The Buddha and Quatum-physics

Physicists experienced that the light sent from the atomic shell always appeared in completely determined integral multiples of the smallest quantity of light. It flowed thus not continuously, but in small packages, and their discoverer, Max Plank called them (light-) quanta. These light quanta - which are now called photons - put themselves in contradiction to all logic. Sometimes they appeared, as if they were really small, material packages; then again they appeared as immaterial, electromagnetic waves.

Such a thing could not be, »either - or« was at that time the generally recognized motto, either material or not material, but not both at the same time. It took for a long time, until physicists accepted this contradiction and thereby ruined for themselves their old, safe world view, so that now the classical conception of an objective description of nature is not valid any longer.

The relativity- and quantum theory, the two ground-pillars of modern physics, make clear that this reality exceeds classical logic and that we cannot talk any longer in usual language about it. Max Plank, who dedicated his whole life to the subject, formulates the summary realization of his research as follows: "There is actually no matter! Not the visible, but transient matter is the true one, real one, but the invisible immortal spirit is the reality".

The observation of elementary particles in quantum physics takes place on the threshold of time and space, as it were at the birth place of matter. Here still, like Heisenberg says, time and space blur themselves. Before and afterwards becomes however clearer, the further we penetrate into rougher and larger structure of matter. If we go however in the other direction, then first the clear distinguishing marks are lost between time and space, between what is before and what is after, until this separation disappears completely and we arrive where there are no differences at all, but where only unity prevails. Here there is neither time nor space; here eternal Here and Now prevails. It is the point which contains everything and nevertheless is called nothing. The east calls it Nirvana.  

Quantum physics penetrates thus into ranges where time and space, i.e. matter does not exist anymore. Where there is no before or after, but only »nothing«, only space- and timeless

eternity.      

Even after completion of its mathematical formulation the terms of the quantum theory were by no means easy to accept. The effect on the conception the physicists had of reality was badly shaken.  The new physics required profound changes of fundamental ideas such as space, time, subject, presence, cause and effect. Thus Heisenberg: "One can only understand this violent reaction to the recent development of modern physics, if one recognizes that the foundation of physics and the natural science are in motion and that this movement causes a feeling, as if the ground, on which the science stands, is pulled away from under my feet".

Modern physics discovers with complicated machines only old wisdom anew, which theBuddha already discovered 2500 years ago. What the Buddha discovered was so unbelievable, that only mystics could understand, but nowadays quantum physics helps more and more people to understand it. Is the Buddha actually the discoverer of quantum-physics?  

Many physicists, who were educated in a tradition, that brought mysticism in connection with vague mysterious and most unscientific things, where shocked, when their ideas were compared with those of the mystics.  Fortunately this attitude has now changed. Now meditation is not regarded any longer as ridiculous or with suspicion, mysticism is now taken seriously within the community of the scientists.  

Mystics stress the fact that our thinking takes place in time, but that vision can exceed time. Mystics state also that when they are outside of time they are also outside of cause and effect.  Instead of a linear succession of instants, mystics experience an infinite, timeless and nevertheless dynamic present.

In modern physics the question of consciousness in connection with the observation of atomic phenomena developed. The quantum theory has proved clearly that these phenomena are to be understood only as members of a chain in a process. The end of this chain lies in the consciousness of the human observer.

The understanding of one's own consciousness and its relation to the remaining universe is the starting point of all mystical experience. Then there is hardly still doubt about the meaning of the parallels between the world view of the physicists and the mystics. The interesting question is not then, whether this parallel exists, but why, and further, what follows from it.

The parallels become plausible, if we regard the similarities, which exist despite the different beginnings. First of all their methods are purely empirical: Physicists derive their knowledge from attempts, mystics from meditative realization. Both are observations, and both ranges of these observations are recognized as the only source of knowledge. The subject of observation is certainly in both cases very different. The mystic looks inward and investigates his consciousness on different levels, which includes the body as physical manifestation of the spirit.                  

Contrary to the mystics the physicists begins the study of the nature of things with the study of the material world. With the penetration into deeper layers of the subject he becomes conscious of the unity of all things and procedures. Beyond that he also learned that he and his consciousness are an integral part of this unity. Thus the mystics and the physicist come to the same conclusion, the one starting from the realm inside, the other from the outer world. A further similarity between the way of the physicist and the mystics lies in the fact that their observation takes place on levels which are not accessible to the usual senses.

Although the theories of the physicists are similar to those of the mystics, it is noticeable how little this affects the attitude of most scientists. In mysticism knowledge cannot be separated from a correct way of life, which becomes its live manifestation. To acquire mystical   knowledge means to undergo a transformation. One could even say that this knowledge is the transformation. On the other hand, today's physicists apparently hardly take notice of the effects of their theories.