[ramakrishna] Reincarnation

[Guest guest]

>EDTipple

>I believe Swamiji said that Western science would corroborate the

>truths of Advaita Vedanta, but I don't think he suggested it would

>address myriad subtle universes. Of what consequence could

>samskaras/karma/reincarnation be? As Dr. Shah said, in the final

>analysis, nothing exists but Absolute Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.

>edtipple

 

The reason why issues like reincarnation are interesting is because it opens

up a dialogue with the science community. Science has to be 'appeased'. We

owe this to the science community. Look, we are using science to communicate

spiritual ideas on this internet!

 

I believe it is science that will rekindle interest in spirituality in a

major way in the next millennium. This cannot happen if we tell the science

community all this is 'illusion' we have nothing further to do with it and

are not bothered to talk to them.

 

Advaita may be the crowning glory in spirituality - but it comes as the

natural outcome; at the end of the spiritual journey (not at the start). The

ideas of Advaita may excite us - may inspire us but the subject is truly

beyond words and thoughts. There is very little we can discuss about advaita

to the science community. Advaita to them appears like escapism. We define a

system which is self consistent but seems to have little to do with this

world. Hence we have to develop on the ideas that we have in common.

 

I have great respect for the sincere scientist. He is trying to make sense

of this world. He is working away with the tools he has in order to come to

terms with 'what is this all about'. To me he is as spiritual as a person

sitting down to contemplate 'Brahman'.

 

Science and spirituality will meet - what science calls looking for unity in

diversity in the external world we call 'Brahman' -- these are not two

different realities only one reality sometimes referred to as external and

sometimes referred to as internal.

 

Until we realise 'Brahman' (I do not think anyone on this list has made such

a claim) we have to be humble and say to the scientist we are in the same

boat, we too are struggling to make sense of this world. Let us share and

compare our ideas.

 

jay