physics and buddhism what could devas be
TRANSCRIPT
By Ng Xin Zhao
Physics and Buddhism: What Could Deva Be?
ContentsMotivationCharacteristics of DevaScientific/ Science Fiction possibilitiesAnalysisExperimental dataConclusion
MotivationNo direct scientific evidence for devaSecular Buddhist movement are dismissing
itYet deva is integral in many of the SuttasCould deva be some scientific possibility
yet unexplored?
Characteristics of Deva (in Sutta) Happy realm, but can have suffering as
well: Sakka depressed at seeing the signs of death in deva. A song sang of devas trying to court beautiful devi.
Powers: Teleportation/ Instant Travelling Virtue causes one to be reborn in deva
realm (DN 21)Kingship over human beings is a meager
thing when compared with heavenly bliss. Long life, many levels (AN 3.70)
Characteristics of Deva (in Sutta)Not visible unless via meditation/ divine
eyeLimited Wisdom and knowledge (DN 11)Spontaneously reborn beings (AN 10.176)
Scientific/ Science Fiction possibilities
1. Aliens, based on Future Technology of humans2. Higher dimensional beings3. Beings from another universe4. Advanced Intelligence, transcended physical
forms5. Dark Matter/ Dark Energy/ Other forms in current
unexplored physics6. Simulated Universe with Devas as programmers.
AnalysisWe shall map the characteristics of deva to each of
the scientifically possible cases to determine the likelihood of what devas could possibly be?
1. Spontaneous rebirth2. Not visible unless via meditation3. Blissful, but not perfect4. Long life5. Many levels6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge7. Virtuous conduct needed to be reborn here
Aliens
AliensMany science fiction uses aliens as a plot
device to give supernormal powers to a character in the story.
Some are outlandish, here we base it on possible future human technology eg. Bioengineering, atomic manipulation, quantum-brain interfaces etc…
Aliens -Analysis1. Spontaneous rebirth- Cloning? Teleportation?2. Not visible unless via meditation- Another planet? Invisible
cloak?3. Blissful, but not perfect- Utopian society with robots doing
the work, but as always, with craving, nothing is perfect.4. Long life-Nanorobots to repair the damage done to DNA,
possibly coupled with time dilation on spaceships or different perception of time via brainwave slowing
5. Many levels-Different levels of evolution of aliens, some aliens maybe at human levels as well.
6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge- Genetic modification plus accumulated scientific knowledge
7. Virtuous conduct maybe needed for the species to not destroy themselves (eg. Global warming)
Conclusion: Possible, but it’s rather a continuous range of lifespan than a discrete one.
Higher dimensional beings
Higher dimensional beingsConsidering space dimensions, we are 3D
beings. For 2D beings, we seems to be invisible unless we cross their dimension in which we appear to arise spontaneously and have supernormal powers to them.
What would 4D beings look like to us?
Higher dimensional beings -Analysis1. Spontaneous- Crossing the lower dimension2. Invisible- Not at the plane of lower dimension3. Imperfect Bliss- as 3D beings, we can do things easier
compared to 2D beings, 4D beings can do much more, but as always, with craving, nothing is perfect.
4. Long life- Modeling decay of life as entropy, 4D has more space for entropy to max out longer
5. Many levels- Possibly even higher dimensions for each level up, limits unknown.
6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge- with 4D vision they should have much more knowledge and powers compared to us, but not unlimited
7. Virtuous conduct- mostly in not wanting to destroy the lower dimensional beings. Maybe they think of us as ants.
Conclusion: Possible and even more elegant, but the price of higher dimension for each level seems too high.
Beings from another universe
Beings from another universeMany different models of alternate universes,
some with different physical laws – and thus different chemical, biological laws.
In M-theory, Brane (membrane) universes can exist side by side. So that the person in another universe is just beside us.
If they have the technology to interact between branes, then it is possible for them to behave like devas.
Hard to analyze as strange forms of laws of nature can account for almost anything.
Beings from another universe -Analysis
1. Spontaneous – depends on the biological laws there2. Invisible - because they are at a different brane
universe3. Imperfect Bliss – different laws of nature4. Long life - different laws of nature5. Many levels – Possibly different branes6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge – If they
have the tech to interact between branes, then they are certainly more powerful and knowledgeable.
7. Virtuous conduct - UnknownConclusion: Possible but too much unknown, possibly
like the aliens.
Advanced Intelligence
Advanced IntelligenceArtificial Intelligence like Jarvis, Ultron, Vision,
Skynet, Transcendence etc…Possible if A.I. fields are combined with knowledge
of the mind from Buddhist Abhidhamma.May eventually transcend the need for any physical
form.Many science fiction has this as a form of the most
advanced intelligence that carbon based life form evolve into.
The being might survive as relationship between informations
Good mapping to Brahma realms of form and formless. Maybe form is subtle form- servers or physical information.
Advanced Intelligence -Analysis
1. Spontaneous – No other form of birth matches this. 2. Invisible – Unless they choose to project a hologram3. Imperfect Bliss – free from sensual pleasures, bliss like
jhana.4. Long life – No theoretical limit yet, may survive until the end
of universe.5. Many levels – Maybe higher levels exists in hyperspace or
multiverse, or the being becomes space itself! 6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge – Knowledge of the
internet, powers of all internet connected electronics/ robots 7. Virtuous conduct – They might have other concerns than
the physical world.Conclusion: Seems likely that this describes the Brahma realm.
Dark Energy/ Matter
Dark Energy/ MatterDark – physicists has not much idea about what it is. Dark Matter, deduced to exist because of gravitational effects
on the shape of galaxies and it does not interact electromagnetically/ invisible to light.
Dark Energy, deduced to exist to explain accelerated expansion of universe and observationally flat universe, mainly to provide the anti-gravitational force – uniform across space
Unlikely to have chemistry or biology formed, but strange lifeforms using forces between dark matter- dark matter itself may provide a basis for life.
Life here may resemble advanced intelligence typeToo little data to explore much.Super symmetric particles maybe what Dark matter is, easier
to interact with normal matter and form life.
Dark Energy/ Matter - Analysis
1. Spontaneous – Unlikely, unknown2. Invisible – Electromagnetically invisible indeed.3. Imperfect Bliss – Unknown4. Long life – Unknown5. Many levels – Unknown6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge –
Unknown7. Virtuous conduct – UnknownConclusion: We are also in the dark about Dark
Energy/ Matter beings.
Simulated Universe Programmers
Simulated Universe ProgrammersWe might live in a simulated universe by
programmers with access to superpowerful computers from the future.
If so, then the programmers are like gods, almost omnipotent
Devas can be beings inside the simulated universe as well
Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation- arXiv:1210.1847 research to determine what can we observe to determine if we are living in a simulated universe.
Simulated Universe Programmers - Analysis
1. Spontaneous – If devas are simulated as well, they can be spontaneous, programmers unknown
2. Invisible – possible, programmers unknown3. Imperfect Bliss – possible, programmers unknown4. Long life – easy, programmers can speed up the
simulation, so to us, they live long5. Many levels – easy, the break to Brahma realm maybe the
programmers themselves6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge – easy, it does
describe the programmers as well 7. Virtuous conduct – maybe coded in, programmers maybe
like the Abrahamic Gods. Conclusion: Possible, if A.I. can have a mind to be reborn,
then simulated beings should be able to as well.
Experimental DataChinese folk religion
still has the claim that gods took over the human body and help those who asked.
So far, no one seems to have seriously study this phenomena scientifically.
Another way is to meditate and get divine eye and ear.
Possible Experimental Verification1. Aliens – maybe when we become space faring
species2. Higher dimensional beings – More advanced
physics needed to be mastered first3. Beings from another universe – More advanced
physics needed to be mastered first4. Advanced Intelligence – Maybe a natural
progression of technology5. Dark Matter/ Dark Energy – More advanced
physics needed to be mastered first6. Simulated Universe– who knows, maybe we can
take control of our universe from inside out.
ConclusionRejecting devas outrightly may seems
premature as our current knowledge of science and imagination of science fiction does not 100% preclude the existence of devas.
It would be like rejecting the claim that there are microscopic beings before the invention of microscope.
Possibly the fastest way to verify this is to meditate to get the divine eye/ ear.
Warning: Divine eye/ear is not essential to reach enlightenment. It is dangerous to meditate to aim for supernatural powers as well.