Exploring the Bhagavad Gita and Quantum Physics: Maya and Quantum Superposition

The Mighty Interaction of Bhagavad Gita and Quantum Physics

Is reality as we perceive it the ultimate truth, or is there something deeper beyond our senses? This question has perplexed philosophers, scientists, and spiritual seekers for centuries. While classical science presents reality as a fixed, objective existence, both quantum physics and the Bhagavad Gita suggest otherwise—revealing that our perceived world might be nothing more than a grand illusion. The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most profound philosophical texts, introduces the concept of Maya (illusion)—the idea that the world we experience is not the absolute truth but a fleeting manifestation of a deeper, hidden reality. Krishna explains this to Arjuna in Chapter 7, Verse 14, saying:

"daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā

mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te"

(This divine illusion of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature - Sattva (Goodness, Purity), Rajas (Passion, Activity), Tamas (Ignorance, Darkness),is difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto Me can easily transcend it.)

Here, Krishna suggests that the material world is governed by Maya, an impermanent illusion that binds human perception, making it difficult to decode the true nature of reality. Most people remain trapped in material desires, ego, and illusion, believing the temporary world is the only reality. Only through higher knowledge can one break free from this illusion and see things as they truly are. 

Modern quantum physics presents a similar paradox through the principle of superposition, where a particle exists in multiple states simultaneously until measured. The act of observation collapses the wave function, determining a single reality from a range of possibilities. This suggests that reality is not fixed but shaped by observation, an idea that aligns with the Bhagavad Gita’s assertion that the physical world is merely a reflection of a deeper, unobservable truth.

Imagine you have a spinning coin on a table. While it is spinning, the coin is neither heads nor tails—it is in a superposition of both states. It exists as a combination of possibilities until the moment you stop it by placing your hand on it. At that point, it "collapses" into either heads or tails. This is exactly how quantum superposition works. Before observation, a quantum particle (like an electron) exists in multiple states at once. But the moment we measure it, the particle “chooses” a definite state. 

Understanding Maya: The Illusion of Reality in the Bhagavad Gita

Krishna states that Maya is a cosmic illusion that binds living beings to the material world through the three Gunas (modes of nature)—Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (ignorance). It creates the perception of duality, making individuals believe that the material world is absolute, when in reality, it is temporary and ever-changing. 

Two most important verses that I personally feel is very relevant in the real world are (2.16) and (8.15).

Krishna repeatedly emphasizes the impermanence of the physical world and urges Arjuna to look beyond sensory perception:

Bhagavad Gita (2.16):

"nāso ’sti satō bhāvo nābhāvo ’sti asataḥ

ubhayōr api dr̥ṣṭō ’ntaḥ tv anayos tatva-darśibhiḥ"

Translation:

"The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be. The seers of truth have concluded the same."

Let's not keep this as a mystery and decode the meaning. Everything in the material world is temporary (Asat) – things are born, change, and eventually fade away. For example, our body, wealth, relationships, and even emotions like happiness and sadness keep changing. The true reality (Sat) never changes – this refers to the soul (Atman), which is eternal and beyond birth or death. Krishna is telling Arjuna that instead of worrying about temporary things like success, failure, or even life and death, he should focus on the unchanging truth—the divine self.

Bhagavad Gita (8.15)

"mām upetya punar janma duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam

nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ"

Translation:

"After attaining Me, the great souls never return to this temporary world, which is full of suffering, because they have reached the highest perfection."

A simple explanation of the above verse is that the material world is not permanent and is full of difficulties, struggles, and suffering. People chase after temporary pleasures like money, power, and status, but these things don’t last. The only way to escape this cycle of constant change and suffering is to seek a higher truth—one that goes beyond material desires and connects with spiritual wisdom.

Imagine going to a theater to watch Fighter on the big screen. The intense action scenes, where Hrithik Roshan, portraying a fighter jet pilot, skillfully takes down the enemy along with the Vande Mataram background, feel incredibly real and evoke a sense of excitement and joy. However, in reality, these visuals are nothing more than light and shadows projected onto a screen—an illusion that disappears the moment the movie ends. Similarly, the material world appears real to us because of Maya (illusion), making us believe in its permanence and significance. However, just like the film on the screen, it is merely a projection of the ultimate reality (Brahman)—an ever-present truth that exists beyond the transient experiences of life. This aligns beautifully with quantum physics, where reality is not absolute but dependent on the observer—a topic we will explore further.

Quantum Superposition: The Fluid Nature of Reality

In both quantum physics and the Bhagavad Gita, reality is not as straightforward as it appears. Just as Maya (illusion) veils the ultimate truth, quantum mechanics suggests that reality exists in multiple potential states until it is observed. This concept is best understood through quantum superposition and the famous double-slit experiment.

Understanding Quantum Superposition

In classical physics, objects exist in a definite state—a ball is either here or there, but never both at the same time. However, quantum superposition suggests that until a measurement is made, a quantum system exists in multiple states simultaneously.

Quantum superposition can be intuitively understood by comparing it to a spinning coin. In classical mechanics, a coin can either be in one of two definite states : Heads (H) & Tails (T)

However, if you spin the coin, it is neither strictly heads nor tails but in a state that includes both possibilities at once—until you stop it and observe the final result. In quantum mechanics, the state of a system before measurement is represented as a linear combination of possible states. If we use quantum notation for a coin, we can represent its two possible states as:

$$|H\rangle \quad \text{(Heads)}$$
$$|T\rangle \quad \text{(Tails)}$$

Before measuring the coin, its quantum state can be written as a superposition of both:

$$\mathrm{\mid }\psi ⟩=c_1\mathrm{\mid }H⟩+c_2\mathrm{\mid }T⟩$$

where:

• $c_1$ and $c_2$ are complex probability amplitudes,
• $|c_1|^2$ is the probability of measuring heads,
• $|c_2|^2$ is the probability of measuring tails,
• The total probability must sum to 1:

$$\mathrm{\mid }{c}_1{\mathrm{\mid }}^2+\mathrm{\mid }{c}_2{\mathrm{\mid }}^2=1$$

This is analogous to a spinning coin where the final outcome is undefined until the coin lands and we "measure" it.

This is much like the Chapter 7, Verse 14 saying "Daivī hyeṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā; Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te." Much like Maya, which projects an illusionary world, quantum superposition suggests that until an observer interacts with reality, it remains undefined.

The Double-Slit Experiment: When Reality Becomes Definite

The double-slit experiment is the most famous demonstration of quantum superposition. Imagine you have a small gun that shoots tiny bullets (like electrons or photons) toward a barrier with two slits. Behind this barrier, there is a screen that records where each bullet lands. If we shoot actual bullets (or even small balls), each bullet goes through one slit or the other and hits the screen. After many shots, we see two bands on the screen, directly behind the two slits. This means each bullet acts like a tiny object that follows a clear path, and there’s no interference. 

Now, let’s replace bullets with water waves. If we create waves in a pool and let them pass through two openings, the waves will spread out from both slits and interfere with each other.

This interference creates: Bright areas (where waves add up, called constructive interference).Dark areas (where waves cancel each other, called destructive interference).

Instead of two separate bands, we see multiple alternating bright and dark bands.

Mathematically, the probability of finding a particle at position $x$ is:

$$P(x)=\mathrm{\mid }{\mathrm{\Psi }}_1(x)+{\mathrm{\Psi }}_2(x){\mathrm{\mid }}^2$$

where:

• $\Psi_1(x)$ is the wave function coming from slit 1.
• $\Psi_2(x)$ is the wave function coming from slit 2.
• Squaring it gives the probability.

The interference term ($2 \Psi_1 \Psi_2$) is what creates bright and dark fringes.

Now, let's shoot electrons, one at a time. If we don't observe them at the slits, the electrons behave like waves and go through both slits at the same time. This creates an interference pattern (many bands) on the screen. If we place a detector at the slits to check which slit the electron passes through, the interference pattern disappears, and we get only two bands, just like bullets.  This means that before observation, the electron exists in a superposition of passing through both slits simultaneously. After observation, the electron collapses into a definite state (one slit or the other).

Mathematically, the wave function of an unobserved electron is:

$$|\psi\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|\psi_1\rangle + |\psi_2\rangle)$$

where:

• $|\psi_1\rangle$ means the electron went through slit 1.
• $|\psi_2\rangle$ means the electron went through slit 2.
• Before measurement, the electron is in both states at once.

But when we observe the electron, the wave function collapses, and it takes a definite path:

$$|\psi\rangle \to |\psi_1\rangle \quad \text{or} \quad |\psi_2\rangle$$

This experiment shows that electrons (and all quantum particles) are not just tiny objects—they also behave like waves! The act of observing forces them to choose a definite state, just like the concept of Maya in the Bhagavad Gita, where perception shapes reality.

The Observer Effect: Bridging Science and Spirituality

The above experiment implies that at the fundamental level, reality does not have a fixed state until it is observed. The act of measurement itself determines which possibility materializes. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of reality, challenging classical determinism and suggesting that consciousness might play a role in shaping the universe. The Bhagavad Gita presents a similar notion through the concept of Avidya (ignorance) and Jnana (wisdom). Krishna explains that what we perceive as the material world is an illusion (Maya), shaped by our limited senses and mental conditioning. Only by transcending ignorance through wisdom (Jnana Yoga) can one perceive the ultimate truth.

Krishna tells Arjuna:

"Those who see with wisdom (Jnana-Chakshu) realize that all actions are performed by material nature (Prakriti) alone, and not by the self (Atman)." (Bhagavad Gita 3:27)

This is analogous to the observer effect in quantum physics. Just as our perception in quantum experiments dictates the behavior of subatomic particles, our limited awareness (Avidya) shapes our understanding of reality. Only by shifting our consciousness beyond sensory experiences can we grasp the ultimate reality. 

Several renowned physicists have drawn connections between quantum mechanics and ancient spiritual teachings, including the Gita and Vedanta:

1. Werner Heisenberg, who formulated the Uncertainty Principle, noted: "The reality we can talk about is never the reality itself, but only a reality our mind perceives."
2. Erwin Schrödinger, famous for the Schrödinger’s cat paradox, was deeply influenced by Vedanta. He once stated: "There is no multiplicity in us. This is merely Maya—not real."
3. Niels Bohr, one of the founding figures of quantum mechanics, remarked: "The great revelation of quantum theory is that an independent reality, apart from our observations, may not exist."

These physicists recognized that at the deepest level, reality is not objective but participatory—a view that aligns with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Ultimate Reality: Beyond Perception

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna reveals that beyond the transient world of sensory perception, there exists an eternal, unchanging reality—Brahman. This absolute reality is beyond time, space, and the limitations of the physical universe. This suggests that what we perceive through our senses is not the ultimate truth, but merely a manifestation of a deeper, unseen reality. Our senses, much like scientific instruments, are limited in their scope, preventing us from perceiving the full extent of existence. Quantum mechanics echoes this idea. Physicists acknowledge that there is an underlying quantum reality that we do not directly observe. Quantum entities exist in a superposition of states, where multiple possibilities coexist until an observation collapses them into a definite outcome.

This leads to intriguing questions:

• Does the universe have an objective reality, or is reality shaped by our consciousness?
• If multiple possibilities exist at once, does that mean parallel realities are constantly forming and collapsing?

Is Consciousness the Key to Reality?

One of the biggest questions in quantum physics is whether consciousness plays a fundamental role in the collapse of reality. The Bhagavad Gita suggests that consciousness (Chaitanya) is the true essence of existence, and the material world is merely an impermanent reflection.

If our perception determines reality in quantum physics, and Krishna asserts that self-realization unveils the absolute truth, does that mean consciousness is a fundamental force in shaping the universe?

The observer effect and the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings both point toward an interactive reality—one that is influenced by perception, consciousness, and awareness. While quantum physics is still trying to decipher the role of the observer in reality, the Gita provides an ancient answer:

Reality is not just what we see—it is what we realize.

Your thoughts? 😊