Mind and Matter

Mind and matter, though closely associated, are entirely two distinct entities; very different in terms of their nature, cause and functions. Unlike matter, which is composed of physical constituents such as atoms and molecules, the mind has no such physical quantity.

It composed of its own continuum only, just as a wheat requires a grain of wheat as seed for its substantial cause, so does mind always require an earlier moment of its own type as its main cause. Matter can never become consciousness and vice versa. But this does not mean that matter could exist independently from the mind.

It is on this point that many well-respected western scientist have made a fundamental error. Their obsessive conviction in measuring every physical phenomenon in their basic constituents lead them to believe in the existence of absolute space and time, totally independent of the subjective mind.

Matter exists because mind perceives it; and mind exists because there is a matter to be perceived. They are in that sense totally interdependent. This crucial fact is now beginning to be realized by some modern physicists. To the surprise of many, it is being found that the basic properties of an object is ultimately determined not objectively as it was believed to be, but rather by the way in which it is examined by the observer.

This is clearly illustrated by the example of light. Although this new discovery in the scientific field could not be hailed as a great breakthrough in the study of consciousness, it is nonetheless a welcoming step towards the right direction.