Quantum mechanics says everything is made up of vibrations, energy, whereas classical chemistry describes the differences in all substances - one proton is hydrogen, two is helium, metals are different from gases and so on. 

Quantum mechanics and classical chemistry both are essential. If you are stuck in classical chemistry - periodic table, you are limited, you have no idea what's happening in reality. If you are thinking only about quantum mechanics view, everything is the same. Whether stone or a handful of grain, it is the same. 

A chair or door is the same. Here the Rishi says if you are in Avidya. Avidya is all the sciences that we have - everything about body, about nature, about creation, all the intricacies here in this dimension of life - food, nutrition, all this. All the Vedas come under Avidya, especially those that deal with the material science. 

These are all Avidya. And then there is Vidya, knowledge of the Self - the more subtle, causal and ethereal knowledge. Knowledge about the energy, about the life force is Vidya. Knowledge about matter is Avidya, knowledge about the self is Vidya. Both have to be taken together. You should go with both. 

Dance can happen only when one foot is on the floor and the other is in the air. If both your feet are buried in the mud you can't move. It is no dance. You need to balance, one foot here on the ground, one foot up there.