Where science meets mysticism
Exploring the space-time continuum, quantum mechanics, string theory, non-duality, Eastern philosophy and the unity of all things
“For eternally and always, there is only now. One and the same now. The present is the only thing that has no end.”
Who said these words — a sage, a poet, or a physicist?
These words come from Schroedinger, whose explorations into the world of the smallest material unit, the quantum, drew him closely into the realms of mysticism — a trajectory he shared with many quantum theorists.
Ever since experiencing the diffusion of space and time during my recent journey with 5-meO-DMT, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the place I encountered. A place where any existing notion of time is put on its head. In search of answers, I’ve looked to both modern physics and Eastern philosophy, only to find that these two disciplines have much more in common than one might think.
For millennia, we’ve diligently separated mind and matter. The former was reserved for philosophers, psychologists, and poets, who were occupied with matters of the “soul”, the latter became the foundation of science and advanced into the fields of medicine, biology, chemistry, and physics.
It’s only now that our understanding of both mind and matter has evolved to a point where we’re finally returning to theories of union — the predominant thought in many ancient civilizations, such as early Greek and Eastern philosophy.
This week, we’ll take a look at some extremely big (and extremely small) questions about our universe. By bridging ideas from modern science and mysticism, we explore the underlying truth of reality, a truth psychedelics greatly help illuminate: the timeless unity of all things.
The Evolution of Modern Physics: From Duality to Spacetime, Quantum Mechanics and String Theory
In ancient Greece, philosophers such as Diogenes and Aristotle firmly believed in the union of the scientific and the mystical. Yet over time, several modern thinkers began to propagate dual worldviews. By the 16th century, one particular French philosopher had manifested the division of mind and matter into society once and for all.
With his famous reasoning, “I think therefore I am”, Renee Descartes spearheaded a movement that would lead Westerners to equate their identities almost exclusively with their minds.
By the end of the 17th century, this philosophy of duality had become the guiding force of Newtonian physics. Newton, who established the mechanical exploration of forces involving matter, essentially developed the foundation of modern physics.
Over the coming centuries, this isolation of matter allowed us to achieve astounding progress in the fields of physics, medicine, and technology. Yet, as Fritjof Capra argues in the Tao of Physics, it’s also had a substantial shadow side:
“This fragmented view further extended into society, which is split into different nations, races, religious and political groups. The belief that all these fragments in ourselves, in our environment, and in our society are really seperate can be seen as the essential reason for the present series of our social, ecological and cultural crises. It has aleniated us from nature and from our fellow human beings.”
Challenging the world of duality: relativity & quantum theories
The first well-known physicist who challenged the division of mind and matter was Max Planck. Planck believed that matter wasn’t floating randomly in space, but rather embraced in the same matrix that holds conscious processes such as thoughts and dreams. He saw consciousness as a fundamental feature of reality:
“All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force. We must assume behind this force, the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter. […].
I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”
Around the same time, another genius made discoveries about the nature of reality that would alter the entire field of physics: Albert Einstein.
Einstein singlehandedly developed the theory of special relativity, proving that time and space are not two separate dimensions but rather one, the spacetime continuum. In his general theory of relativity, Einstein further incorporated gravity into his equations, opening up the door to the fascinating macro-workings of our universe, such as warped spacetime, wormholes, and black holes.
In parallel, experiments into the world of the tiniest units, quanta, led to equally intriguing discoveries. As Schroedinger’s cat experiment revealed, we learned it was impossible to measure the location of matter with full certainty but could only be calculated in the context of probabilities, which become “real” only when observed.
This groundbreaking shift disrupted modern physics. It dissolved the ideal of measuring objective reality, a core tenant all modern sciences strive towards. In quantum physics, the observer becomes a variable as one realizes that there is no way to speak about nature without speaking about oneself.
In the words of Werner Heisenberg, another key pioneer in quantum mechanics who coined the uncertainty principle:
“What we observe is not nature itsself but nature exposed to our methods of questioning.”
While both quantum theories and relativity were disruptive, there was a problem: these two theories were mathematically incompatible using existing frameworks. It became Einstein’s lifelong endeavor (and later, Stephen Hawkings and many, many other physicists, too) to develop a unifying theory that would successfully merge the world of general relativity with the world of quanta.
While Einstein laid much of the groundwork, he never managed to complete the puzzle. It was only decades later that physicst developed superstring theory, string theory in short, which to date is still our best bet at a unifying “theory of everything”.
String theory: a potential “theory of everything”
String theory is a promising theory that, if proven correct, would finally solve the riddle Einstein and Hawking weren’t able to solve. The main problem with string theory is that it’s still a theory — we still haven’t been able to scientifically prove it yet.
In string theory, everything in our universe is made up of tiny vibrating strings. Rather than zero-dimensional point particles, subatomic particles consist of tiny one-dimensional “stringlike” entities that are all interconnected. String theory mathematically unifies all of nature’s forces.
String theory is fascinating for several reasons: Not only does it account for the presence of multiple dimensions, curled up into the interwoven fabric of our universe, it demands multiple dimensions to exist for the theory to be mathematically correct. (Side note: Anyone who has smoked DMT will undoubtedly confirm that our “dimension” is only one of many.)
Equally intriguing, string theory also suggests that the world is holotropic.
As Brian Greene describes in a conversation with Krista Tippet, according to string theory the reality we experience is a projection of a deeper base of information:
"The fundamental nature of reality as far as we can grasp it now is fundamentally hidden from us at this stage in our development as a species. It's not just that I can't comprehend the true nature of the forces that compose and determine my presence and action in the world. Rather, what I feel, experience, and believe is leading me astray. One of the scenarios suggested by string theory is that reality as we observe it is akin to a holographic projection of a real base of information. Our civilization and selves in this theory are like a skyscraper to an architect's blueprint. But that blueprint or base of information is somewhere else. Something else, more real than us, and beyond our imagining. And this idea returns me to excruciating and ponderable question of my otherwise certainty soaked childhood: if god made the universe, who made god? Likewise, one might reasonably ask, who or what was the architect of the blueprint?"
String theory establishes the understanding that the universal interconnectedness of all things and events is a fundamental feature of atomic reality that’s at the core of everything. One intelligence, one blueprint that unifies it all.
And while this notion is fascinating, it is nothing new.
All major Eastern philosophies are built around this thought.
The Essence of Eastern Mysticism: Unity and Interconnectedness as the Foundation of Being
To illustrate the underlying qualities that all major Eastern philosophies share, let’s briefly look at Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism.
At the core of Hinduism is Brahman, a metaphysical concept referring to the ultimate unchanging reality that is eternal, infinite, and transcendent. Brahman is the cause, the foundation, the source and the goal of all existence, the unifying nature of all things. Brahman is the God who sacrifices himself to transform himself into the world. Another common notion in Hinduism is the non-dualist concept of Maya, which refers to the illusion of taking concepts for reality. Confusing the map with the territory. The skyscrapers with the blueprint, as Brian Greene would say. Finally, Karma is the force of creation that divinely connects everything in existence with everything else. Liberation, then, in Hindu philosophy, is the process of realizing that everything (including oneself) is Brahman, waking up to the illusion of Maya, and breaking the Karmic cycle.
Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism is primarily concerned with the human condition rather than the origins of the world and divine nature. At its core, Buddhism is psychology more than it is religion. Yet, there is the concept of Dhammakāya which illuminates the nature of being, both spiritual and material, and with that, it can be considered the “Brahman of Buddhism”. Beyond the exploration of individual suffering and the four noble truths, Buddhism also hinges on the unity and interrelation of all things, which is the essence of a specific Buddhist tradition called Mahayana Buddhism.
Daosim, finally, is mainly concerned with the observation of nature and its way, the Dao. The Dao is the unified cosmic process in which all things are involved. According to Daoist philosophy, human happiness is achieved when one follows the natural order and trusts one’s intuitive guidance. Daoists, like Buddhists and Hindus, are much more interested in experiential, intuitive wisdom rather than rational, experimental knowledge.
While different in their unique manifestations, all these philosophies share the underlying belief that there is an ultimate reality that underlies and unifies everything we observe — whether we call that reality Dao, Brahman, or Dhammakāya.
One Underlying Reality, Different Means of Exploring It: the Concept of Non-Duality
Science has advanced to a point where we don’t see the world as separate objects anymore, but rather as a large, interconnected web of all matter. Many advanced physicists including Planck and Einstein believed that the underlying fabric of that web was consciousness.
We’ve begun to scientifically explore the possibility that everything in existence is part of an interconnected cosmic web, as Eastern mystics have taught for millennia.
All these concepts boil down to the same inherent reality of non-duality. Non-duality is the recognition that underlying the multiplicity and diversity of experience there is a single, infinite and indivisible reality, whose nature is pure consciousness, from which all objects and selves derive their apparently independent existence.
As we’ve explored, there are multiple ways to arrive at non-duality, whether it’s through rational thought and the rigorous scientific process, or the mystical experience. The underlying reality is the same, the only thing that differs is the means of observation: while scientists observe the outside and rely on reason, mystics observe the inside and rely on intuition, using intellect only to interpret the contents of their mystical experience.
Most potently, it’s the experience of ego dissolution and unity consciousness that allows us to experience non-duality. Whether during a psychedelic journey or prolonged periods of meditation, one’s individuality dissolves into an undifferentiated whole. Subject and object merge. The illusion of duality is gone.
This merging into “timeless presence” has been described vividly in the Buddhist states of enlightenment, just as it’s been described in various psychedelic trip reports (also more recently by me here within the context of my journey with Bufo Alvarius, aka 5-meO-DMT).
During mystical experiences, whether psychedelics induced or not, one goes beyond three-dimensional space. Ordinary awareness of time is transcended. No longer is there a linear succession of events, but rather you experience an infinite, timeless, dynamic present. An interpenetration of time and space. The past, present, and future all rolled up in one, single moment: the present.
This reality only allows for one conclusion. It’s the same conclusion Einstein arrived at when he ventured into the world of large, universal forces, it’s the same conclusion Schroedinger came to when he ventured into the world of small, quantum forces, the same reality that mystics (and psychonauts) viscerally experience first hand:
Time doesn’t pass, it stays where it is.
Dig Deeper
The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism
The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory; the author Brian Greene also has a conversation with Krista Tippet from the On Being podcast here titled “The Hidden Hand of the Equations”
You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters
Another phenomenal essay Julia. Very well written. I enjoy reading what you write. You are an explorer. Your writings also take me down memory lane to decades ago when eye had similar experiences / realizations.
"Something else, more real than us, and beyond our imagining. And this idea returns me to excruciating and ponderable question of my otherwise certainty soaked childhood: if god made the universe, who made god? Likewise, one might reasonably ask, who or what was the architect of the blueprint?"
Brian Greene
Climbing the mountain,
trying to find the rainbow.
Climbing the rainbow,
trying to find the painter.
When I find the painter,
I'll jump into her picture.
Then I'll wonder who the man is,
who mixes all the colors.
Who made this hue,
Who made this me?
1981
https://youtu.be/AQSjV4DZ-Gg
This is a an amazing article, a lot to unpack - thank you