Quantum Physicists who also studied eastern religions
- Werner Heisenberg: One of the pioneers of quantum mechanics, Heisenberg acknowledged that his discussions with Indian philosophers helped him accept the radical ideas of quantum theory. He saw parallels between the observer effect in quantum physics and the interconnected, non-dualistic views of Eastern philosophies.
- Niels Bohr: Another founding figure of quantum theory, Bohr was so inspired by the Taoist concept of yin-yang that he incorporated the symbol into his coat of arms. He believed that Eastern thought provided a philosophical framework that resonated with the counterintuitive findings of quantum physics.
- Erwin Schrödinger: The famous physicist behind the Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment was also deeply interested in Eastern philosophies, particularly Vedanta and Buddhism, and saw them as compatible with the new physics of his time.
- David Bohm: Bohm, known for his contributions to quantum theory, engaged in dialogues with the Dalai Lama and discussed how the Buddhist concept of “emptiness” aligns with the non-local, interconnected nature of reality suggested by quantum physics.
- Arthur Zajonc: A physicist and educator, Zajonc participated in the Mind and Life dialogues with the Dalai Lama, exploring how Buddhist philosophy and quantum physics both challenge the classical, mechanistic view of the universe.
- Anton Zeilinger: A quantum physicist, Zeilinger also participated in discussions with the Dalai Lama, supporting the idea that Buddhist views on emptiness and interdependence find echoes in quantum mechanics.
Direct Quotes
For a parallel to the lesson of atomic theory … [we must turn] to those kinds of epistemological problems which already thinkers like the Buddha and Lao Tzu have been confronted, when trying to harmonize our position as spectators and actors in the great drama of existence.
—Niels Bohr
The general notions about human understanding … which are illustrated by discoveries in atomic physics are not in the nature of things wholly unfamiliar, wholly unheard of, or new. Even in our own culture they have a history, and in Buddhist and Hindu thought a more considerable and central place. What we shall find is an exemplification, an encouragement, and a refinement of old wisdom.
—Julius Robert Oppenheimer
The great scientific contribution in theoretical physics that has come from Japan since the last war may be an indication of a certain relationship between the basic ideas in the philosophical tradition of the Far East and the philosophical substance of quantum theory.
—Werner Heisenberg