74 – Quantum Death
Can you have a quantum death? Death in two places? Death that isn’t death?
The world of quantum is much stranger than Sci-fi. Reality is nowhere near being reality. Everything is super weird. A while back there were experiments to show that photons behave differently when being observed. Now there is serious scientific talk about all matter having consciousness, about the human brain not being the seat of consciousness (but rather an organ that tunes in to the consciousness around it, some kind of sense organ) and not only the planet but the whole universe possesses consciousness. I’m at this moment reading a scientifically based article about planets being conscious and affecting their own orbits. What the hell? Science?? They now believe that we can change reality with the power of our thoughts. It’s getting weirder by the minute. Science is outdoing religion. These theories are becoming stranger than Sci-fi.
For me these ideas resonate back to some of my youthful conversations about universal minds and being part of some great consciousness that had its basis in Eastern mysticism. I remember tuning in to Jim Morrison of the Doors with his lyrics ‘I’m doing time in the universal mind’. It sounds to me as if science is tuning in to a similar concept. All matter contains an intrinsic consciousness. Consciousness isn’t a product of the brain. It answers a lot of things, like how can organisms like flies be aware while having brains the size of pinheads? And are microorganisms aware? That’s before we get to plants! Everything is conscious and aware.
When, long ago, I decided that all religions were manmade power structures with flawed doctrines designed to promote division and tribal behaviour, doctrines that did not shed light on reality and teachings that were based on ignorance and medieval practice (that was best kept securely in the past), I also tended to put aside my views on spirituality. Frankly, I find the concept of god risible. The biblical and Koranic stories fables and the misogyny and violence repulsive. They stem from a different cultural time and place. But when it comes to internal spiritual development and understanding, as through meditation and contemplation; that I can accept. I often find myself transported by nature, a sunset or a log fire. I have an affinity for nature and oneness with the natural world. That is my spirituality.
Perhaps the universe is stranger than we think? Perhaps reality is an illusion? Perhaps consciousness is a product of matter? Perhaps the weirdness of quantum is the norm?
So where does that leave death? If the direction quantum physics seems to be heading: into a mystical connection, perhaps I have to view death a little differently? An end and a beginning. Perhaps it is the end of myself as an entity, an ego, a living organism, a man? But perhaps it is a reawakening into the universal mind of the cosmos?
Wouldn’t that be nice?
So none of your religious nonsense – no heaven, hell, paradise or Valhalla, no god presiding over everything and dispensing arbitrary rules and threats, just a cosmic universality, a consciousness into which I would dissolve! Takes me straight back to my youthful ruminations!
Isn’t life wonderful?
I await further scientific investigation on the quantum intelligence of reality, nature of spirituality and the death of tribal religions!
Until then I’ll continue to regard death as an end.