The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism

I am more of a physics person and knew very little about Eastern Mysticism but I kept an open mind and was really captivated by the comparisons made. Although there were a few times I found some comparisons a bit odd, overall, it gave me a new appreciation for Eastern thought.

Some books merely entertain us, some simply inform us, a few will even inspire us. But the best books will transform us. This book has completely changed my views on the meaning of life. It not only helped to open my eyes to the physics that underlie all existence, but also the metaphysics of the Cosmos.

Not necessarily a light read, but absolutely fascinating.Anyone following an Eastern philosophy should find this exploration interesting.

If you already read the current research in quantum physics, and have studied Asian philosophies, then this book is a complement. This is perhaps the only book I have found that articulates, as a good teacher can, particles vs. probability waves, and such. I would give it a chance, read it slowly, and you might find some things that clear up what other's haven't articulated as well. Worst case, you will be familiar with the subject if you are a scientist. Best case, you will say to yourself as I did "I wish others had phrased it that way."

This has bee around for awhile, but always was interested in reading it, when I had time. So now, 45 years after I graduated in physics, I enjoyed reading it.

This is an amazing book to read if you want to see how some of the most important ideas in eastern mysticism and modern physics are converging. Actually, the "converging" is only taking place in our understanding: the concepts and worldviews of the two schools of thought are startlingly similar and have been for some time, and the author does a great job for the most part of drawing the parallels while not getting too technical with the modern physics stuff. I say "for the most part" because towards the end of the book (about the last two chapters) he basically says "screw the layman" and delves deeply into S matrix theory in a very technical, confusing, boring, and brain-overloading way. This is where he lost me; I wasn't able to finish the book. But most of the book is a great read--one of the best on the subject in my opinion.

This is clear and elegant writing for the lay person (with some science background) on the nature of quantum physics. Yeah, the topic may seam over your head, but then, the concept of gravity was new before Isaac Newton. We managed to wrap our heads around that as a species, every child knows about gravity now by the first grade. This is the next step we will take as a species. Why do you need to know? Because, as a citizen, this will need to be taught and will affect every budget passed by every governing body. We need to be familiar with this science in order to continue this line of scientific inquiry.

This review is for informational purpose only. I was listening to Chidambara rahasya (essence of Lord Shiva as Nataraj in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu India), when the discourse master mentioned this author and book (discourse master was Sri Samavedha Sanmukha Sarma). It is commendable that Western (and European) scientists are interested in Eastern Philosophy.1. Book is dated (1975), except for preface (5th edition)2. In the preface author makes this statement: Sanskrit atman and Latin anima ... they all mean "breath" of life. That is not correct according to Hindu philosophy and Vedanta literature. Prana / Breath (prana shakti) is 5 types - Prana, Apana, vyana, Udana and Samana (see any yoga book). But "atman" or atma is "chaitanya" is the divine spark in us (this is not a fire or electric spark) -think about it as consciousness that is omnipresent in all living beings.3. I particularly read the section of cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. Ok, nothing great. Trivial explanation. Modern authors : hindu Veda/Vedanta authors speakers give an excellent idea of Cosmic Dance of Shiva, and not this author.4. Buddhism or its philosophy does not consider dimension of space (shoonya vadi). Adi shankaracharya debated these Buddhists during those times and proved to them the existence of a cause/effect that is termed as truth or brahman. That is called "self", atma, brahman. The entire Hindu philosophy hinges on only one truth / finding - that there is only one thing/self/atma/braham in this universe. This has become many.5. Watch Professor Brian Cox video Wonders of Universe, or Cosmos (Netflix) - you'll understand the complex physics that this author is explaining. The modern authors explain physics and cosmology and universe (Mr. Capra's book is not updated with respect to big-bang theory dating ).6. Amazes me how on earth that Hindu sages found out that there is only one thing (advaitha -no two things) in this universe that can manifest in many shape and forms. Long before any culture had any ideas about this concept that matter and energy are same (science tells this from 1915+, Einstein relativity theory), Hindus knew this 5000 yrs or before. These sage heard that sound / vision in deep meditation or turiya avastha (Vedas).Other information on Hindu philosophy for interested folks.Watch Professor Brian Cox's Wonders of universe. You'll realize that one needs a special equipment to see the origin of universe (light waves and radio waves, special telescope and special equipment to record radio waves at different end of spectrum). He is explaining science. Read Shankara's advaitha tatwa. They closely match - at the highest level, all matter and energy in universe is one and same, but due to density ripples, same thing is seen differently (as stars, planets, life etc). This universe's primordial sound is captured using special equipment by scientists.So in a similar manner, if we are to experience that "self" in us, then we need special equipment (call it samadhi phase). So Shankara always talks metaphysics and adwaitha (another indirect word -there are no two things, why not say, there is only one thing?)Finally note: The more science advances , advaitha siddhanta of Vedas (and clarified by Adi shankaracharya in his works) will be proven again and again. (statement by Swami Vivekananda). Think about this profound statement - No other religion or country can make this statement except Hindu philosophy (sanatana dharma). That is because the entire brahmanda (universe) starting from any (atom) is made of same material. This is what science tells us (2004, 2001 Big Bang theory, proof that all matter in us, animals, trees, banana, rocks, space and stars has same origin)Anubhuti: Is feeling the actual "aparoksha" , getting that experience. Reading a book is understanding its "artha" formation of sentences, meaning, etc. But "feeling" is different and that is what Sri shankara is referring to.Dristantha versus Siddhanta (seeing and forming opinion versus logic, experience based realization) -Most world religions (except hindu philosophy) is based on a story -Drishtanta (there is hell or heaven, you do this, you get hell or heaven, do not do this, convert non-believers to its own religion, other people are useless, no karma, if you do bad, you can go to some person and confess, and somehow things go away - all this based on human logic).Whereas - Hindu philosophy is based on Siddhanta and experience (darshana - people / rishis , Ramakrishna, Ramana Maharishi recently). Logically Shankara shows that there is something out there beyond your senses that can be experienced. That something out there is the "truth" and to experience that you need special equipment.