The Higgs boson, nicknamed the "God particle", explains an element of physics that has been elusive for decades – why all matter has mass.
One of the greatest pleasures we can experience in life is fulfilling the desire to know. And as much as we take pleasure in discovering what appears to us to be new information, there is even a greater pleasure, paradoxically, in discovering that which is still not known.
Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why there is such an incredible excitement the world over about the new developments that have taken place in Geneva, Switzerland with the large machine termed the "Higgs boson," as we celebrate the results of the research that began four decades ago.
The Higgs boson, nicknamed the "God particle", explains an element of physics that has been elusive for decades – why all matter has mass. And many are betting on the possibility of this milestone allowing us to better understand the very beginning of existence.
First proposed as a theory in the 1960s, the maddeningly elusive Higgs had been worked on by at least two generations of scientists who believed it would help shape our understanding of how the universe's most elemental pieces fit together.
There is no doubt in my mind that the findings of this research are going to generate a whole new discussion and many new opinions regarding our existence and regarding G-d; after all, the subject matter of the discovery is the "God particle." It certainly won't be surprising to hear this research gain center attention amongst theologians; but, at the same time, many will continue to reject the idea of G-d being part of this discussion.
Whichever way one approaches the discovery of the G-d particle, one thing is for certain: we are living in the most amazing of times. Our desire for more discovery, especially of new ideas, is being fulfilled at a seemingly impossible pace to maintain.
And when it comes to uncharted waters, we always must be reminded about the conflict that exists between our preconceived notions and new ideas. This is why the beginning of wisdom is termed within kabbalistic teachings, as "chochma" -- because the Hebrew word "chochma" is made up of two words that together mean, the power of "what." For when we put aside our preconceived notions and we are open to the new question of "what," we become available to experience one of the highest pleasures of life: the knowledge that provides the basis for new ideas. What many characterize as personal growth is really spiritual growth.
How ironic that many consider religion backward-looking. They would ignore that, as others have said, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We are guided by truths that allow us, indeed require us, to keep an open mind.
And to end in the words of Albert Einstein who dared to explore the horizons of the unknown: “The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”