Science, Spirituality, and
Religions-do they conflate or conflict?
(Compilation for a discourse at Sri
Ganesha Temple, Nashville, TN, USA, April 2015)
The scientific discoveries made by
Galileo and Newton began to describe and explain the natural and physical
laws by which the earth operates. Consequently religious thoughts were
focused on Natural Theology, where religion filled the scientific
gaps and God was held responsible for the orderliness of nature and responsible
for these physical laws which scientists did not make but only discovered.
Although there are parallels between the methods of science and religion,
there are also differences. One major difference is the same as the difference
between science and history. Like history, religion is subjective due to the
personal involvement required by the religion. Although there are many
similarities in the methods and language of science and religion, the two
subjects remain distinctly different in their purposes. Both leave behind
certain unanswered questions.
Indeterminacy in the behavior of atoms can be
generalized to apply to humanity as a whole. This argument rests on the
unpredictability of a single person and their action. Although physics
can be used to explain human freedom to some extent, it will never produce an
entirely satisfactory argument for it. Man is simply a machine that
can be broken up into respective systems and thus is completely predictable, is
not a satisfactory scientific explanation. However it can be seen through science and the
study of modern DNA, that each human has a unique identity and sense of
selfhood. God's love for each human being is unique to that person
and it is a personal relationship between man and God which has
no scientific explanation.
Religious view holds the creation of man as a
divine point in creation, well planned to start with, as perfect as is found today with full physical and mental
development (The origin of four Rishis) and therefore rejects the idea of man
evolving from other life forms. A third
of Americans believe humans have existed in their present form since time
began. The Avatar theology later projected by Puranas and endorsed by
Bhagavad Gita embraces the theory of evolution, though emphatically does
not say so, but incorporates it in Puranas to appear as a doctrine of
continuing creation. The earliest avatar of Hayagreeva was discarded and
Matsyaavataara was incorporated as the first avatar among Dasavataras. There
are many different views on how God is related to nature. Those who hold more
conservative religious views believe in God's sovereignty over nature.
Vedanta (spirituality) teaches the God that is in everyone,
has become everyone and everything. It is a democratic God that Vedanta (Upanishad) teaches.
Hindu
sages were the first to realize that the manifested Universe has sprung out of
the Supreme spirit and that each fragment of the Universe is influenced by the
rest of the Universe and vice verse. Closely watching the solar system
they gave mankind a system of time measurement, by which correct time for
observance of religious rites can be ascertained. That was the beginning of
Astronomy and Science. The particulars of their scientific contributions to the
world can be found in my detailed discourse. They were the first to realize
science and religion can conflate.
When I
talk about Religion I mostly talk about Vedanta. The term Religion is more easily comprehended
than Vedanta. Vedanta, the fore-runner and most ancient origin for religions of
the world is considered as philosophy today as it does not fit into the concept
of the definition of religion as given in the dictionary today. Swami
Vivekananda delivered a lecture on “Is Vedanta the Future Religion” in San
Francisco on April 8, 1900. Vedanta is not antagonistic to anything, though it
does not compromise or give up the truths which it considers fundamental. First of all it has no one book
called scripture to which it clings. Secondly it does not have an embodied
person to worship as Lord or as great Prophet or Guru. Not one man or woman has
ever become the object of worship among the followers of this ancient religion
called Vedanta. All people in the world love to be democratic and Vedanta is
democratic.
Vedanta
teaches about democratic God. God is not a monarch sitting on the throne.
There is no heaven or hell. Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin
and in the long run these mistakes can be corrected. All of us are tiny part of
a great Principal and can merge with the same by our own efforts. A human being is not only body and mind but
also spirit. This spirit Vedanta calls Self or Aatman. If our body and mind can
be extinct temporarily as in dream or deep sleep state, what makes it come back
to life? It is the Self which is the connecting link. This Self is what science
calls as Consciousness. The Self operates through mind and body it makes use of
them but can also operate independent of them. All Religions talk about
mystics. These are people who can live on a plane where no sense organs have any
access. We usually call that state as
transcendental.
The
Self sees itself as the self of everything and every being and is the only reality. It discovers that the diversity which had so
long seen is not real. Behind that diversity, there is unity which, in fact, is
the essence of all things, all beings. Science speaks of the same in different
language—ultimate particle or cell. It is this essence, this self which is the
common factor that binds all together. It holds together the universe. It is
the support of the universe. Aldous Huxley describes it as Highest Common Factor
(HCF) among all beings and among all things. Without this essence without this
Self nothing can exist. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa explains this in a simple way:
“First write 1 and then add zero, that would make the figure ten, add another zero,
the figure would be hundred, go on adding the zero—the figure would
correspondingly increase. But if you wipe out the 1, all zeros become useless”
Life
without light is impossible. It is this fact that drive scientists today to
discover life in Mars and Moon. Among the most abundant sources of light on
Earth is Life itself. Human body
contains Jatharaagni, stomach fire (light) that is
responsible for combustion and digestion of food. As you descend in the sea the
sunlight disappears. Below 2000 feet the blue fades too and most of the ocean
is pitching dark. An underwater glow reveals the Lightness of Being. These lights
seem mysterious, but organisms generate them for practical purposes, one of the
marvels of Intelligent Creation.
Bioluminescence fends off predators.
Making light occurs most
commonly in the ocean, where bioluminescence is often the only source of light.
Under the right conditions, bioluminescent flash can be seen a hundred yards
away. More than 90 species of fungi glow in the dark. The light from these
lures insects that spread mushroom spores. Scientists probably have no
explanation how these underworld Beings got luminescence but they know their
existence and usefulness in defense, offense and reproduction. Vedanta has a
better explanation that the light looming in them is also because of the
Supreme Being, who is impartial to all that needs an existence and
procreation. Vedanta says the light that is seen in stars, Sun and Moon is
because of that Supreme Being whose light alone shines in all of them including
these underwater luminescent bodies –“tasya
bhaasaa sarvamidam vibhaati”.
According
to Vedanta cosmogony, life appears first, then sense organs and finally the
gross body and matter. At first they are very subtle, fine and close to each
other. As they become gross, their distinctions become marked. According to Science, growth is from gross to
fine. Vedanta contends that the process is just the reverse—from fine to
gross. In the case of cause and effect,
cause is always fine while effect is gross. From one cause, the first cause,
the uncaused cause, that is Self in Vedanta, the universe has emerged. The Self has become the universe. This Self
undergoes no change, it remains the same. The change is only apparent and on
the surface and not real. The universe is a vast chain of cause and effect,
both religion and science say, as it links. Vedanta says that cause is always
present in effect. This is why the first cause, i.e. the Self or Brahman is
present in everything.
Science
and religion generally pursue knowledge of the universe using different
methodologies. Science acknowledges reason, empiricism, and evidence, while
religions include revelation, faith and sacredness. Science is based on
well-tested data. There is nothing speculative about it. It is based on hard
facts which have been verified and which are always verifiable. Religion,
particularly Vedanta is essentially a personal affair; it is something one does
with one’s own mind and naturally feels shy to share with others. As a
discipline it is more rigorous perhaps more exacting than science. Like
science, it is clear up to a point, but beyond that point it is possible there
is need for secretiveness because one does not want one’s privacy encroached
upon. Despite these differences, most scientific and technological innovations
prior to the scientific revolution were achieved by societies organized by
religious traditions. Much of the scientific methods were pioneered first by
ancient civilizations such as the Hindus, Greeks, Egyptians, and Sumerians.
Later during the middle ages the Catholic church was responsible for saving
much of the scientific knowledge from these civilizations, thus allowing the
scientific method to develop in Europe during and after the Renaissance and
through the enlightenment period. Arabs also made great contributions to areas
such as Mathematics, and Astronomy while in close touch with Hindus as trading
partners. Many of the most famous scientists in history were devout Christians
such as Blasé Pascal, Copernicus, and the founder of modern genetics Austrian
Monk Gregory Mendel. The founder of the Big bang theory was also a Jesuit
priest named Georges Lemaitre. Hinduism has historically embraced reason and
empiricism, holding that science brings legitimate, but incomplete knowledge of
the world. Confucian thought has held different views of science over time.
Most Buddhists today view science as complementary to their beliefs.
Rajagopalachari, the wise statesman of India said, ‘The greatest of our inventions
cannot reach the border lines of metaphysics.
Science
has an objective approach whereas the approach of religion is subjective.
Physical science is concerned with man’s external nature, but religion is
concerned with man’s internal nature. Einstein says that “science can change
the nature of an element. But it is only religion which can change human nature”.
People are indebted to science for physical comforts but unless these comforts
are coupled with individual’s moral lift, there is no stability in society, no peace
on earth and no real progress. What
purpose will it serve gaining the whole world when you have lost your own
soul?
Science
is a method for deciding whether what we choose to believe has a basis in the
laws of nature or not. But that method does not come naturally to most of us.
And so we run into trouble, again and again. The scientific method leads us to truths that
are less than self-evident, often mind blowing, and sometimes hard to swallow. Even
when we intellectually accept these precepts of science we subconsciously cling
to our intuitions what researches call belief.
Scientific
results are always provisional, susceptible to being overturned by some future
experiment or observation. Scientists rarely proclaim an absolute truth or
absolute certainty. Uncertainty is inevitable at the frontier of knowledge. Sometimes
scientists fall short of the ideals of the scientific method. Especially in
biomedical research there is a disturbing trend toward result that can’t be
reproduced outside the lab that found them, a trend that has prompted a push
for greater transparency about how experiments are conducted. You can find
similar thoughts in Vedanta, also called science or metaphysics when you go
through various Upanishads struggling to find out the Universal Truth.
Science
will naturally find the truth. It may get it wrong the first time and may be
the second time, but ultimately it will find the truth. Science appeals to our
rational brain but our beliefs are motivated largely by emotion and the biggest
motivation is remaining tight with peers. It may not be an exaggeration if we
say that we are all still in high school learning science. People still have a
need to fit in, and that need to fit in is so strong that local values and
local opinions are always trumping science. And they will continue to trump
science especially when there is no clear downside to ignoring science. We
believe in scientific ideas not because we have truly evaluated all the
evidences but because we feel an affinity for the scientific community. Science
tells us the truth rather than what we would like truth to be.
Scientists
can be as dogmatic as anyone else—but their dogma is always wilting in the hot
glare of new research. In science it is not a sin to change your mind when the
evidence demands it. Those of us in the science-communication business are as
tribal as anyone else. Being right does
matter—and the science tribe has a long track record of getting things right in
the end. Modern society is built on things it got right. For some people the
tribe is more important than the truth. For the best scientist the truth is
more important than the tribe. Scientific method does not come naturally; scientific thinking has to
be taught and sometimes it is not taught well. The scientific method does not
come naturally--but if you think about it, neither the Knowledge of Brahman. After
all climate change is happening. Vaccine really does save lives as seen in
Ebola. There are not really two sides to all these issues. Doubting science
also has consequences. Many great
scientists do not question the
existence of God!
Hindu
Philosophy says there is no creation and only manifestation. Science also says
that something can never be created out of nothing. No one ever created life.
Life must have been there always in its embryonic form. Every time Vedanta
talks about creation it says “Yathaapoorvam akalpayat”—it was created as before. There is
really no creation or destruction. There is only change of from. Vedanta says
everything we see in the tree was in the seed. It is not that anything was
added later. There is only manifestation from the seed to the tree and
from the tree back to the seed. Vedanta says, Self is the gene out
of which this universe has come. The Self is never created nor destroyed. It is
only sometimes manifest, sometimes un-manifest, sometimes evolved and sometimes
involved. When conditions became propitious it manifested itself. All our
physical or mental peculiarities are from genes. Dr.
Kennel Voss, Professor of Genetics agrees with the Upanishadic view that
the Universe originated from one single source.
The
atomic theory is the brain-child of Western mind. The Western scientist
generalizes the experience that one can subdivide matter until one meets the
ultimate particle. Vedanta goes further and reduces everything to
one element called Brahman; Brahman means ever expanding; Brahman, because it
is everywhere--Self of everything and every being.
Physical
science is concerned with people’s external nature, but Vedanta is concerned
with people’s internal nature. People may be physically comfortable, but they must
also be morally sound, generous and selfless. A science scholar can be a
scholar of Vedanta. A Vedanta
scholar can be scientific in outlook. Science and religion must combine to make
the perfect individual, sound in body and sound in morals. Everyone needs sound body, mind and spirit. Rituals
may help us to a point but they become a hindrance beyond a point. A true science
scholar is also a Vedanta scholar as he is concerned with truth as a whole, not
only the truth that is apparent, but truth that is real, the truth which is
beyond the senses. No wonder the greatest scientist Albert Einstein said,
“Science without Religion (Vedanta) is lame, and religion without science is
blind”. We find a scientific reasoning in many of the Hinduindu H religious practices as I have
often explained.
People often turn away from religion in their
frustration and struggle. Often it does not yield results that you desire. May
be our religious approach is wrongly designed as it happens in science also
when the experiment is wrongly designed? That happened to Mother Theresa
also. Mother
Teresa’s ministry with the poor won her the Nobel Prize and the admiration of a
believing world. Mother Teresa’s work
can seem far removed from our daily lives. Yet in its relentless and even
obsessive questioning, her life intersects with that of the modern atheist and
agnostic. “If I ever become a saint,” she wrote, “I will surely be one of darkness”. Probably
vexed with growing cynicism and atheistic tendencies Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman
says “Science does not make a case for God”.
Our sages thought about astrology based on astronomy and they
worked wonderfully well, a concept of religion conflating science. Our Solar Year has 365.25 days a year like
Gregorian calendar. Probably Gregorian
calendar is based on Hindu Solar Calendar as our sages only taught the world
what astronomy is. Makara Sankranti and
Tamil New Year Day fall more or less on the same day of Gregorian calendar
every year as we all know. Our Solar calendar is out of harmony with natural
seasons on earth because of the
difference of 0.0165656
days in the actual and the assumed lengths
of a solar year which remained
uncorrected over fourteen centuries. The result is we are now celebrating our
fasts and festivals after over 23 days of their actual happening or Saastric
prescribed time. All our Panchangas require
accommodating this change. The present Niryana system is not accurate.
Our calendar is based on seasons, Ayanas, and equinoxes etc. Moreover the 27
Stars are not placed evenly in heavens and the view of them through ecliptic
does not yield 2.25 stars per Zodiac to make for 27 stars. Stars are of unequal
span. No one is prepared to bell the cat to make changes in the Panchangas
as done systematically in Gregorian
calendar. Gregorian calendar makes leap
year correction every four years and also leap-century correction to set right
the calendar over a period. We therefore wonder all the time why our festivals
and rituals do not coincide with the Gregorian calendar. Further India has
adopted Chandramana calendar of 354 days per year based on majority opinion and
not based on scientific compatibility with Gregorian calendar. Today religious
observations do not follow astronomical basis and base it on miscalculated
astrology. This is thus a man created difference between science and religion.
Yet another factor is Hindu astrologers thought only about India which lies in
northern Hemisphere. They did not think of Southern Hemisphere where winter in
Northern Hemisphere is summer for them. These cannot be viewed as science not
conflating with religion.
We have therefore the confusion
within the religion itself. Winter
solstice day in the Northern Hemisphere (a scientific fact) should be the day
of Makara Sankranti in India as per the
definition of Uttarayana Punyakaala. But we celebrate it after 23 days on
January 14 instead of December 22. Hindus settled in Northern Hemisphere and also
in Southern Hemisphere blindly follow this most sacred Utaarayana Punyakaala
day on the day dictated by Indian astrologers. This conflict between science
and religion is human made. Further no two Panchangams agree. Hanuman Jayanti
is celebrated in the North India in April while South India celebrates it in
December. Hanuman is not born on different days nor there be one South Indian
Hanuman and the other North Indian Hanuman. Similarly many festivals are
differently celebrated depending on their following of Solar calendar or Lunar
calendar both of which are faulty having neglected to make necessary
astronomical corrections as and when warranted.
We dedicate Asthami Tithi prior
to Bheeshma Ekadasi as the day on which Bheeshma died. Yet on Bheeshma Ekadasi
Day we believe Bheeshma recited Vishnu Sahasranama
while lying on the bed of arrows. Are we to believe he got resurrected then?
Here the ego of Hindu astrologers from various schools of thoughts stands in
the way to come to an understanding. Common man therefore thinks science and
religion are two different things where they could be one at least in
celebrating all festivals and ritual on one day as per scriptural injunctions.
There are thirty different calendars in India. Indian National Calendar
Committee in 1957 brought out a National calendar aligning it with the
Gregorian calendar basing it on Salivahana Saka Era and Chandramana Calendar which
was in use by majority. Their task was complicated by the fact that
with calendar reform religion and local sentiments were involved. There were thirty different calendars. The
task was further complicated by the fact that with calendar religion and local
sentiments were involved. India's first
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,
in his preface to the Report of the Committee, which was published in 1955,
wrote: “They (different calendars) represent past political divisions in the
country…now that we have attained Independence, it is obviously desirable that
there should be a certain uniformity in the calendar for our civic, social and
other purposes and this should be done on a scientific approach to this
problem.” This National calendar
was brought in line with Gregorian calendar after scientific thinking without
upsetting religion. Unfortunately no one followed it and party
Government in power was afraid to enforce it!
Karunanidhi while he was Chief Minister went further ahead in making
Makara Sankranti, January 14 as the New Year day beginning with Tamil Month
Thai which was close to January 1. Jayalalita his political rival killed the
Ordinance when she came to power playing with the religious sentiments of the
people saying that April 14 was a very religious and holier day for Tamils. Politics plays in India and not religious
accuracy and National unity without upsetting sacred days. Anyhow Indian Solar calendar is totally dependent on the sun and
is more scientific and convenient than the Gregorian calendar used all over the
world. But any attempt in trying to bring science and religion close becomes a
political issue in India and fought tooth and nail to kill such initiative for
many believe science and religion are always at war.
I have been mainly focusing points of
agreement and disagreement between science and religion. But our sages did
develop high spirituality resulting in Upanishad Teachings and great scientific
discoveries benefitting the world concentrating on both at the same time. They
gave science particularly astronomy,
mathematics, medicine and weaponry to the world. But a recent article in
Huff-post says keep them apart, treat them apart and don’t conflate them. Its
views are as follows:
Rabbi Geoffrey writes in Huff-post: “A fine-tuned universe
is a compelling argument for God. It's also deeply problematic. Science is in
constant flux. New discoveries are made. New insights arise. New paradigms
overturn previous ways of thinking. So if we base our religious outlook on
scientific findings, what will happen to our theology when the science
changes? [We can also argue did not our
philosophies change? Over a period we changed from Advaita to Vishishatadvaita
and from Vishishtadvaita to Dvaita?]
Think about what happened to religion when the Copernican
revolution occurred, or when Darwin's On the
Origin of Species was published. They upset the apple cart, and
forced religion to change. Most people either denied these
findings and held onto their deeply-held beliefs, or used these
findings to reject religion entirely. [He is talking about Christian
religion and is not aware of scientific contributions of our Rishis which concurred
with the then emerging scientific findings. He does not know our Avatar concept
agrees with Darwin.]
So what would happen if, say, we discover that the
parameters for life are not quite as amazing as they seemed? Or if we
discovered that humanity was not unique in the universe? If you were using
science to support your religious outlook, unless you have a very sophisticated
theology, you'd be in deep trouble, and would need to do quite a bit of mental
gymnastics. [Hindus believe Vedanta is a sophisticated theology and often
scientific in its thinking and not like the faith-based religions]
That's why scientists and Christians Francis Collins and
Karl Giberson warn about using fine-tuning as an argument for God. It truly is amazing that all of
the needed requirements for life on Earth are so precise. But science is a
search for an accurate understanding of our world, which means that it can
change. And if we're basing our view of God on the latest scientific research,
we're going to have a very fragile theology.
Science
and religion are two different ways of thinking. Don't conflate them. Using science to prove
God's existence confuses two very different ways of thinking. Science
progresses as new hypotheses get tested, questioned, refuted, expanded
upon, discarded, and revised. Religion, on the other hand, is a way to
make sense of the world. It is an appreciation of awe and mystery, justice and
compassion. In other words, science is a search for truth, while religion
is a search for meaning. Religion doesn't need science to prove God's
existence, because the question of God is not a scientific one.
Science is the best
method we have for understanding how we got here. But religion isn't
science. It is not (or at least should not be)
about provable or disprovable claims, because that's not its purpose. Instead,
it should be designed to help us improve ourselves and our
world, here and now”.
It's commonly argued that science and
spirituality are not compatible. Science is considered our reliable way
forward, while spirituality often regarded as a sentimental relic of our past
we can't quite let go of. So to say it is necessary for the two to work
together may seem unrealistic. For centuries, science has led our progress;
spirituality, as indicated through participation in orthodox religion has been
in steady decline. But the unorganized, personal aspect of spirituality is the
subjective pursuit of value, reality, and understanding through individual
experience or consciousness. This aspect of spirituality has not declined.
Instead, the drive to find external solutions to global problems that have
value to our interior world is more powerful than ever. The scale of our
planet's problems is too great to be solved without an integrated approach of
science and spirituality. The power of consciousness needs the systematization
of the scientific method, and the tools of science depend on the wisdom and
creativity of individual consciousness to guide it in a meaningful direction.
More and more scientists are
recognizing this need -- in part because fundamental science has come to a
place where the ultimate questions of matter and creation cannot be understood
unless consciousness is accounted for and factored in. Consciousness may well
be the common ground on which the objective and subjective worlds are derived
and united. With this vision, scientists and spiritualists have begun to
meet and discuss solutions to global issues of health, hunger, conflict
resolution, climate change, global conflicts and economic injustice from a
perspective that joins science and spirituality. Do we want to call in Scientific terms
Brahman as Consciousness?
My question
remains if religion and science in unison led the world in ancient times why
not to-day? Philosopher Statesman Rajagopalachari said “Greatest of our
inventions cannot reach the borderline of Metaphysics”. Should we not go by the advice of the
renowned world famous scientist Albert Einstein who had an insight to Hindu
Upanishads: “The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more
certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie
through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through
striving after rational knowledge”. That way he has addressed both Science and
Religion equally. It appears neither science nor religion has ready answers to
all our questions. That is why the contradictions and confusion often results. We
need both to make a meaning of our life
on earth. This makes the origin of life or soul outside the purview of the
scientific theory or philosophic explanation and for our existence.
It is
heartening to note how the most religious and conservative Vatican is concerned
with science today. St. Peter’s Basilica joined
more than 1,400 of the world’s iconic landmarks in March 2015 to take a stand for stronger
climate action. In the past, Francis has called the exploitation of nature a
grave sin.
"This is one of
the greatest challenges of our time: to convert ourselves to a type of
development that knows how to respect creation," he said while
addressing students at a university in southern Italy last year.
"When I look at
America, also my own homeland (South America), so many forests, all cut, that
have become land ... that can longer give life. This is our sin, exploiting the
Earth and not allowing her to her give us what she has within her." Thus
Pope Francis is drawing our attention that both religion and science should
conflate and not conflict in addressing world problems.
In this context it is worth recalling the Vedic
Hymn of Peace that focuses on science with which Hindus conclude all prayers:
“…..
Prithvee santih Aapah santih Oshadhayah santih Vanaspatayah santih Sarvam
santih….”—May peace reign on Earth! May there be coolness
in water! May the medicinal herbs be soothing! May the plants be peace giving!
May everything in the Universe be peaceful! May peace pervade everywhere! May
that peace come to me also!”
EPILOGUE
There is a War
on Science going on to-day as we come across many head line news on science and
technology. These are: Climate
change does not exist; Evolution
never happened; The Moon landing was fake;
Vaccination can lead to autism; Genetically modified food is evil; Fluoride
could be harmful to health which has gone to the extent of few major American cities don’t fluoridate
the water. Does a group of scientists going skeptic among themselves or
atheists have joined hands with religious protagonists to question well
established and proven scientific discoveries and inventions, it is hard to tell!
It only shows that the world crackles with real and imaginary hazards and
distinguishing the former from the latter is not easy for ordinary man or the
religiously devoted to have faith in science! Is the religion going strong once
again or the science getting weaker?
Science cannot
grasp powers of the unending cosmos without the positive spiritual thinking.
People become inspired and creative by our inner capacity to transform. Our
world awakens the positive
spiritual relevance of both the external and internal consciousness which
transforms the spiritual God that
awaits, without being perceptible or
awakening where there is matter. Will science have answers to all riddles of
life one day? Even the great scientists
cannot answer this question. Each time science discovers something, it opens up
another thousand questions.
Today we know
that the nucleus of every human cell contains twenty three pairs of
chromosomes, each of which is a thread-like structure made up of about eighty
thousand genes. Look at what Upanishads
said several thousand years ago. Upanishad states
that from the spiritual heart 101 nerves or Naadees branch off. These nerves
are not to be confused with the nerves of doctor’s Physiology conception or the
heart with physical heart. It is the cavity in which the Self or Atman resides.
These are subtler than the finest capillaries in the circulatory systems in the
body and they are therefore often designated as Astral Tubes. From the mind 101 different astral tubes
emerge out and each one of these primary nerves (Mukhya) divides into 100
subdivisions as Saakha Naadees forming
themselves ten thousand and one hundred (10100) secondary Naadees. Now each one
of these secondary Naadees again multiplies into seventy-two thousand branches,
thus together forming a system of seventy-two crores, seventy two lakhs, ten
thousand two hundred and one in all (72,72,10,201). All these are constantly
working in the human body and take part in human functioning. It is hoped
understanding the genetic codes well will
lay the ground work for conquering most of the diseases and also solving
many of the riddles of life. Even
Vedanta that has gone so deep into body, mind and spirit does not have answers
to all our questions. How did the first-ever soul acquired Karma
is not answered by Upanishads. It starts with the assumption that Brahman is
the ultimate cause of this universe and everything else is dependent on him.
Its whole discussion is based on that assumption Brahman who cannot be
questioned?
Science cannot
answer questions about life’s purpose or the existence of God. Scientist must
recognize that it will never completely answer the ‘“why” question, Vedanta or
spirituality deals with. Science can only tell us how the world is, but not the
reasons or purpose for why it is that way. Inquiring minds of Rishis of
Upanishads have not only served to advance scientific discoveries in many cases
but also exert a significant influence on the practical application of
scientific discoveries.
Closely
watching the solar system to which the earth belongs, Hindu sages observed that apparent path covered by the Sun
in relation to earth called ecliptic, recurred periodically with rhythmic
precision. Likewise they noticed that the Moon’s path in relation to earth also
recurred at regular intervals. Through their keen observation of sky above and
their Yogic powers (Consciousness) the sages perceived perfect harmony and
order in the movements of the heavenly bodies. They had no modern telescopes. This
gave birth to astronomy and the early scientific discoveries by them which they
gave to the world.
Science can
only tell us how the world is, never the reasons or purpose for why it is that
way like Vedanta which can’t explain why and how the first ever soul acquired Karma.
At the same time imagine how the first cell organisms began. Science has no answer. It is all the
handy-work of that unknown being who so finely tuned it. If any of the physical
constants of nature like gravity, the speed of light, the mass of the electron,
and the electromagnetic force differed even slightly the result would be chaos
and the result would have been a universe incapable of hosting of life or
sustaining it. The theory of evolution does not deal with origin of life.
Upanishads say it was the will of God. Science says Evolution is a theory of how life forms have
changed over time, not about how first life appeared. The Theory of Evolution deals with the development of
life, not the origin of life from non-life. How Ahalya turned into stone still lived with her soul and later
brought back to life by Rama is not explained in Vedanta. Science says stones are
made up of chemicals as humans are, where ultimate particles are in constant
motion thus postulating some sort of a life or activity within. An atheist has
an escapism explanation dismissing all as myth!
Recent research
findings say our ancestor was a fungus. It might surprise many people that they
are even to a small degree part bacterium, part fungus and part alga. Genome
Biology suggests human beings have at least 145 genes picked up from other
species by their forbears. On an average
flies had 40 and primates had 109. Humans thus had more than the primates. We find
today a bacterial insecticide in a genetically modified maize plant or
herbicide-resistance gene in a soya been. It is fair to point out that
bacteria, fungus, and alga are doing a good job in humans. There was once a
time they were just as alien as bacterial insecticide or herbal resistance gene
in crops. Compare this to what Vedanta
says the same soul pervades in all living and nonliving entities or life
started when Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas entities started intermingling which is
explained below.
Some of our
Puranic beliefs make us look stupid and ignorant in the light of scientific
facts. The story of Rahu and Ketu devouring Sun and Moon, thinking of Sun,
Moon, Rahu and Ketu also as planets among Navagrahas while only Mars, Mercury,
Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are planets and thinking
of Sun changing his direction and traveling towards North on Makara Sankranti
Day while technically the Sun does not move and earth travels round the Sun
with its tilted axis, are some of the topics hotly discussed as
myths by science protagonists. Of course the scientific findings are also
progressively changing: According to the latest findings the Sun in fact our
whole solar system orbits around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. We are
moving at an average velocity of 828,000 km/hr. But even at this speed it will
take 230 million years to make a complete orbit around Milky Way but who knows
this path might as well change also! In Panchangam (or in Astrology) Nakshatra
(or star) is only one of the 27 segments of the Zodiac Belt whereas in
astronomy or science stars are heavenly bodies twinkling in the sky. I wonder
whether I could translate Navagrahas as Astral Deities instead of nine planets
but then no one will understand grown with reputed religious and spiritual writers.
Vedanta seems
to have an edge over science as far as evolution is concerned as it has held
its views for several thousands of years whereas science has come a long way
progressively revising and basing it on cell theory. The latest thinking is our ancestor was a fungus!
In a way it agrees with Vedanta that the cell is the basis, may be one day
fungus is the basis of all creation like
Self that pervades all sentient beings. Vedanta goes further to say this Self
extends to all non-sentient. Prakriti or nature is composed of three extremely
subtle and intangible substances called Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. The spiritual
domain however contains innumerable sentient entities, each one infinite and perfect
called Purusha may be the uni-cell of science which the religious people call
soul. Before creation of the world, these three subtle substances Sattva, Rajas
and Tamas remained in a state of perfect equilibrium. When they start
intermingling and overlapping the state of harmony is lost, the creation
starts. This also explains as to the varieties found in creation depending on
the mix based on time also. One may
wonder how these three extremely subtle gunas can become this gross and
tangible world. Physics also says that something as subtle as energy can be
transformed into solid matter. Some physicists are also of the opinion that the
primary building blocks of this manifold universe are most probably three types
of extremely subtle quarks. Vedanta says Purusha (Self) is the same that
manifests in all beings.
Sankhya philosophy differs from Vedanta and
postulates Purusha of plurality. If there had been only one Purusha, then birth
and death of one conscious being would also cause the birth and death of all
other conscious beings. This being not the case there must be many Purushas.
Sankhya school says also Prakriti is composed of three extremely subtle
substances as stated above. The process of creation starts when Prakriti
borrows consciousness from Purusha and starts acting like a conscious entity.
The first sign of Prakriti’s conscious activity is seen in its tendency to
change itself. It undergoes a process of
gradual transformation, the final outcome of which is this manifold world. In
other words the primordial matter becomes the world through a process of evolution which is further explained as detailed
in my discourse on the subject Trigunas. Science has not yet come with an
explanation as to how matter has changed to cell, the first signs of
life. Like science Hindu cosmogony is not sure about the origin of this
world. It presents more than one theory.
It can be said that in science as well as Hinduism either all theories are
wrong, or only one is correct!
Large number of
Scientists across the world, particularly Indian Scientists like Sir C.V.
Raman, Abul Kalam Azad, Hari Gobind Khurana and others firmly believe in God,
their faith being fortified, rather than hindered by their scientific
investigation. Among world’s scientists, other than from India, stands Einstein
of Abrahamic Faith foremost who believed in the compatibility of Science and
Religion. In this regard it is worth
mentioning about the book, “The Language of Science and the Faith” by
Karl W. Giberson (professor of Physics and science writer) and Francis S.
Collins, a world renowned geneticist. Those who argue science and religion do
not conflate quote them too. But both of
these authors challenge the widespread belief that science and religion do not
conflate. Without referring to God in their book they adduce evidence from the
natural world that the universe indeed has a Creator God agreeing with the
Upanishadic thoughts which calls that as Brahman.
76 percent of
scientists in the general population identify with a religious tradition.
Astrophysicist and evangelical Christian Deborah Haarsma, president of
BioLogos, which recognizes “God as Creator of all life over billions of years,”
said what she sees in the cosmos is “a scientific description of the universe
God created.” Overall, 85 percent of Americans and 84 percent of evangelicals
say modern science is doing well in the
world. The greatest areas of accord were on the pragmatic side of science such
as technology and medical discoveries that can alleviate suffering. Here, said
Ecklund, most Americans see science and faith collaborating for the common good.
A complete
understanding of our existence will probably be never developed by the finite
and limited human mind, or how the first cell developed or first ever soul got tainted with Karma. We
may never know what happened before the Big Bang. Upanishads often say “Yathaapoorvam
akalpyat’’-- the world was created as before. When and what that before is nobody knows. The
Creation Hymn of the Rigveda beautifully expresses that: “This world—whence it came into being, whether it was made or whether
not—He who is the overseer in the highest heavens surely knows--or perhaps He
knows not”. They say the chapter of
Light in Physics begins with what is light and ends with what is light! Being
neither a scientist of repute nor an enlightened Guru let me close the subject
with few quotes as given in the Appendix from great thinkers. I draw my support from S Kelly Harrell who said “I don't argue things being spiritual
vs scientific, because I've never met anyone who knows enough about either to
be convincing--including myself.” My focus had
been on quotes from the greatest scientist on Earth Albert Einstein whose
philosophy on Science and spirituality impressed me most.
Skepticism about
science is on the rise, and polarization is the order of the day. We are
passing through an age of disbelief, the war on science and atheism.
Skepticism is a phenomenon as old as Galileo. The
Scientists state truths and offer evidence, yet many of us remain unconvinced.
We live in an age when all manner of scientific knowledge—from the safety of
fluoride and vaccines to the reality of climate change—faces organized and
often furious opposition. A third of
Americans believe humans have existed in their present form since time began
agreeing with Vedanta. Less than half of all Americans
believe earth is warming because humans are burning fossil fuels. In this
bewildering world we have to decide what to believe and how to act on
that. The
news media give abundant attention to naysayers, professional
conversationalists, blog contributors and table trumpeters. The media would also
make us believe that science is full of shocking discoveries made by lone
geniuses. Our
lives are permeated by science and technology as never before and atheism is
growing. For many of us this new world is wondrous, comfortable, and rich in
rewards—but also more complicated and sometimes unnerving. We now face risks we
can’t easily analyse. A spiritually inclined while enjoying the benefits of
science seeks solace in the unknown in his helpless situation.
Questioning is a
human nature whether it is Vedanta or Science. But we should use scientific
method, or trust people using the scientific method to decide which way they
fall on those questions. Vedanta also uses scientific methods to explain Truth
and we often seek the help of a Vedantin (Guru). We need to get a lot better
finding answers, because it is certain the questions won’t be getting any
simpler.
Science and spirituality have been two pillars of the human
race since time immemorial. These two aspects of human thought have a lot in
common but its equally important to respect their differences. Science and
spirituality are like two sisters who share very similar genes yet are very
different in their personality. In this webinar, we will try to understand
various facets of the intricate and interesting relationship between science
and spirituality from a very practical point of view.
“When religion was
strong and science weak, man mistook magic for medicine; now when science is
strong and religion weak, man mistakes medicine for magic”--Thomas Szasz.
(Times of India)
Comments on Vedanta Views on Pancha Prana:
I believe Vayu is involved only in the first of the panchapranas.
Vital energy flows in multiple organ systems as normal physiology- all of these are autonomic and programmed through our genes, though their functioning is affected by our lifestyle and environmental factors. Preserving the vital energy functioning requires you to harmonize your body, mind and intellect.
Prana- oxygen supply through blood circulation and breathing
Apana- Waste elimination
Samana- digestion and assimilation of nutrients
Udana- Neural network controlling movement and intentional actions
Vyana- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis managing stress response and adaptation of the body to environmental stressors(neuro-endocrine system)
Associating these energies to particular part of the body is no longer accurate, since we know better about human physiology
--Dr. Vedavyas
APPENDIX
1
Quotes on Religion and
Science
Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a
profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of
light‐years
and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety
of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility
combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art
or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of
Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and
spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”
“They say that Caliph Omar, when consulted about what had to be
done with the library of Alexandria, answered as follows: 'If the books of this
library contain matters opposed to the Koran, they are bad and must be burned.
If they contain only the doctrine of the Koran, burn them anyway, for they are
superfluous.' Our learned men have cited this reasoning as the height of
absurdity. However, suppose Gregory the Great was there instead of Omar and the
Gospel instead of the Koran. The library would still have been burned, and that
might well have been the finest moment in the life of this illustrious
pontiff.”
“The
man of science has learned to believe in justification, not by faith, but by
verification.”
― Thomas Henry Huxley.
“In our country religion is not
different from philosophy and religion & philosophy don’t differ from
science.” ― Virchand Gandhi
“There
isn't anything to worry about between science and religion, because the
contradictions are just in your own mind. Of course they are there, but they
are not in the Lord's mind because He made the whole thing, so there is a way,
if we are smart enough, to understand them so that we will not have any
contradictions.”
Quotes
from Albert Einstein
1.
Science without
religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.
2.
My religion consists
of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself
in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.
3.
The further the spiritual
evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to
genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of
death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge.
4.
Everyone who is seriously
involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest
in the laws of the Universe-- spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in
the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.
5.
The scientists’
religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of
natural law, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared
with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly
insignificant reflection.
6.
There is no logical
way to the discovery of elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition,
which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance.
7.
The intuitive mind is
a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society
that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
8.
We should take care
not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no
personality.
9.
Whoever undertakes to
set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter
of the Gods.
10. When the solution is simple, God is answering.
11. God does not play dice with the universe.
12. God is subtle but he is not malicious.
13.
A human being is a
part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences
himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest--a kind
of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison,
restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons
nearest to us. Our task must be to free from this prison by widening our circle
of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its
beauty.
14.
The human mind is not
capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are
covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows
that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It
does not understand the languages in which they are written. But the child
notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books—-a mysterious order which
it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.
15.
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity
has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates
the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It
is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day.
Never lose a holy curiosity.
16.
What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can
comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a
feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to
do with mysticism.
17.
The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic
emotion. Herein lays the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom
this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a
state of fear, is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really
exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty,
whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties - this
knowledge, this feeling ... that is the core of the true religious sentiment.
In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious
men.
18.
The real problem is in the hearts and minds of men. It is
easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.
19.
True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul,
with all one’s goodness and righteousness.
20. Intelligence
makes clear to us the interrelationship of means and ends. But mere thinking
cannot give us a sense of the ultimate and fundamental ends. To make clear
these fundamental ends and valuations and to set them fast in the emotional
life of the individual, seems to me precisely the most important function which
religion has to form in the social life of man.
21. “You are right in speaking of the moral
foundations of science, but you cannot turn around,
and speak of the scientific foundations of
morality.”
Appendix
2
American Sociological
research Study on Science vs. Religion—Timothy O’Brien
Post-Seculars— one in five Americans who no one seems to
have noticed before in endless rounds of debates pitting science vs. religion.
This pretty big group (21 percent is pretty knowledgeable and appreciative
about science and technology but are
also very religious and who reject certain scientific theories. These Americans are moving away from religion
to become more secular.
Many findings fit the
usual way the science-religion divide is viewed:
Moderns--who stand on reason, scored high on scientific knowledge and
scored lowest on religion questions regarding biblical authority and the
strength of their religious ties.
Traditionals--who lean toward religion, scored lower on
science facts and were least likely to agree that “the benefits of scientific
research outweigh the harmful results.”
But when it comes to three main areas where science and
Christian-centric religious views conflict — on human evolution, the Big Bang
origin of the universe and the age of the Earth — Post-Seculars break away from
the pack with very significantly different views from Traditionals and Moderns.
The
universe began with a huge explosion
Traditional: 21 percent
Modern: 68 percent
Post Secular: 6 percent
Human beings developed from earlier species of animals
Traditional: 33
percent
Modern: 88 percent
Post-Secular: 3 percent
The continents have been moving for millions
of years and will move in the future
Traditional: 66
percent
Modern: 98 percent
Post-Secular: 80 percent
When the authors looked at views on the authority of the Bible
and how strongly people said they were affiliated with their religion,
Post-Seculars put the most faith in Scripture and were much more inclined to
say they were strongly religious. And where science and faith conflict on
hot-button issues, they side with the religious perspective.
For example, Moderns are the most supportive of embryonic stem
cell research and abortion rights for women, but Post-Seculars, who are
nonetheless largely positive about science and society, are more skeptical in
both areas, O’Brien said.
APPENDIX III
Ancient Rishis vs Modern Science
Modern
science has come to the conclusion that all is one energy. Long ago, India’s wisdom came to the
conclusion that all is one awareness/consciousness, i.e. the one energy of
science ‘knows itself’. It is not inert, not dead. So far, science either does
not know about the claim of the Indian rishis or fights shy to investigate it.
Suppose
there is a scientist whose theories have always turned out to be right. Other
scientists have validated his theories, sometimes after a long time gap and
after they had to discard their own theories. Now, this scientist comes up with
yet another theory that is different from the theory that the scientific
community holds. So far, the scientists have tried, but could not prove their
own theory. Would it not be worthwhile to test the theory of that scientist who
so far has had an amazing success rate?
Well,
this scientist refers to the rishis of ancient India. Most western scientists
have never heard of those rishis. They don’t know what they had postulated and
it may also not interest them as science has made amazing progress in the last
century and theories that are several thousand years old have no role to play
today. Or have they? Most scientists are engaged in tedious work in their labs.
Their field of research is highly specialized and path breaking technology has
come out of it. Yet there are also scientists who look at the big picture, who,
like Einstein or Hawking, want to find the explanation for everything in this
universe, a unified theory. They try to push the frontiers of knowledge to
reach the absolute. It has eluded them so far.
Maybe
they should turn for inspiration to the Indian rishis whose track record is
amazing. Thousands of years ago they had claimed that the age of our present
(according to them it is not the first) universe is mind boggling, whereas the
west maintained till a few hundred years ago, that it was created only around
4000 BC. They knew that the earth orbits the sun and not the other way round –
a fact that also only a few hundred years ago came to be known in the west. The
Rishis knew that there are many suns, that atoms make up matter and at the same time, that the whole universe
is one, that this world is maya, an appearance or superimposition on that what
is really true, like a pot on mud or a bangle on gold – not really true, only
relatively true. They even knew that the best symbol for the Whole is a lingam.
Does it surprise that the ‘big picture of the entire universe’ which was
released by the Max Planck Institute has an oval shape?
All
this and much more has turned out to be correct, even though some insights, for
example ‘the world is maya’ had actually been ridiculed in the west, till
modern science, too, came to the conclusion that nothing is as it appears to
be. Science has reached a point where ultimately nothing can be said with
certainty, where, so to speak, matter contains no matter. On the relative realm
and in our perception, an apple is still an apple and still falls to the
ground. Yet if one inquire into what the apple truly is one ends up with
nothing in one’s hand, as it were. Not even the hand is there as a hand. In
short: The senses deceive. Truth is something else.
Now,
here is the point where ancient India could help science to make a decisive
step or rather, a decisive turnaround towards finding the truth. Nuclear
physics has come to the conclusion that all is single energy. This insight was
hailed as coming together of ‘ancient wisdom and modern science’ at
international conferences already over 30 years ago. India’s wisdom says: all
is one and modern science also says: all is one. Yet there is still a big
difference and it may be frustrating for some individual scientists who are
ready to bridge this gap, yet the scientific community as a whole is opposed to
it.
The
difference is this: Rishis claim that this one energy is aware or conscious of
itself. Awareness means knowing, being alive. Whatever seems to exist, comes
out of one absolute awareness. It follows that the universe is alive. There is
a presence present in it and this one presence appears as many and expresses
itself for example through the human brains. The brain can be seen as the
adequate instrument to manifest pure, thought free awareness as thoughts,
feelings, memory, imagination, etc., like the
light bulb manifests electricity as light. The bulb does not generate
electricity, nor does the brain generate awareness.
Here
mainstream science refuses to go along. It holds that the energy that is making
up our universe is ‘dead’. It does not know itself. Yet there is also the
obvious fact that humans on earth are aware and science declares this awareness
as being produced by the brain. According to modern science, it developed sort
of accidentally as a by-product of chemical activity in inert brain cells. If
one manipulates the brain cells, the human mind undergoes changes. This fact is
considered as vindication of their theory. Yet, does not the light look red, if
one paints the light bulb red? The output changes if the equipment is
manipulated but the input, the electricity, is the same.
Science
further holds that conditions have to be agreeable for this awareness by-product
to happen and these favorable conditions are extremely rare, but on our earth
these conditions were just right and life and awareness had a chance to develop
from matter. These conditions may also be there in some other planets among the
billions of planets in space. Otherwise, the universe is inert, dead, and
chance and time are ruling it. There is no knowledge of what is happening in
the cosmos apart from those few exceptions, like on our earth. As a natural
consequence of this theory, human awareness dies when the brain dies – like a
flicker of light that dies with the firefly. Awareness does not find a place in
equations that try to explain cosmic laws.
There
may be two reasons why western scientists avoid giving a place to awareness.
One, in the west, the Church had been the sole keeper of the ‘truth’ and had
severely crippled scientific ventures for over thousand years. Only a few
hundred years ago and with great difficulty, men of great courage had overcome
the oppressive hold of the Church. Ever since, science not only ignores
religion, but is opposed to it because, in the west ‘religion’ promotes as the
‘Highest Truth’ a personal god, who watches over all humans and loves some and
hates others. This of course is anathema to scientists. Almost with a
vengeance, they are out to prove that there is no god and terms like awareness
or intelligence might bring in god through the back door.
There
is another reason why scientists overlook awareness, even though, if they only
would look, it gazes them into the face or rather, out of the face. Awareness
cannot be objectified, because it is the subject. Traditionally, science was
focused on objects, i.e. on the observed. Only lately it had to include the
observer after it became evident that the observer influences the observed. Yet
it treats the observer basically as just another object. The scientist does not
dive into his own living awareness to find out about the observer, but places
the ‘observing system’ in one line with the objects under observation. He does
not realize that his subjective, living awareness is a completely different
category and requires an inner exploration.
For
anyone who is interested in finding out the truth, and scientists certainly
are, the most obvious and crucial factor in any research, the living
intelligence that can be felt by anyone and without which there would be no
scientific research at all, surely cannot be done away with the improvable
assumption that it is a sort of secretion of the inert brain. That would be
unscientific, more so, since there is vast literature regarding
awareness/consciousness in India.
This
literature gives valuable clues. For example the scriptures have two major
terms – Atman and Brahman. Atman refers to the seemingly individualized
awareness (often translated as ‘Self’) and Brahman to the infinite, absolute
awareness. Brahman cannot be spoken or thought of, the scriptures claim.
Brahman is that by which thoughts and speech are made possible. It is the
independent, absolute truth that eludes objectification, as it is the one
subject. Brahman alone is the truth, is stated.
Now
if we look at Atman, we are on more familiar ground. It shows up as the
capacity to know and feel and this capacity is right within us. It is what
makes us feel to be alive right now. The
scriptures have analyzed our inner make up in great detail. There are efforts
on to compile this knowledge into textbooks and teach it in psychology courses
at university level.
Coming
back to the big picture, there are intriguing statements in the Vedas. They are
called Mahavakyas, the great utterances. Those claim that “this Atman is
Brahman” or “You are That”. It means that our own, individual awareness or self
is basically the great, all pervading Brahman. Atman and Brahman are one. It
means further, the great one Brahman is right here. How can that be? Is our
human awareness not rather ordinary? It is my direct experience that I am
Maria, and certainly not Brahman, isn’t it? On the other hand, it is also my direct
experience that the world is real and it has been proven to be illusory. Could
this feeling that I am Maria also be illusionary? It would need an enquiry.
“Who
am I?” is the big and ultimate question in Indian philosophy. Its answer may
throw up the unified theory and more worthwhile, fulfilment. Yet the answer
cannot be put into research papers. The scientist needs to turn around and dive
deep within, beyond the thoughts and feelings right down to the pure,
thoughtless awareness.
The
Indian scriptures offer another approach: Everything in the universe according
to them has five ‘components’. The first two, i.e. name and form, are changing.
They belong to the world of maya. Yet beneath those two, there is
Satchitananda: sat = being, chit = awareness, ananda = bliss. Those three are
basically one and unchanging. Science takes note only of name and form and of
sat (being). Something is there. Yet chit, the awareness aspect and ananda, the
bliss that comes with awareness, are missing.
Modern
science presents us with a rather bleak scenario, where there is basically no
meaning in living, all is chance and with the death of the body everything is
finished. It is still the in-thing to believe among the so called intellectual
elite in the west. The bleakness is not so much due to the fact that science
considers the human mind as just a temporary flicker. Even the Indian rishis
consider the mind as just thoughts, modifications in pure awareness that are
ultimately as unreal as the solidity in matter. The bleakness is rather due to
the fact that scientists don’t figure in the big (the word Brahman comes from
big, expanding) living, blissful Presence, Intelligence, Awareness, Absolute or
whatever name we want to give to the Unnamable.
The
rishis claim that it is here, right beneath the individual awareness full of
thoughts and feelings that prevent the experience of the underlying pure
awareness. They encourage stilling thoughts with the help of meditation. When
thoughts are stilled, it will become obvious that there is no separate
individual awareness. Brahman is all there is.
In
all likelihood, the rishis have the deeper insights. The Chandogya Upanishad
describes how the sage Uddalaka prodded his son Svetaketu to know “That by
knowing which everything is known” and how he helped him along with valuable
questions and metaphors. Today, scientists like Hawking, also search for ‘That
by knowing which everything is known’ but they still have a blind spot. They
don’t search where it is to be found: Within their own awareness. Eventually,
they may realize that the rishis were right, but before this happens, they will
have to learn to ‘look’ or rather ‘sink’ inside. Then, sacredness and wonder
might overwhelm them.
APPENDIX IV
Bermuda
Triangle Mystery Revealed in Rig Veda & Atharva Veda
Posted by The Editor | Jan 20, 2016 | IndiaDivine.Org
Bermuda
Triangle or the Devil’s Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North
Atlantic Ocean, where a number of aircraft and ships are said to have
disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Even
though the US Navy says that Bermuda Triangle does not exist, many have
attributed various disappearances to the paranormal or activity by
extraterrestrial beings. But till date, nobody could find out actual reason
behind this mystery.
Many
believe that there is a hidden pyramid inside the Atlantic Ocean, which pulls
everything towards it like a magnet. It was named as “danger region” for
about 500 years after disappearance of ships & planes. In 1492 during
journey to America, Columbus saw some glitterness in this region and his
magnetic compass got disturbed.
Bermuda
Triangle Mystery Revealed in Rig Veda
Although
there is a similar demon described in first ever poem, Ramayana, it does not
match with the geographical location.Simhika, the gigantic demon had the power
to attract anything’s shadow flying over ocean and pull it into the waters.
However,
that was on the way to Lanka. Brahmanda Purana (composed more than 5000 years
ago) and Rig Veda (written more than 23000 years ago) clearly state that the
planet Mars was born out of Earth. That is why he is called as Bhauma (‘son of
Bhumi’) or Kuja (Ku = Earth + Ja = Born out of) in Sanskrit.
Asya
Vamasya Sukta in Rig Veda states :”When Earth gave birth to Mars, and Mars
seperated from his mother, her thigh got injured and she became imbalanced
(Earth rotated in its axis) and to stop it Godly doctors, Aswini Kumars poured
iron into the triangular shaped injury and Earth got fixed in her current
position.
That
is why Earth’s axis is bent at a particular angle. That triangular shaped injury on our planet which
was filled with iron went onto become Bermuda Triangle. Iron stored inside
earth for years becomes natural magnet and Bermuda disappearances, fog, high
and low temperature water streams colliding are a result of this.
Moon
was also born out of churning of milky ocean and when it rocketed out from
Earth at latitude of about 23½ a huge bump created by its ejection came in line
with Sun. So, Earth has tilted axis at 23½. Modern science could not explain
this phenomenon and also the strange coincidence that Earth is titled at 23½
degrees and Bermuda Triangle is also at 23½!
In
1909, a fishing boat got disappeared. On 5th Dec 1945, a flight started from
Florida (USA), when went about 120 miles east, its contact was broken from base
station and plane disappeared.
In
1948, a ship carrying 27 travelers disappeared in Bermuda region. In 1951
another ship carrying 53 travelers disappeared in this region. Due to safety
and precautionary reasons, all routes for ships & planes have been made out
of this triangle.
Bermuda Triangle Mystery Revealed in Atharva Veda
Atharva
Veda has description of several gems. One of them is Darbha gem, which is
described in Sukta 28, 29 & 30, by Darbha gem. So, electro-magnetic waves
going from wireless system or coming to system are disturbed and wireless system
fails.
Darbha
gem is like a very short form of neutron star, which has high density.
Similarly, Darbha gem also has high density so there is high gravitation due to
Darbha gem. There is emission of high energetic electro-magnetic waves due to
Darbha gem, probably due to nuclear reactions happening in it. Intensities of
electric & magnetic field associated with electro-magnetic waves are very
high.
This
gem could be a powerful and dangerous weapon. Khanda 19 of Atharva Veda, Mantra
4 of Sukta 28, states: “As the Sun brings down clouds on earth in the same way
oh! Darbha gem you fall down the rising enemies.” It means that there is
gravitational force due to Darbha gem inside water. Mantra 5 of Sukta 29, says,
“As the curd is stirred in the same way oh! Darbha gem you stir enemies.” It
means to stir the bodies is a property of Darbha gem. In Mantra 7 of Sukta 29,
says, “to burn the bodies”;
It
means there is emission of high energetic rays like laser rays by Darbha gem,
which destroy bodies. So properties of Darbha gem are:
1) High gravitational field.
2) Stir bodies coming near to it.
3) Emission of high energetic rays.
All
these properties of Darbha gem, explain the phenomena of Bermuda Triangle. Mars
(Mangala / Kuja) has Triangle shaped Yantra in Vedic Astrology. In Vedic
Astrology, Mars (Mangala or Kuja) is red in color (similar to what modern
scientists discovered), had water bodies on it (dried river beds found by
NASA).
Coral,
the gemstone related to Mars is also red in color and found only under sea
waters.
What
is even more astonishing is that, Yantra in Mars is triangle (tilted) shaped.
In that way, Mars is brother of all humans born on planet Earth. Mars also
controls all land related issues in human lives like Real Estate Business,
Agriculture, Sibling etc. in astrology.
Modern
scientists assume presence of methane hydrates, which indicates enormous
eruptions of methane bubbles that would swamp a ship and projected high into the
air- take out flying airplanes, as well. Any ship caught within the methane
mega-bubble immediately loses all buoyancy and sink to the bottom of the ocean.
If the bubbles are big enough and possess a high enough density they can also
knock aircraft out of the sky with little or no warning.
Aircraft
falling victim to these methane bubbles will lose their engines-perhaps
igniting the methane surrounding them-and immediately lose their lift as well,
ending their flights by diving into the ocean and swiftly plummeting.
REFERENCES:
1. Swami Lokeswarananda, Science and
Religion, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India.
2. Vedanta-Future Religion, Swami
Vivekananda, Advaita Ashrma, Kolkata, India.
3. Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman,
Huff-post, Internet
4. James Martin, A Saint’s dark Night,
Internet
5. Various Internet sources
6. Thoughts from Deepak Chopra on
Spirituality and Religion from his various writings.
7. Roshan Shah, A review of Languagenge of
Science and Faith, Mother, April 2015, India
8. Ed.
Viswanathan, Am I a Hindu? Rupa & Co., New Delhi, India.
9. Swami Bhaskarananda, Essentials of Hinduism, Ramakrishna Math,
Chennai, India.
10. Srinivasan N.R., Can Hindu Scriptures and Science Co-exist on
Theory of Evolution, Hindu
Reflections, Internet Blog, <nrsrini.blogspot.com>
11. Joel Achenbach, War on Science,
National Geographic Magazine, March 2015.
12. Olivia Judson, Luminous Life,
National Geographic magazine, March 2015.
13. Your Ancestor was a Fungus, Economist, Science & Technology, March 2015
[This discourse material is a compilation from the reference above as
well as other sources for a prepared lecture for delivering at Vedanta Class of
Sri Ganesha Temple which is gratefully acknowledged. I do not claim anything as
original though I have included my explanations and comments elaborately
suitably editing. Anybody is free to download partly or fully this discourse,
modify and redistribute this as well as other
discourses from the blog Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com>
for spreading the wisdom of Vedas and scriptures further. These
lectures are posted on the blog
for the benefit of those who are not able to attend my lectures due
to personal reasons or due to not living in Nashville or able to go through the
various sources as I have done.]