Feasibility versus Truth, or Maki ng It ‘Real’

[Guest guest]

Robert -

the findings in relativity

and quantum physics are

very much congruent with

teachings of nonduality.

for example, the finding

that the observer affects

the observed in the process

of observation (re: measuring

particles for velocity

or location, measuring a photon

for wave or particle characteristics).

there are many books on this topic.

the fact that we can no longer

view reality as composed of

separated parts that interact

with and against each other.

 

science is based on first

hand observation of fact,

and so is advaita.

 

science focuses on what

can be defined and measured,

yet this leaves us to question

the nature of who it is

that defines and measures.

 

science is not opposed

to inquiry into self-nature.

however, observation and

analysis of data "out there"

simply won't answer the

question fully.

 

although science has helped

to question many assumptions,

there remains to be questioned

this assumption:

a separated

observer whose subjectivity

can be removed from an objective

analysis of things that exist

separate from that observer.

 

to answer this, we must go beyond

concepts, which is where "science"

no longer is useful.

however, this inquiry is not

anti-scientific, it is fully

in the spirit of science's

questioning of assumptions

and demand for coherent

first-hand observation.

 

Namaste,

Dan

 

 

At 06:43 PM 7/18/00 -0500, you wrote:

>

>Gummuluru Murthy <gmurthy

>[...]

>>2. I think Robert may be looking at advaita in a doubtful or

>> cynical way.

>[...]

>

>In a doubtful way, but certainly not a cynical way. As I said in the

>beginning, Advaita is elegant, profound, and plausible. But unfortunately

>that does not also make it true. There is a mountain of evidence to support

>the consensus Western 'scientific' view of reality as well, even though

>there are ways in Advaita to marginalize much of it or declare it

>irrelevant. And it would be naive of anyone to ask for so-called proof of

>the truth of Advaita, since no such ultimate assurance is normally available

>in other areas of inquiry, including in rigorous science, and proof itself

>is a concept more appropriate to mathematics and logic than to philosophy.

>So that's why I asked what is available to make Advaita 'real' rather than

>just a plausible philosophy in which we have freely chosen to believe. The

>only strange thing to me is that, omitting any rare individuals who have

>already fully realized, everyone here isn't asking the same question, at

>least internally.

>

>But I think it would probaby be best for me to drop the question at this

>point.

>

>Robert.

>

>

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