Quantum Physics Meets Vedic Science

A Conversation About Consciousness

If matter is derived from consciousness (as scientists Max Planck and Eugene Wigner describe), then let’s look how Vedic science describes this process using the concept of knower, known, and process of knowing.

For this discussion, let’s say that consciousness is a unified field of quantum waves. Let’s call consciousness potential matter or particles still in wave state. Let’s then equate consciousness to these quantum waves, as Max Planck suggested, or as pure possibility, as other physicists have called them.

Now let’s link the knower to the quantum field of consciousness. If the observer is a field of consciousness and thus has the potential to become particles (matter) once it is observed, consiousness can therefore express itself in material form as the particles concentrate into, say, a human being or a tree.^3,4

When the knower (field of consciousness) observes itself, the knower becomes the observed or known. This happens only as a result of the process of observation—the third piece of our trinity. But why would the knower observe itself?

Let me tell you a story: Vedic science suggests that in the beginning of time, all that existed was an absolute field of consciousness (pure possibility or potentiality, as physicists have called the grand unified quantum field).

Before the Big Bang, everything was an unmanifest field of consciousness where nothing material existed. This field of awareness had nothing to be aware of because everything was still unmanifest.

With nothing material to put its awareness on, the quantum field naturally became aware of itself—turning awareness onto itself. According to Vedic science, the process of consciousness knowing itself and creating the first material expression is described with the fundamental question: Who am I?

The field of conscious awareness (consciousness) is the observer (knower). When it turns its awareness onto itself, it is observed and thus changes. This observed self (known) is not a field of pure consciousness anymore. The self-awareness or process of observation has made the known more material, changing the quantum field from a wave to a particle state. The material expression of the observed is called the known, or chandas in Vedic science.

Creation, in Vedic science, is when the observed knows itself, thus creating another, more manifest derivation. Each time the observed observes itself, it becomes the known, creating a new, more material version of itself changed by the process of observation.

Self-Interacting Dynamics of Consciousness

As I describe above, in Vedic philosophy, for the field of consciousness to manifest into matter, it must interact with itself through a process called self-inquiry, asking the question: Who am I? This is the process of interacting, observing, and knowing itself. This is called the self-interacting dynamics of consciousness in Vedic science.

What Do You Think?

The mystery that still remains unanswered today in quantum physics is: How did the process of observing particles keep them from become a quantum wave as they do unobserved?

As food for thought to leave you with, I ask you all to offer a solution to this problem in the comments below. I will leave my best guess here as well to kick off the discussion. Of course this explanation may be completely invalid according to quantum physics, but it’s a good brain exercise for those who get excited about connecting ancient wisdom with modern science—like me!

Dr. John’s “Explanation” of the Double-Slit Experiment

Remember I mentioned that one of the hallmarks of the Vedic description of creation is that the quantum field of consciousness has to interact with itself to create matter? It’s called the self-interacting dynamics of consciousness or the unified or quantum field. I first heard this described in a lecture by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1986.

Basically, for consciousness to become matter, it must interact with itself. It must observe or engage in the process of knowing itself. When physicists describe the results of the double-slit experiments and how they change when the experiment is observed, they always describe how the particles become waves after passing through the slit barrier. As the particles pass through the barrier, they start interacting with each other, creating waves and wave interference—they are self-interacting.

It may be that when there is a detector, the particles perceive the detector as another observer and then stop interacting with themselves and start interacting with the new observer on the block—the detector. In this case, the particles or waves would stop interacting with themselves, as they are distracted by the new observer.

Once researchers unplug the detectors and the intrusive observer is removed, the particles and waves are able to solely interact with themselves once again and the quantum waveforms are once again created.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how this quantum mystery happens!

Takeaway: Manifestation through Self-Awareness

In a world of endless distractions, Ayurveda and Vedic science make the case that as macrocosm, so microcosm. In the same way the quantum field of consciousness (macrocosm) interacts with itself to create matter, so must we (microcosm), through practices such as meditation, prayer, self-inquiry, compassion, and kindness, become more self-aware and learn how to function from this place of pure potential, love, and joy that we all have waiting inside of us.

Remember, if consciousness is in fact the quantum field that underlies all of creation, as is theorized, then our consciousness can be the observer. We have the potential to be the observer or the simple witness of our actions. When we allow ourselves to be more self-aware, we too engage in the process of observing ourselves and since we are quantum beings made up of quantum particles, we change once we have been observed.

From the Vedic perspective, this is the explanation of self or spontaneous healing. When the body becomes aware of a health concern as a problem, the body’s healing system spontaneously engages. We do not think the body into creating a scab—the healing system is involuntary. All we need to do is remove the mental clutter and apply simple self-awareness.

Please read my article on spontaneous healing and the power of the placebo here.

Applying the principles of engaging in the process of observing yourself is actually what Ayurveda is all about. Vata is heightened awareness. Pitta is the process by which we make kapha, the structure of the body. It could easily be said that vata engages in the pitta process of observing itself to manifest kapha—your body.

Ayurvedic psychology suggests that sattva is pure awareness or the observer and rajas is our desire or process to observe the world and tamas is the more dense and material result of sattva employing rajas to observe itself and manifest tamas.

So what does this all mean? My dear friend Deepak Chopra once famously said, “The human body is proportionally as void as inter-stellar space.” We have become fascinated with the relative world we live in, but have we traded a diamond for a bag of spinach?

We can fully enjoy the outer world but hopefully this discussion will remind us all not to forget about the inner world left mostly unexplored by us.

This story is part of a 6-article series on conscious healing and the restorative power or awareness, intention, and energy medicine.

Self-Healing and the Power of Awareness in Ayurveda
Quantum Biophotons: The Science of Healing Prayer
Vedic Healing and the Power of Intention
Ayurvedic Techniques to Unleash the Power of Quantum Healing
What is Quantum Consciousness?
Quantum Physics Meets Vedic Science