Quantum Buddhism

An extensive, detailed and definitive exploration and elucidation of the extraordinary meeting ground and interconnections between quantum physics and Buddhist philosophy.

Buddha and the Quantum is about the connection between meditation and physics. Many books show parallels between consciousness and physics; a few of these attempt to explain consciousness in terms of the physics of everyday experience.

Matthieu Ricard trained as a molecular biologist, working in the lab of a Nobel prize—winning scientist, but when he read some Buddhist philosophy, he became drawn to Buddhism. Eventually he left his life in science to study with Tibetan teachers, and he is now a Buddhist monk and translator for the Dalai Lama, living in the Shechen monastery near Kathmandu in Nepal. Trinh Thuan was born into a Buddhist family in Vietnam but became intrigued by the explosion of discoveries in astronomy during the 1960s. He made his way to the prestigious California Institute of Technology to study with some of the biggest names in the field and is now an acclaimed astrophysicist and specialist on how the galaxies formed. When Matthieu Ricard and Trinh Thuan met at an academic conference in the summer of 1997, they began discussing the many remarkable connections between the teachings of Buddhism and the findings of recent science. That conversation grew into an astonishing correspondence exploring a series of fascinating questions. Did the universe have a beginning? Or is our universe one in a series of infinite universes with no end and no beginning? Is the concept of a beginning of time fundamentally flawed? Might our perception of time in fact be an illusion, a phenomenon created in our brains that has no ultimate reality? Is the stunning fine-tuning of the universe, which has produced just the right conditions for life to evolve, a sign that a “principle of creation” is at work in our world? If such a principle of creation undergirds the workings of the universe, what does that tell us about whether or not there is a divine Creator? How does the radical interpretation of reality offered by quantum physics conform to and yet differ from the Buddhist conception of reality? What is consciousness and how did it evolve? Can consciousness exist apart from a brain generating it? The stimulating journey of discovery the authors traveled in their discussions is re-created beautifully in The Quantum and the Lotus, written in the style of a lively dialogue between friends. Both the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and the discoveries of contemporary science are introduced with great clarity, and the reader will be profoundly impressed by the many correspondences between the two streams of thought and revelation. Through the course of their dialogue, the authors reach a remarkable meeting of minds, ultimately offering a vital new understanding of the many ways in which science and Buddhism confirm and complement each other and of the ways in which, as Matthieu Ricard writes, “knowledge of our spirits and knowledge of the world are mutually enlightening and empowering.”

Researches inspired by the quantum Buddhist psycho-metaphysics of Michael Mensky.

Reach beyond space and time. Mingle the magic and wisdom of ancient societies with the hard science of modern quantum physics. Grasp the full depth of a many-dimensional instant universe described with geometry based on a world vision seen through the eyes of traditional cultures. The momentum of reality is in essence a "point of view" that includes all phenomenal objects and all forms of energy-as well as cognition, emotions, the laws of physics, the flow of time, the individuated self and causality. All of this exists, but in a much different fashion than how we typically understand it to be. However, it can be understood using a "different physics" based on ancient world views. "Beyond the Box of Space and Time" deconstructs physics as we know it, and then reassembles it as a new paradigm. The book, in three parts: PART I: THE ANCIENT COSMOS Recalling a lost tapestry of reality: The ancients called it a survival strategy, deep wisdom and a connection with the Earth. PART II: THE MIND AND PHYSICS Traversing the Shapes of Experience: Perception unfolding as a grand illusion; and thought forms framed as geometry. PART III: INSTANT PHYSICS Surveying a timeless universe: A radical new paradigm of physics based on conjoining geometry and ancient wisdom.

Hundreds of books since the Tao of Physics have discussed a connection between meditation and modern physics; this one clarifies what it is in both spiritual and scientific terms. Avery's brilliant model of consciousness makes difficult and subtle ideas understandable, surprising you with the implications. He shows that light is visual consciousness: the experience of cells in the retina. Light is not in space; space is in light. Knowing this, relativity and the quanta suddenly make sense.

Tibetan Buddhism and Modern Physics: Toward a Union of Love and Knowledge addresses the complex issues of dialogue and collaboration between Buddhism and science, revealing connections and differences between the two. While assuming no technical background in Buddhism or physics, this book strongly responds to the Dalai Lama’s “heartfelt plea” for genuine collaboration between science and Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has written a foreword to the book and the Office of His Holiness will translate it into both Chinese and Tibetan. In a clear and engaging way, this book shows how the principle of emptiness, the philosophic heart of Tibetan Buddhism, connects intimately to quantum nonlocality and other foundational features of quantum mechanics. Detailed connections between emptiness, modern relativity, and the nature of time are also explored. For Tibetan Buddhists, the profound interconnectedness implied by emptiness demands the practice of universal compassion. Because of the powerful connections between emptiness and modern physics, the book argues that the interconnected worldview of modern physics also encourages universal compassion. Along with these harmonies, the book explores a significant conflict between quantum mechanics and Tibetan Buddhism concerning the role of causality. The book concludes with a response to the question: "How does this expedition through the heart of modern physics and Tibetan Buddhism—from quantum mechanics, relativity, and cosmology, to emptiness, compassion, and disintegratedness—apply to today's painfully polarized world?" Despite differences and questions raised, the book's central message is that there is a solid basis for uniting these worldviews. From this basis, the message of universal compassion can accompany the spread of the scientific worldview, stimulating compassionate action in the light of deep understanding—a true union of love and knowledge. Tibetan Buddhism and Modern Physics will appeal to a broad audience that includes general readers and undergraduate and graduate students in science and religion courses.

An extensive, detailed and definitive exploration and elucidation of the extraordinary meeting ground and interconnections between quantum physics and Buddhist philosophy.