Science, Spirituality, & Consciousness

…there is an essential harmony between the spirit of Eastern wisdom and Western science

A curious personality pushes to create new ways to invent or solve problems. During my childhood, I was into the invention of small electronic mechanics like hand coolers. For instance, I assembled the brand new hairdryer and used the machine itself to turn the hand cooler. (My family was incredible about it :) ) There were more attempts to invent new stuff. Most of them never worked :)

Moreover, I was (still) a huge fan of Einstein without knowing the meaning of E = mc2. My love for him started after seeing the below picture that caught me learning about him. Weird. Ironic. Iconic. Stylish and Pisces ;)

(Albert Einstein sticks out his tongue when asked by photographers to smile on the occasion of his 72nd birthday on March 14, 1951. The shot was taken on Einstein’s 72nd birthday right after an event in his honor was finished at Princeton on March 14, 1951. Source:?rarehistoricalphotos.com)

At that age, at the same time, I was reading about Mevlana’s life story, poems (Sufi) and thinking about the unknown as a believer person.

After growing up, I lived with more Western mentalities, especially in professional life, and lost my way for a while. I can say Echart Tolles’ books changed my life.

The word enlightenment conjures up the idea of some superhuman accomplishment, and the ego likes to keep it that way, but it is simply your natural state of felt oneness with Being. Eckhart Tolle

It took time to find my way again to combine two worlds. After many more harsh lessons, I’m clear about my journey and hear my callings. It defined my purpose in life. That purpose wasn’t about the project but exactly I know who l will be during my journey (combining Soul-Mind-Body)

“Your life purpose isn’t what you do, but who you become, while doing it.” Matt Khan.

Personally, one of my interest areas is Quantum Mechanics and astronomy. I read a few books the last few months, which inspired me again. Then, I had a conversation with one of my closest friends about her learning process about whatever she was curious about. She mentioned two worlds: The physical world and the spiritual world.

And I thought it was worth sharing with the community what I learned last decades. Let’s start:

Science and spirituality are often considered entirely disparate concepts, and a clear line is often drawn between Western “rational thinking” and more intuitive or spiritually oriented Eastern schools of thought. But as you’ll see in these articles, when we compare some of the fundamental notions of the major Eastern religions — namely Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism — with modern science, especially modern physics, we see many similarities.

First of all, let’s deep into relativity and quantum mechanic.

Modern physics takes a dramatically different tack, essentially demolishing the classical theory. For instance, according to Einstein’s 1905 theory of relativity, time and space are relative. That means we can’t speak about one without speaking about the other. Or take his famous formula E=mc2, in which E is energy, m is mass and c is the constant speed of light. This groundbreaking discovery established that mass is a mere form of energy.

From there, quantum theory rocked the foundations of classical physics even further by describing the behavior of atoms and particles. Quantum theory holds that the movements of subatomic particles can’t be determined with certainty, but rather show “tendencies to occur.”

Quantum theory also put forward the revolutionary idea that objective descriptions of nature are actually impossible since atomic particles are affected by the very act of observing them.

Western science and Eastern mysticism may have clear differences, but they also share striking similarities.

Much like physicists, Eastern mystics learn through observation. The only difference is that, while a physicist observes through scientific experimentation, mystics observe through introspection.

Much like physicists, Eastern mystics learn through observation. The only difference is that, while a physicist observes through scientific experimentation, mystics observe through introspection.

Eastern mysticism and modern physics both believe that the universe is bound by a basic unity.

People tend to divide things into distinct experiences, objects, or events. We distinguish between table, chair, and soul to help us cope with and navigate our everyday environment.

However, for the Eastern mystic traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, such distinctions are illusions, none of which are fundamental characteristics of nature. Instead, for these religions, the universe is characterized by a basic unity.

For instance, light exists as photons or light particles. But when these photons travel through space, they are observed as vibrating electric fields, evidencing the key characteristics of waves.

In other words, in atomic physics, reality appears to transcend opposing concepts; similarly, in Eastern mysticism, yin and yang are opposing aspects of a unified whole.

And that’s not the only similarity between the two. Modern physics, just like Eastern mysticism, recognize how interconnected nature is.

For physics, this comes in the form of a realization that the properties of atomic particles can’t be defined independently of the process of observation itself. This implies that modifying the way observation or measurement occurs will change the properties of a particle. In this sense, the observed particle is a manifestation of the interaction between an observer and the object of her study, a fact that points to the relational nature of all things in the universe.

According to physicists and mystics alike, the universe is a dynamic, constantly transforming place.

To the Eastern mystic worldview, the notion of the world as a dynamic, ever-changing place has long been an essential feature. And now, for modern physics, and quantum physics, in particular, the universe can be understood in a largely similar way.

Modern physics unifies matter and space, in yet another parallel to Eastern mysticism.

In Einstein’s theory, the matter is one with its gravitational field and gravitational fields are inseparable from the curved space in which they exist. In this sense, matter and space cannot be divided, but are rather a single, unified whole.

And incredibly, even the quantum field has a parallel in Eastern mysticism. In the Eastern concept, the underlying reality of all phenomena is a formless, empty void. For Hinduism, the ultimate reality of Brahman is described as “the void,” as is Sunyata, its equivalent concept in Buddhism. Meanwhile, for Taoists, the Tao, or essence of the universe, is described as formless and empty.

However, Brahman, Sunyata, and the Tao aren’t just the void — they also embody endless creative potential. Just like the quantum field of physics, they give rise to an innumerable variety of forms.

The hard rationality of modern physics bears some striking similarities to the spiritual flow of Eastern mysticism. Although the two have clear differences, they also share two fundamental, underlying motifs: the basic oneness of all things and events, and the inherently dynamic nature of the universe.

Sources: The Tao of Physics. Google Search. Caro Rovelli. Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

Excerpted: The Tao of Physics and Seven Brief Lessons on Physics