what does the author mean?

[KLPNO]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to ask what the author means by saying "Discovering the nature and significance of orbs clearly surpasses the sum of the orbs’ compo­nents" in the following context:

Discovering the nature and significance of orbs clearly surpasses the sum of the orbs’ compo­nents. Orbs cast a new light on the philosophical/spiritual/scientific realization that “All is One.” In this expanded way of looking at real­ity, our diverse findings are fundamentally congruent. The presenta­tion of our views and findings in this separate format allows you, the reader, to experience firsthand this synergism of the theological/ scientific and scientific/theological frames.

To be exact I can't understand the second part of the sentence in relation to the first part of the sentence, i.e. how 'discovering the nature and significance of orbs' can surpass 'the sum of orbs' component'?

[David L.]

think of a jigsaw puzzle, with all its pieces. Then put the pieces together by their cut-out shapes and by their colour. Then, say, it is only when the jigsaw is complete that you realize what the jigsaw is a picture of.

'orbs' have components
put them together like jigsaw pieces
then "Discovering the nature and significance of orbs" is like suddenly recognizing the full picture, the whole thing, now that all the components are in place, together.

But oh, dear. It sounds sooooooooo metaphysical....or meta-something.