Religion and Science - Karma and Quantum Mechanics
Posted: Thursday, September 02, 2010
by e
Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation
Our thoughts and emotions create themselves in the mind from what could be considered nothingness, thin air. They then disappear, no different from atomic particles arising from a field of energy which also could be considered nothing, lingering awhile, then melting back into immaterial existence. Creativity abounds in a universe in which science searches for truth. Should spirituality do no less? And when both science and spirituality agree on something, isn't that is worth noting?
Scientists define these particles as bits of information, again like thoughts. They exist in waves of probabilities, similar to the vast storehouse of information in not only our physical memory banks, but deeper in our spiritual memories as well. Only when these particles are closely observed do they pop their little heads up for a moment appearing in one of a myriad of possible positions, similar to random memories popping up in our minds (or karma popping up in our lives). Therefore, their reality relies on the surveillance of the observers in a seemingly symbiotic relationship.
Our memories and projections , however, become stuck in a groove with the same old thoughts appearing in the same positions. This limits the scope of our brain and results in mechanical progression. Whenever a thought arises in our minds, the same processes go into action. Lust or strong desire can form when something desirable either contacts our senses or arises in our minds, and our underlying karma will affect how we react to these things. One person will be attracted to wealth, and another to meditation. This feeling strengthens when a gland in our brain preps our body for action by churning out chemicals, then, another gland releases these tailored chemicals into the bloodstream where they seek out specialized cells with little docking ports on their exteriors. As soon as these cells receive this transfer of chemical information, then sexual organs, for example, get the signal to go to work.
This flurry of activity began with a single thought, but where did that thought come from? Here we have the analogy of an atomic particle that arose from a wave of probabilities . . . and a single thought, which arose from billions of bits of information. We can see that everything begins inside; this is where the action is - and this is where meditation is focused.
A thought begins in small cells in the brain, but before that happens, each cell is affected by its karma. Each of these neurons has branches that connect to other cells during the thinking process, and each time the same thought comes up, these little branches become fatter, with the connection becoming stronger. Over time, if a lustful thought is repeated enough, it might become an obsession with associated thoughts appearing in the mind every few minutes. This creates strong connections, and strong connections create dependency. Then if we don't activate these connection by repeating that particular thought, mental pain in the form of withdrawal occurs.
Soon, of course, the brain is crowded with dependencies like sex, security, and self-esteem, and since each connection becomes stronger with stimulation, it becomes increasingly difficult to break our habit patterns. This describes our life - a series of thought cycles repeated in certain patterns to create identities.
Our brain handles billions of snippets of information a second, but we are only aware of a small fraction of them, and the ones that we are familiar with and believe in pop up most often. As a result, our life becomes a "groove in a record" that we can't stop playing.
This is fine while we are satisfied with our lives - and our grooves - but over time, our cravings, supported by our habit patterns, become desensitized and require increasingly stronger stimulation. This could lead to dire results if we then frantically seek out additional stimulation to reinforce old habit patterns. This only deepens our grooves and causes constant stress. . . . Hello karma!
Karma, simply stated, is habit patterns - cause and effect. Whatever habit patterns we die with will be reborn into another form. Why is this? It's because the habits are left hanging and unresolved. Until we neutralize every one of our strong habit patterns, we will endlessly be reborn into the world of form, and once we are born into this physical world, we have two strikes against us. The first strike is that we are born with senses, and the second strike is that these senses require stimulation - hence action - hence more karma - and where does it all end?
So, what determines, out of the field of billions of possibilities in our brain, what becomes our experiences - and who is it that actually experiences this? The answer is . . . nobody! There is nobody behind anything, only arising of thoughts out of a vast field of karma, causing continuous stimulation that in turn creates more memory - and thus creates the idea of "me," the idea of a "self."
If we could either weaken our repetitive and limiting brain cell connections, or weaken our karma and prevent the connections from forming in the first place, we would open up unlimited fields of possibilities. These are the fields of the mind hinted at by the sages, far beyond ordinary minds, which are caught up in their mere thousands of bits of information per second. This new, amazing, inward experience of dipping into billions of bits of information would be a separate reality never before imagined, and this could change human beings forever.
Then, (and this is the metaphysical part), we will find ourselves transcending the mind itself and its billions of bits of information. Here, in a singularity, we find ourselves having conversations with Reality, or God, or however we describe the ineffable - and our karma is permanently resolved. No more births into the world of form to suffer again as we did before, before we understood the mind. The "I" that we thought was "us" is now transcended into a unity with all beings, and with all things spiritual and material. How could it be different from this? How did we ever consider ourselves separate from everything else?
These possibilities are why intelligent people meditate - to change themselves in a radical way that will in transform a world that has always thrived on the negative energies of hatred, greed, ambition, and killing. The truth is not something to believe in, the truth is to be experienced through insight, only then will truth be expressed through our actions. Wanting to end hatred doesn't end hatred, but "seeing" hatred up close and personal does. The critical question remains, however, "Who will want to meditate?"
In society's present mindset, the last thing it wants is peace and love. Society mouths the words, but peace and love is frankly boring, especially for young people. They want action, and in the words of so many evil crusaders throughout history, "Give me your youth and I will give you victory." We are driven to action by senses that are starved for stimulation, and since action creates karma and karma in turn leads to rebirth of the senses, our cycle of cause and effect goes round and round eternally, with no end in sight. How can we ever wake up to the fact that within all of this action is lifetime upon lifetime of horrible torment? We just don't get it.
Is there anything that will convince us of life's double-cross? Probably not; not while we are deeply involved with pleasurable sense stimulation. It's only when these excitements begin to wane that one looks around, puzzled. Until then, however, until our karma ripens, we have little chance of being coerced into being aware.
So what can we do? We see the worry and tension in the other guy's face. We see the anxiety and suffering that results from his never-ending manic quest for the things that he feels are important. But we can't see it in ourselves. We are somehow immune to all of that, or at least we think that we are.
This whole subject is confusing to anybody who has not meditated. This is why the Buddha almost didn't teach, because the whole thing was too difficult to comprehend. But then, he could see that a few would always be ready to hear, just as he was, and he wanted to help them. But who these days will listen? When we meditate, we reach for the Reality, trying to end our habit patterns of karma forever and reach unknown depths. We want to change our patterned life from one of hopelessness to one of joy and passion - we want to become enlightened.
With our negative passions reduced, and with our positive characteristics enhanced through meditation, the doubt, the drag of a false personality, the misguided beliefs that drag our attention outward instead of inward, our anger, our pride, our egoism, our insatiable sense desires, and our self-righteousness, restlessness, and ignorance . . . all of these lessen. These negative aspects are replaced by insightfulness, where we are passionate in our endeavors and curious about everything and anything that come into our field of awareness. Our concentrated minds now cultivate a tranquility and equanimity that will someday shine its light on all the worlds.
We can never hold truth; it is far too fast and immense for us, however, we could be truth if only we can remain in the moment where no karma exists. If we can remain there, then our minds will experience a profound, fundamental transformation that discovers the oneness of everything, and the myth of individuality. Reality wants to introduce us to this beautiful, eternal moment. Why won't we let it do that?
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More commentsLove your presentation on Hello Karma! Metaphysics of thoughts and emotions is really known to you.I bow to you.Thank you Sir, I bow to you.Metta......e
Insightful, as always. Yet with that oneness comes true individuality, in that everything you have and can imagine is at your fingertips. It's the fruitless search for 'goods and services' which lead us down the wrong path, is it not?Very well done, sir.
Thanks Mike. Yes, we got it all, nothing more to get. But who would believe it!Best.....e
Quite interesting! I like this article very much.Thank you Bill, I try to expand horizons.
Wow that is the first time I have come across the idea that maybe our desire or thoughts for peace were not enough to effect the change and that our karma may be a reason for that. At least that is what I got from reading your article. I have been working hard for more than eleven years to bring positivity into my life after living the hellish existence of a battered woman for ten years. I find taking the time to appreciate the moment is one of the most important parts of my day - Even though I would do it anyway for my personal self-growth I now can see there is a long term benefit to that practise as well. Thank you for that.You are so welcome Lisa. I'm glad the article helped. Hope you were not in the area of the earthquake!Best.......e
I am not a Buddhist, but have spent a lifetime studying quantum mechanics. I can honestly say that your vision of the world is intriguing and I have spent some time considering what you have to say. Of course, I am in no position to dispute or endorse your theology, for I am ignorant of the tenets of your beliefs, and perhaps I shall devote some time and study to familiarize myself with what you have to say.However, as you article relate to quantum mechanics, I am wondering where how you account for the release of the subatomic energy, and/or electromagnetic pathways we call thoughts? As I am sure you are well aware, energy (in any form) does not simply disappear...but rather changes modality or form. It occurred to me that perhaps that energy might perhaps be the basis for new life, though that is only conjecture on my part. My thinking is strongly influenced by the functions of physical science and I have yet to come upon anything that disputes this fact. Just the same, we have a very incomplete understanding about many of the nuances of physical science, especially at the subatomic level, where all things true with particle physics seem to precisely the opposite. In any event, I do not dismiss your thesis because it cannot be fully explained by our current understanding of scientific happening, I just wonder where it all fits in the grander scheme of things.Thanks David. I have an article coming up soon called, "Stealing God's Thunder" that will take this conversation to another level. Keep an eye out for it!Best.....e
I enjoyed reading this article, it made me really think about how amazing our minds are.Thanks Lee-ann. Yes, we only use a fraction of its potential, apparently. We still like to wage war!Best.....e
Good article E- demonstrates deep philosophical thought- which I enjoy reading- Thanks - Always- EllaI had a feeling you'd like it! Thanks Ella.
Great article. My pet subject is anxiety, having suffered from anxiety for many years before managing to get the balance back into my life, so this article was of great interest. Very interesting subject. I look forward to reading moreThanks Nick. Appreciate your commenting.Best.....e
I don't know about all this. If we were created as individuals, why do we need to go against that design, abandon it, not "get it", only to have to go through it again and again, tormented as you say? How can it be a myth if we all experience it? As a Christian, I believe we were created in the image of our God. Each of us an individual, but a representation of His person, but sin keeps us separated from him and BTW, makes people wonder how God can exist when all the bad stuff happens. So perhaps that is the missing piece you describe, that's the process you're looking for. I would challenge you to abandon looking within yourself for wholeness with the world and look to God and ask him to remove that separation, so you can have oneness with Him. I think you'd agree that we have all fallen short of perfection (God's glory) and so that is not something we could ever attain. For I'm sure even the best in your religion have sinned - thought bad thoughts, gotten angry, coveted something that wasn't theirs, etc. That is why they return, right? To get it right the next time? If there is no truth, then there can be no sin. Yet you say we live tormented lives without love and peace - which I would describe as sin. Therefore, there must be truth.Don't get me wrong, I'm not being judgemental or anything, just trying to express my belief in the same civil manner in which you tried to express your belief. That's what makes search warp different than other article directories! Who knows, maybe I'll write an article about this and allow people to comment back to me.Christianity is a speculation as all religions are. Creation is a speculation, God is a speculation, Jesus being more than a rabbi is speculation, the bible being more than a series of organized Jewish myths is a speculation, and the bible being written by God is a classic circling argument. Religion can't and never will prove a thing, that's why religion has to be relegated to mere belief. My opinions and articles are speculation as well. Believe if you choose. Or, prove things true for yourself. Your choice always. If you would have been born in Iraq, what would you now believe?. Probably what you were taught as a child - Islam. Who knows truth? I contend that those who say they know truth are very ignorant and conceited. What do you think? Civilly?Metta........e
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