Quantum Mechanics and Spirituality

The objection to spirituality, in many cases, is that we do not understand or experience spirituality. It is a difficult subject and therefore, we reject it. And therefore, we reject God. If this be a logical argument, then how much of modern science do we understand? Here are some quotes from very famous personalities:

"I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics." - Richard Feynman

"There is now in my opinion no entirely satisfactory interpretation of quantum mechanics." - Steven Weinberg

Albert Einstein, himself one of the founders of quantum theory, did not accept some of the more philosophical or metaphysical interpretations of quantum mechanics.
"God does not play with dice" - Albert Einstein

Hence, would all of us, who had problems with Spirituality, and for sure do not understand modern science, stop believing in science. Of course, not. We all want to cling to some faith system. Therefore we would continue to hold on to modern science, for it suits a lot of other things that we do. Scientific temper, though not discretely or directly, encourages materialism, immorality etc. It reduces all of the manifestation to matter, which according to many, is an inferior substance that was created for man to exploit it. Therefore, continue extravaganza at the cost of hurting the spirit in matter.

However a very interesting fact, which is mostly hidden from us, is that many of the scientists were very spiritual and they found meaning in both science and spirituality. A very few quotes would do justice to this argument.

For a parallel to the lesson of atomic theory . . .  we must turn to those kinds of epistemological problems with which already thinkers like the Buddha and Lao Tzu have
been confronted, when trying to harmonize our position as spectators and actors in the great drama of existence. -  Niels Bohr Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge p20
The great scientific contribution in theoretical physics that has come from Japan since the last war may be an indication of a certain relationship between philosophical ideas in the tradition of the Far East and the philosophical substance of quantum theory. Physics and Philosophy - Werner Heisenberg (p202)

The general notions about human understanding . . . which are illustrated by discoveries in atomic physics are not in the nature of things wholly unfamiliar, wholly unheard of, or new. Even in our own culture they have a history, and in Buddhist and Hindu thought a more considerable and central place. What we shall find is an exemplification, an encouragement, and a refinement of old wisdom.’ Julius Robert Oppenheimer, Science and the Common Understanding, pp. 8-9

Hundreds of years ago, Indian artists created visual images of dancing Shiva's in a beautiful series of bronzes. In our time, physicists have used the most advanced technology to portray the patterns of the cosmic dance. - Frifjof Capra,  Tao of Physics 

The way to a truer self, of a conscious living

...the mind has to be consulted in its own growth. The idea of hammering the child into the shape desired by the parent or teacher is a barbarous and ignorant superstition.                       

 - Sri Aurobindo

Conversation 2

"What is our aim in life? Is it to earn fame, money and power? Has our intellect reduced this beautiful life to a game, which gives us these three fruits? What is a truer goal or aim to our life? Can we not grow out of these animal instincts and think of truly genuine goals, which are higher than these? Or are we too involved playing this game that we have no awareness of a life beyond these basic needs?"

"Well, I think you pretty much answered your own question. Yes, what we do everyday is to work hard to accumulate all of these three things, money, fame and power. And they are interlinked. The more money one has, the more power, the more fame. Who has the time and energy to listen to anything that you are saying? Most of them would call you crazy."

"I know. I have experienced that. However, if I feel very strongly that we are on a wrong path, I should say it. If somebody listens to me, he or she may at least start to think. And I am sure, I am not the only one who feels this way in the world. There have been many spiritual people who have said this, lived a life devoid of the three rewards. There are many people who live life for life's sake. But, still a lot of people are blindly going about their routine without thinking. I feel very strongly that they are addicted to the game. They are also constantly comparing themselves with other people who are slightly better at playing the same game. This comparison makes them insecure, jealous etc. So they start playing the game even harder."

 "Not everybody is playing the game. There are many people who are in the game because they wish to earn a livelihood. And they find that this is the only way to do so. They are sincerely participating to stay alive. They know pretty well that they are not good enough to compete with the better ones. They have accepted their place in the game. What do you think about them?"

"Sure. Generalizing is a bad idea. Everybody is not the same. There are many people who do not even belong here, they have already realized the limitation of the game and are in a way realized souls. My concern is about the others who are involved in the game, either knowing very well that they should not be participating or not being aware that they are indeed playing the game. Some people accept that they cannot compete, so they start preparing their children to achieve what they could not. Isn't that unjust? Isn't a child an independent soul? Why should a parent thrust something on an independent soul, so forcefully?"

"But children need direction. How will they know what to do in life? If the parent does not provide the necessary direction, the child would probably just waste the time that is at hand and not learn anything. Of course, the amount of force that a parent applies to the child in order to provide that direction is debatable."

"Do you sincerely believe that the child becomes what the parent aspires or desires? This is hardly the case. Yes, I do understand that the parent requires to guide a child in its early years. But once the child grows up and becomes self aware, is the direction needed? Did we all become what our parents wanted us to be? Or we found our own path? Often we blame children when they do not perform. However are we providing them with proper environment to grow up? Is it justified to send them to a school which is more of a jail? Would you at this age spend your time in a school that does not give you choices or freedom? Aren't we justifying the school setup because we do not have solutions for the schooling problem? We keep quiet telling ourselves that this is the best that we have and that everybody is doing this. What a dire submission? We are succumbing to a power that dictates us as to how the life of our children has to be?"

"I agree. The schools are a compromise. But then, as you say, we do not have too many options, do we?"

"The options can emerge once we agree that the current system is bad. Or we demand the system to change, to accommodate a saner practice. It took me quite a bit of convincing to make you see what I am saying. You are so close to me, yet it is so difficult. Imagine me trying to say the same thing to strangers. I will be exhausted, probably shouted down upon. But in my heart, I know the world is changing and the children are demanding better lives. I hope that the force of that collective demand will change our ways soon."   

The way to a truer self, of a conscious living

God shall grow up while the wise men talk and sleep

 Savitri, Sri Aurobindo

 

Conversation 1

"I am choking, why do I feel that there are tens of kilograms of stones attached to my legs and body. I feel suffocation everywhere."

"Are you crazy? You are one of the many successful persons that this century has produced. Compare yourself with the earlier generations. They were all living a difficult life. They struggled with a lot of things. You know what I am saying? Don't you?"

"Yes. I do. Still the suffocation is so strong that I wish I run away from all of this. We run behind fame and wealth. Fame is never bestowed easily and we should accept it. Even if it is present, it is ephemeral.  And wealth - how much do we really need? After a certain level, the rest is just extra. When your stomach is full, no matter what you are served, you just say, No Thank you. Don't you?"

"What about your family? Do you not want to think about them?"

"There is enough for their needs. And the extra that they may need, I am confident that they will be able to earn for themselves with their own intelligence. Did we not do that? Are we living off of our parents' gifts? Hardly any. This is another of that load that I have tied to my legs by listening to you. I mean not you personally, but the social psyche at large."

"I see what you are saying. That way we are so into trying to please the social psyche. So, we never question. Only once in a while someone like you question the trodden path, we wake up and start thinking about such things. So, what's in your mind? Do you feel like running away?"

"No, not at all. I really do like all that I have. I am just tired of the game. I wish to step out of it, call quits, hang up the boots. I just want to be there, not participating. Not trying to win always. Just be."

"How's that possible? You need to have a livelihood, a routine etc.?"

"I want to be occupied but not necessarily go after money. That way I participate but not necessarily play the game."

"Elaborate please."

"Let's say that I do something sincerely, may be something that I like. But even if I get to do something I do not like, I just do it honestly and do it as though I am the one who is the beneficiary of that work. Not because someone is telling me to do it. And, remove unnecessary stress from that job. For e.g. I had to get something ready by say next Monday, I will sincerely try to do that, but not get stressed to achieve that at all costs."

"Is that possible? There are always deadlines. People do not let you be in peace."

"I don't know. Maybe we assume a lot. Do you remember the extra ordinary rain fall that flooded Mumbai many years ago? There were many delays that it caused. And several companies shifted their deadlines due to this natural calamity. Would you have argued the same as you are arguing now towards that? Obviously no. So, I will tell people that I have been hit with a natural calamity, that of doing things honestly, sincerely and optimally. And it takes time."

"May be. But it is quite difficult to do that, as people have become very impatient today. If you don't give them what they want, there are tens of other providers. You will lose if you stick to your stubborn ways."

"That is precisely the game that I am trying to not play. I am ready to let go of that little extra profit that a hurried work may bring along. But I am sure people are quite smart. They may be in a hurry today, for they do not know the value of honesty, sincerity and hard work. Once I become  good at what I do, these same people will surely come back to me. They will also honour my values, not just work. What we are failing to understand is that the trade involves not just talents, but also values. No matter how much you ignore core values, for the sake of better returns, they will haunt you in some way or the other. The question is, are you smart enough to witness the very complex ways of life. May be you and I are so engrossed in playing the game, we have lost our ability to watch or witness our own game."

"I see what you are saying. We are so busy playing, we never stop and review what is happening in our life. We keep thinking that we giving our best, which may be true, but often it is our best sans core values. We may cheat without even knowing. We may bad mouth without thinking. We judge without listening to the other side."

"Do you now see why I say that I am carrying weights all the while and they suffocate me?"