Explaining the Principles of Quantum Mechanics through Yogācāra

Question: Quantum mechanics describes: a stationary particle decays, producing two photons that fly off in opposite directions over extremely great distances. If one photon is measured or touched, the other photon responds accordingly. Why is this?

Answer: Because these two photons share the same origin, both coming from the same particle. This particle is composed of the four great seeds. After separating into two photons, the two photons have identical structures of four great seeds, and there is a close correlation between them. No matter how far apart they are, they exert a mutual restraining influence upon each other. In fact, the distance between the two photons is empty space, and empty space is composed of the seed of the space element. The void formed by the space element has no distance and contains nothing at all, so between the two photons there is fundamentally no such thing as distance. No matter how far apart they are in the mundane physical world, essentially they still belong to the same particle, possessing restraining force and gravitational attraction as well as the same functions and effects. Therefore, when one changes, the other undergoes the same change, because they share the same origin.

As for the material substances of the entire world, they are composed of the four great elements combined together by sentient beings of collective karma, so of course there are close correlations among them, and it may be that pulling one hair moves the whole body. However, this degree of closeness is far inferior to the close correlation between photons from the same particle. Since empty space and spatial dimensions do not truly exist as such—there is no such dharma—then is there still such a thing as time? No, there is not. Through studying and cultivating these dharmas, we gradually come to recognize the emptiness of all dharmas. In truth, if each person makes a bit more effort and exerts a bit more strength, the mind will become empty, and one may even reach the destination. But because the provisions for the Path are far too scarce, one can only imagine, plan, and intend to practice and to become empty; the result is that one cannot become empty, and the strength cannot be exerted. Therefore, if one only values the principles of the Dharma and does not value accumulating provisions, the Path cannot be cultivated successfully.

Compared with Consciousness-Only, the emptiness of the Small Vehicle is nothing worth mentioning, not worth speaking of. The emptiness of the Great Vehicle is the true emptiness—empty thoroughly, empty ultimately, empty decisively, empty cleanly, without a single thing, without a single dharma, without even a speck of fine dust existing.