CONSCIOUSNESS
To understand the astounding and counterintuitive findings of quantum physics, comprehending the role of consciousness is essential. Let’s begin with a definition. Consciousness is awareness. Specifically, it is intelligent awareness capable of choice and direction. The quantum phenomena described above only make sense if consciousness is the primary source of reality. Quantum physics says that our reality begins with energetic light waves of possibility. These possibility waves only collapse into material particles upon observation. But, who is doing the observing? Both Max Planck, the founder of quantum physics, and the ancient spiritual texts tell us that a single Conscious Intelligent Mind or awareness is doing the observing.
Then what is the nature of this Consciousness? From where does it arise? Does it have a material or non-material origin? Material science would claim that consciousness arises from matter as a function of the material brain. But quantum physics shows that only conscious observation collapses wave energy into matter, so how can the thing that is bringing matter into existence be created by it? This paradox rules out consciousness being created by matter.
Now let’s take a page from Descartes’ dualist philosophy. Say that mind (consciousness) and matter are separate and distinct dimensions that somehow interact with one another. So, consciousness is an immaterial force working with matter by some undefined means. Sounds reasonable, even a bit spiritual, right? But in order for matter to receive direction from an immaterial consciousness, there has to be a continual exchange of signals, of information, and that means energy. This can’t pass the laws of physics which state that energy in the universe is constant. The universe can’t be adding new stuff all the so we have another paradox.
Now the Third Way comes into play. All paradoxes are eliminated and all quantum phenomena explained if we see consciousness as the source of all reality. It is the matrix or energy net that
encompasses everything observable and unobservable. So consciousness is both particle and wave, matter and energy, observer and the thing observed. This means that when consciousness chooses and collapses a possibility into reality, it chooses from within itself, not from some outside immaterial dimension, hence no paradox. This explains how particles far removed in space instantly communicate with one another. They’re both the same energy manifesting at different points. It explains quantum leaps as an instant transfer of Universal Mind’s focus from one point to another, the way a man might look at a new car then suddenly fixate on a beautiful woman.
We can further refine the operations of consciousness in this manner—Consciousness with a capital “C” is the fundamental intelligent energy (call it God, higher intelligence etc.). This Consciousness manifests itself as different points of consciousness with a lower case “c.” That would be you and me and every self-aware being. In quantum scientific terms, capital “C” and small “c” would be called non-ordinary and ordinary consciousness respectively. Big “C” Consciousness is the fundamental light or energy which, like using multiple projectors, projects all reality through us small “c’s.” Collectively, we participate as the aware observers who draw forth material reality from the quantum light wave. So, we see that the New Age concept of co-creation does have a basis in quantum theory.
In Part IV, we’ll discuss how an ancient universal spiritual tradition predicted the findings of modern quantum in pointing to the Third Way, a new paradigm of reality.
