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Is spirituality associated with an unknown energy of the universe? (December 2025)

Can spirituality be considered a means by which, through an unspecified process, it is possible to perceive a force or energy that is still unknown but intrinsic to nature? It has been demonstrated that living organisms utilize forms of energy, including electromagnetism and gravity. The orientation of migratory birds is influenced by Earth's magnetism. Light governs vision, ultraviolet light affects the skin, and infrared light activates perspiration in many animals. Gravity, for its part, imposes restrictions on the possible forms that living organisms can take. However, these natural energies exert minimal influence on the psyche. The hypothesis that a fundamental energy in the universe exerts a mediating influence through spirituality to engender psychic effects therefore warrants consideration. This energy, by analogy with other forms of energy, should manifest itself at the cellular level, and perhaps even at the molecular or at the atomic level.
This notion was proposed by Henri Bergson in 1907 with his concept of élan vital. The principles of Mahayana Zen Buddhism and the Hindu-Tantric concept of chakras are close relatives. This French philosopher (1859-1941) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927 in recognition of his innovative style of philosophical writing. Additionally, he possessed a background in mathematics, having won awards in this discipline, and had acquired knowledge in physics and biology through self-study. He engaged in discourse with Einstein and a few of the pioneers of quantum physics, particularly on the definition of time.
The concept of élan vital, as posited by Bergson, is predicated on metaphysical principles while concurrently acknowledging scientific considerations. This concept pertains to a creative energy, a cosmic force that permeates matter, generates life, and accounts for evolution and novelty in nature, in accordance with Darwin's theory of evolution. This energy is distinct from other forms of energy because it is both unmeasurable and unlocatable. According to Bergson, it is associated with an indivisible psychic time rather than the scientific time viewed as an interval composed of a succession of moments. This indivisible duration is conceptualized as a continuous thread within the psyche, wherein the past is preserved, becomes one with the present, and merges into it to the extent that each present moment prolongs and can even modify the previous ones.
This energy is present in all forms of life, whether animal or plant. Bergson links it to the nervous system as a whole. In his view, the consciousness of more evolved animals is merely a more sophisticated receptor that enables more efficient use of this energy. This gradation gives rise to a distinction between instinct, intuition, and intelligence as forms of consciousness adapted to the animal's survival needs. The most complex consciousnesses consist of a combination of intelligence and intuition, which represent two possible directions for this energy. Intelligence, in this sense, is oriented towards matter and technical action, and is predicated on the notion of time as defined by scientists. Intuition is a driver for spirituality and is in the realm of the psychic time. Intelligence, therefore, is employed by animals in the construction of concrete and abstract structures, while intuition is utilized for creative endeavors and the development of an artistic sensibility. 

Consequently, it is futile for us to attempt to conceptualize the élan vital through the lens of rational thought. It is more appropriate to rely on intuition, which is developed through experience and feeling. In order to assess the magnitude or intensity of this phenomenon, it would be necessary to formulate a mathematical model predicated on indivisible duration, as it manifests through intuitive perception.

Following the seminal contributions of Bergson, the field of mathematics has witnessed significant advancements in its capacity to conceptualize indivisible phenomena. Advancements in quantum physics have contributed to this development. Quantum entanglement, for instance, exhibits properties that, akin to Bergson's élan vital, necessitate an explanation that encompasses indivisible duration. Furthermore, a novel approach in biology, quantum biology, has emerged that takes quantum entanglement into account when studying living organisms. The phenomenon of quantum entanglement, observed in photons or particles, has been identified as a potential catalyst for the generation of cognitive coherence. 

These developments in the fields of mathematics, quantum physics, and quantum biology pave the way for a theory of spirituality based on the existence of a vital energy that spreads throughout the universe through an indivisible duration. To achieve this, researchers are working with such mathematical models as those based on non-commutative geometry or Hilbert spaces.

In my next article, this reflection will be continued from a different perspective, based on the principle of causality, which is of significant importance to physicists. I will attempt to determine which approach best explains the benefits of spirituality for the survival of a species: a fundamental energy with properties similar to Bergson's élan vital, or an emergent property of brain activity, as proposed in the September 2025 article. It is noteworthy that in both scenarios, the EDV model articulated in this blog remains valid!!