Thoughts and insights come together in strange ways. My son is taking 9th grade physics – something I was never taught – and I have been teaching about the realization of unity both within one’s yoga practice and within the patient-caregiver dynamic in healthcare. There’s an unlikely couple.
As a way to study for his test, Paul has been teaching me about atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, strong and weak nuclear forces, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and the seemingly magical, unobservable randomness that occurs at the quantum level. While listening, I have been thinking about the differences between fission and fusion and the struggle for human beings to realize unity, both with each other and with the world around us. The other night Paul looked up, shaking his head, and quizzically smiling, “It’s hard to know what to do with all this uncertainty at the quantum level.” I could only laugh.
Engineered nuclear fission is occurs when an atom’s nucleus is bombarded with subatomic particles causing it to break apart into smaller pieces. When this happens, a great amount of energy is released. When this fission process is controlled, we create usable nuclear power but also create a lot of toxic radioactive waste as a by-product. When we don’t control the fission process, we create atomic bombs.
Nuclear fusion occurs when the nuclei of two atoms fuse together (or unify) to form a new nucleus. When this happens, there is also an even greater release of energy and without the toxic by-products. Like on almost all stars, nuclear fusion occurs on the surface of our sun. Unfortunately, we have not figured out how to control this process. (If we do, the world’s energy problems disappear.) We have, however, figured out how to activate uncontrolled nuclear fusion with hydrogen. This created hydrogen bombs with the explosive capability exponentially more powerful than atom bombs. Yippee.
Currently, we believe that the only way to initiate nuclear fusion is to break down (or overcome) the repelling force that exists on the outside of the nucleus by bombarding it with sub-atomic particles. When this happens, then the attracting force that holds the nucleus together on the inside draws in and fuses with other sub-atomic particles. Fusion is the result Typically, this is achieved at very high temperatures. In other words, we overcome the repelling force by attacking it with sub-atomic particles traveling at very high velocity. Seems strange.
I find it hopeful that fusion (bringing together) creates way more energy than fission (breaking apart) and without also creating toxic waste.
When I teach, I attempt to show people how to experience a literal and deepened unity with the space around them, especially while practicing yoga poses. I also work to deepen the dynamic between patient and caregiver so both parties can remember that healing is both sacred and shared. In both cases, this is achieved paradoxically. People become more unified with what surrounds them, including other people, when they enhance their boundary, not when they lose it. This requires strengthening what’s on the ‘inside,’ not overcoming what’s on the ‘outside.’ In short, gracefully increasing one’s boundary leads to the potential for deeper unity.
I wonder if there is an analogous truth with respect to fusion. Perhaps we need to strengthen the nucleus on the atomic level in order for it to unify (fuse) with other nuclei. Perhaps overcoming the ‘outside’ is not the best way to release the potential of the ‘inside.’ Perhaps there is a lot to learn from Paul’s shaking head and quizzical smile.