Scientific spirituality

Now a days due to the tremendous speed by which science is progressing, it has integrated fully within our lives. We cannot believe life without it and we cannot separate the identity of a human being from science, they simply cannot be imagined apart.

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 which comes from our measuring and categorising mentality."

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."

Science, plays an important part in our lives and making of our beliefs, formation of our beliefs. Science demands hard proof for everything, whatever we cannot prove is not accepted by science. So all of our Holy books, Geeta, Ramayan, Vedas, Upanishads and others all are going to be tested on the very strict rules of science. Shraddha (Faith) can no longer continue to be the factor to influence people, impress people.

The union of science and spirituality is destined and must happen. They can no longer be apart, they can no longer be antagonistic of each other. They have to supplement each other compliment each other. Scientific Spirituality is the religion of the future.

The universe comes out of the union of two fundamental forces: matter (jada or ‘that which gives shape’) and consciousness (chetan). The discovery of the powers of Nature, their organization and the skills that make them useful to man is called science. Science can thus be called the unison of matter and consciousness. Science has made possible the progress of the human civilization.

It should be noted that the knowledge of the use of matter is not enough; its righteous use should also be considered. The same criterion also applies to consciousness. In the absence of their righteous use, matter and consciousness are open to be abused. The attraction of immediate gains is such that its long-term effects are not appreciated and this shortsighted judgment prompts man to misuse power. Ultimately, he creates a web in which he gets trapped, just like a fish caught in a net. This results in suffering, public anger and self-destruction, and yet it is a practice generally adopted by most people. The society and the government rarely succeed in preventing such practices.

Science can be legitimately credited for the current progress and prosperity, but it is incapable of differentiating between use and abuse. The only way to control its misuse is to incorporate wisdom based on foresightedness and the nobilities associated with human glory. This is the essence of spirituality. Spirituality means, “centered and established on the soul”, that is, activities in life are designed keeping the awakening of the soul as the aim. The soul is the individualized consciousness present in the human body.

The dual accomplishment of the righteous use of science and the refinement of consciousness is possible only through spirituality.
How could this be achieved? Sri Aurobindo provides an answer. He says:
"Only by an extension of the field of our consciousness or an unhoped-for increase in our instruments of knowledge can this ancient quarrel be decided."

One of the aims of the Yug Nirman Yojana (Movement for the Reconstruction of the Era) of All World Gayatri Pariwar is to integrate science and spirituality. Extensive research on this topic is going on at Brahmavarchas Research Institute and Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, India. The results of experiments show that spirituality has a sound scientific basis and spiritual principles practiced in daily life yield extraordinary benefits.

Yagya (Yagna, Yajna) is one of the key examples of scientific spirituality:It means righteous action.
Yagya is a Sanskrit word which has three meanings, (1) divinity (2) organization and (3)
charity. Divinity means refined personal-ity, divine virtues. Organization implies unity, cooperation team-spirit.Charity implies generous sharing, devotion to society, and considering the entire universe as one’s own family. All these three tendencies are thus combined in Yagya and it can be said to be the flaming torch of knowledge
It is a very powerful medium as Yagya to influence the masses by explaining the subtle implications of sacrifice, generosity and benevolence for purifying the individual and making the society capable and competent. According to Rigveda, the fire of Yagya, although speechless, acts as purohit (spiritual priest) and inspires people in achieving all-round progress, happiness and peace. If the philosophy of Yagya is fully understood and assimilated in practical life circumstances can be created for the emergence of divinity in man
There is one more aspect of Yagya, which relates to environment. It plays an important role in purifying the atmosphere neutralising which has been polluted to the extreme by vehicular emissions and gaseous pollutants from industrial units. The energy produced by Yagya is extremely effective in killing the germs of several diseases. In ancient times, physical ailments and mental disorders were successfully controlled by the science of yagyopathy (treatment through Yagya) which is equally effective in the healing of physical as well as mental disorders. The process of fumigation and vaporization by burning herbal medicines in the sacrificial fire is a subtle, and very effective and efficacious method of healing. Treatment by yagyopathy is effective in eccentricity, evil habits, criminal tendencies and similar other mental disorders with which a large number of human beings are suffering these days

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