Scientific Spirituality: The Religion of the Future 3

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Dear All,

 

 

*Scientific Spirituality: The Religion of the Future*

In the modern times, the conflict between science and

spirituality<http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2003/Jan-Feb/ScientificSpi\

rituality/>has

further deepened. They have become two separate streams in practice.

Both are in a muddled state of affairs and each falsely believes to be

complete in its own right. As a result the worldview has become fragmented

and has led to manifold problems, a view endorsed by modern thinkers.

Eminent physicist David Bohm explains this extremely well in his book

Wholeness and the Implicate Order. He says that everything is treated as

separate, rather than as a part of " something bigger and wider " ; thus we

have separate religions, separate sciences, separate subjects, separate

nations, separate societies, separate families etc. And how does this view

act as a precursor to problems? Bohm provides a simple answer:

 

" The notion that all these fragments are separately existent is evidently an

illusion, and this illusion cannot do other than lead to endless conflict

and confusion. Indeed, the attempt to live according to the notion that the

fragments are really separate is, in essence, what has led to the growing

series of extremely urgent crises that is confronting us today. Thus, as is

now well known, this way of life has brought about pollution, destruction of

the balance of nature, over-population, world-wide economic and political

disorder, and the creation of an overall environment that is neither

physically nor mentally healthy for most of the people to live in. " 4

 

In his best-selling book The Tao of Physics, physicist Fritjof Capra says:

 

" Our tendency to divide the perceived world into individual and separate

things and to experience ourselves as isolated egos in this world is seen as

an illusion [in the East] which comes from our measuring and categorising

mentality. " 5

 

Mankind has enormously suffered this conflict between science and

spirituality. A person cannot ride a bicycle if one of its wheels is

missing. Time has now come for both science and

spirituality<http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2003/Jan-Feb/ScientificSpi\

rituality/>to

widen their thinking horizons and realise the importance of their

alliance, since the future of mankind rests on their combined insight and

wisdom. How could this be achieved? Sri Aurobindo provides an answer. He

says:

 

" Only by an extension of the field of our

consciousness<http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2003/Mar-Apr/Consciousnes\

sForceInHuman/>or

an unhoped-for increase in our instruments of knowledge can this

ancient

quarrel be decided. " 6

 

One of the aims of the " Yug Nirman mission " is to integrate science and

spirituality, which is being attempted at its research wing, Brahmavarchas

Research Centre at Haridwar (India). The results of experiments on this

front show that

spirituality<http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2003/Jan-Feb/ScientificSpi\

rituality/>has

a sound scientific basis and spiritual principles practiced in daily

life yield extraordinary benefits. Further research on this theme will be

carried out at the newly founded Dev Sanskrati Vishwavidyalaya (Divine

Culture<http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2003/Jan-Feb/MeaningPurposeCult\

ure/>University)7at

Hardwar.

 

*Notes and References:*

 

1. Panca Tatvas: The five basic elements of the gross manifestation of

Nature. Namely, prithvi (solid matter on or inside the earth), jala (water,

liquids and fluidic substances), vayu (air and gaseous elements),

agni(source of fire and energy) and

akasha (the subliminal etheric expansion).

 

2. Ghose, Sri Aurobindo (1970). The Life Divine. Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust,

Pondicherry. p.9.

 

3. ibid., p.10.

 

4. Bohm, David (1995). Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Routeledge,

London. p.1-2.

 

5. Capra, Fritjof (1992). The Tao of Physics. Flamingo, London. p.29.

 

6. Ghose, Sri Aurobindo (1970). The Life Divine. Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust,

Pondicherry. p.20.

 

7. See the article " Dev Sanskrati Vishwavidyalaya – A University…. " In this

issue

 

 

Source : www.awgp.org www.dsvv.org

Author : Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

 

Thanks