Daily Reflection
“Quantum physics teaches us that we can simultaneously exist in many places, under certain conditions.”
― Amit Ray, Quantum Computing Algorithms for Artificial Intelligence
Each of these philosophies we’ve considered so far this week has been profound, yet also limited in a sense. Primarily because they have been based upon intuition, thought, and spiritual observation.
With that said, more often than not these experiences produced a worldview that was completely in line with what we are observing today in science, but there was no way to verify and clarify those hypotheses.
In many respects, one should be overwhelmed by the way in which modern science (especially physics) simply affirms the intuitions and insights of spiritualists and philosophers from the last few thousand years.
And so it’s interesting to consider someone who observes nature—whether that be atomic or cosmic—and ask, what does the universe physically look like?
Are we separate or individuated? Can we observe Plato’s world of forms? Can we pinpoint consciousness or the soul? Can we find a separation between an eternal existence within and a temporary body without?
It would appear that consciousness, for example, is much more of an emanating phenomenon from the very material we are made of, than it is a separate state of being. To put it another way, we are less the “voice in our head” or the singular way that we perceive ourselves, than we are the collective awareness of the very atoms of which we are made.
Humans especially have a tendency to identify with this emanating phenomenon, which aligns perfectly with so many ancient teachings—from Jesus to the Buddha—about the dangers of ego identification and self-focused thinking.
For example, one of the most recent observations particle physicists have uncovered, is the ability for particles to be two places at once. This is largely due (physicists believe) to all of nature’s capacity to be simultaneously a wave and a particle. Existence at its most basic level is at least two types (wave and particle) and can be in at lest two places at once!
In many respects, our very nature is capable of being non-dual. This is true of all of life and all of existence. Therefore, to exist is itself a non-dual experience.
The implications of this are profound. Fundamentally all of existence is much more similar than it is different. Existence is always emanating in different ways in different places, sometimes all at once!
Imagine a philosophy of life in which we as humans saw the world not through binary lenses of this or that, me and them, I and thou, but instead as many expressions of the same whole.
The question emerges, can you hate another person and also love yourself? Or can you hate yourself, and love others?
What practice keep you grounded in self-love, acceptance, and wholeness?
If you’d like to learn more about how scientist think being in two places at once is possible, this is a great video which can explain in detail. Also, check out this earlier TPP article for more info on Physics and Nonduality!