Quantum Physics
with Regard to Spirituality
by Alex Paterson
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Science & Spirituality - Quantum physics is at the cutting edge of Western science and goes beyond Einstein's Theory of Relativity. The interesting thing about quantum physics is that the original impetus giving rise to it, namely the pursuit of the elemental building blocks of the Universe (separate elementary particles), has become meaningless with the discovery that the Universe would appear to be an undivided whole that is in perpetual dynamic flux..
Like Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Quantum Physics suggests that matter is just a form of energy (i.e. matter could be considered as 'slowed down' energy) and that like energy, it does not exist with certainty in definite places, but rather shows 'tendencies' to exist..
Even more intriguing is the notion that the existence of an observer is fundamental to the existence of the Universe, known as The Observer Effect, implying that the Universe is a product of consciousness.. (ie the Mind of God) 1
As American physicist, Barbara Brennan, states in her book 'The Hands of Light': "Through experiments over the past few decades physicists have discovered matter to be completely mutable into other particles or energy and vice-versa and on a subatomic level, matter does not exist with certainty in definite places, but rather shows 'tendencies' to exist. Quantum physics is beginning to realise that the Universe appears to be a dynamic web of interconnected and inseparable energy patterns. If the universe is indeed composed of such a web, there is logically no such thing as a part. This implies we are not separated parts of a whole but rather we are the Whole"..2
Quantum Physicist, Dr David Bohm goes further in his book 'The Implicate Order' in which he states that.. "primary physical laws cannot be discovered by a science that attempts to break the world into its parts.. 3 Yet this is the exact methodology of classic science still taught in most of our educational institutions today..
Bohm writes of an "implicate enfolded order" which exists in an un-manifested state and which is the foundation upon which all manifest reality rests. Bohm calls this manifest reality "the explicate unfolded order"..
Bohm goes on to say "parts are seen to be in immediate connection, in which their dynamical relationships depend in an irreducible way on the state of the whole system... Thus, one is led to a new notion of unbroken wholeness which denies the classical idea of analyzability of the world into separately and independently existent parts"..4
The recent findings of Quantum Physics (especially Dr Bohm's work), about the universe being made up of an "interconnected unbroken wholeness", and the 'Observer Effect' implying that consciousness underlies all reality has striking parallels with the ancient Esoteric concept that all reality is the manifestation of single immense entity or creative principle. However, none of this is surprising to those who have experienced the 'Oneness' associated with a holotropic state..5
FOOTNOTES
1) The still-dominant "Copenhagen interpretation" of Quantum Theory developed by Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Wolfgang Pauli, and others says two basic things: Reality is identical with the totality of observed phenomena (which means reality does not exist in the absence of observation), and Quantum mechanics is a complete description of reality; no deeper understanding is possible.. Source: David Bohm by Will Keepin
2) Source: 'Hands of Light' by Barbara Brennan p24
3) Source: 'The Implicate Order' by David Bohm
4) See: David Bohm by Will Keepin
5) See: Esoteric Theory by Alex Paterson