Balance in Nature
Shinzen Young, in reponse to a Brain Pickings post on seventeen historically significant mathematical equations:
Just for the record, here's my all-time favorite equation:
First, let me admit that the way I just wrote it involves some abuse of notation. Properly, it should be written this way:
But I think the former form is justified for the visual effect.
To the eye, it seems to equate two closed curves that have symmetry: A regular triangle, with 3-fold rotational symmetry (the minimum possible) and the circle with infinite rotational symmetry (the maximum possible).
But as a mathematical formula, it represents the "generalized Laplacian equation."
This equation is one of the broadest statements of balance in nature. Phenomena as different as three-dimensional thermodynamic equilibrium and four-dimensional relativistic motion can be described by this equation.
To me, it's a reminder that "mutually-canceling polarities" play a fundamental role both in the physical world as described abstractly by scientists and in the spiritual world as described concretely by mystics.
See also:
- The Joy of Mathematics (video lectures from The Teaching Company) by Arthur Benjamin
- The Joy of Mathematics: Discovering Mathematics All around You (book) by Theoni Pappas
- Why Does E=mc2? (And Why Should We Care?) by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw
- Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife
- Shinzen's Blog
- Phone-based retreats and classes
- Articles, CDs, onsite retreats
- YouTube Talks
- YouTube Interviews