Quantum Computers & Tantric Buddhism: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
By: Sasha Manu
Tags: Personal Development, Buddhism, Spirituality, Science, Philosophy

All of us have goals. Whether they be far-reaching, short term, professional, personal, or as mundane as getting something to eat. No matter the importance of the pursuit, distinguishing means from ends at the outset is essential. When the ends are clear, and one does not fixate on the means — then immense creativity is possible. Say there’s an apple in front of you, and you’re hungry. The ends are eating the apple, and means include ways of getting there. Obtaining said apple can happen in any number of fashions: you can walk and grab it, ask your friend to give it to way, construct a machine to fetch it for you, and so on. In this toy example, we see that creativity with respect to means is almost always available. However, human ingenuity is truly put to the test when an immense barrier is placed between ourselves and our goal. Even more, trying is that sometimes that barrier is the very means we were employing! This essay will explore two far off disciplines that have transmuted what were once insurmountable barriers into solutions. The parallels we’re about to explore come from vastly different realms, but carry the same message: you can transform hinderances into accelerants.

In both the creation of Quantum Computers, and the essential teachings of Tantric Buddhism, we find powerful examples of incredible scientists and mystics transforming what were once thought of as hinderances to their respective goals, into something that accelerates them towards it.

Instead of shrinking away from barriers, they can be harnessed and transformed to propel you even further.

Let us begin our exploration with quantum computers — and how their birth arose out of the limitations of conventional computing.

Too Small

Since the advent of computing, our capabilities with regard to their manufacturing has increased at an astonishing rate (See Moore’s Law). Computers are getting smaller and faster every year, and transistors are reaching minuscule sizes.The core of the conventional computer is the transistor — a type of switch that either allows, or blocks a current of electricity. Their dual action can be used to create logic gates, which are logical operations such as AND and OR, and this data can then be recorded in the language of binary (0’s and 1's). Because these transistors are either open or closed, there is no ambiguity with regards to their state — either electricity (the flow of electrons) passes through, or it does not. Naturally, the smaller and more densely packed these transistors are — the faster and more efficient your computer becomes. If it weren’t for the puzzling effects of Quantum Mechanics, these transistors could be made forever smaller without a problem. However, when made sufficiently small — an effect known as quantum tunnelling begins to dominate, which effectively allows an electron to teleport to the other side of a barrier. In essence, your primary mechanism of either allowing or stopping the flow of electrons has been thwarted by this effect, since at random, electrons can simply appear on the other side of a closed gate. As such, the laws of quantum physics appear as a hinderance to our ability to create faster and more effective computers. The smaller these transistors become, the more susceptible they are to quantum oddities.

The Reversal: Bits and Qubits

The advent of quantum computing is due to the harnessing of what was once an impassable limitation. Scientists are now using the peculiarities of quantum mechanics to accelerate the progress of computing — bringing it to untold heights. As touched upon earlier, a normal computer uses bits which can hold values of either 0 or 1. As such, if you have 5 bits (each with two possible states) you have 32 possible configurations. Importantly, each of these configurations can only obtain one at a time. Here comes the harnessing: quantum systems (systems of objects where quantum effects dominate over classical ones) can exhibit a behaviour known as superposition.

Expressed best through rough analogy, let us imagine a light switch. It can be either ON or OFF— having two possible states. A = 100%(ON) and B = 100%(OFF). In the quantum world, there exist states corresponding to every possible configuration of ON and OFF. If A is the state, then we could have A = [49%(ON) + 51%(OFF)], or one that is A = [72%(ON) + 28%(OFF)], and so on. The ‘+’ sign represents that these states are combinations of probabilities. An important caveat is that these complex combinations of states are not physically realizable — and you will never see a light switch that is 72% On and 28% Off. When any kind of observation is made, the state collapses into one of the two positions. However, the fact that these states can be modelled in such a way, using this strange mathematical formalism, allows information to be stored.

Leveraging these quantum properties, scientists have figured out how to create a computer that uses Qubits as opposed to Bits. The difference being that these Qubits are objects that can be in a superposition. As such, 5 Qubits in superposition can be in all 32 states simultaneously.

Scaling up the number of Qubits, we see that they are vastly more powerful than regular Bits, in that they not only hold more information, but can be used to execute computations at exponentially faster rates.

A final important note is that a Qubit is not relegated to a specific object — it can be any object small enough that it can be kept in a coherent quantum state (one that exhibits the aforementioned superposition property). These can be photons, electrons, atoms and even as large as molecules. As such, you start walking on a razor’s edge. While the edge is long, in that many different objects can fulfil your needs — it is sharp, in that to develop a system with many entangled particles is an incredibly delicate task.

In closing this section, we can note two important takeaways. The advent of Quantum Computing was accelerated by transforming what was a hinderance in conventional computing. Scientists learned to work with quantum mechanics instead of against it. Secondly, the object of a Qubit is more fluid than that of a conventional Bit — as it defines a class of objects rather than a definite property of something tangible. We will now change gears and turn to Buddhism, where a very similar methodological shift occurred.

The Way of the Elders and the Diamond Vehicle

After his enlightenment at the age of 35, Gautama the Buddha taught disciples until the end of his life. His teachings are collected in what is known as the Sutta Pitaka, the Basket of Discourses. In one such discourse, he clarifies what his teachings are: “It is just the suffering and the cessation of suffering that I proclaim” (SN 22.86). In the discourse immediately following his awakening, he explained that suffering is caused by desire and craving, and that through the cessation of these elements, suffering comes to an end. Naturally, engaging in self-indulgent pleasure is to be avoided, and so are activities that accelerate ones craving and desire. When desire arises in the mind, one is tasked with using penetrative insight in order to understand its true ephemeral and compounded nature. Similarly, highly energetic states such as anger are also not encouraged — but one is again instructed to observe them when they arise, and see into their true nature. Finally, another so-called Basket of Early Buddhist teaching is the Vinaya, the rules of monastic discipline. This is the code of conduct for monks and nuns, and contains hundreds of rules that restrict ones body, voice and mind. Naturally, these restrictions are in place to create a peaceful internal landscape within a practitioner, leading to a mind that is free from desire, hatred and ignorance.

The Reversal: Transmutation of Energy

Many centuries after the Buddha’s enlightenment, Buddhism made its way to Himalayan regions such as Nepal and Tibet, and began to intermingle with the Tantric traditions. Vajrayana, or Tantric Buddhism, emerged from this milieu. In Lama Yeshe’s comprehensive introduction to Tantra, he writes the following.

Instead of viewing pleasure and desire as something to be avoided at all costs, tantra recognizes the powerful energy aroused by our desires to be an indispensable resource for the spiritual path. Because the goal is nothing less than the realization of our highest human potential, tantra seeks to transform every experience — no matter how “unreligious” it may appear — into the path of fulfillment (20)

The deity Hevajra with his consort Nairatmya

Desire is an energetic fact of life. The magnetic pull towards objects, people, and abstract goals is a universal experience. Thinking about your future goals is not inherently wrong, and planning is not bad. But never forget that such goals have been fabricated by you, and that you have made your happiness contingent on their attainment. Our personalities consist of many identities, and many needs that require fulfilling. The need to be loved, to give love, to have power, to appear competent. The mind never stops scheming and creating desires that need fulfilling. And while in the Early Buddhist canon it was minimization of these desirous states that was seen as valuable, the Tantric approach to understanding desire is to dive deeper.

Tantric practitioners do not turn away from disturbing mental states, but they understand and harness them. In his introductory book on Tibetan Buddhism, John Powers gives a wonderful analogy:

A baby or developing child cannot reject any experience or information — it is forced to contend with reality and orient itself accordingly. As such, Tantra does this too.

This is clearly evident in Tantric iconography. In the image above we see two wrathful deities in a form of sexual union. Yet, to stop at this gross level of analysis is to deeply misunderstand Tantra. What does the union of Hevajra and Nairatmya represent? In this case, the two most exalted elements of practice — wisdom and compassion. Turning to the image of Manjushri below, why is there the inclusion of violent imagery (his flaming sword)? This seeming paradox is highlighted in this line by Namkhai Norbu:

“Ordinary people cannot understand: on the one hand we must behave like a monk, and on the other we visualize male and female bodies in sexual union”

Manjushri, the manifestation of Infinite Wisdom

In the case of the flaming sword, the deity Manjushri is using it to cut through ignorance, and cut through our egoic attachments. The anger of Hevajra is anger towards ignorance. His sexual union with his consort is nothing short of the merging between the two fundamental modalities of existence: energetic expression (compassion) and emptiness (wisdom). It is the exemplification of a perfect Buddhist practitioner — one whose actions perpetually benefit sentient beings, and are maximally informed by wisdom.

In Tantric meditation practices, many of these deities, in their wrathful and sometimes outwardly seductive forms are visualized. It is through this visualization (which a future Medium piece will explore) that these often destructive energies are understood, controlled, and transmuted. This is not a hedonistic pursuit, but rather a chance to work with the energies that are naturally present, and channel them towards the goal of awakening.

Arriving at Concurrence

These two stories converge not in their content, but in their methodology. They both utilized apparent hindrances, and transforming them into means. Zooming in, we notice a further similarity in that the more universal quality of the Qubit (it can be any object with quantum properties) is similar to the more universal approach of using naturally present energetic states (ones that we encounter on a daily basis), as opposed to avoiding them. Yet, both stories have a cautionary tale within: tantric paths are widely considered as faster, but also more dangerous. When working with the very energies that one is attempting to overcome, there is ample room for self-delusion and falling into hedonism.

It is much easier to be swept away by desire and lust than to energetically use them. Similarly, quantum weirdness is more likely to thwart computing attempts than ameliorate them.

How can we take these lessons and apply them to our own lives? Well, we see that endlessly contrived attempts at solving problems is a brute force strategy that works, but is not revolutionary. Sometimes, solutions rest not in new iterations, but in total reorientation towards the problem. Where can one find the raw physical or conceptual material for such a change? Perhaps, look at what is currently hindering you.