David Bohm: science and spirituality

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David Bohm - science and spirituality (1917-1992)

Famous for his 'Implicate and Explicite Order', quantum physicist David Bohm combines a knowledge of current day physics with a spiritual vision of the universe.

His parents were immigrant European Jews, but David went to college and worked with one of the greats in theoretical Physics: Robert Oppenheimer. During WWII his work was harder because the government didn't trust him. Oppenheimer vouched for him, and Bohm did calculations that helped create the Atomic bomb.

After the war, during the McCarthy-era, Bohm refused to testify against colleges and went to work in Brazil, after a brief period of working with Albert Einstein himself.

He has also contributed to neuropsychology and is most famous outside the scientific world for his theory of implicate and explicate order (see below).

What is the Implicate Order? 

The basic underlying assumption of David Bohm is that there is an underlying unity behind all the various seemingly separate things we see. This makes him a controversial figure in among scientists, but a popular one in 'New Age' circles. His views fit in with long time western esoteric views on holism, which also bridge the gap between western and eastern philosophy.

Implicate order: The underlying unity of everything as an ordered whole.
Explicate order: The phenomena in the universe that can be seen and measured.
Holism: The view that things can be best understood in their context - ultimately as part of the whole universe. This view is used to better understand mental health problems, cultural issues, the environment etc.

David Bohm resources 

David Bohm on wikipedia
An American-born quantum physicist who made significant contributions in the fields of theoretical physics.
Implicate and Explicate Order according to David Bohm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Bohm proposed a cosmological order radically different from generally accepted conventions.
Bohm dialogue
Ongoing dialog in the spirit of David Bohm.
David Bohm and the Implicate Order, by David Pratt
The death of David Bohm on 27 October 1992 is a great loss not only for the physics community but for all those interested in the philosophical implications of modern science. David Bohm was one of the most distinguished theoretical physicists of his time.
Lifework of quantum physicist David Bohm by Will Keepin
An article about the life and work of world renown quantum physicist, David Bohm.

David Bohm and Jiddu Krishnamurti 

"The Bohm-Krishnamurti dialogue set a profound precedent in being one of the first enduring dialogues between a leading Western physicist and a world-renowned Eastern spiritual master. Their discussions probed deeply into various dimensions of human knowledge and experience, including in-depth discussions of the limitations of human thought, the nature of insight and intelligence beyond thought, as well as many other topics such as truth, reality, death, existence, fragmentation, and the future of humanity. In exploring the distinction between truth and reality, for example, some of the jewels of insight that emerged may be summarized as follows (which, in the spirit of Bohm and Krishnamurti themselves, should perhaps be read slowly and contemplatively to be absorbed). There is a gulf between truth and reality; they are not the same thing. Illusion and falsehood are certainly part of reality, but they are not part of truth. Truth includes all that is; it is one. Reality is conditioned and multiple. Truth is beyond reality; it comprehends reality, but not vice versa. Reality is everything; truth is no-thingness. We need truth, but our minds are occupied with reality. We seek security in reality, but authentic security comes only in complete nothingness, that is, only in truth. The seed of truth is a mystery that thought cannot encompass; it is beyond reality.

Such insights are characteristic of Krishnamurti's teachings. Indeed, perhaps the greatest impact of these dialogues on Bohm was a cultivated understanding of the limitations of human thought, as well as a deep realization of the existence of pure awareness beyond thought, wherein lies the source of all true insight, intelligence, and creativity. Bohm also had a number of meetings with other spiritual masters, most notably the Dalai Lama. The influence of spiritual teachings are apparent in all of Bohm's later work, and, indeed, they are perhaps particularly significant in his formulation of the superimplicate order, which will be discussed shortly. Bohm's work in physics is unique in that he built a spiritual foundation into his theories that gives them a profound philosophical and metaphysical significance while rigorously preserving their empirical and scientific basis."


from http://www.vision.net.au/~apaterson/science/david_bohm.htm

David Bohm Books 

Wholeness and the Implicate Order (Routledge Classics)

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On Dialogue (Routledge Classics)

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Quantum Theory

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Thought as a System

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On Creativity (Routledge Classics)

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Thought runs you - a David Bohm quote 

Thought runs you. Thought, however, gives false info that you are running it, that you are the one who controls thought. Whereas actually thought is the one which controls each one of us.

David Bohm video's 

David Bohm 1 point

Krishnamurti & David Bohm - The Future of Humanity 1a 1 point

Krishnamurti & David Bohm - The Future of Humanity 1b 1 point

Krishnamurti & David Bohm - The Future of Humanity 1c 1 point

David Bohm on perception 0 points

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So - what do you think of this David Bohm lens? 

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  • Reply
    keithyoung keithyoung Mar 28, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
    A brilliant and informative lens!! David Bohm's views represent the future of science!!
  • Reply
    Sanya Sanya Dec 9, 2008 @ 1:39 am
    I'm adding this to my favorites, so i can keep on devouring it!!
  • Reply
    Soulee Soulee Nov 17, 2008 @ 8:04 am
    I happened to catch this remarkable man on the Science Channel several nights ago. You know how you catch a glimpse every once in a while of the TRUTH? Well, this man is on to it. His vision, his concept, his interpretation his (can't find any more words) of the Creator's Universe hit me like a ton of bricks. Deep down in my soul. So much so that I just ordered one of his books on Amazon.

    I would have loved to have known this extraordinary, visionary man while he was alive.

    Thank you for sharing him with us.
  • Reply
    Serenity_Prayer_Gifts Serenity_Prayer_Gifts Sep 19, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
    Another beautiful, inspiring lens! Thank you for sharing! :-)
  • Reply
    qlcoach qlcoach Jul 22, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
    Great lense. I believe in the importance of balance between mind, body, and soul. Therefore there must be a bridge between science in spirituality. Consider how I use spirituality to help people change:
    http://www.squidoo.com/defeatnegative
    Sincerely: Gary Eby, Author and Therapist
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