What was there before the BIG BANG happened?

This is a feeder Q.Could it be that what preceded was not a chemical event that caused the almighty explosion? Gregory Bateson suggests that thought came before an energy explosion.Was there something like a primordial energy that gave birth to elementary matter and fundamental particles from which arose what we now term as the Universe? And is it also possible that we hold it within us the secret of understanding the nature of the elemental advent? Thoughtful answers only. Thanks.