Sikhism & Quantum Science
Quantum Field Theory – The Nature of Matter Science has been used exhaustively to determine the nature and characteristics of matter i.e. whether matter is a wave or a particle. The famous double slit experiment used a set of single electrons (particles) fired one after the other through 2 slits. The result was an interference pattern which is characteristic of a wave and not a particle. This implied that each single electron would go through both slits; through no slits; through just the left slit and through just the right all at the same time!
Quantum field theory explains this by stating that matter is neither a wave nor a particle. It is something more abstract and could be considered as a simultaneous co-existence of all possibilities. This leads to the idea of superposition i.e. all possibilities potentially existing at the same time.
The Sikh scripture mentions the idea of superposition as being an intrinsic part of creation and the creator. “You have thousands of eyes, and yet You have no eyes. You have thousands of forms, and yet You do not have even one. You have thousands of Lotus Feet, and yet You do not have even one foot. You have no nose, but you have thousands of noses. This Play of Yours entrances me.” SGGSJ page 13
“He Himself is formless, and also formed; the One Lord is without attributes, and also with attributes” SGGSJ page 250
“At the same time, He is both hidden and revealed. For the Gurmukh, doubt and fear are dispelled.” SGGSJ page 1048
Another finding from the famous double slit experiment was that when scientists put cameras at each of the slits to observe the actual slit through which any given electron was passing through they discovered that the electrons behaved like particles and created only 2 bands on a screen
instead of an interference pattern! So matter behaved differently when interacting with thoughts or the mind.
The Sikh scripture also goes further to mention that mind or consciousness and matter are interchangeable and that the spirit of God rests within both.
“You Yourself are conscious of Your Creation.” SGGSJ page 1076
“Wherever I look, I see the Lord pervading there, in the union of Shiva and Shakti, of consciousness and matter” SGGSJ page 21
“The distinction between Shiva and Shakti - mind and matter - has been destroyed, and the darkness has been dispelled.” SGGSJ page 163
“He Himself is mind, and He Himself is matter” SGGSJ page 1236
5.2 Unified Field Theory When we move beyond Quantum field theory which is already abstract to try and understand the nature of a quantum field we arrive at something which is pure being, something which is beyond the human intellect, something purely abstract and pure existence. At this point quantum physics begins to sound more like dharma.
The Sikh scripture talks about God as being something intrinsic within the whole of creation, a characteristic of the whole of creation which is also beyond our human intellect and understanding.
“The Wisdom of the Undying Primal Being is beyond comprehension” SGGSJ page 212
“He is beyond calculation, beyond measure, uncountable and unfathomable.” SGGSJ page 292
“Even the great Yogis cannot describe Your Glorious Virtues; they are beyond words.” SGGSJ page 346
“He is heard to be one thing, but He is understood to be something else again; He is beyond description and explanation.” SGGSJ Page 498
“In an instant, You are one thing, and in another instant, You are another. Wondrous are Your ways! You are beautiful, mysterious, profound, unfathomable, lofty, inaccessible and infinite.” SGGSJ page 613
Lincoln Barnet says that according to Einstein’s unified field theory “The Universe is revealed as one eternal field in which each star, each atom, each wandering comet and slow wheeling galaxy and flying electron, is seen to be but a ripple in the underlying space-time unity.”
We find similar words written by Guru Arjan Dev.
“He pervades everywhere like an unfathomable ripple. No one can understand
His play.” SGGSJ Page 2754
5.3 Entanglement One of the most unusual truths of quantum physics is entanglement. Entanglement destroys the idea of separateness and space.
For example let us imagine that we create two electrons together and we send one electron to the other side of the universe. If we then do something to one of the electrons, the other will respond immediately which implies that both objects are still one.
Sikhism teaches that that everything came from the same point during the creation of our universe and that the creation is like beads bound together with the thread of God consciousness.
“As one thread holds hundreds and thousands of beads, He is woven into His creation. The waves of the water, the foam and bubbles, are not distinct from the water. This manifested world is the playful game of the Supreme Lord God; reflecting upon it, we find that it is not different from Him.” SGGSJ page 485
“He Himself is the thread, and He Himself is the many beads; through His Almighty Power, He has strung the worlds.” SGGSJ page 604
“The whole creation is strung on Your thread.” SGGSJ page 268
So space or maya is thus just a construct that gives the illusion that we are separate.
“Deep within the self is the Light of God; It radiates throughout the expanse of His creation.” SGGSJ page 126
“In the four sources of creation, and in all speech, You dwell. You are dear to the minds of all.” SGGSJ page 130
“He Himself instils the sense of separation within our hearts; He Himself created the Creation.” SGGSJ page 125
“All the creation is His Body, through and through, He is blended with His creation” SGGSJ page 294
“Fareed, the Creator is in the Creation, and the Creation abides in God” SGGSJ page 1381 Sikhism also derives moral teachings from the idea of oneness or entanglement by teaching that as everything is interwoven and from the same source, we should not indulge in slander of anyone.
“Don't indulge in slander for any reason, for everything is the creation of the Lord and Master.” SGGSJ page 611
