Perhaps the most remarkable intellectual achievement of the twentieth century was the development of quantum theory, which radically transformed our understanding of the nature of reality.
Somehow, amidst a persistent and dominate worldview of old materialistic, reductionist Newtonian physics, which perceived the world and everything in it as merely a small part of giant mechanical universe, separate and disconnected, a small group of brilliant thinkers emerged with what was then radical new ideas.
Clues were pieced together from deep within the atom, from the event horizon of black holes, and from the far reaches of the cosmos to form a new model of our world, one radically different than we ever imagined.
The slow unveiling of the quantum realm was at times profound and startling. It revealed a world that was not fixed, solid, mechanical, disconnected and separate, but rather one that was fluid, dynamic, ever changing, infinite, eternal and one. It discovered a quantum realm that was deeply interconnected and interwoven into the fabric of all things in the universe, and in fact, perhaps interconnected to our very consciousness itself.
What caused such a radical shift in our long established scientific world view?
Was this indeed a new world view or a lost knowledge from civilizations past?
“The unity and continuity of Vedanta are reflected in the unity and continuity of wave mechanics. This life of yours which you are living is not merely a piece of this entire existence, but in a certain sense the whole; only this whole is not so constituted that it can be surveyed in one single glance. This, as we know, is what the Brahmins express in that sacred, mystic formula which is yet really so simple and so clear: tat tvam asi, this is you. Or, again, in such words as “I am in the east and the west, I am above and below, I am this entire world." -- Erwin Schrödinger, Physicist, Founder, Quantum Wave Mechanics
Vedic Tradition & Quantum physics
Researchers and scholars of the ancient Vedic tradition suggest we begin to look for answers here.
There are many clues throughout the evolution of science that point to the inspiration for early quantum theory coming directly from the Vedas. Plank, Bohr and Schrödinger, the early founders of quantum physics, were avid readers of the Vedas and observed that their experiments in quantum physics were entirely consistent with what they had read in the ancient Vedic texts.
Vedanta, the ancient Indian Vedic tradition and its ancient sacred texts, derives its name from the Sanskrit word Veda, literally translated as “knowledge”, which some scholars date back as far as five to seven thousands years.
In the early twentieth century quantum theory emerged, long before the advent of new technologies such the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, that for the first time in history allows scientists to pierce the atom and look deeper and deeper into the quantum world.
In a radical and brilliant stroke of human achievement, quantum theory shattered the prevailing mechanical world view, and its principles laid the foundation for an entirely new understanding of not only our physical world, but set the basis of all other important science as well. Chemistry, biology, and all other scientific disciplines benefited from this shift, paving the way for many of our most astonishing technological advances to date.
Max Planck, the German theoretical physicist who originated quantum theory, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. His contribution to quantum theory revolutionized human understanding of atomic and subatomic processes, just as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized the understanding of space and time. Parallel to Vedic tradition, Plank described a universal field of energy that connects everything in creation, what he termed the “Divine Matrix”:
“All matter exists by virtue of a force. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.”
Plank’s Divine Matrix was a theme echoed directly from the Vedas. A powerful endorsement of the Vedic principle of Universal Consciousness. And he was not alone.
In an autobiographical essay, Erwin Schrödinger, one of the early contributors of quantum theory explains that his discovery of quantum mechanics was an attempt to give form to central ideas of Vedanta. In 1925, before his revolutionary theory was complete, Schrödinger wrote:
“The unity and continuity of Vedanta are reflected in the unity and continuity of wave mechanics.” “This life of yours, which you are living, is not merely a piece of this entire existence, but in a certain sense the ‘whole’; only this whole is not so constituted that it can be surveyed in one single glance. This, as we know, is what the Brahmins express in that sacred, mystic formula which is yet really so simple and so clear: tat tvam asi, this is you. Or, again, in such words as I am in the east and the west, I am above and below, I am this entire world.”
Imagine five to seven thousand year old science validating cutting edge twentieth century physics. That’s precisely what Vetanda does.
Werner Karl Heisenberg, a German theoretical physicist and one of the key creators of quantum mechanics, published his work in 1925 in a breakthrough paper on the “Matrix” formulation of quantum mechanics, for which he later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932. In 1927, at a time of great doubt amongst the prevailing Newtonian views of the scientific community, Heisenberg stated:
“Quantum theory will not look ridiculous to people who have read Vedanta.”
Later, Albert Einstein, founder of the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics studied the Vedas and Upanishads and could quote from them by heart and frequently did offhand.
Vedic influence goes well beyond quantum physics into many other scientific disciplines as well.
Nikola Tesla, was arguable the greatest electrical inventors who ever lived. His technological achievements transformed America from a nation of isolated communities to a country connected by electricity and power grids, where today, using electricity, information travels along a superhighway, instantly available upon demand. In the 20th century, it was Tesla's technology that united the United States and eventually the world.
Surprising to most, Telsa too studied the Vedas.
Tesla used ancient Sanskrit terminology in his descriptions of natural phenomena. As early as 1891 Tesla described the universe as a kinetic system filled with energy which could be harnessed at any location. His concepts during the following years were greatly influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda was the first of a succession of Eastern yogi's who brought Vedic philosophy and religion to the West. After meeting the Swami and after continued study of the Eastern view of the mechanisms driving the material world, Tesla began using the Sanskrit words Akasha, Prana, and the concept of an aluminiferous ether to describe the source, existence and construction of matter.
Today, principles outlined in the five to seven thousand year old Vedas can be heard echoed by such physicists as Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist and pioneer of String Theory, quoted as saying “the universe is a symphony of vibrating strings”, or Amit Goswami, theoretical nuclear physicist, who in his splendid book Quantum Creativity, reminds us that in this ancient-- yet new-- quantum view of consciousness and reality, the small and solitary life of the individual gives way to the power and immensity of the collective, and along with that, all of the wisdom spanning past, present and future, core principles of the ancient Vedic teachings.
Time and time again we see this ancient Vedic knowledge inspiring and leaving its indelible mark on the many great thinkers who have revolutionized our world. It is the ultimate reconciliation of mind and spirit. Science is now validating what Eastern mystics have always known - that we are all part of a dynamic and inseparable web of energy. In his masterful book, The Divine Matrix, internationally best-selling author, Gregg Braden, puts it best:
“Modern science has now arrived at the place where our most cherished spiritual traditions begin. A growing body of scientific evidence supports the existence of a field of energy—that provides the container, as well as a bridge and a mirror, for everything that happens between the world within us, and the world outside of us.
The fact that this field exists in everything from the smallest particles of the quantum atom, to distant universes whose light is just now reaching our eyes, and in everything between, changes all that we have believed about our role in creation. It suggests that we may be much more than simply observers passing through a brief moment of time in a creation that already exists.
When we look at ‘life’—our spiritual and material abundance, our relationships and careers, our deepest loves and greatest achievements, as well as our fears and the lack of all of these things—we may also be looking squarely at the mirror of our truest and sometimes most unconscious beliefs. We see them in our surroundings because they are made manifest through the mysterious essence of the Divine Matrix. For this to be the case, consciousness itself must play a key role in the existence of the universe. We are the artists, as well as the art. The Divine Matrix is our world. It is also everything in our world.”
Quantum Living: Ayurveda, The Science of Life
While it’s clear that the ancient Vedic spiritual tradition left its mark on physics and science, the same can be said for Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda, the two interrelated branches of the same great tree of Vedic knowledge that have now gained broad acceptance.
While Yoga and Meditation found a welcome home in the West early on, its sister, Ayurveda, was left behind in India, a distant counterpart to these important Vedic teachings.
But now things are changing.
Like quantum physics, medical science has now caught up with Vedic teachings and countless scientific studies now validate the many health and wellbeing benefits of the principles taught in the Vedic traditions. Health and lifestyle programs offered by alternative health centers such as The Chopra Center, founded by medical doctor and internationally best-selling author, Deepak Chopra, have helped to usher in a new renaissance in the growing practice of mind-body medicine and holistic lifestyles. It is a paradigm shift in health and medicine no different than the one that shook the world of physics so many years ago. Some might say it is the beginning of the era of Quantum Living.
And what is Quantum Living?
It can best be described as an extraordinary new approach to living that incorporates the fundamental knowledge of ancient Vedic science and modern Quantum science, both which tell us that we are all part of a dynamic and inseparable web of pure energy--whether we call it the Field, the Divine Matrix, the Intracellular Holographic Matrix™ or any other name-- and that every aspect of our lives and everything in our universe begins there. It’s an understanding that in this field of pure energy everything is possible. Knowing this we live more thoughtfully, understanding that we are not just passive observers of the world we live in, but rather active participants, and every thought, feeling and action is in a delicate and interconnected dance at the deepest quantum level.
And what does the ancient Vedic tradition tell us about this new era of Quantum Living?
You may be surprised, but it tells us much of what we need know.
The Vedic tradition is perhaps the oldest continuous living tradition in the world. This ancient mantric science was designed to not only show us the outer workings of the universe, but to show us the inner workings of our own consciousness as well. It has given us disciplines that touch all aspects of our lives, as well as healing, science, art and culture.
Ayurveda is one of the principle secondary Vedic teachings. It provides a complete holistic approach to living that addresses all aspects of health and well-being, for body, mind and spirit. It is the ancient blueprint for modern Quantum Living.
Unlike modern Western medicine, Ayurveda is more than a mere system of treating illness, it is a science of life. The name Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit meaning Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge. It offers a vast body of wisdom designed to balance, heal and transform our lives in every way.
Ayurveda teaches us that health and wellbeing is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit. It offers guidance on total lifestyle and living and makes use of the sister Vedic disciplines of Yoga and Meditation as powerful components to achieve this. Everything fits into a unifying philosophy of balance -- living in sync with our own unique individual energetic makeup.
Although originating in India, this five to seven thousand year old system of natural health has left its mark throughout the world. Tibetan medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, including the origin of Acupuncture can be traced to it. All have their roots in Ayurveda. Early Greek medicine also embraced many concepts originally described in the classical Ayurvedic medical texts dating back thousands of years before the Greek Classical period.
A fundamental tenet of the Ayurvedic system is the principle of similarity between macrocosm and microcosm. We human beings are made of the same "stuff" the rest of the universe is made up of. It is the product of a civilization which was deeply rooted in nature. The Vedic scholars knew that all of nature is part of the individual, since we are all created from, exist in, and return to it.
Like Yoga and Meditation, Ayurveda embodies concepts of body-mind care which includes spiritual philosophies that transcend religion, yet nurture the spiritual aspects of wellbeing, offering universal philosophical concepts based on the underlying life energy or "prana" of all things.
So how exact does Quantum Living or the practice of Ayurdeva affect our bodies in such profoundly positive ways?
What is the scientific mechanism for the results?
Dr. Sheila Patel M.D., with The Chopra Center shares this insight:
“As modern science marches steadily ahead, paving the way to understanding the physiologic underpinnings of the mind–body connection, we are beginning to see glimpses of the extraordinary and beautifully complex mechanisms behind the changes our bodies undergo when we meditate, practice yoga, or simply. . . breathe. As a physician and clinician, it is exciting for me to see these unfolding answers to age-old questions.
In the last several years, research has emerged suggesting that when we relax, changes occur not only at the cellular level, but also at the most subtle level of our physiology – our genes. Our genetic code, which lies within our DNA, holds all the information necessary to build and maintain our bodies. Although this code is largely unchanged from conception throughout our adult lives, it appears that changes in gene regulation – or when our genes are turned “on” or “off” – are the greatest factor in how our inherited code shapes our health and wellbeing. What science is now showing us is that we can affect our own gene regulation through mind-body relaxation practices.”
Change the structure of our DNA, through mind-body relaxation practices?
Now that’s powerful Quantum Living.
The daily practice of Yoga and Meditation taught in Ayurdeva is designed to create relaxation and restore balance, optimizing the "prana" or life energy in our bodies.
Dr. Patel elaborates:
“A very recent study that suggests the relaxation response actually changes how our genes express themselves adds more support to what researchers see as a growing body of evidence that giving your mind and body a break can result in some real – and important – health benefits, such as improving energy metabolism and decreasing the aging effects of vascular inflammation.
In a nutshell, researchers found that when study participants practiced a relaxation technique such as mindful breathing, meditation or prayer, or yoga, different genes were activated in their bodies than when they were in a neutral or stressful state. Specifically, genes that counteract the damaging effects of stress are activated, and the activity of genes that fuel the anxious “fight-or-flight” reaction are diminished. The relaxation response elicited positive genetic changes affecting mitochondria, the powerhouses that energize the cell. The activity of genes linked to insulin levels, which aid in energy metabolism, also increased. Also noted was a decrease in gene activity related to inflammation, which has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.”
And it’s groundbreaking research such as this that validates and supports leading edge alternative holistic health and lifestyle techniques such as QDNA®, Quantum DNA Acceleration®.
Whether the message comes from leading edge quantum science, or from the ancient wisdom of the Vedic science, it is here, in our connection to the Quantum Field that we begin to truly unlock our power and potential.
Vibrations At Speed of Light
Vedic science, and Ayurveda in particular, has many high-profile proponents these days. Renowned physician and author Deepak Chopra has taught the tenets of Ayurveda to everyone from Oprah to Lady Gaga, and has witnessed its healing properties.
Chopra, author of the best-selling book Quantum Healing, who is also a medical doctor and respected endocrinologist, began his shift away from traditional western medicine towards Aruyveda when he saw patients in his own practice who completely recovered after being given only a few months to live. In the mid-1980's he returned to his native India to explore Aruyveda, and to look for answers in the world’s most ancient healing tradition. In Quantum Healing, Chopra has brought together the most cutting edge research of Western medicine, neuroscience, and physics and combined these with the insights of ancient Ayurvedic science. He outlines how the human body is controlled by a "network of intelligence" grounded in quantum reality. Not a superficial psychological state, this intelligence lies deep enough to change the basic patterns that design our physiology -- with the potential to defeat cancer, heart disease, and even aging itself.
In this inspiring and pioneering work, Chopra offers deep insight into the body’s capacity to heal:
“Why, when your body mends a broken arm, is it not considered a miracle, but when your body rids itself of cancer, it is?”
Chopra believes the two phenomena spring from the same well, that the body is capable of doing much more than we assume it can.
“Intelligence exists everywhere in our bodies, in each of our hundred trillion cells, and each cell knows how to heal itself. Western science is still frozen in an obsolete, Newtonian worldview that is based literally on superstition -- and we can call it the superstition of materialism -- which says you and I are physical entities of the physical universe, which is nothing further form the truth--the universe is made up of subatomic vibrations that are going on and off at the speed of light.”
And Chopra reminds us that this same is true for biological organisms as well:
“The hundred trillion cells in the human body are more than the number of stars in the Milky Way and they perform a hundred trillion activities every second. Every cell instantly knows what is happening in every other cell, in fact, in the whole universe."
Understanding this powerful mind-body connection is Quantum Living at its best.
So what’s the single most important thing that we can do to live our lives more whole, connected and in balance?
Chopra says the key is Meditation.
“Meditation is a very important aspect of all the approaches that one can use, because it allows you to experience your own source. When you experience your own source, you realize that you are not the patterns and eddies of desire and memory that flow and swirl in your consciousness. Although these patterns of desire and memory are the field of your manifestation, you are in fact not these swirling fluctuations of thought. You are the thinker behind the thought, the observer behind the observation, the flow of attention, the flow of awareness, the unbounded ocean of consciousness. When you have that on the experiential level, you spontaneously realize that you have choices, and that you can exercise these choices, not through some sheer will power but spontaneously.”
I couldn’t agree more.
At the heart of the principles of Quantum DNA Acceleration® is the belief that there is nothing that cannot be healed or transformed when the mind, body and emotions are in balance.
This article was written and appears as part of the blog series The Magnificent Human Experience™ | Explorations of Consciousness And The Human Body.
Marina Rose is the founder and developer of QDNA®, Quantum DNA Acceleration®, a revolutionary new technique for quantum growth in life and business. QDNA® uses the latest cutting edge science in Neuroplasticity and DNA Reprogramming to develop plans of action that activate solutions for you and your business needs. It compounds Quantum Field principles, Positive Psychology, and Epigenetics, in a powerful new technique to assist you to achieve desired results. Accelerate your life and business now. To explore Neuroplasticity, Meditation, Mindfulness and other QDNA® Quantum Living techniques, follow the latest news, tips and resources at QDNA® What’s New and learn more about QDNA® Health & Living Programs held at locations world-wide each year.