Posted by There is a common question that binds the two sides of the coin. Both are searching for the secrets of nature and the superior power behind creation. Both seek to learn how to improve their lives and the world around them. Both are motivated by the desire to improve the state of life for the sake of humanity.
Vedanta-sutra
According to Vedanta-sutra, God is the unchanging, pure, all-pervading Consciousness that holds the universe together. His Will is everywhere, expressing itself as the laws of nature. The individual soul, or Brahman, is identical with God. This tenet is a fundamental part of Vedanta philosophy.
Science is the study of reality, and Vedanta teaches us how to understand reality through reason. We must learn Vedantavakyas (indic knowledge of the truth), and use our reasoning to eliminate doubts and contrary beliefs. In order to apply the Vedanta-sutra, we need to be able to distinguish between science and spirituality.
Vedic knowledge
Vedic knowledge is based on the understanding of two kinds of causes: the material and the immaterial. Modern science, by contrast, only considers material causes. The two types of causes are related but different. Vedic science is based on observations in nature. Its results are far beyond what modern science can explain.
Vedic texts also examine social, political, and ethical dilemmas. Their solutions often revolve around the Vedic monarchy. This monarchy was a sovereign but not an autocrat, subject to several checks and balances, including public opinion and conventions. Moreover, a king was expected to canvass “raj-dharma” – or the good of all the subjects.
Meditation
Science and spirituality have a complicated relationship. Both aim to discover truths about the physical world, but the nature of these truths is often elusive. They also try to find causal explanations for events in our external world. However, they are equally necessary if we want to know the absolute truth of our existence.
As a result, science and spirituality make a great partnership. For example, scientists can apply the scientific law of testing hypotheses to the soul and body by spending time in silence, which will help them come up with answers. Similarly, spiritual seekers can apply scientific laws to their inner worlds, which will help them discover the deepest spiritual truths.
Gandhiji
Gandhiji’s teachings are relevant today more than ever, and his thought reflects a holistic worldview. While some critics claim Gandhi disapproved of technology, Kulkarni dispels this misconception with his book. In fact, Gandhi endorsed technologies that were beneficial to humankind and were grounded in moral principles.
Scientific advancement has brought about social and economic progress, but it has also led to widespread human rights violations and sectarian violence. In Gandhi’s native India, Muslims and Hindus have had many violent clashes. In other countries, religion has also been used to justify systematic human rights abuses. Examples of these abuses include the Inquisition in Europe and the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. The role of religion in oppression has sometimes been overt, and sometimes it has been subtly subversive.
Science
While the two sides of the coin differ in their approaches, both are concerned with the nature of reality. Physical scientists study matter and experiment to find its properties, while spiritual researchers seek answers to the mysteries of the universe. While each seeks to find a deeper understanding of reality, these two pursuits are mutually complementary.
Both disciplines require rational thinking. The question is: which one leads to the ultimate truth? Ultimately, both disciplines must be studied to fully understand the meaning of existence. In fact, the two are equally important, and they cannot be separated from each other.
Spirituality
While science and spirituality occupy opposite domains, they are related to each other. While science tries to describe the external world by using empirical evidence, spirituality relies on personal intuitive experience to understand the world around us. While both disciplines are helpful for answering questions, neither can be considered an absolute truth in and of itself. However, both are necessary to explore and understand the nature of reality.
Despite their difference in outlook, science and spirituality share many of the same underlying principles. Both seek to understand the world and the nature of consciousness. Both pursue a common goal: to reach Moksha, or the perfect life. They also have strengths and weaknesses. The strength of science is its objectivity. Spirituality, on the other hand, claims to know the highest truth in an infallible way.