By Ng Xin Zhao

Physics and Buddhism: What Could Deva Be?

ContentsMotivationCharacteristics of DevaScientific/ Science Fiction possibilitiesAnalysisExperimental dataConclusion

MotivationNo direct scientific evidence for devaSecular Buddhist movement are dismissing

itYet deva is integral in many of the SuttasCould deva be some scientific possibility

yet unexplored?

Characteristics of Deva (in Sutta) Happy realm, but can have suffering as

well: Sakka depressed at seeing the signs of death in deva. A song sang of devas trying to court beautiful devi.

Powers: Teleportation/ Instant Travelling Virtue causes one to be reborn in deva

realm (DN 21)Kingship over human beings is a meager

thing when compared with heavenly bliss. Long life, many levels (AN 3.70)

Characteristics of Deva (in Sutta)Not visible unless via meditation/ divine

eyeLimited Wisdom and knowledge (DN 11)Spontaneously reborn beings (AN 10.176)

Scientific/ Science Fiction possibilities

1. Aliens, based on Future Technology of humans2. Higher dimensional beings3. Beings from another universe4. Advanced Intelligence, transcended physical

forms5. Dark Matter/ Dark Energy/ Other forms in current

unexplored physics6. Simulated Universe with Devas as programmers.

AnalysisWe shall map the characteristics of deva to each of

the scientifically possible cases to determine the likelihood of what devas could possibly be?

1. Spontaneous rebirth2. Not visible unless via meditation3. Blissful, but not perfect4. Long life5. Many levels6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge7. Virtuous conduct needed to be reborn here

Aliens

AliensMany science fiction uses aliens as a plot

device to give supernormal powers to a character in the story.

Some are outlandish, here we base it on possible future human technology eg. Bioengineering, atomic manipulation, quantum-brain interfaces etc…

Aliens -Analysis1. Spontaneous rebirth- Cloning? Teleportation?2. Not visible unless via meditation- Another planet? Invisible

cloak?3. Blissful, but not perfect- Utopian society with robots doing

the work, but as always, with craving, nothing is perfect.4. Long life-Nanorobots to repair the damage done to DNA,

possibly coupled with time dilation on spaceships or different perception of time via brainwave slowing

5. Many levels-Different levels of evolution of aliens, some aliens maybe at human levels as well.

6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge- Genetic modification plus accumulated scientific knowledge

7. Virtuous conduct maybe needed for the species to not destroy themselves (eg. Global warming)

Conclusion: Possible, but it’s rather a continuous range of lifespan than a discrete one.

Higher dimensional beings

Higher dimensional beingsConsidering space dimensions, we are 3D

beings. For 2D beings, we seems to be invisible unless we cross their dimension in which we appear to arise spontaneously and have supernormal powers to them.

What would 4D beings look like to us?

Higher dimensional beings -Analysis1. Spontaneous- Crossing the lower dimension2. Invisible- Not at the plane of lower dimension3. Imperfect Bliss- as 3D beings, we can do things easier

compared to 2D beings, 4D beings can do much more, but as always, with craving, nothing is perfect.

4. Long life- Modeling decay of life as entropy, 4D has more space for entropy to max out longer

5. Many levels- Possibly even higher dimensions for each level up, limits unknown.

6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge- with 4D vision they should have much more knowledge and powers compared to us, but not unlimited

7. Virtuous conduct- mostly in not wanting to destroy the lower dimensional beings. Maybe they think of us as ants.

Conclusion: Possible and even more elegant, but the price of higher dimension for each level seems too high.

Beings from another universe

Beings from another universeMany different models of alternate universes,

some with different physical laws – and thus different chemical, biological laws.

In M-theory, Brane (membrane) universes can exist side by side. So that the person in another universe is just beside us.

If they have the technology to interact between branes, then it is possible for them to behave like devas.

Hard to analyze as strange forms of laws of nature can account for almost anything.

Beings from another universe -Analysis

1. Spontaneous – depends on the biological laws there2. Invisible - because they are at a different brane

universe3. Imperfect Bliss – different laws of nature4. Long life - different laws of nature5. Many levels – Possibly different branes6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge – If they

have the tech to interact between branes, then they are certainly more powerful and knowledgeable.

7. Virtuous conduct - UnknownConclusion: Possible but too much unknown, possibly

like the aliens.

Advanced Intelligence

Advanced IntelligenceArtificial Intelligence like Jarvis, Ultron, Vision,

Skynet, Transcendence etc…Possible if A.I. fields are combined with knowledge

of the mind from Buddhist Abhidhamma.May eventually transcend the need for any physical

form.Many science fiction has this as a form of the most

advanced intelligence that carbon based life form evolve into.

The being might survive as relationship between informations

Good mapping to Brahma realms of form and formless. Maybe form is subtle form- servers or physical information.

Advanced Intelligence -Analysis

1. Spontaneous – No other form of birth matches this. 2. Invisible – Unless they choose to project a hologram3. Imperfect Bliss – free from sensual pleasures, bliss like

jhana.4. Long life – No theoretical limit yet, may survive until the end

of universe.5. Many levels – Maybe higher levels exists in hyperspace or

multiverse, or the being becomes space itself! 6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge – Knowledge of the

internet, powers of all internet connected electronics/ robots 7. Virtuous conduct – They might have other concerns than

the physical world.Conclusion: Seems likely that this describes the Brahma realm.

Dark Energy/ Matter

Dark Energy/ MatterDark – physicists has not much idea about what it is. Dark Matter, deduced to exist because of gravitational effects

on the shape of galaxies and it does not interact electromagnetically/ invisible to light.

Dark Energy, deduced to exist to explain accelerated expansion of universe and observationally flat universe, mainly to provide the anti-gravitational force – uniform across space

Unlikely to have chemistry or biology formed, but strange lifeforms using forces between dark matter- dark matter itself may provide a basis for life.

Life here may resemble advanced intelligence typeToo little data to explore much.Super symmetric particles maybe what Dark matter is, easier

to interact with normal matter and form life.

Dark Energy/ Matter - Analysis

1. Spontaneous – Unlikely, unknown2. Invisible – Electromagnetically invisible indeed.3. Imperfect Bliss – Unknown4. Long life – Unknown5. Many levels – Unknown6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge –

Unknown7. Virtuous conduct – UnknownConclusion: We are also in the dark about Dark

Energy/ Matter beings.

Simulated Universe Programmers

Simulated Universe ProgrammersWe might live in a simulated universe by

programmers with access to superpowerful computers from the future.

If so, then the programmers are like gods, almost omnipotent

Devas can be beings inside the simulated universe as well

Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation- arXiv:1210.1847 research to determine what can we observe to determine if we are living in a simulated universe.

Simulated Universe Programmers - Analysis

1. Spontaneous – If devas are simulated as well, they can be spontaneous, programmers unknown

2. Invisible – possible, programmers unknown3. Imperfect Bliss – possible, programmers unknown4. Long life – easy, programmers can speed up the

simulation, so to us, they live long5. Many levels – easy, the break to Brahma realm maybe the

programmers themselves6. Superior powers, but limited knowledge – easy, it does

describe the programmers as well 7. Virtuous conduct – maybe coded in, programmers maybe

like the Abrahamic Gods. Conclusion: Possible, if A.I. can have a mind to be reborn,

then simulated beings should be able to as well.

Experimental DataChinese folk religion

still has the claim that gods took over the human body and help those who asked.

So far, no one seems to have seriously study this phenomena scientifically.

Another way is to meditate and get divine eye and ear.

Possible Experimental Verification1. Aliens – maybe when we become space faring

species2. Higher dimensional beings – More advanced

physics needed to be mastered first3. Beings from another universe – More advanced

physics needed to be mastered first4. Advanced Intelligence – Maybe a natural

progression of technology5. Dark Matter/ Dark Energy – More advanced

physics needed to be mastered first6. Simulated Universe– who knows, maybe we can

take control of our universe from inside out.

ConclusionRejecting devas outrightly may seems

premature as our current knowledge of science and imagination of science fiction does not 100% preclude the existence of devas.

It would be like rejecting the claim that there are microscopic beings before the invention of microscope.

Possibly the fastest way to verify this is to meditate to get the divine eye/ ear.

Warning: Divine eye/ear is not essential to reach enlightenment. It is dangerous to meditate to aim for supernatural powers as well.