Toward a Unified Theory of Emptiness

Dear Editor, I am pleased to submit our original research article titled “Toward a Unified Theory of Emptiness: A Computational–Neuro–Buddhist–Cosmological Framework” for consideration for publication in Consciousness.The nature of “selfhood” and its dissolution remains one of the most significant challenges in contemporary consciousness research. While neuroscientific models effectively describe functional self-mapping, they often lack a formal, mechanistic account of the ontological collapse observed in meditative, psychedelic, and non-dual states. Our work addresses this critical gap by introducing the Unified Emptiness–Consciousness Model (UECM).Key Innovations and Findings:Formalization of Emptiness: We reconceptualize "emptiness" (śūnyatā) not as a metaphysical negation, but as a universal structural property of information-processing systems. Using variational inference, we define emptiness as a state of maximum-entropy informational openness (pME). The Computational Cost of Being: Our theory posits that "objectification", the construction of a stable self-model is a thermodynamically expensive state of symmetry-breaking. We demonstrate that emptiness is, in fact, the most energy-efficient inferential regime for complex self-organizing systems. Non-linear Phase Transitions & Hysteresis: Through simulation, we identify a sharp, non-linear phase transition from ego-bound cognition to non-dual awareness. Crucially, our model reveals a Hysteresis effect, providing the first mechanistic explanation for the irreversibility (non-retrogression) of structural cognitive shifts. Testable Empirical Benchmarks: The UECM generates a suite of falsifiable predictions across multiple modalities, including increased Lempel–Ziv complexity, decreased DMN modularity, and attenuated Mismatch Negativity (MMN). Given the multidisciplinary nature of our framework, bridging Computational Neuroscience, Statistical Physics, Process Chemistry, and Buddhist Ontology, we believe our findings will resonate deeply with the broad readership of Zenodo. This work not only advances a scalable research program for consciousness studies but also offers profound implications for Artificial Intelligence safety and non-dual ethics.We confirm that this manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission.Thank you for your time and for considering our work. We look forward to your positive response. Sincerely,Phumiphat Praisantfirsttimeemittsrif@gmail.com