Why Bring In Mathematics into the Spiritual Field?

[Guest guest]

Ram ji:

 

I have re-posted the MTS-6 with the subject line in tact. I apologize that I

did not notice the first e-mail went out without it.

 

Your questions regarding the benefits of introducing mathematics were touched

upon , I think, in the first or second posting. I mentioned three or four

points there, but may be they are worth repeating:

 

1) I do not expect the mathematical model to bring out any new revelations or

insights not already intuited by the great Masters. To allay any apprehension

anyone might harbor, let me assure that I am not taking the stand that

mathematical theories are, or will ever be, indispensable for understanding, or

practicing, Advaita. We have gotten along for millenia without mathematics and

in future one can get along without it.

 

2) But Mathematics does help in the parsimonious and precise use of concepts-

that is, use as few concepts as needed and use them in a clearly specified

manner. Einstein said it well when he quipped "Keep things as simple as

possible, but no less simple than needed".

 

3) The model presented here is not the only one possible and I will be the first

to declare that it can be improved. I have seen some responses, like your own,

which explore alternative ideas. That is well and good. If my paper encourages

others to explore alternative models and more extensive analyses, that will be

indeed a very good and welcome outcome, even if my model gets thrown out in that

process.

 

4) The proposed model confirms the speculation of several scientists and

philosophers of the past century that there are links between Advaitic concepts

and those of Modern Physics. As fas as I know, this is the first time an attempt

has been made to make this link within the context of a formal mathematical

model.

 

5) A benefit from the mathematical model I would value most is its use in

teaching Advaitic principles to students of high school and early college years.

Geometrical representations, in particular, are visually appealing and makes

communication of abstract concepts easier than if attempted with words alone.

 

6) There is another point that I am sure you as a Mathematical Economist already

know: you cannot hide anywhere when using mathematics as a base for your

reasoning. Its basis and methods are wide open to scrutiny and critique. On the

other hand, verbal reasoning can be very elusive and may open the door to

endless debate when dealing with abstract ideas.

 

Hari Om!

 

- Raju

[Guest guest]

advaitin, aiyers@c... wrote:

>

> Ram ji:

>

>

> Your questions regarding the benefits of introducing mathematics

were touched

> upon , I think, in the first or second posting. I mentioned three

or four

> points there, but may be they are worth repeating:

>

> 1) I do not expect the mathematical model to bring out any new

revelations or

> insights not already intuited by the great Masters. To allay any

apprehension

> anyone might harbor, let me assure that I am not taking the stand

that

> mathematical theories are, or will ever be, indispensable for

understanding, or

> practicing, Advaita. We have gotten along for millenia without

mathematics and

> in future one can get along without it.

>

> 2) But Mathematics does help in the parsimonious and precise use

of concepts-

>

 

Namaste.

 

Vedanta is famous for trying to explain its concepts through

analogies. And when it comes to advaitic concepts, they are very

difficult to grasp without the help of analogies. And what are

mathematical models? They tell you, by using a different

perspective, a different set of parameters, a different symbolism,

and a different set of relationships,and if possible a different

language altogether, what is really happening. Within Mathematics

itself almost every new discovery (or invention, for the matter of

that) uses analogies from the earlier known Mathematics, in order to

explain the new ones. When, after a long time of several centuries,

finally the question of square root of -1 was firmly embedded into

the mainstream of mathematics, they modelled it by going to a two-

coordinate system of 'complex' numbers (x, y) where x and y are real

numbers, belonging to the kn own mathematics but the ordered pair

(x, y) represents the complex number, otherwise also written as x +

iy, where i itself represented the complex number (0, 1).

 

When Raju-ji says that a Jeeva J-2 has a spiritual awareness 'theta'

which is the 'angle' of spiritual inclination whose cosine

represents 'in some sense' the 'actual' spiritual inclination of the

Jeeva on which depends the proximity of the Jeeva to its own

enlightenment -- this constitutes a delightful analogy (model !)

which helps us understand the nuances of advaita. In actual

comprehension of advaita Vedanta, for different people different

analogies appeal: one likes the 'reflection' theory, another is

thrilled by the 'rope-snake' model and still another likes the Raju-

Mathematical model. I am sure Raju is doing wonderful work.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk