Miracles: Thought Experiment

Without consciousness acting as an observer and interpreter, everything would exist only as pure potential. That pure potential is the virtual domain. It is nonlocal and can’t be depleted; it is unending and all-encompassing. Tapping into that potential is what allows us to make miracles. Miracles is not too strong a word.

Intrigued and troubled by the possibilities suggested by quantum physics, Albert Einstein devised his own thought experiment: Imagine creating two identical wave-particles that are then shot off in opposite directions. What happens if we ask about the location of wave-particle B? Remember, the particles are identical, so whatever measurement is calculated for one will, by definition, hold true for the other.

Knowing the location of wave-particle A (and thus collapsing it into a particle) simultaneously tells us the location of wave-particle B, and therefore also collapses it into a particle.

The implications of this thought experiment (which has been confirmed mathematically as well as experimentally) are enormous. If observing wave-particle A affects wave-particle B, that means that some nonlocal connection or communication is occurring in which information is exchanged faster than the speed of light, without the exchange of energy. That is contrary to every commonsense view of the world.

Let me try to illustrate the magnitude of this point with an example. Imagine that a company simultaneously sends out two identical packages, one to me in California, and one to you at your home. In each of the boxes is a correlated, unobserved wave-particle, pure potential.

You and I receive and open our packages at exactly the same moment. Just before I cut the tape and open the flaps, I create a mental picture of what I want the box to contain. When I open the box, I find it contains just what I imagined, a violin. When you open your box, it also contains a violin! Whatever I imagine for myself is matched, at the exact same moment, for you. This is what is meant by nonlocal communication or correlation.

Adapted from The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Susan A.

1:05AM PST on Dec 18, 2011

Very interesting article, thanks!

send a green star

Parvez Z.

8:55PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

Interesting observation thnaks

Becky Y.

4:32PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

Thinking a thought and writing it down does not necessarily make it so.

Jewels S.

4:03PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

good luck

Gerald M.

2:30PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

Thanks again for the article. Which makes me appreciate a bit more that life itself is a miracle.

Sue B.

2:25PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

Giovanna, that's sort of what I was thinking also only not quite so scientific... What if I was feeling guilty about something horrible I'd done to you and wanting to apologize I sent us both a priceless Stradivarius but when the box arrived at your house and you were still furious but opened it anyway only to find flaming feline feces! Was my box on fire also? Or did we both find a beautiful violin?????

Kathy K.

1:52PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

Interesting. Thanks.

Giovanna M.

1:22PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

Cont ...
If the boxes are correlated we would both influence the content and it would not really match our individual images as we are not correlated even when the boxes are.
Maybe miracles happen. But I doubt in the real workld it is as easy as tapping into the potential. All seeds have the potential to grow into trees/plants. Not all of them make it. Circumstances and environment play a role.

One of my father's field of expertise was Physics. To his great disappointment I disliked it. I remember when he explained this two identical wave-particle idea. It's been many years so I don't remember the details of the explanation, but I remember I asked why was it certain that measuring/calculating the location of one particle would automatically give us the location of the other (especially because I had already had trouble understanding that you could never truly determine the location of some particles such as electrons, as whenever you came up with a calculation the particle was not there anymore). He said something like being identical you could deduce what was valid for one particle would hold for the other (although it is in the oposite direction). He got very upset when I said that was as long as the other particle did not face something like an obstacle, which would mean you have complete control of the environment, and that more oftne than not, you have no control of the sort. I am a biologist, and I'm aware we can become a physic's nightmare.
The violin example is the same. Two pwople are opening the present at the same time yet only one has the "power" to think and create the content. Even if the boxes are correlated and everything happens simultaneously, you are obviating the creative power of the other person or reducing him/her to a mere spectator. This does not happen, and even if we both thought of a violin we'd probably see it differently in its details

Dee D.

4:42PM PST on Dec 11, 2011

What an article