I didn't see a specific thread or area where I can ask questions/start discussion on use of fractals and other new science (math, geometry, physics) in different areas, particularly showing that we are just a small part of something much bigger, whether intelligent or not. I keep having the experience of reading supposedly new-to-me book or article and come across a revelation that I've already experience using one of many psychotropics. Quantum physics and psychology have hinted at many of the same things that serious religions have at their core. Particularly Buddhism and physics. Could it be that though our society seems to be experiencing tremendous uncertainty, but this may just be the dawn of a new reality and way of perceiving our would. How people would react to such a tremendous disturbance is unknown. There is a Christian sect, I beleve the 7th day adventists, that believe the would must be back in union and harmony before the rapture. This could provide an insight about the need to strive to make a better world even in light of revelations of other dimensions or existences.

Sorry for the rant. It was hard to say all of that using many less sentences. Here's the NOVA video about Fractals

http://video.pbs.org/video/1050932219/

Wow, that was a long piece but im really glad i watched it. Fractals have always fasinated me. It's kind of a fringe area that i've dabbled in, but now i think i will take a closer look. This video was very informative and really gets ones gears moving when considering all of the posibilities fractals have to offer.

They truely seem to be everywhere on multiple levels.

I wonder what other amazing work could be done using such techniques and technologies on things such as sacred geometry, vibration (tone, music), and maybe energy transformation. Idk.

Thanks for the clip
Soulshine

For all we know we could house billions of universes within our bodies.

Very cool show, thanks for posting.

Been facinated by fractals for a few years now. By understanding fractals and their ubiquitous presence in every aspect of reality really helps to expand one's awareness of all that is.

thank you for sharing the NOVA. I'm like 10 min and I'm hooked! Can't wait to finish it!

I wouldn't take those hints about quantum physics and religion to seriously since
it's very hard (impossible?) for the layman to understand quantum physics.

If you are honest with yourself, are you in a position where you
feel certain that the connection is really there or are you using your
mental tools available to make sense of something you can't understand?

Thats true but some things are fairly simple to understand.

The quantum mind-body problem is easily understood. Buddhism offers a (obvious) solution in that the universe is an observer.

Holographic/fractal universe theories are also gaining prominence. One example is Laurent Notalle's scale relativity theory.

I cant watch this in the uk

I re-read my post to explorer83 and must admit it's kind of stupid. (half baked , late at night blablabla...)
I just saw the words quantum physics and religion and kinda jumped the gun, sorry!!
Shouldn't have assumed what you know or don't know about quantum mechanics.

If I could post again(can I?=)) I would post something like: What are the connections between buddhism and physics, quantum
physics and psycology?


The only people I have ever heard use scientific words like quantum physics in correlation with the mind, buddhism, maybe some
kind of " spiritual energy" etc, are quacks!!
The kind of people who show the "double slit experiment" to make the person watching/reading
think something like, oh, anything must be possible. Ever seen what the bleep?


Can you (embracethevoid) give a summary of "the quantum mind problem"(never heard of it) and how it
could relate to buddhism?

I think he means the "hard problem" of consciousness. How obseration apparently influences reality, and how our current mterial understanding of science has, arguably, brought us no closer to understanding the origins of consciousness. I don't know how it relates to buddhism, but if you are interested in the consciousness side, I always recommend reading this book, I found it fascinating. Link to the books web site below:

http://quantumenigma.com/

Yea man. join the show. That stuff is all over here.

You have seen the culture, society, philosophy, science, esoteric, religion etc sections?

The mind body problem is as follows - everything is a superposition of many wavefunctions that describe the possible paths things can take. The wavefunction is not itself observed, it defines everything, by describing how likely something is to be somewhere. When someone or something makes an observation/measurement, the wavefunction "collapses" to produce a definite reality. Now if the brain is a superposition of wavefunctions and yet it is observing another set of wavefunctions (rest of the universe), how is anything happening?

As for how it relates to buddhism, I choose buddhism as an umbrella term for the spiritual perspective, mainly because it's an age old and well established proponent and the thread mentioned it. It does not apply specifically to buddhism.

Thanks for sharing

The wavefunction is an abstract mathematical concept. Its not even really real. This entire idea is a myth. The observer in double split experiments could be an atom or a photo-multiplier depending how the detector system is set up. Nothing whatsoever to do with consciousness (thats the myth part).

Fractals are cool though.