Empedocles - God is a circle, of which the center is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere

The nature of God is a circle, of which the center is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere. ~Empedocles


I saw this quote from Empedocles, a pre-socrates philosopher and wanted to learn more.  I always find it interesting how widely accepted and long-held the view of omnipresence is.  The pantheism of Ekonkar was not just the accepted principle originating in the Vedas; it was also the concept agreed to by Greek philosophers before Socrates!


Empedocles was a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived in the 5th century BCE (~490–430 BC). He is known for his work on natural philosophy and his contributions to the development of the four-element theory.

Empedocles believed in the idea of God's omnipresence, although his views on this topic were somewhat different from those of later philosophers. According to Empedocles, God was present in everything, not because he was an infinite being, but because everything that existed was composed of the four basic elements: earth, air, fire, and water. These elements were in a constant state of flux, coming together and breaking apart to create everything that existed.

For Empedocles, God was not a distinct entity or being, but rather a force or power that was present in all things. He believed that this force was responsible for the continuous transformation of the elements, and that it was the ultimate source of all life and movement in the universe.

Empedocles's idea of God's omnipresence was closely linked to his view of the universe as a constantly changing and evolving system. For him, everything that existed was part of this system, and God's presence was felt in every aspect of it. In this sense, Empedocles's view of God's omnipresence was not so much a theological concept as it was a naturalistic one, emphasizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things in the natural world.

Not only this, Empedocles' notion of death also makes sense:

To the elements it came from
Everything will return.
Our bodies to earth,
Our blood to water,
Heat to fire,
Breath to air.


More uncanny similarities to Guru Nanak's views:

Wise people, who have learned the secret of life, are next to the divine, and their souls, free from the cycle of reincarnations, are able to rest in happiness for eternity.


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