FW: Solstice Celebration

SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

NOVEMBER 28, 2008

In This Issue

THE PHYSICS OF MYSTICISM

BHADRA COLLECTIVE

SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

CHANT CLUB

LITERARY EVENT

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GREETINGS DEAR FRIENDS

We are fast approaching the winter solstice and we're very excited about an event that we are a part of. It is a solstice celebration in Waterloo organized by 'Holly Oak/Opening Way', featuring a dance with The Bhadra Collective. The musical theme is a celebration of 'the Sacred and the Profane'. Holding up the profane side of things will be my alter-ego band, 'Blues Evolution'. There will be many other delightful things happening that night - check out the details below.

This newsletter features the fifth and last in a series of articles on The Physics of Mysticism, exploring the parallels between what the ancient mystics and modern scientists are telling us about the nature of our universe. In this issue we'll look at what the mystics and scientists tell us about conciousness and the usefulness of the scientific method.

If you'd like to access past newsletters containing the ongoing articles on the Physics of Mysticism, Magic, the Power of Mantra and other topics, please visit the 'newsletter' page of my website, whyislife.com

Peace and love, Dennis.

THE PHYSICS OF MYSTICISM (Part 5)
by Dennis Gaumond

- CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD -

Modern physics seems to have separated into two branches, one of which continues to search for that elusive particle, the singular basic irreducible element of the universe. The other branch of physics that includes Geoffrey Chew and David Bohm, feels that it is somewhat futile to try to know reality by looking for such a particle. For them, no aspect of reality is fundamental to the whole. None of the characteristics of any particular part of the web can speak for the entire web. All the parts are interrelated and mutually dependent. The web of reality consists of a collection of relationships. There are no fundamental laws.

With this branch of physics there is a strong implication that reality is dependent upon our collective consciousness. Physicist Eugene Wigner says,
"It is not possible to formulate the laws of quantum theory in a fully consistent way without reference to consciousness."

Fritjof Capra says,
"Physicists have come to see that all their theories of natural phenomena, including the 'laws' they describe, are creations of the human mind"

Gary Zucav says,
" 'Reality' is what we take to be true. What we take to be true is what we believe. What we believe is based upon our perceptions. What we perceive depends upon what we look for. What we look for depends upon what we think. What we think depends upon what we perceive. What we perceive determines what we believe. What we believe determines what we take to be true. What we take to be true is our reality."

Statements like these bear an unmistakable resemblance to mystical thought, which contends that consciousness actually is reality. As Capra points out, if we have individual consciousness or intelligence and we are part of the whole, then the whole must also have intelligence. If this is so, then like consciousness, reality is subject to change, to growth. Science has always assumed a 'symmetry' of nature - that the laws of nature, whatever they are, have always been the same and will always be the same. Perhaps we can't make that assumption. Perhaps reality evolves as the collective intelligence evolves.

The other branch of physics has decided to set these concerns aside and to continue to search for the basic, irreducible building blocks of the universe. This branch has given birth to string theory. It is interesting to note that many of the concepts of string theory also bear a strong resemblance to things that are said by mystics. String theory concepts - fundamental vibrating loops of energy - the idea that everything, every aspect of reality is a manifestation of a certain pattern of vibration - the idea of multiple dimensions - the concept of a 'multiverse'; these notions would all have a familiar ring to a mystic.

It is also interesting to note that both branches of physics seem to have arrived at a type of impasse regarding the continued usefulness of the scientific method. String theory has yet to find a way to experimentally test its mathematically elegant contentions. Although some of this is due to inadequate technology, many feel that much of it is virtually un-testable. Some physicists feel that string theory is outside the world of science, belonging to the world of philosophy. Those that are more interested in exploring consciousness will also find that scientific experimentation, in the traditional sense, will be of limited use. Is science on the verge of admitting that empirical observation is incapable of showing us reality? If so, then we are definitely agreeing with the mystics.

"When science begins the study of non-physical phenomena,

it will make more progress in one decade than in all
the previous centuries of its existence."
- Nikola Tesla