The probabilistic aspect of quantum theory makes it considerably easier for the New Age gurus to link it to mysticism. At the heart of such a connection is the so-called double-slit experiment. Consider a screen with two slits that are very close to each other and we send photons (particles of light) so they can pass through the slits and be collected on the back side on a photographic plate. We perform three experiments.

In the second experiment, we block the other slit, letting photons path through it. When a lot of photons pass through the slit, we get exactly the same figure as before.

In the first experiment, we block one of the slits, letting photons path through the open slit. When a lot of photons pass through the slit, an image is formed on the photographic plate that look like a blob as shown on the right.

In the third experiment, we open both slits, letting photons path through both of them. What should we expect to see when a lot of photons pass through the slits? Clearly, since the photons go either through slit 1 or slit 2, the photographic plate should develop two blobs (that may be overlapping). However, what we see in as shown on the right.

This is utterly counter-intuitive, and it gives the gurus a chance to mystify the process. Gary Zukav explains this strange behavior of photons:

The question is, How did the photon in the first experiment know that the second slit was not open? Think about it. If both slits are open, there are always alternating bands of illuminated and dark areas. This means that there are always areas where the photons never go ....

When we fired our photon and it went through the first slit, how did it "know" that it could go to an area that must be dark if the other slit were open? In other words, how did the photon know that the other slit was closed?

There is no definite answer to this question. Some physicists, like E. H. Walker, speculate that photons may be conscious!

Contrary to the last sentence, there is a definite answer. A perfectly sensible answer exists once you employ the mathematical principles of quantum theory. It will show that when a single slit is open, the probability distribution is different than when both slits are open. In the latter case the probability vanishes at certain spots giving rise to the dark bands.

Zukav's problem is that he wants to "explain" probability. That is a trap that exists not just for photons but also for coins. If you toss 10 coins, the probability of getting 6 heads (60% of the total) is about 0.205. There is a formula for calculating this probability. Use the same formula and note that if you toss 10,000 coins, the probability of getting 60% heads is 0.000...00029 (replace the dots with 83 more zeros). Now regard the 10,000 coins as 1000 groups of 10 coins. Each group, in isolation, has a 20.5% chance of getting 60% heads, but the presence of other groups renders getting 60% heads practically impossible. How does one "explain" this? Here is my shot at what Zukav might offer:

The question is, How does each group of ten coins know that it is part of 10,000 coins and therefore it should avoid showing too many heads, as it would if it were an isolated group of ten coins? Think about it. Each group of ten coins shows 60% heads 20.5% of the time. But once it becomes part of the other groups, practically no head shows up.

Could it be that the members of each group of ten tell each other "Remember, we are now only one of 1000 teams. So, let's not show our heads?" Could it be that the coins are conscious just as photons are?

It is easier to mystify what we can't see than what we have daily experience with. We know that a coin cannot "know," but we are not sure if saying that a photon "knows" is such a crazy idea. In fact, it seems to be very appealing, as we are so fond of seeing life in inanimate objects in a Disney movie: as long as the world of photons is invisible, why not make it as fanciful as possible. However, the truth is that, since both the crazy and the not-so-crazy ideas have identical probabilistic explanation, it is just as absurd to say that a photon is conscious as to say that a coin is conscious.

Gary Zukav appeared 34 times on The Oprah Winfrey Show and one of his books was the #1 New York Times bestseller 31 times and remained on the list of bestsellers for three years. For a gullible, scientifically challenged public, these credentials make Zukav, like his mentor Oprah, an icon to follow.

Zukav had no connection with the scientific community until one of his friends invited him to a conference at the Esalen Institute. Here is how he describes his experience there:

"To my great surprise, I discovered that (1), I understood everything that they said, and (2), their discussion sounded very much like a theological discussion." Contrast this with the typical reaction of a physicist attending a professional conference: "I didn't understand a word of what they were talking about." This reaction speaks of the effort of physicists at understanding new concepts, which -- in contrast to political, philosophical, or theological ideas -- does not come while listening to a speaker at a conference but through laborious examination of the proposed ideas afterwards.

After the conference he wrote the book, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, which became a best seller and eventually landed him on Oprah's couch. The book, like its predecessor, The Tao of Physics, is filled with faulty arguments used to connect physics with Eastern mysticism. Chapter 7 of Quanta in Distress goes into more detail on Zukav's contribution to QP-mysticism connection.