Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

preventing disasters and distresscians and fathers of computer science, John von Neumann, traced theprocess from the objective system under observation—the observed—which is quantum mechanical, to the measuring device, which is alsoquantum mechanical, to the nervous system, which is yet still quantummechanical. Von Neumann concluded that only in the consciousnessof the observer do we have a classical observation. He wrote, “Indeed,experience only makes statements of this type: an observer has made acertain (subjective) observation; and never any like this: a physical quantityhas a certain value” (von Neumann, 1955, p. 420). On this point,Maharishi quotes the Rik Veda as saying, “Knowledge is structured inconsciousness,” commenting that our conceptualization of “objective”reality is structured in the consciousness of the observer (MaharishiMahesh Yogi, 1994).Similarly, Erwin Schrodinger, who received the Nobel prize for hisdevelopment of the Schrodinger equation, the most widely used mathematicaltool in quantum theory, put it this way,Mind has erected the objective outside world of the natural philosopherout of its own stuff . . . . The reason why our sentient, percipient andthinking ego is met nowhere within our scientific world picture caneasily be indicated in seven words: because it is itself that world picture.(1958/1985, p.131, 138)Supporting this view, modern neuroscience recognizes that size,shape, color, texture, visibility, and all other qualities of an object ofexperience are not uniquely determined by the external world but arefeatures of subjective experience (Farwell, 1996; Farwell & Farwell,1995).Schodinger also argued for the primacy of consciousness from ananalysis of volitional action:So let us see whether we cannot draw the correct, non-contradictoryconclusion from the following two premises:(i) My body functions as a pure mechanism according to the Laws ofNature.(ii) Yet, I know, by incontrovertible direct experience, that I am directingits motions, of which I foresee the effects, that may be fateful andall-important, in which case I feel and take responsibility for them.517