight nations, war is part of our lives.
What drives our economy in the western world, allows us to enjoy a high
standard of living, a life of leisure compared to our neighbors south of
the imaginary line called a border? Many answers both economic, social,
political, and spiritual can be given. We do know that the standard of
living that a nation enjoys is directly related energy consumption.
Energy drives the economies of nations and Tesla's life long goal
was to make electric power equally available to all people any where on
this planet. He continued to promote his plan for the wireless transmission
of power in the yearly interviews he gave on his birthday as late as 1940.
[19] Electrical power allows on site processing of raw materials. Electrical
power can run pumps from water wells in areas affected by drought. Electrical
power delivered to the poverty stricken areas of the world can make the
pie larger, can help bring about the needed economic equality which is
our birth right.
Why hasn't power been made equally available to all people and
nations? Why haven't the much touted free energy devices described by Tom
Bearden, John Bedini, Bruce DePalma, and others ever materialized? Perhaps
because "easy things are seldom done for the same reason that impossible
things are rarely done: no one will pay for anything believed to be easy
or impossible". [20] Perhaps because when we talk about power there
is more there than one would initially visualize. What we are talking about
is personal power, national power, planetary power, karmic power and the
power of love.
The sages tell us that in order to enjoy power we have to let go of
power, to overcome ourselves. As an example this author can describe one
of his recent experiences. After a very successful symposium celebrating
the 100th year after Nikola Tesla arrived in the United States 21, a non
profit corporation, 501(c)(3), was formed specifically to encourage and
pursue research into the inventions and discoveries of Nikola Tesla. Two
years later, after a second symposium, several of the founding members
approached the board of directors with a proposal to validate Tesla's claim
that wireless transmission of power was possible. Board members suggested
that permission be obtained from the FCC, an environmental impact statement
be filed with the EPA, and we should go form "our own non profit corporation".
It was also decided that since there was no procedure to cover research,
the organization could not be involved.
Another goal of the organization had been to establish a museum to be
named the Nikola Tesla Museum of Science and Technology. We proposed that
since 60 -70 billion dollars are given away to non profit organizations
annually, we had as good a chance as any other organization for obtaining
funding, for a museum or research. We reasoned that:
"Since only 16% of the museums in this country are science
museums, this museum in honor of Nikola Tesla will help educate the public
in technological areas. With the need for economic revitalization of industry
in Colorado, 1986is the time to begin supporting the scientific education
of our region. With the current statistics showing that the United States
is falling behind the world technologically, the effort to educate the
public is becoming more important, and the surge of public awareness of
Nikola Tesla's inventions makes him an appropriate namesake for a science
and technology museum." [23]
The board moved to table our proposal indefinitely.
What had happened? Of the 15 - 20 people that had started the
organization only four remained as part of the governing body. Three of
those members were opposed to research. The collective mind of the board
of directors had become the antithesis of the momentum Tesla had gained
in his lifetime. Unlike the independent inventor and businessman, the board
was now composed of members who were bureaucrats and paper pushers for
Fortune 500 companies. Tesla was a vegetarian, the board members all ate
meat. Tesla did not ask for permission to be inventive and strike out on
bold new adventures, the board needed approval from higher sources. The
dichotomies were endless.
Tesla's visions have been delayed for 89 years. The squabbling
started with Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan and Nikola Tesla himself. 24 It
continues to this day. Perhaps the reason for the delay of wireless power
transmission or free energy devices lies even deeper within the human psyche.
Is it possible that we could compare the Tesla story to a biblical story?
Bruce Gordan thinks so. In Gordan's analysis Tesla's attempt at building
a prototype magnifying transmitter parallels Genesis 11:1-9. [25]
"The message; human curiosity and technological derring-do
makes God nervous; God demolishes project, confounds language". Gordan
further outlines the the scenario as follows:
"When everything is perfect, the right time shows up."
[26] This is equivalent to saying, "Absolute knowledge in the hands
of one whose heart is not yet tender, would be a terrible weapon. [27]
We might postulate that technological developments do not occur until the
planet is ready. The recent examination of the theory of Gaia
credits the Earth with an intelligence. "Thousands of years ago, by
means of seeing, sorcerers became aware that the Earth was sentinent and
that its awareness could affect the awareness of humans." [28] By implication
of reciprocity the reverse could be true. The group or collective unconscious
is still struggling with the result of quantum and relativity theory. We
as a race were ready for nuclear power, every thing was perfect and the
right time showed up. Soon we will have put the technology to good use
or abandon it to insure our survival as a species.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT
FREE ENERGY: CREATING AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME
Wireless transmission of power and free energy have not happened yet, perhaps
we aren't ready, perhaps the Earth isn't ready. Pogo said it best, "
we have met the enemy and it is us." In the Jungian view of collective
unconscious, things happen when the time is right, we get what we agree
to. We need a flight plan. And that plan must realize that:
WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE
OVERCOMES
THE LOVE OF POWER
THERE WILL BE PEACE
[Source; Girls Lavatory, Boulder High School, Boulder, Colorado]
Described as "Post Industrial, neo-technical, teen-age graffiti."
"So astounding are the facts in this connection, that it would
seem as though the Creator, himself had electrically designed this planet...."
Nikola Tesla describing what is now known as Schumann Resonance (7.8
Hz) in "The Transmission of Electrical Energy Without Wires As A Means
Of Furthering World Peace", Electrical World And Engineer, January 7, 1905,
PP 21-24.
Footnotes ...
1. Ratzlaff, John, Tesla Said, Tesla Book Company, PO Box 1649, Greenville,
TX 75401, 1984.
2. Yogananda, Paramahansa, Autobiography of a Yogi, Self Realization
Fellowship,, 3880 San Rafael Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065, 1985.
3. Cheney, Margaret, Man Out of Time, Prentice Hall, 1981.
4. Hunt, Inez and Draper. Wanetta, W., Lightning In His Hand,
The Life Story Of Nikola Tesla, Omni Publications, Hawthorne, CA, 1981.
5. O'Neal, John, J., Prodigal Genius, The Life Of Nikola Tesla,
Ives Washington, Inc., 1944.
6. Anderson, Leland, personal communication. See also Anderson,
L.I., and Ratzlaff, J.T., Dr. Nikola Tesla Bibliography, Ragusan Press,
936 Industrial Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303, 1979.
7. Nikhilananda, Swami, Vivekananda, The Yogas and Other Works,
Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, New York, 1973.
8. Nikhilananda, Swami.
9. Dobson, John, personal communication.
7. Dobson, John, Advaita Vedanta and Modern Science, Vedanta Book
Center, 5423 S. Hyde Park, Chicago, IL 60615, 1979.
10. Nikhilananda, Swami.
11. Burke, Marie Louise, Swami Vivekananda in the West, New Discoveries,
The World Teacher, Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, India, 1985, p. 500
12. Grotz, T., "Artificially Stimulated Resonance of the Earth's
Schumann Cavity Waveguide", Proceedings of the Third International New
Energy Technology Symposium/Exhibition, June 25th-28th, 1988, Hull, Quebec,
Planetary Association for Clean Energy, 191 Promenade du Portage/600, Hull,
Quebec J8X 2K6 Canada
13. From the personal collection of L. Anderson.
14. Russell, Lao. personal communication.
15. The University of Science and Philosophy, Swannanoa, Waynesboro,
VA 22980, (703) 942-5161.
16. First written by Tesla on May 13, 1907, for the "Actors Fair
Fund", text transcribed from an A.L.S. in the collections of the Bakken
Library of Electricity in Life. The article later appeared in the "New
York American", July 6, 1930, pg. 10.
17. Tesla, Nikola, The New Art of Projecting Concentrated Non-Dispersive
Energy Through Natural Media, Proceedings of the Tesla Centennial Symposium,
Grotz, T. & Rauscher, E., Editors, 1984.
18. Turchi, P.J.,Conte, D.,Seiler, S., Electrostatic Acceleration
of Microprojectiles to Ultrahypervelocities, "Proceedings of the Seventh
Pulsed Power Conference", June 12th-14th, Monterey, California, Jointly
Sponsored by the DOD, DOE, and the IEEE Electron Devices Society.
19. "Death Ray for Planes", New York Times, September 20, 1940.
20. Pawlicki, T.B., Exploring Hyperspace, 848 Fort Street, Victoria,
B.C., Canada, electronic book on floppy disk, 1988, (Log onto the TESLA
BBS at (719) 486-2775 for copy of ASCII text files)
21. Broad, William J., "Tesla a Bizarre Genius, Regains Aura of
Greatness", New York Times, Aug. 28th, 1984
22. Deleted
23. Grotz, T., & Sheppard, J., The Nikola Tesla Museum of
Science and Technology submitted to the Board of Directors December 12th,
1986. [Available as an ASCII text file on the TESLA BBS (719) 486-2775]
24. Cheney, Margaret, Tesla, Man Out of Time, Prentice Hall Inc, Englewood
Cliffs, NJ, 1981.
25. Gordan, Bruce, private communication, 1988.
26. Arguelles, Jose & Lloydine, personal communication.
27. Hercules, Michael, The Circle of Love, published by the author.
28. Castenada, Carlos, The Power of Silence, Further Lessons of
don Jaun, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1987, Pg. 120.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT TESLA
TESLA BBS: This is a full featured computer Bulletin Board Service
for access to information about current research and the life and times
of Nikola Tesla. A subsection of the Colorado Mountain College BBS, it
may be contacted using a computer and 300/1200/2400 baud modems at (719)
486-2775.
The Tesla Memorial Society The Tesla Coil Builders Association
% Nicholas Kosanovich % Harry Goldman
453 Martin Road RD #6 Box 181
Lackawanna, NY 14218 Glenns Falls, NY 12801
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About the Author...
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