Lakshmanan: Indian and Quantum Theory

I don’t want to predict because I am no seer.

However, there is one field where Indians will dominate / be comfortable with it in the future. Not because we are extremely good at it, but because it is part of us.

It is Quantum theory.

Quantum theory is defined as “Quantum theory is the theoretical basis of modern physics that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level. The nature and behavior of matter and energy at that level is sometimes referred to as quantum physics and quantum mechanics.”

According to New Scientist Magazine “Quantum theory can be mind bending…requiring a mastery of statistics…..Rife with uncertainty and riddled with paradoxes”

Many including acclaimed scientist such as Albert Einstein considers Quantum theory as weird.

I am reminded of famous Santi Patha (Peace Invocation) from Isavasya Upanishad (Vajasaneyi Samhita Upanishad):

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Purnnam-Udacyate

Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Literal translation from Isavasya Upanishad book by Swamy Chinmayananda (Page 62):

"That is Whole, This is Whole;

From the Whole, the Whole becomes manifest.

From the Whole, when the Whole is negated, what remains is again the Whole".

For a normal reader the above will be considered as the weirdest statement, yet in India this mantra give us a direction.

Here we have to remember Albert Einstein for his statement on Quantum Entanglement “Spooky action at a distance”.

For lay persons what is this spooky action at a distance?

“That concept is also known as entanglement, and it’s what allows particles that have once interacted to share a connection regardless of the separation between them.”

To understand entanglement visually please visit the below video which captures the bafflement of Einstein over Entanglement. For impatient ones directly go to 27:39 onward and for patient ones please watch the entire video which is wonderful.

In India many believe God in different ways and state that devotion to God is ultimate.

Similarly, Rig Veda shloka on creation ,creator and a doubt whether the creator knows it or not will baffle the outsiders. Yet Indians live with it harmoniously.

Srishti se pehle sat nahin thaa, asat bhi nahin

Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee nahin thaa.

Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne dhaka thaa?Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.
Srishti kaa kaun hai kartaa?Kartaa hai ya vikartaa?Oonche aakash mein rahtaa.Sadaaa adhyaksh banaa rahtaa.Wohee sach much mein jaantaa..Yaa nahin bhi jaanataaHain kisi ko nahin pataa,Nahin pataa,Nahin hai pataa, nahin hai pataa.

For Audio listen below (Bharat Ek Khoj Serial)

One of the primary beliefs in India is God is in everything.

The world enjoys reading and learning from Bhagavad Gita. One of the statements in it will appear surprising to many yet has connection to the Quantum Entanglement:

O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.(Bhagavad-gita 7.8)

I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. (Bhagavad-gita 7.9)

O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men. (Bhagavad-gita 7.10)

I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna]. (Bhagavad-gita7.11)

All states of being—be they of goodness, passion or ignorance—are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything—but I am independant. I am not under the modes of this material nature. (Bhagavad-gita 7.12)

Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me who am above the modes and inexhaustible. (Bhagavad-gita 7.13)

Considering the way an Indian grows adapting to the way the world works, he is better positioned to understand Quantum Theory which deals with probabilities.

I will end here by quote of Heisenberg (a German theoretical physicist and one of the key pioneers of quantum mechanics and was awarded Noble Prize in Physics (1932) “for the creation of quantum mechanics”) which appeared in Fritjof Capra website:

“In 1929 Heisenberg spent some time in India as the guest of the celebrated Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, with whom he had long conversations about science and Indian philosophy. This introduction to Indian thought brought Heisenberg great comfort, he told me. He began to see that the recognition of relativity, interconnectedness, and impermanence as fundamental aspects of physical reality, which had been so difficult for himself and his fellow physicists, was the very basis of the Indian spiritual traditions. ‘After these conversations with Tagore,’ he said, ‘some of the ideas that had seemed so crazy suddenly made much more sense. That was a great help for me.’”

References:

Definition: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/quantum-theory

New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9930-introduction-quantum-world/?full=true#.VMvsVWjF-So

https://gizmodo.com/scientists-finally-prove-strange-quantum-physics-idea-e-1798433666

Mantra and Meaning: https://phanimitra.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/purnamadamidam/ and http://greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/vedas-om_purnamadah_purnamidam.php

Entanglement: https://gizmodo.com/scientists-finally-prove-strange-quantum-physics-idea-e-1798433666

Quantum Theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBrsWPCp_rs

Rig Veda Shloka (Discovery of India): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyFdtM_VPAg

For Audio of Discovery of India only : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vet9pMZ0OW8

Shloka Discovery of India : https://archive.org/details/SristeSePheleSongDoordharshan

Bhagawad Gita shloka: https://krishna.org/krishna-says/

Werner Heisenberg quote: http://www.fritjofcapra.net/heisenberg-and-tagore/