World Colleges Information

On the surface, science and mysticism would seem completely at odds with each other; but in reality they are both striving towards the one reality - Truth; albeit by different routes, one through the spirit and the other through matter.

The East has always approached truth through personal inquiry and direct experience. It saw the world as a whole organism or entity, with all things connected through a thread of consciousness; and the divinity as One, manifesting itself through the many in nature.

The West on the other hand approached truth objectively and through matter. The western scientist subjected matter through severe tests, analyzed and scrutinized through the microscope of observation and pure reason.

But since the mid 70s, a new breed of scientists strove to break out of this dichotomy. They sensed a common ground somewhere. They saw consciousness more than just a synonym for awareness. Some of them like Fritjof Capra even had profound experiences to convince them of a universal rhythm, a pervading oneness or as he put it, "whole environment as being engaged in a gigantic cosmic dance."

Here, we give a small preview of the works of some of these great thinkers.

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

by Fritjof Capra

Capra first published the Tao of Physics in 1975. This groundbreaking book explored the parallels between Taoism and modern science. In his current book, Capra reviews 15 years since the book's first publication and responds to criticisms and discusses current developments in physics.

From the back cover: 

A brilliant bestseller.Lucidly analyzed the tenets of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism to show their striking parallels with the latest discoveries in cyclotrons. -New York magazine

The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics

by Gary Zukav, David Finkelstein

Wu Li means the patterns of organic energy. In this book, the authors present and develop the idea of physics as the dance of Wu Li Masters. The new physics deals with quantum theory, particle physics, and relativity. "The world of particle physics is a world of sparkling energy forever dancing with itself in the form of its particles as they twinkle in and out of existence, collide, transmute, and disappear again." (p. 213)

From the back cover: "'Stripped of mathematics, physics becomes pure enchantment'...I don't care how dumb you are at science; you'll come away from this book feeling like a Wu Li master yourself." --Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times

Mysticism and the New Physics

by Michael Talbot

Michael Talbot begins by discussing principles of the old physics. He then goes on to newer grounds like quantum physics and links it to eastern mystical thoughts of Buddhism and Tantra.

From the back cover: Mystic and "idealists" have always propounded the idea that the world is an illusion. Now quantum physics forward theories that reinforce this belief.

The Mechanism Demands a Mysticism: An Exploration of Spirit, Matter and Physics

by Thomas G Brophy

The author, in this book, tries to harmonize mind and matter. In the process he gives a clear exposition of classical science is and in which direction it is heading.

From the back cover: "The author is very seriously tackling the difficult problem of how to integrate or to harmonize spirit (mind) and matter. Integrating the words of many holy people with scientific theories and a study of phenomena, he indicates the limitations of scientific and religious dogmas... I believe this kind of integration ... will become more and more necessary in the next century, for the human being consists of body, mind and spirit."--- Hiroshi Motoyama, Ph.D., Litt. D., author of Science and the Evolution of Consciousness, and Karma and Reincarnation; Head Priest of Tamamitsu Shinto Shrine, Tokyo

Mind into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit

by Fred Alan Wolf

The author explores the realm where advanced physics and mysticism converge.

From the back cover: In Mind into Matter, Fred Alan Wolf boldly asserts that the source of matter is the mind, and that "without you, there wouldn't be a universe." How refreshing to have a scientist put the emphasis on the individual --- where it belongs! Wolf has written a glorious entertainment for the mind that matters. Kenneth Ring, Ph.D., Author of Lessons from Light