Science and Spirituality (3)
Recently, India launched its most awaited mission of Chandrayaan 2. The Chairman of ISRO, K.Sivan was at the Tirupati Temple to offer prayers for the success of the mission. Apparently, it leads us to an important question - Why a super-efficient scientist organisation, renowned and appreciated on a global scale needs blessings from God, for its success?
Isn’t it
very contradicting, and isn’t the continuous quest and endeavour to
scientific knowledge sufficient? Why does support of something to back science
required? In this blog we will analyse, what science and spirituality
stand for and despite being the opposites, why is it important to keep a
balance of both. Their similarities and differences will be deciphered and also,
what humanity needs to select in the present scenario will be pondered upon.
सत्य नास्ति परो धर्म (Satya nasti paro dharma) is an ancient Sanskrit saying that can be translated as “There is no religion higher than truth”. Seeking of the truth and understanding the essential nature of reality is central to both science and spirituality. The purpose of science is the full understanding of the important principles underlying the physical universe in all its different forms. Spirituality is the awakening of wisdom concerning how we effectively relate to each other and to the world, and how “All is one and one is all”. The objective of science is to enlighten our minds, while for spirituality, it is to awaken our hearts. Each is essential for a full fruition of the other one.
Most of us tend to be confused between religion and spirituality. Religion is based on teachings and scriptures, and follows specific rules, laws, and limits. It guides us to the way of life but under certain boundaries and a course of rigidity. While spirituality is an experience. According to the saying of Swami Vivekananda “You have to grow from inside out. None can teach you, make you spiritual, there are no teachers but your own soul”.
“Adhyatam” is
made from two words ‘Adhi’ and ‘Atman’ which basically means
pertaining to one’s soul. Spirituality deals with the nature and other knowledge
related to the soul. A soul that is supreme and the ultimate truth. It is a
process of guiding all the energy in the body to the soul. Spirituality is
about honesty and truthfulness. It helps us to find meaning and purpose of life
and provides a foundation to our beliefs to guide us in the way we behave with others,
ourselves, and world around us. It is the science of human growth for self
and for world transformation through purity, blissfulness, and peace. Albert
Einstein once said: “No problem can be solved from the same
consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world a new”.
Whereas,
when we talk about science, it brings us factual knowledge by means of
logic and evidence. In pursuit of rational knowledge, people began doubting
religious beliefs. With the explosion of various scientific discoveries,
the questions on the belief system also increased manifolds. Science has a more
rational approach towards everything that exists as it is a work of proofs and
logic. From the cosmos to the shape of the Earth, light, sound, time, as well
as life, which once was believed to exist because of several superstitions and
religious centuries back, all of this was proved to be more of a scientific
discovery later through research and digging deep into the laws of nature.
The shift
from religion to science, millennial lifestyle, the Industrial revolution and rise
of individual living led to emotional weakness, aloofness, and mental un-healthiness.
So, people sought refuge to spirituality for comfort. No matter what amount of
scientific knowledge we may acquire, and how many inventions and discoveries we
make, it still will be very less compared to the enormous mysteries of the
world. Spirituality helps in filling this void, the void generated by
unanswered questions that science cannot answer, yet. It fills those
gaps and inquisitiveness positively. Spirituality itself is very scientific
because it aims to explore the world and its nature, just like the scientist. Spirituality
looks at the world, then looks at itself, then sees the corelation between the
world and the self and hence, observes the two as one.
If we observe
in the social context, science helps the industries in growing of wealth, which
might lead to inequality, but spirituality promotes brotherhood, equality, and
social cohesion. This is because science encourages people to think rationally
devoid of superstitions. Hence, presences of both enhances the standards of
living as well as well-being. It is important to have coordination between science
and principle. Science and technology facilitating mining, mineral extraction, tree-cutting
etc. But remember, “Chipko” movement which was inspired by spirituality
that saved a huge number of trees. In contrast, blind faith spirituality comes
in the way of development and growth in the modern world. Hence, it
comes crucial to establish a balance between the two.
Although
some may contemplate science to be conflicting or antagonistic to their
religion and beliefs, the truth is that irrational attachment to particular dogmas
and doctrines are detrimental to both science and to a deeper realization of
spirituality. Science has historically often seemed to be at loggerheads with
religion. Yet a form of spirituality exists with which science has no friction.
Interestingly, the mystics of all religious traditions seem to be substantially
in agreement. The Sufi mystic, Zen master and Christian mystic, all seem in ideal
accord, even while many orthodox Muslims, Christian (and others) are at each
other’s throats over minor religious differences. The 20th century philosopher
Aldous Huxley described this mystical indifference across ages and cultures as
perennial philosophy. At this level of spirituality, there is no disagreement
whatsoever with science.
It is an
undeniable fact that science itself is deeply rooted in ancient western
mystical traditions, such as Kabbalah and alchemy. Sir Isaac Newton was undisputedly
a classic scientist. Yet Newton’s alchemical writings were more voluminous than
his mathematical and scientific works (a million words were written by him on
the subject). At such deep level of religion, spirituality and science are
quite complementary and harmonious. For it was never religion that clashed with
science per se, but dogmatism. Dogma is and has always been a nemesis of both
science and spirituality. The historical tensions between religion and science were
all due to the propensity of doctrine and dogma to be mistaken for religion.
It
is often believed that dogma is the reality itself, not simply an effort to explain
reality. Other descriptions of reality are seen as a danger. What today seem insignificant
variations of the same fundamental dogmatic systems of belief led to persecutions
and bloodshed that have left hundreds of thousands dead.
Science
seeks truth but can never say that absolute truth has been attained. Scientific
theories are models of reality and must always be considered essentially uncertain.
Science makes a vital distinction between a theory, and the reality the theory
is trying to describe. There are no “absolute facts” in science because everything
is relative and based on observations and theories. A theory is an attempt to describe
the observations, and to predict phenomena yet unseen. Theories are models of
reality and not reality itself. Although theories can never be proved, all it
takes is just one observation to disprove a hypothesis!
The biggest hurdle
to the evolution of science has always been scientists themselves being too
attached to their old and inadequate theories. To be true to science, a
scientist should be willing to sacrifice her theory at the flick of a second.
As soon as the old theory is disproved, it is time for scientists to have fun crafting
a new theory that is consistent with all the observations at hand. Throwing out
an outdated theory should be a time of happiness and celebration, for this is
the process of deepening our understanding of the universe and laws of nature.
Both science
and spirituality combined helps us “Get to our senses”. Principles and belief
systems are conceptual frameworks that must be docile to our senses. Perhaps
the truest meaning of “idolatry” is to ordain beliefs over the evidence of our
own senses.
Science with emotions and heart will be the religion of the
future. While, science reveals the fundamental principles underlying nature, spirituality
guides us with the proper way to regard all this – with vast love and admiration.
Although in English we have “mind” and “heart” for depicting these two entities,
in Chinese the word “xin” translates into English as heart/mind. And indeed, mind
and soul are not really separate. One cannot have one without the other, and
every great scientific discovery was an epiphany not only for the scientist
originally discovering it, but also for those who later come to understand it.
Despite the common misconception of science as a dispassionate effort, it is
actually quite opposite of that. As Einstein said: "The most beautiful
and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. He to
whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in
awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists,
manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our
dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms - this knowledge,
this feeling, is at the centre of true religion." This identical
feeling also forms the very heart of science. Science polishes and simplifies
our spiritual realizations, even as our spiritual epiphanies inspire the
evolution of science. Thus, will be forged a great cosmic religion of the
future!
Thanks for reading.
Suggestions are always welcomed😊
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