Namaste Yogiadam,
The reason QM is used to support Eastern metaphysics is because QM has indeed made findings that support its metaphysics and contradict classical physics. I invite you to read some books by Amit Goswami, who is a quantum physicist and ex-professor of physics. He mentions some of those main contradictions that QM has found. He sees himself as a “Quantum activist” and is dead agaisnt materialism. He pronounces it as a dead ontology.
- Locality
The classical physical assumption is that objects are suspended in time and space and separate from one another. They interact with one another with a force that obeys the inverse square law. In QM it has been found that objects are not suspended in time and space and are not separate from one another. They are all superpositioned with one another, i.e., they are interconnected. There is no objects as such, but everything is defined as a mutual set of relationships with the whole. This enables information to travel instantaneously from one object to the other irrespective of time or space. This is also known as “spooky action” a term coined by Einstein who was skeptical of this. He set out to disprove it using the EPR problem which showed that if QM was true that it would be possible to affect one particle of an entangled pair of particles, and affect the other which is impossible according to classical physics. However, later John Bell devised an experiment that tests for a violation of the Bell inequalities to see if QM was right or the EPR problem was right. This test was finally done by Alain aspect that the Bell inequalities was violated, thus proving QM correct.
How does this relate to Eastern metaphysics? This is because Eastern metaphysics has exactly the same worldview and explains it using the same language. That nothing separate actually exists, but everything exists as a web of mutual interdependent relations of the whole. In Samkhya philosophy this is the theory of gunas which interact with each other instantaneously.
- Causal determinism
The classical physical assumption models the universe in a mechanistic way which can be modelled by inertial frames of references. If you know the starting values of an object such as position and speed you can calculate its trajectory. In QM it has been found that the universe does not at all behave in a mechanistic way but in an uncertain way, which Heisenberg called the uncertainty principle. It is not possible to know both the position and momentum of an electron and thus it is impossible to know its trajectory. So an entirely new method is used in QM to deal with the position of an electron called statistical or probability analysis. Only a probability can be given where the electron would appear. In modelling the world in this way the certainty of classical physics is done away and it shows that nothing is certain in the universe. There are probabilities for walking through walls, time going backwards, teleportation, levitation.
How does this relate to Eastern metaphysics? Eastern metaphysics also claims that the universe is fluidic and not certain, every new moment is a new event in the universe and as it is fluidic there are no deterministic laws, enabling one to play with the nature and do things like walking through walls, going back in time, teleporting, levitation etc. The Yogasutras dedicates an entire chapter on some the things that can be done.
- Realism and Objectivity
The classical physical assumption is that all objects and observers are suspended in space and time and completely separate entities. The observer merely observes real pre-existent objects and this makes it possible to be objective.
In QM it has been found that Objectivity and realism are false. The main experiment that shows this is the landmark experiment known as the double slit experiment. It was found in this experiment that objects can behave both as particles and as waves, but only be detected as one or the other. It was also found that a particle can switch from a wave state to a particle state when under observation. In other words prior to observation the object does not actually exist, but it a wave. The probability of finding an electron at a certain position is not a subjective probability, but an objective probability. This means that by observing it we actually create the position of the electron there. In other words the existence of the objective world in only insofar as we are conscious of it. There is no such objective world without that consciousness.
This has by far been the most controversial finding in QM and the mainstream scientists do not want to accept it. They posit QM has to be wrong and call it to be tested. So many tested have been devised to test this. But QM has passed test after test, the most recent being the tests done in 2000 which have pretty much disproven objectivity and realism.
How does this relate to Eastern metaphysics? Eastern metaphysics claims that there is no reality without an observer. That they are inseparable and are reflections of one another(Atman = Brahman) Moreover they claim all of reality is actually a mental construction(idealism) QM is supporting them very strongly on this.
- Empty space
Classical physics holds that the vacuum of space is the absolute reduction of space and there is nothing that exists beyond it. The idea of ether, the so-called 5th element that pervades all of space and from all things manifest, from which energy could be extracted from any point was rejected by physicists at the end of the 19th century with the landmark experiment known as the Michelson-Morley experiment which found no evidence for ether. It was still maintained by Nicole Tesla who talked about the ether as Akasha and the energy currents within it as Prana, and William Reich who called it Orgone energy and claimed he could channel it using Orgone accumulaters… Throughout the 20th century this has been one of the most controversial areas as several physicists have come forward claiming they can generate free energy(a misnomer for generating more energy than one puts in) which is done through creating particular harmonic circuits. The Tesla coil for example is able to generate very high voltage and high frequency electricity. Then there were claims by some scientists that they could create cold-fusion(fusion at room temperature, using etheric energy). All these inventions were rejected by the mainstream scientific community because they violated the classical laws of thermodynamics.
In QM it has been found that there is indeed something like this 5th element called ether(Sanskrit akasha) which they have called the zero point energy field or the quantum vacuum. The landmark experiment was by a scientist named Casimir who demonstrated that an energy is generated by two metal plates close together in a vacuum which causes the metal plates to attract one another. This is called the Casimir effect. This is explained as quantum vacuum flucuations or forces that emanate from the zero point energy field. The casimir effect is very real and it is especially relevant in nanotechnology, where quantum vacuum forces can cause nanomaterials to stick, to break, to malform. Recently, scientists have been able to channel the casimir force so that it creates an upwards pushing force to eliminate friction between the nano parts. This upwards force can theoretically be used to levitate objects of any size. It depends just how strong of a force you can channel from the zero point energy field. The energy available with the ZPE is calculated as such that within the space of a hydrogen atom there is more energy than all the stars in the known universe.
How does this relate to Eastern metaphysics? Eastern metaphysics has long held that the entire universe is made up of 5 elements. This originates from Vedic metaphysics. The traditional translation of the 5 elements as earth, water, fire, air and ether is not the correct translation of the Sanskrit words pritvhi, apas, tejas, vayu and akasha. The correct translations are: solid, liquidious/flowing, light, force and space(ether is acceptable). According to this theory matter comes in higher and lower densities. The first four elements are considered to be made of atoms(sanskrit: paramanus), the 5th element however is considered to be non-material of wavicular nature. So according to Eastern metaphysics matter first begins as a wave, then it increases in density and becomes a force, then it increases in density and becomes light, then it increases in density and becomes liquidious/flowing(possibly referring to subatomic particles) and finally it becomes very solid and dense.
The 5th element is all pervading, infinite and the very substratum of matter and it said to be teeming with energy which can be tapped if you know how. It is here that pranic forces are said to be running, and it is possible to channel those currents to generate free energy and to move things. In the same way QM today is generating the etheric casimir force to push objects up to achieive physical levitation. The Yogasutras says exactly the same thing on how to channel the prana to push upwards to achieive physical levitation.
In other words the descriptions are identical. Several modern philosophers of science have seen the parallels, such as Erwin Lazlo, who has redubbed the quantum vacuum/zero point energy field as the A-field(Akashic field) I do not agree with everything that Lazlo says(such as his beliefs on 2012) but he a very prolific writer on this subject and has written dozens of books.
So in summary: These are the four major assumptions of classical physics which have been disproven by QM. The findings of QM support all of the major teachings of Eastern metaphysics. This is why QM is cited by spiritual people, religion and metaphysicians all the time. Nothing is actually being taken out of context. Rather the findings of both are very compatible and consistent with one another. Some QM physicists look to Eastern metaphysics and some Eastern metaphysicians look to QM. In fact the truth is it is materialists who are taking QM out of context by insisting on a duality of a classical universe and a quantum universe and saying they are two different things, just so that they can hold onto classical physics. But QM has categorically disproven classical physics. The truth is QM does not at all support materialism in any way, shape or form. QM has brought materialism to the same place that Copernicus brought flat-earth theories to - absurdity.
