Quantum Physics and Vedanta

 “Whenever I give a lecture on Quantum Physics, I feel as if I am talking on Vedanta!” – Hans Peter Dürr.

Lalit Shastri

The above quote by Peter Dürr prompted me to explore deep and draw a comparison or draw an analogy between Quantum Physics and Vedanta.

The idea that "matter doesn't exist" in quantum physics can be confusing because it challenges our everyday understanding of reality. Here's a simplified explanation:

Classical vs. Quantum View

Classical Physics: In the everyday world, we see objects as solid and well-defined. A chair, for instance, is a solid object with a clear location and shape. This is the classical view of matter.

Quantum Physics: At the smallest scales, the rules of the universe behave very differently. Instead of being solid and fixed, particles (like electrons, protons, etc.) exist in a state of probabilities. They don't have definite locations or state until they are observed or measured.

Key Concepts

1. Wave-Particle Duality: In quantum physics, particles like electrons can behave both as particles (tiny, solid objects) and as waves (spread out over space). This means that until we observe them, they aren't in one specific place—they are smeared out like a wave.

2. Superposition: A particle can exist in multiple states or positions at once. It's only when we observe or measure it that it "chooses" a particular state. For example, an electron can be in multiple places simultaneously until we look at it.

3. Quantum Field Theory: At a deeper level, what we think of as particles (like electrons) are actually excitations or disturbances in a field. These fields exist everywhere in space, and particles are just localized "blips" or waves within these fields. In this sense, there is no solid "thing" at the smallest level—just fluctuating fields.

So, Does Matter Exist?

In the quantum world, what we call "matter" isn't made up of solid objects but is more like waves of potential or probability. The solid objects we experience in our daily lives are actually the result of countless tiny quantum interactions that average out into something we perceive as solid.

In a nutshell, Quantum Physics suggests that at the deepest level, matter isn't solid or fixed. Instead, it's a complex web of probabilities, waves, and fields that only appear as solid objects when we observe them.

Vedanta, particularly in the Advaita (non-dual) tradition, posits that matter does not exist in the ultimate sense because it is considered an illusion (Maya). 

According to this philosophy:

1. Brahman as Ultimate Reality: Vedanta teaches that the only true reality is Brahman, an infinite, formless, and unchanging consciousness. Everything else, including matter, is seen as a manifestation of this underlying reality.

2. Maya and Illusion: The world of matter, as perceived by the senses, is not truly real but is an illusion created by Maya. This illusion causes individuals to perceive a dualistic world of separate objects and entities, including matter.

3. Superimposition (Adhyasa): Vedanta explains that the perception of matter results from the superimposition of names and forms (Nama-Rupa) on Brahman. In reality, these forms do not exist independently of Brahman.

4. Non-Duality (Advaita): Since Brahman is the only reality, the dualistic perception of matter as separate from consciousness is ultimately false. The world of matter is like a dream or a mirage—appearing real but having no independent existence.

Vedanta asserts that matter does not truly exist because what we perceive as the material world is just an illusory manifestation of the one, non-dual Brahman.