From quantum physics to Nibbana
The concept of scientific objectivity rests upon the assumption of an external world, which is "out there" as opposed to an "I" which is "in here". According to this view, Nature, in all her diversity, is "out there". The tusk of the scientist is to observe the " Out there" as objectively as possible. To observe something objectively means to see it, as it would appear to an observer who has no prejudices about what he observes. The problem that went unnoticed for three centuries is that a person who carries such an attitude is certainly prejudiced.The new physics, namely quantum mechanics, tells us clearly that it is not possible to observe reality without changing it. According to quantum mechanics there is no such thing as objectivity. We cannot eliminate ourselves from the picture. We are a part of nature, and when we study nature there is no way around the fact that nature is studying itself. Physics therefore has become a branch of psychology, or perhaps the other way around.
Carl Jung , the famous Swiss psychologist, wrote:
The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner contradictions, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn in to opposite halves.
The Nobel Prize winning physicist, Wolfgang Pauli , put it this way:
From' an inner center the psyche seems to move outward, in the sense of an extraversion, into the physical world.
The Serbian born American inventor and genius, Nicola Tesla stated before his death: " The day science begins to study nonphysical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence."
The famous Indian Scientist, inventor and genius Sir Jagadis Chandra Bose in his retirement summed up his scientific philosophy.
"In my investigations on the action of forces on matter, I was amazed to find boundary lines vanishing and to discover points of contact emerging between the Living and the Non-living. My first work in the region of invisible lights made me realize how in the midst of luminous ocean we stood almost blind. Just as in the following light from visible to invisible our range of investigation transcends our physical sight, so also the problem of the great mystery of Life and Death is brought a little nearer solution, when, in the realm of the living, we pass from the Voiced to the Unvoiced."
John Wheeler , a well-known physicist at Princeton, wrote: May the universe in some strange sense be "brought into being" by the participation of those who participate? The vital act is the act of participation. 'participator' is the incontrovertible new concept given by quantum mechanics. It strikes down the term "observer" of classical theory, the man who stands safely behind the thick glass wall and watches what goes on without taking part. It can't be done, quantum mechanics says.
All these men are pointing to a certain direction in their vision. Quantum mechanics views subatomic particles as "tendencies to exist" or "tendencies to happen". How strong these tendencies are expressed in terms of probabilities.
In the New Physics namely Quantum mechanics there is a powerful awareness lies dormant in their discoveries: an awareness of the hitherto-unsuspected powers of the mind to mold "reality", rather than the other way around. In this sense, the philosophy of physics is becoming indistinguishable from the philosophy of Buddhism, which is the philosophy of enlightenment "Enlightenment is the experience that "things, including "I" are transient, virtual states of devoid of separate existences, momentary links between illusions of the past and illusions of the future unfolding in the illusion of time
Buddhism's greatest appeal to modern man is its freedom from dogmas. Among the leaders of religion the Buddha alone asked his followers to accept the doctrine if it appealed to their reason and its practice brought them solace. (Refer to Kalama Sutra)
The supremacy of the Four Noble Truths in the teaching of the Buddha is abundantly clear from the message of the Sinsapa Grove as from the message of the Deer Park. Once the Blessed one was living at Kosambi (near Allahabad) in the Sinsapa Grove. Then, gathering a few sinsapa leaves in his hand, the Blessed One addressed the monks.
" What do you think, monks, which is greater in quantity, the handful of sinsapa leaves gathered by me or what is in the forest overhead?"
"Not many, trifling, venerable sir, are the leaves in the handful gathered by the Blessed One;' many are the leaves in the forest overhead."
"Even so monks, many are those things I have fully realized but not declared to you; few are the things I have declared to you. And why monks, have I not declared them? They, monks are not useful, are not essential to the life of purity, they do not lead to disgust, to dispassion, to cessation, to tranquility, to full understanding, to full enlightenment, to Nibbana. That is why, monks they are not declared by me.
"And what is it, monks, that I have declared? This is suffering - this have I declared. This is the arising of suffering - this have I declared. This is the cessation of suffering - this have I declared. This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering - This have I declared.
"And why, monks, have I declared these truths? " They are, indeed, useful, are essential to the life of purity, they lead to disgust, to dispassion, to cessation, to tranquility, to full understanding, to enlightenment, to Nibbana. That is why, monks, they are declared by me. Therefore monks, an effort should be made to realize: "This is suffering, this is the arising of suffering, this is the cessation of suffering, this is the way leading to the cessation of suffering."
Describing his awakening, the Buddha said: "Coming to be, coming to be, ceasing to be, ceasing to be! At that thought, monks, there arose in me a vision of things not before called to mind. Knowledge arose-such is form, such is the coming to be of form, such is its passing away. Recognition arose-such is its coming to be, such is its passing away. And the state of abiding in the understanding of arising and passing away- that too arose."
Samyutta Nikaya
