  We discuss the problem of consistency of quantum mechanics as applied to low
energy nucleon dynamics with the symmetries of QCD. It is shown that the
dynamics consistent with these symmetries is not governed by the Schrodinger
equation. We present a new way to formulate the effective theory of nuclear
forces as an inevitable consequence of the basic principles of quantum
mechanics and the symmetries of strong interactions. We show that being
formulated in this way the effective theory of nuclear forces can be put on the
same firm theoretical grounds as the quantum mechanics of atomic phenomena. In
this case the effective theory allows one to describe with a given accuracy not
only two-nucleon scattering, but also the evolution of nucleon systems, and
places the constraints on the off-shell behavior of the two-nucleon
interaction. In this way we predict the off-shell behavior of the S wave
two-nucleon T-matrix at very low energies when the pionless theory is
applicable. Further extensions and applications of this approach are discussed.
