The Awakening of Federico Faggin
The spiritual awakening of Federico Faggin, author of the book "Irreducible", the renowned Italian physicist and inventor of the first microprocessor (the Intel 4004), occurred abruptly following a significant personal experience, a mystical and spiritual event he underwent in December 1990 on Lake Tahoe (USA).
Faggin woke up during the night and got up to drink a glass of water. Suddenly, he felt his body fill with vibrations he had never experienced before. On an emotional level, he perceived himself as a powerful source of love infinitely greater than anything he had ever known; whilst on a mental level, he had the luminous certainty that everything is made of love. He had experienced first-hand the existence of another dimension of reality: the spiritual realm in which a person is in harmony with the world. The fundamental principle of this event was the immediate and instinctive realisation that reality is not composed exclusively of matter, but that love and consciousness are the fundamental elements of the universe.
Faggin described this awakening as the most significant moment of his life, both personally and professionally. Since then, he has deepened his commitment to scientific rigour, dedicating himself even more wholeheartedly to the study of quantum physics in relation to consciousness.
This episode brought about a radical change in his life, marking his transition from a narrowly materialistic worldview to a scientifically open-minded approach to the in-depth exploration of the nature of human consciousness. This theory challenges the notion that human beings are merely 'biological machines' or computational computers. Instead, it proposes that consciousness is a fundamental quantum property of the universe, not reducible to a mere constituent of the pure matter of artificial circuits.
Research has indicated that the mystical experience, the awakening and the meaning of his vision share many distinctive characteristics. Faggin experienced a sudden awakening in the middle of the night, accompanied by a profound sense of energy and love emanating from his chest. While in a state of repose, anticipating sleep, Faggin observed the manifestation of a luminous phenomenon of remarkable intensity, characterised by a vivid white light, with a sparkling quality. The light emanated from within his chest. The subject reported feeling a powerful physical energy emanating from his chest area, manifesting as a white, vivid and sparkling light that expanded until it filled and enveloped the entire universe.
At that precise moment, he perceived the inherent interconnectedness of all things, to the extent that he felt an inseparable connection to a universal reality. This led to a state of profound astonishment, as he recognised his place within that essence which we refer to by various names, including universal nature, God, and the Divine. However, it should be noted that all of these do in fact express a single, living reality.
The experience was characterised by an overwhelming wave of love, joy and absolute peace, accompanied by a sense of profound interconnectedness with the world around him. This light expanded beyond the boundaries of his body, engulfing him in a wave of love, joy and peace of an intensity he had never before experienced within the realm of known human possibilities. At that precise moment, he arrived at the significant realisation that consciousness is not a by-product of the brain, but rather an intrinsic and primordial property of the universe itself. This realisation led him to conclude that the fundamental substance of reality is, in fact, conscious energy.
Faggin's theory posits that consciousness is inextricably linked to the world around us. According to this theory, the observer and the observed become indistinguishable, merging into a unified reality: the universe itself, which thereby attains self-awareness. In the midst of an experience so profound that it defies imagination, Faggin became lucidly aware that he was not an isolated individual, but rather a part of a vast and interconnected whole.
This experience prompted Faggin to reconsider, step by step, the boundaries of science, leading him to argue that materialist reductionism (the idea that we are simply biological machines or algorithms) is incomplete and limiting. Faggin's work represents a significant departure from prevailing materialist and scientific paradigms, combining quantum physics and research into consciousness to propose a new interpretation of enlightenment.
From this perspective, enlightenment is not a transcendent event. Instead, it is the natural realisation of the profound unity that exists amongst human beings.This shift in perspective marks a significant transformation in Faggin's intellectual journey, as he had previously held a strictly materialist and scientific viewpoint. This experience led him to conclude that consciousness cannot emerge from matter or computers, but is instead a fundamental and primary element of reality.
The question of whether consciousness can depend exclusively on matter, or vice versa, has been the subject of extensive debate in scientific and philosophical circles. Consequently, in light of this hypothesis, due attention must be paid and fundamental questions posed:
1) What is the essential nature of consciousness?
2) The question of whether consciousness and the universe have a beginning or an end is one that has been asked many times before.
3) If so, to what extent is it possible to determine whether the material universe or consciousness came first? Or are they inseparable?
Another issue that cannot be ignored is understanding the meaning of what is meant by 'awakening of the mind' and 'state of enlightenment'. The fundamental condition of peace is the subject of this study.
The objective of this investigation is to determine whether there are distinguishable levels of enlightenment of the mind. It would be interesting to explore whether the experience of mental enlightenment undergone by Faggin has any correlation with nirvana or the state of Buddhahood.
Faggin's research into consciousness aims to provide scientific analyses in support of an inner experience of realisation that an individual may perceive within themselves. Indeed, his attention is rigorously focused on every step and interconnection between the holistic human inner experience and scientific reality, substantiated by data and ever-new discoveries. However, he would never wish to pass these off as mathematical certainties, leaving it to each person's own consciousness to verify them.
It is important to note that this cannot be verified in a superficial or predetermined manner by algorithms programmed into computers or artificial intelligence systems. Therefore, it is legitimate to ask how it is possible to ascertain the presence or absence of consciousness in a given phenomenon. However, it should be assumed that acquiring such certainty is truly essential and not, rather, yet another deception arising from one's mindset. "I only believe in what I see and can prove."
The objective here is not to delve into the complexities of free will and consciousness, which have been identified as catalysts of the material world and as the origin of consciousness, with quantum reality serving as the underlying foundation. The question under consideration is whether Faggin's concept of free will is analogous to Spinoza's conception of God or to the concept of karma in Hinduism and Buddhism.
However,
depending on the perspective, there may be subtle variations in
interpretation. From an external viewpoint, these nuances may not be
clearly distinguishable due to the interconnected nature of these
concepts, which is a result of the multifaceted nature of human
experience. It is important to note that experience is a key component
of knowledge.
This prompts a series of new questions, each of which generates further inquiries. The ultimate question is the purpose of the universe, which is always a mystery and perhaps should remain so. It is perhaps not important (indeed, it may even be harmful, as well as impossible) to know everything, to understand everything, to be certain of everything – for this could become a great illusion of the ego, which in this way only limits itself.
In the pursuit of human self-realisation, it is imperative to recognise that we are not merely matter, but rather, life extends far beyond that. As beings endowed with infinite capacities, we have a duty to live out our humanity to the fullest. This entails embracing beauty, light, love, justice, peace, and the full spectrum of life experiences, including suffering, illness, and death. These elements are not merely obstacles to be overcome, but essential components of human growth and life itself. They enrich us, making us whole and fruitful.
However, the question of the purpose or meaning of human life is one that is frequently posed in the context of philosophy of life. However, thus far, no satisfactory answer has been provided regarding the question of what it means to be human. The question that should be posed at this juncture is: What is the purpose or meaning of the universe? If a satisfactory response to this query is found, it will also address the preceding question concerning the significance of human existence.
Tharchin G. Lharampa Geshe
