Quantum Physics?

Sikhism, Science
and Quantum
Physics

1 Contents Page
1 Contents Page......................................................................................................2
2 Introduction .........................................................................................................3
3 Cosmology.............................................................................................................4
3.1 Creation of the Universe............................................................................4
3.2 Destruction of the Universe ......................................................................4
3.3 Planets, Solar Systems and Galaxies .......................................................4
3.4 Moons.............................................................................................................5
3.5 Distance of the Moon..................................................................................5
3.6 Life on other planets ..................................................................................6
3.7 Motion of Sun and Moon.............................................................................7
4 Biology and Natural Laws...................................................................................8
4.1 Temperature ................................................................................................8
4.2 Pollination ....................................................................................................8
4.3 The Origins of Life ......................................................................................8
4.4 Life in Rocks.................................................................................................9
4.5 The idea of the Atom...............................................................................10
5 Quantum Principles...........................................................................................10
5.1 Quantum Field Theory – The Nature of Matter....................................10
5.2 Unified Field Theory.................................................................................11
5.3 Entanglement.............................................................................................12
6 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................13

2 Introduction
Science and Dharma (spirituality) are opposite sides of the same coin. Both
Science and Dharma aim to explain Truth. However the approach of Science
is to use physical measurements and laboratory experiments whereas
Dharma requires experimentation in the laboratory of our own inner being
through simran (meditation).
Over the last 50 years our ideas about the universe have changed
dramatically and the line between science, philosophy and dharma are
appearing to blur and merge. Science and in particular quantum physics is a
fascinating subject and its ideas provide an excellent validation for some
key Dharmic truths outlined in the Sikh Holy Scripture (Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji).

3 Cosmology
3.1 Creation of the Universe
The currently accepted theory for the creation of the universe is the big
bang theory which states that the universe has expanded into its current
state from a primordial condition of enormous density and temperature.
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji also supports the idea of a big bang and an
expanding universe
“In so many ways, He has unfolded Himself. So many times, He has
expanded His expansion. Forever and ever, He is the One, the One Universal
Creator.” SGGSJ page 276
“God, who expanded His expanse, is within all; I learned this from the True
Guru.” SGGSJ page 671
“By His Hukam, the Expanse of the Universe is expanded.” SGGSJ page 760
“The Gurmukh knows that the Lord has expanded the entire expanse”
SGGSJ page 1054
3.2 Destruction of the Universe
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji also supports the idea of a continuous cycle of
creation and destruction of our universe and that our current universe is
non-permanent.
“Creation and destruction happen through the Word of the Shabad.
Through the Shabad, creation happens again.” SGGSJ page 117
“Nothing of the color and the form of the creation shall remain; the entire
expanse is transitory.” SGGSJ page 999
“The entire creation came from God. As it pleases Him, He creates the
expanse. As it pleases Him, He becomes the One and Only again.” SGGSJ
page 294
3.3 Planets, Solar Systems and Galaxies
Astronomy has led to the discovery of billions of galaxies in our universe
each of which probably have planets and solar systems like our own.
The Sikh Holy scripture mentions that there are an uncountable amount of
planets, solar systems and galaxies in our universe.

“The planets, solar systems and galaxies, created and arranged by Your
Hand, sing.” SGGSJ page 6
“There are planets, solar systems and galaxies. If one speaks of them, there
is no limit, no end. There are worlds upon worlds of His Creation. As He
commands, so they exist.” SGGSJ page 8
“So many worlds beyond this world-so very many!” SGGSJ page 3
“He established the many worlds and skies.” SGGSJ page 184
“I have searched and searched, across so many worlds, but without the
Name, there is no peace.” SGGSJ page 255
“Among all lights, I behold Your Form; all the worlds are Your Maya.”
SGGSJ page 351
“Many millions are the fields of creation and the galaxies” SGGSJ page 276
“True are Your worlds, True are Your solar Systems.” SGGSJ page 463
3.4 Moons
Giordano Bruno was the first person to have stated that the moon was one of
the planetoids like our own earth. Galileo later supported this theory in 1610.
The theory contradicted the current religious ideas about the universe held at
that time and therefore
even intellectuals (like the Professor of Philosophy at the University of Padua)
declined to look through Galileo’s telescope and stuck to their deep-held
beliefs. In 1665 Newton once again talked about the moon and its gravitational
pull. It was only in the 20th century that our ideas about the moon underwent a
sea change when on 21 July 1969 Neil Armstrong and Edwin Arnold actually set
foot on the moon.
Scientists have now discovered at least 60 other known moons in addition to
ours. Saturn has at least 20 going round it. The Earth and Pluto each have one
moon. The fact that there are innumerable moons and suns was mentioned by
Guru Nanak in the 16th century when he said,
“There are many Indras, moons and suns and many other worlds and galaxies”
SGGSJ Page 7
“Many millions are the moons, suns and stars.” SGGSJ Page 275
“Millions of moons twinkle in the sky.” SGGSJ Page 1162
3.5 Distance of the Moon
Until astronauts visited the Moon, man was not sure what the moon was and
how far it was from the earth. Now we have moon rock available for analysis

and we also know the distance between the moon and the earth. Using a mirror
left on the moon by the Apollo astronauts, an international group of scientists
fired laser beams to the moon from Hawaii, France, Germany and Texas. The
laser beams returned to their respective telescopes after 2.652584 seconds.
Using the technique known as laser ranging scientists discovered that the Moon
was 15,654,023,458 inches (247064.76417298 miles) away from the earth. This
is so far the most accurate calculation of the distance between the earth and
the moon. The distance keeps changing and the mean distance commonly used
by Scientists is 238,866 miles.
Dr. Peter Shelus of McDonald Observatory in Austin (Texas) was one of the
scientists conducting the above experiment. He says, “Although we can
measure the distance to an inch of accuracy, it is only correct for a moment in
time because the earth and the Moon are rotating, and both are in elliptical
orbits.”
The Sikh Gurus were not scientists and were not interested in calculating
distances between planets. But we find a story in the Janam Sakhi (Biography)
of Guru Nanak where the Earth-Moon distance is said to have been estimated by
the Guru. It is
given as 52000 Yojan. This gives us the distance between the earth and the
moon as 236363.63 miles. The difference between the scientific calculations
and the Guru’s supposed estimate is merely 2503 miles, which is very
insignificant when we measure
such long distances. Even scientists had calculated this distance as 225742
miles when the astronauts first visited the moon in 1969.
It is also a fact that this distance keeps changing because the orbits of the
earth and the moon are elliptical (egg shaped). It also depends on the moment
of measurement. The distance of the Moon from us at its farthest point is
250,000 miles. Taking these facts into account one marvels at the distance
given in the Janam Sakhi.
3.6 Life on other planets
Science has not yet been able to either prove or disprove the existence of
life on other planets. However, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji teaches that
there are an uncountable amount of planets with many forms of life on
them including human forms of life who also worship the primal being.
“In the realm of karma, the Word is Power. No one else dwells there,
except the warriors of great power, the spiritual heroes. They are totally
fulfilled, imbued with the Lord's Essence. Myriads of Sitas are there, cool
and calm in their majestic glory. Their beauty cannot be described. Neither
death nor deception comes to those, within whose minds the Lord abides.
The devotees of many worlds dwell there.” SGGSJ page 8
“There are beings and creatures in the water and on the land, in the worlds
and universes, form upon form.” SGGSJ page 466

3.7 Motion of Sun and Moon
Nothing is static in the universe, stars, planets, meteors, satellites, all move at
speeds varying from a few kilometres per second to hundreds of kilometres per
second. The Sun revolves around the Milky Way on an almost circular orbit
with a speed of about 220km/s. The Sun completes one revolution in about
230 million years. The Milky Way also moves - we are moving towards our
nearest neighbour the Andromeda galaxy and both the Milky Way and
Andromeda (which make up most of what we call the 'Local Group of
galaxies') are moving towards the Virgo Cluster which is our nearest cluster
of galaxies.
The Guru Granth Sahib also says:
“The sun and the moon obey His laws. They move billions of miles and never
stop.” SGGSJ page 464

4 Biology and Natural Laws
4.1 Temperature
People have intuitively known about temperature for a long time e.g. that
fire is hot and snow is cold. Greater knowledge of temperature was gained
as people attempted to work with metals through the bronze and iron ages.
Galileo invented the first documented thermometer in about 1592 however
this was not available in India.
Nevertheless the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji teaches that the boiling point of
milk is higher than that of water.
“O mind, love the Lord, as the water loves the milk. The water, added to
the milk, itself bears the heat, and prevents the milk from burning. God
unites the separated ones with Himself again, and blesses them with true
greatness.” SGGSJ page 60
“Just like water, which loves milk so much that it will not let it burn - O
my mind, so love the Lord.” SGGSJ page 454
4.2 Pollination
The secret of reproduction in plants remained a mystery for a long time.
Prospero Alpini stated in 1580 that the plants had male and female sexes. In
1694 Rudolph Jakob Camerarius identified male and female parts in plants.
Later in 1763 Joseph Gottlieb Kolreuter conducted fertilization experiments on
plants using animal pollinators. It was then that pollination of plants through
wind and insects like flies, bees, birds and bumblebees etc was established as a
fact. The Sikh Gurus had mentioned this earlier than this when they wrote,
“Such is the result of a bumble bee enjoying fragrance that (by carrying
pollen) it causes the trees to bloom and the woods to become lush green and
fructify.” SGGSJ page 1190
4.3 The Origins of Life
Accepted theories of the origin of life are that the big band released large
amounts of Hydrogen which combined to form Helium and other heavier
gases. Water formed with oxygen combining with hydrogen and water led to
the evolution of life.
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji also teaches that the universe started with
gases which eventually led to the formation of water in turn giving birth to
life.

“From the True Lord came the air, and from the air came water. From
water, He created the three worlds; in each and every heart He has infused
His Light.” SGGSJ page 19
“Know that the creation was formed through air and water” SGGSJ page
1256
“When there was no moon and no sun, then water and air were blended
together.” SGGSJ Page 973
4.4 Life in Rocks
An experiment was done by the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and
Planetology, with
sterilized basalt as a culture medium to see if bacteria could live in the rock
in the dark. They put water from deep wells into tubes containing the
sterilized basalt, and examined them after various lengths of time for up to
one year. The water was not processed in any way to preserve the bacteria
that was in it. Under these dark, oxygen-starved conditions, the rock-water
interactions are the only source of energy possible. No sunlight reached the
capsules, so photosynthesis could not take place. Remarkably, even after a
year, bacteria were thriving in this unusual environment. The research
shows that bacteria can live kilometers beneath the surface.
This form of life is also mentioned in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji:
“In rocks and stones He created living beings; He places their nourishment
before them” SGGSJ Page 10
This photograph was taken with a special
microscope called a scanning laser confocal
microscope and the scale in 10 micro metres. The
laser reflects off the rock surfaces and shows up
green. The living bacteria were dyed with a
chemical and appear red in the laser light in both
photographs.
The types of bacteria shown in red in these two
photographs have not yet been identified (and may
be previously unknown species), but the experiment
clearly shows that bacteria can live deep
underground if deoxygenated water and iron-bearing
minerals are present.

4.5 The idea of the Atom
The atom was first discovered by Dr. Dalton (1766- 1844) who proposed his
atomic theory in 1803. Maxwell called this discovery, “The imperishable
foundation of the universe.”
However the idea of a tiny particles of matter invisible to the naked eye have
been mentioned in various references in the Sikh holy scripture.
“Even if the mortal could reduce himself to the size of an atom, and shoot
through the worlds and realms in the blinking of an eye, O Nanak, without the
guidance of a Holy Saint, he shall not be saved.” SGGSJ Page 1360
5 Quantum Principles
5.1 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
http://www.ProjectNaad.com | Page 11 of 13 11
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
6 Conclusion
The truths in Sikhism have been determined through experience of oneness
and this essay shows that both science and spirituality can be used to
understand truth in its many dimensions.