# 033 - Indic Wisdom Meets Quantum Physics

(Reproduction of Article in Speaking Tree, TOI dated Feb 05, 2021 by Mani Bhaumik, Physicist at UCLA) We are the manifestation of the innate liveliness of universal fields, which according to the string theory, arise from one unified Source, says physicist MANI BHAUMIK Indic philosophical thought ostensibly began with verses of the Rig Veda. Its content has stimulated diverse interpretations that have been endlessly debated over the millennia. I would not be amiss in presuming that the most recognised version of Indic philosophy worldwide is Vedanta. The fundamental tenets of that can be summarised by three predominant pronouncements: Aham Brahmasmi, Tat Twam Asi, Sarbang Khalidong Brahmn. ‘I am Brahmn and so are you.’ We and everything else in this universe are inseparably intertwined with the source of it all, Brahmn, being eternally present everywhere, thereby upholding and administering the basic aspects of everything that exists. All of these contemplative conclusions are uncannily anchored in experimentally verifiable modern science. Most of the knowledge to back up my assertion was advanced only recently in the second half of the twentieth century. It involves the advanced subject of quantum field theory requiring perhaps one of the extremely intricate mathematical formulations that are beyond the grasp of most people. It all started with a persistently baffling question for physicists. Why are the properties of an elementary particle like an electron exactly the same irrespective of when or where they are created in the universe — at the early beginning following the Big Bang, during the astrophysical processes throughout eons, or in a lab anywhere in the world? The most satisfactory answer came from decades of intensive search involving many experimental and theoretical investigations. The largest of such experimental facilities costing more than 10 billion dollars is located at CERN, Switzerland. This colossal machine is housed in a 27 km long circular, underground tunnel containing supercooled magnets that allow collisions of two opposing beams of protons travelling close to the speed of light. These collisions momentarily simulate some circumstances of enormous temperature up to ten thousand trillion degrees that existed in the early universe, a mere trillionth of a second after the big bang beginning of our universe. Results of these collisions are detected by monstrous detectors like the CMS, much of which was built at the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, where I am engaged in research on the foundations of quantum physics. The exquisite experimental results go hand in hand with corroborating studies in theoretical physics conducted worldwide over five decades, garnering numerous Nobel prizes and culminating in the Standard Model of particle physics that categorises 24 observed particles, all predicted by the effective quantum field theory. Through these studies, the ultimate ingredient of reality, uncovered by us so far, consists of quantum fields, which are innately non-material in nature. The primary material objects, elementary particles are the quanta of these abstract fields. Some perception of an abstract field can be gained from our daily experience with the classical field of gravity that pervades us. The field that we do experience is stable everywhere in our vicinity, but its magnitude varies from place to place around its origin, the earth. Quantum fields, however, pervade all space throughout this vast universe at all times, each maintaining an average value almost since the beginning of time. Quantum fields are also distinctly different in that they are always alive with intrinsic, spontaneous, and totally random activity all taking place locally in all space-time elements. In spite of this apparent infinite randomness of their activities, quantum fields on an average have been immutable almost since the beginning of time. This suggests the possibility of the existence of an inherent self-referral referring to some abstract self-awareness. In fact, such universal awareness could be the source of our own awareness as well. Also, the intrinsic spontaneous activity of the Source affects everything. Beginning with the very first members of physical creation — the elementary particles — all the fields remain always inseparably intertwined with them, prompting all manifestations in the universe including us. We are the means of manifestation of the innate liveliness of the universal fields which, according to the mathematically consistent string theory, arise from one unified source. Although we have found no way yet to experimentally verify the string theory, we have unquestionably substantial experimental proofs of unification of fields heading towards a final unification indicating the existence of a single source. It would be cogent to contend that universal self-awareness is at the core of all consciousness, as has been envisioned by legendary quantum pioneers like Max Planck, Erwin Schrödinger, David Bohm, Freeman Dyson, and others. An obvious query is how our consciousness originates from universal self-awareness. Famed physicist, Nobel Laureate Roger Penrose asserts that global quantum coherence builds up in the brain incorporating all the sensory signals. Quantum self-reduction of this global coherence in the brain spawns a moment of proto-conscious experience, presumably through some process of quantum entanglement with the universal self-awareness. As in a movie, quick projection of a series of frames creates a perception of continuous action, the occurrence of a continuous series of proto-conscious moments in the brain generates our perceived conscious experience. To summarise, we are inseparably intertwined with the Source, and its intrinsic, spontaneous, self-active liveliness is manifesting through us.

# 032 New saree

New saree. 

Kamala Bai had worn it just once. She wanted to wear it that evening to go to the temple. A little costly saree. Let people who come to temple know that Tukaram’s wife also has costlier sarees. Even thought not much dirty, soaking it in water she washed it. She could not help smiling at herself when she thought how gently she is washing as if the stone will get hurt. Because the saree is new, have the hands fallen in love with it or what? It was given by one of the fans of Tukaram’s Kirthanas. Otherwise, is it possible to buy such a costly saree in Tukaram’s earnings? 

Earnings! The very thought of it produced an ironic smile on her lips. Employment is said to be the stamp of a man. Tukaram is not going for any work and earning any money. Will simply singing Kirtans get one food? One has to fill the Stomach too! She only got him a job of guarding a corn field through a person known to her recently. One has to responsibly do the work to not lose the job! If you sing Bhajan songs climbing on to the loft, are the birds going to listen in joy beating tala? They ate all the grains and went away! The owner of the field removed him from the job and sent him home.

 

Always singing devotional songs on Krishna! She is also a devotee of Krishna and likes Kirtans, still not like this!! When will the God open his eyes? When will her poverty go? There is another issue with Tukaram. He sings Bhajans to one and all making them sit equally together not distinguishing between people of low and high caste. Who among high caste will accept this? 

 

With a great sigh, Kamala Bai squeezed the saree and hung it on the line in the back yard of the house to dry. It will get dried in half an hour due to wind. Looking for him, she came out to the front of the house. As usual, Tukaram was singing sitting on the platform at the entrance. Many were listening to that heavenly music. Pleasantness of his voice and depth of devotion did melt her also. 

 

Even his not earning is okay …. But he doesn’t follow caste and customs! Many in the gathering are people from lower castes only. If asked, “What is this, you are doing like this” he will laugh and say all are one caste only – human caste. One good looking girl was listening to the songs standing a little away. With great difficulty her torn saree kept her dignity in check. Tukaram said kindly, “Why are you standing at the distance? Why don’t you come and sit here?” Irritated, Kamala Bai saying to herself ‘shower hospitality on that girl from lower caste wearing torn saree’, went quickly inside the house, snapping her neck as if to show that she has no part in such things. 

 

The platform concert continued. “Aha! What music!!” Everybody’s heart melted. That girl also was moved. Tukaram advised them saying “There is no distinction of caste for Krishna. All of you worship Krishna with devotion and try to reach Vaikunta” and wound up that day’s Bhajan. One by one people took leave, but the girl was sitting calmly, alone.

 

“Are you not leaving?” he asked her. She replied, “Let everyone leave. I will go in the end. If I leave now people coming behind me will walk criticising my torn saree”. “Don’t you have another saree?”

 

“I had lot of sarees. But one woman in a difficult situation asked for a saree to save her dignity. My husband, a philanthropist, gave off all my sarees. Only this torn saree has remained for me. It seems my husband used to play in his childhood stealing sarees. Stealing sarees while women bathe, he will give them back, it seems, only if they beg. He had thus caused pains in the minds of women, isn’t? That is why his wife, it looks, is fated to have only torn sarees.” Tukaram listened to her stories. 

 

Saying “wait a minute’, he went to the backyard of his house, took out the saree that Kamala Bai has hung to dry and came out. “Amma, now wear this saree. This is not torn. Women should not wear torn sarees.” and gave it to her. Looking gratefully at him she asked, “Will not your wife be angry at your giving the saree to me?”

 

“How long will her anger last? She will soon calm down. She has one more saree that is not torn. You only need this now”. Smiling at his words, she left.

 

Evening. Wanting to wear the saree that she washed and hung for drying to go to temple with her husband, Kamala Bai went to the back yard. The saree was not there. She came to Tukaram angrily. “Where is the saree?”. “A girl had come with torn saree to my concert. I gave that saree to her, Kamala. You have got another good saree, isn’t?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his childlike talk. 

 

“There is struggle here for food itself. But he is a philanthropist! Could not even do the job of guarding a corn field.” Wiping the tears that appeared in her eyes, she locked the house and went with her husband. “Don’t cry, Kamala! Krishna will give what is needed for us.” 

 

Without any further talk, she walked with him with a big sigh. They went near Garbagruha. She stood with her eyes closed, tears running and a question in her mind, “Why did you create my husband like this”. With their hands on their hips, Panduranga and Rukmani were standing smiling. Kamla Bai opened her eyes and saw Rukmani’s statue. She got stunned. The saree adorning the statue of Rukmani was the same one she had left it on the clothesline for drying. Rubbing her eyes, she looked again and again. There is no doubt. It is her saree only!

 

“Then is that my mother Rukmani who had come as that woman of lower caste? Devi pardon me. I have talked all those things not knowing the greatness of my husband. Amma! Poverty has made me talk like that. Now I realise the truth of my husband saying that all women including people from lower caste are your form only.” After doing Namskara to Krishna and Rukmani, she with tears of devotion running, said to her husband, “Lets go home” and went.

 

There was a bullock cart standing in front of the house. Person who was sitting in that cart got down and did Namaskara to them and said, “Have you forgetten, Amma? I only gave him the job of guarding the corn field. I removed him from the job saying he didn’t perform the work properly. But what a surprise! My field has yielded ten times more than normal. He is not an ordinary man, Amma! Therefore, I have come with some rice, pulses, other grains and a little gold coin as a debt.” Kamala Bai was amazed. When Tukaram said “Kamala! Did you see the things husband of Rukmani has sent as the price for her wearing the saree given by us?” and laughed, Kamala Bai’s blissful laugh also joined his. 

 

 (From a WA post that was in Tamil)