Posted by Neeraj Nama on December 10, 2009 at 2:51pm
Vedic Knowledge and Quantum Mechanics Part - 1The study of materialistic Quantum Mechanics takes many years but even then one’s knowledge of physical reality is incomplete. Materialistic science contains incomplete knowledge of matter and spirit.However, the Vedas explain all, making the knowledge they give complete by combined material and spiritual understanding. For example, they described the material energy as being composed of the smallest particles, paramanu’s. Because of the interplay of the qualities (called the modes or gunas,) of these particles, the desires of the souls and the Supersoul the material world becomes manifested.Enquist and McDonald (2006) estimated the numbers of all the protons in the universe to be 2x10^78.Particles need a designer and creator to become the objects which form together this material world.Hence there is a creator of this world. So God exists.In this essay we will briefly describe the Vedic teaching (gathered from the Vedas the timeless wisdom of India and its followers) and Quantum Mechanics (QM) from materialistic scientific sources and the similarities and divergences.The first question is what is QM? QM is a theory developed to attempt to describe mechanics or workings of the different quanta of matter and its energies. It deals with the behavior these particles on the atomic and subatomic scale. It attempts to describe and account for the constituents of molecules and atoms such as -- electrons, protons, neutrons, energetic particles such as photons, and other more esoteric particles such as quarks, gluons etc.NOTE: in the purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.11.1 Srila Prabhupada states, that science has not yet found the ultimate smallest indivisible particle called paramanu (“the atom”). Gautama Muni’s definition of the atom is similar to Srimad Bhagavatam’s: param va truteh – the “atom” is that which is not capable of being divided.During their research work, some scientists studied the Vedic Sankhya – the analytical study of matter and Vaisesika – the atomic theory because they recognized similarities with QM. For example, Physics Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner said: "... the basic philosophical ideas of the Bhagavad Gita on existence are virtually identical with those which quantum mechanics lead me to." Werner Heisenberg who published the theory of quantum mechanics in 1925 and was Phisics Nobel Laureate (1932) stated, "After the conversations about Indian philosophy, some of the ideas of Quantum Physics that had seemed so crazy suddenly made much more sense".QM theory includes the existence of many dimensions. The also Vedas also explain that there are unlimited number of higher dimensions in addition to the four dimensions known to our conditioned senses. (These are length, breadth, height and duration of time).
In the Vedic sources, Banasura used 1,000 arms to work 500 bows to shoot 2,000 arrows at a time at Krishna. In this case, we are dealing with a materially embodied being liv ing on the earth. One might wonder how 500 material arms could be mounted on one shoulder without interfering with one another. If this is possible, how could they aim 500 bows in the same direction at once? Did the bows pass through each other? In the book ‘Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy” Sadaputa Prabhu explains that this phenomena was possible because of Banasura’s body existed in the higher dimensional space. The whole battle was in a more subtle reality.The Vedic literature nowhere mentions that we can experience the higher dimensions with our material blunt senses not even if we would look through microscopes and telescopes. In other words, like in the example of Arjuna and mother Yasoda, they could see the higher dimensional universal form of Krishna (means everything within the universe because Krishna gave them the ability of the eyes to see that higher dimensional existence. Demigods and sages constantly have the vision of the higher dimensions of existence. Their bodies have higher sensory powers. The highest spiritual sense perception (pratyakshavagamam dharmyam Bg.9.2) one can get only by the mercy of Krishna and thus e.g. see the spiritual dimensions of the holy places like Vrindavana and their eternal residents including Krishna. One can see the spiritual world.There is one interesting point in connection with this. The English missionaries in the 19th century were trying to convince the Indian intellectuals to give up the Vedic culture by explaining the Vedas as only a mythology. They had a book compiled of very esoteric mysteries from the Vedic literature, like the above mentioned of Banasura; the description of Ravana with ten heads; Brahma with four heads etc, etc. Using the Newtonian physics that recognizes only three dimensions, the English missionaries presented such examples as an absurdity, and they would ask the people, especially the intellectuals: “Do you really believe in this?” Thus many Indians having insufficient knowledge and faith in the Vedas would reject their own culture. However, presently even these esoteric descriptions can become acceptable by using the knowledge of higher dimensions explained by QM, which as we mentioned is also described in the Vedic literature. So, the descriptions of this kind implicitly require higher-dimensional conceptions of space.This and some other ideas of QM are quite mysterious. Some are possible to proof by experiment, and some not, still they continue to inspire the scientists to contemplate about them. Realizing that some of the theories cannot be adequately tested by experiment the Harvard physicist Howard Georgi characterized modern theoretical physics as ‘recreational mathematical theology’.Now I will describe a few more interesting ideas of QM e.g. the quantum non-locality which in the Vedic literature is known as ‘prapti-siddhi’.First of all, this theory is superior than Einstein’s theory of relativity which imposes a limitation saying that events in the universe happen at a speed that does not exceed the speed of light. Things happen, in other words, always at the speed of light or less. This is called the “law of local causes”.For example we will know that the sun explodes eight minutes after the explosion since this is the time needed for the light to reach the earth planet.
However, already at the time of Einstein the theory of QM came up which claims that there are forces by which information is spread throughout the universe faster then the speed of light, actually instantly. At the birth of this theory there were no experiments to prove its validity but even then Einstein had a hard time to counteract the idea. Although Einstein was not the propounder of QMT, in 1935, he, together with Nathan Rosen and Boris Podolsky proposed through flawless mathematical reasoning that if the quantum theory were correct, then a change in the motion of one twin particle (previously being one photon particle but then divided through a crystal) would affect its twin photon particle simultaneously, even if the two had been widely separated in the meantime'. The word 'simultaneous' is excluded in the theory of special relativity of Einstein, which forbids the transmission of any signal faster than the speed of light. Obviously, a signal telling the particle 'what to do' (according to QM) is an instantaneous command and therefore faster than the speed of light.In 1964 physicist Bell's Theorem (QM non-locality) emerged as a proof that Einstein's impossible proposition did in fact hold true: instantaneous changes in widely separated systems did occur.In 1972, Clauser confirmed the statistical predictions of quantum mechanics, working with an elaborate system involving photons, calcite crystals, and photo multiplier tubes. The experiment has since been run several times with the same consistent results; Bell's Theorem stands solid.The Bell's theorem is unthinkable to Newtonian physicists. Mathematics and experimentation have taken us where our logical mind cannot go. Just imagine once more, two photon particles once in contact, and then separated even if they travel to the opposite side of the universe will both change their directions instantaneously when a change in one of them occurs! There are many answers why, by different type of people. Some scientists would say that there is something what transfers the information from one photon particle to another quicker than the speed of light and actually simultaneously which means there is a connection between them on the higher dimensional level. The mayavadis impersonalists or the advaitins would say it is because of the universal Brahman, because ultimately everything is one. Krishna or God’s devotees would say it is the Paramatma – God immanent who coordinates and directs everything including photon particles.Physicist Jack Sarfatti of the Physics/Consciousness Research Group proposes that no actual energy-requiring signal is transmitted between the distant objects, but 'information' is transmitted instead. The physicist Nic Herbert suggests that we have merely discovered an elemental oneness of the world. This oneness cannot be diminished by spatial separation. An invisible wholeness unites the objects that are given birth in the universe, and it is this wholeness that we have stumbled into through modern experimental methods.The impersonalist philosophers like these opinions of the scientists, because it confirms their theory of oneness: ‘sarva khalau idam brahma’ – everything is Brahman, and that’s why the two distant photon particles changes simultaneously their directions. Still the question remains why these two particles act different from all the other particles and by which system the two particles are synchronized. We can authoritatively say that this controlling activity is due to the universal super-consciousness, the Paramatma or God the Supersoul since we never saw anything done under the ultimate control of an impersonal force – “impersonal force controlling” has no meaning since controlling means thinking, feeling, willing and this is the definition of person - nor we have experience of acts happening without control.This phenomena needs forces that travel with infinite speed what is not possible to measure in the laboratory, but numerous experiments at the best universities in the world have demonstrated the existence of forces that operate faster than the speed of light, thereby providing impressive empirical evidence for non-locality.In the Vedic literatures there are descriptions of abilities like going to the other side of the universe or taking something from other planets e.g. a heavenly apple, in no time. This is called prapti-siddhi, one of the mystic powers of the yogis. Nowadays some modern physicists seriously speculate about the use of quantum non-locality in communications and even teleportation, which is the same as prapti-siddhi. But will they succeed?Great yogis, such as Kardama Muni, are unaware of the underlying processes that translate their desires into physical actions. When Kardama Muni created an entire flying city, as described in the third canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, he was amazed. So, if even Kardama Muni did not understand the wonderful working of material nature what to say about the scientists who have therefore even less chance for that. Actually, it is said that only Krsna can fully understand His own energy. Moreover, if the scientist don’t understand the existence of the soul and after that the existence of God they are just wasting their time. Referring to the example of Srila Vyasadeva, when he became selfrealized he understood Krsna the living entities and the power of the material energy as well. Therefore, it would be better that the scientists understand Krsna by practice of self-realization and then they would fully understand the material energy as well.Fortunately some of the scientists are realizing the need to understand more than only the material energy. E.g. the Danish nuclear physicist Niels Bohr, also a Nobel laureate, stated, "All of us know that there is such a thing as consciousness, simply because we have it ourselves. Hence consciousness must be a part of nature, or, more generally, of reality, which means that quite apart from the laws of physics and chemistry, as laid down in quantum theory, we must consider laws of quite a different kind." Such laws will include e.g. the laws of reincarnation, which govern the passage of consciousness from one physical body into another, the three modes of material nature (gunas), the 28 mystic perfections or yoga-siddhis (see Srimad Bhagavatam 11.15.3-9).As mentioned in the beginning of this essay, QM attempts to describe and account for the properties of molecules and atoms. Here at the end let us see what the Vedas say about atoms (paramanus) and their interactions.According to the Veda the paramanus are components of the six kinds of quarks (elementary subatomic particles), the six types of anti-quarks and the leptons (the electron, positron and neutron). These are the smallest particles known in the western science. Each of these particles is a little smaller then the 10^-18cm. The size of the atom of the western materialistic science is 1 angstrom (10^-10cm).The paramanu according to the Nyaya-Vaisesika is 0.79x10^-22 cm. The radiations or energies, the modes or the gunas of the paramanus all differ. They mix to give varieties of quarks (elementary subatomic particles) and leptons. If these assemble then we get for example, mesons an elementary particle having a mess between that of an electron and proton (these particles were originally named mesotrons by Heisenberg), protons, antiprotons, hadrons, baryons, neutrons. Atoms and molecules are composed of these particles. The further combination of these particles will give the elements or the objects of unlimited varieties of qualities of our world. The qualities, modes or guna’s means in relation to rupa, sparsa, sabda, rasa and gandha (form, touch, sound, taste and smell). The paramanus are the building blocks of the universe and the gunas are like the concrete that bind the paramanus.The types of qualities and the quality of intensities are controlled by the Paramatma. For example, as the light is dimmed or adjusted.(Contd....)
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