  An alternative interpretation of the quantum adiabatic approximation is
presented. This interpretation is based on the ideas originally advocated by
David Bohm in his quest for establishing a hidden variable alternative to
quantum mechanics. It indicates that the validity of the quantum adiabatic
approximation is a sufficient condition for the separability of the quantum
action function in the time variable. The implications of this interpretation
for Berry's adiabatic phase and its semi-classical limit are also discussed.
