How Bernoulli and Rumi Enlightened My Understanding of Life's Flux
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Fluid Dynamics and Spirituality
In this piece, I promise to connect spirituality with engineering, but let's start from a foundational point. As a mechanical engineer, I hold both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in this field, dedicating years to automotive product development. My work primarily revolved around designing systems for engine cooling. While I may not be the glamorous auto designer that many envision, the work I did felt like magic. I played a crucial role in ensuring that when you pressed the gas pedal, the car would accelerate smoothly—although I didn't concern myself with how it came to a stop; that was someone else's responsibility.
My role involved circulating coolant—a non-compressible fluid—through the engine and radiator. Understanding fluid movement is essential; essentially, a fluid flows due to differences in pressure energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy. In simple terms, fluids like water tend to travel from areas of high pressure to low pressure.
Just as fluids seek lower pressure zones, we too tend to flee from pressure. In mechanical systems, we create this pressure difference using pumps. This can involve generating high pressure to push fluids away or creating a vacuum to draw them in. This concept of a vacuum applies to us as well; we are attracted to what delights us, be it a beautiful vacation destination or a scrumptious meal.
Image created by the author using Canva.
Chapter 2: The Cycle of Contraction and Expansion
Connecting this to spirituality reveals a fascinating pattern in my life—and likely in everyone’s existence. We experience cycles of contraction—marked by challenges, grief, and difficulties—and expansion—filled with joy, laughter, and achievements. These phases resemble a sinusoidal wave.
During contraction, we often find ourselves complaining and feeling unfortunate, as if life has dealt us a poor hand. It’s essential to acknowledge that while hardships are real, they serve a purpose. Just as fluids move under pressure, we also find ourselves propelled forward during tough times. Eventually, these struggles pass, and we embrace the joy of life once more, often feeling we deserve these good times.
In our lives, we may yearn for love, fulfilling careers, or delightful meals during expansion, akin to the vacuum that draws fluids in. Thus, the cyclical nature of contraction and expansion keeps us in motion, reminding us of the transient nature of all states we experience.
In an engine, pumps create the necessary pressure difference to move fluids, cooling the engine in the process. Similarly, in our lives, the driving force behind our movements can vary for each individual. Personally, I refer to this force as The Creative Life Force, guiding us toward the Center of Existence through the rhythm of contraction and expansion.
Reflecting on the words of Rumi, I find a resonance in this idea:
“Fishermen do not pull in a fish all at once. When the hook has caught in the fish’s mouth, they pull it a bit so that it will bleed and lose its strength. Then they keep letting it out and pulling it in until its strength is completely sapped. When the hook of love catches in a person’s mouth, God pulls it gradually so that all the excess strength and 'blood' in him go away little by little. God contracteth and extendeth.”
We may either enjoy or resent the ride on these waves, but what remains constant is that they propel us toward the Center of existence.
Chapter 3: The Legacy of Bernoulli
You might be curious about the significance of Bernoulli in all of this. Daniel Bernoulli, born on February 8, 1700, in Groningen, was a pivotal figure in the study of fluid dynamics. Despite his medical studies, his passion for mathematics and physics shone through, particularly in understanding fluid movement.
In 1738, Bernoulli published "Hydrodynamica," where he introduced what is now known as the Bernoulli principle, reflecting his comprehension of fluid flow and energy conservation. Yet, his journey was not without challenges; he had to navigate a competitive relationship with his father, Johann Bernoulli, a prominent mathematician who often overshadowed him.
Although I can't say if Daniel consciously linked fluid pressure to his familial pressures, his discoveries in fluid dynamics have prompted me to reflect deeply on my own life.
The Bernoulli Equation (simplified) states that for steady, incompressible, and non-viscous fluid flow along a streamline:
Bernoulli Equation
Where:
P = Pressure in the fluid (Pa or N/m²)
ρ = Density of the fluid (kg/m³)
v = Velocity of the fluid (m/s)
g = Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)
h = Height above a reference point (m)
This equation encapsulates the essence of fluid dynamics, much like the cycles of life that we experience.