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VEDANTA: THE SCIENCE OF EXTRAMUNDANEDr. Prerana Dubey
Department of Physics, Christian Eminent College, Indore (M.P.) 1 INTRODUCTION
Vedanta recognizes two worlds for human exploration: the external and the internal.
A vast inner world of experience waits to be discovered. The external world is what is revealed to us through the five senses.
Today, biologists tell us that we still do not know enough about the human body.
However, in the Indian tradition, adhyatma- vidya or the science of spirituality proclaims that behind the body-mind complex there is a vast, infinite source of energy, which can unfold and manifest. Religion has another aspect the scientific.
Vedanta associates external and internal knowledge. The Upanishads discovered the five sheaths covering the infinite atman. They said: Study the human system in depth. The human being is essentially divine. This is a great truth, discovered and re-authenticated, and meant to be realised by every human being. You have the capacity to realise your true nature. Behind this tiny ego under the control of the genetic system is an infinite dimension of awareness, the Self.
2 VEDANTA
Vedanta is one of the world‟s oldest and most comprehensive spiritual philosophies. It is based upon the Vedas or sacred scriptures of India and underlies the principles of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Hinduism. The word
“Vedanta” has two parts, Veda, which means knowledge, and anta, which means the end or goal of.
Therefore Vedanta means the end of all knowledge and where it concludes.
This knowledge was “cognized” or perceived by sages and seers in higher states of consciousness, none of whom take credit for the information. It is eternal, universal knowledge that everyone has a right to and is not something that we believe in, read about, or simply understand intellectually, but something that we experience.
Philosophically, Vedanta deals with
enlightenment of Consciousness. As a science, it is the derivation of scientific laws about Consciousness based on the experiences and knowledge of the Seers who have naturally realized the Truth during their meditation and altered state of consciousness - samadhi. As a religion, Vedanta is the practice based on the amalgamation of the philosophy and science for realizing our real nature.
3 VEDANTA AS A SCIENCE
The word science is derived from the root
„scier‟, meaning to know. Hence science really means knowledge which reveals a fact or truth. In Sanskrit, „vid‟ means to know, and „veda‟ means knowledge.
Combining these two statements we can say that Veda means science.
Vedanta means that which reveals the ultimate knowledge or absolute truth.
From this, it follows that Vedanta is the ultimate science.
Vedanta and science are looking for the same underlying reality, though they approach the issue differently.
Science is trying to understand and discover the universe „out there‟ and Vedanta is trying to explain the universe
„inside you‟ or „in here‟. Everyone will agree that there is only one universe.
Both „out there‟ and „in here‟ must be part of the same universe. If this is true, both must have the same underlying reality. If you are part of the universe then your underlying reality must be the same as the underlying reality of the universe „out there‟. There cannot be two independent realities for the same universe. So, it seems that both science and Vedanta are looking for the same underlying reality.
Rishis in ancient India took a direct approach. They closed their eyes and looked inwards, they meditated, they contemplated, and they discovered much on a wide variety of subjects. They revealed their findings and insights in the different Upanishads and scriptures. They discovered and understood that the inner core of each living being is the same. They
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taught that we all have a common innercore. This inner core is Sat Chit Ananda or Self-Awareness. This inner core is the source for the universe. It is the substratum for everything in the universe.
Each living being, each object in this universe, all the laws of nature are part of the inner core. This inner core is the only reality. This inner core is the reality of both Vedanta and science.
Science is trying its best to find this underlying reality in the objects „out there‟. Scientists are trying to find a common singularity for all objects. They are trying to discover the „Theory of Everything‟. This theory will be the source equation, source law that will explain everything in this universe. Over the centuries, they have made a great deal of progress understanding these objects.
Galileo, Isaac Newton, and other great scientists showed how the macro-objects in the world functioned. In modern days, Albert Einstein and other scientists have made great strides in understanding sub- atomic particles. Despite all this effort, they still are nowhere near to discovering the underlying reality of the universe.
Science will never discover the truth by studying objects „out there‟ unless and until it first understands the truth within ourselves. Scientists need to understand the inner core. Everything „out there‟ is dependent on the inner core. Therefore, knowledge of the inner core is a must.
For science to succeed it must understand the inner core, it must understand the core teachings of Vedanta. If properly understood and applied correctly, these teachings can change how we think and approach science. A new dimension will be added to science. This added knowledge will remove many stumbling blocks and
resolve many of the unanswered questions that exist in science.
Relevant concepts from Vedanta must be welcomed by science. Especially if these concepts are rooted in science, logic, and reasoning. When Science meets Vedanta, it appears that magical things can happen. Science gets a new dimension; it gets a new perspective.
Combining the knowledge of Vedanta with science, it can help science immensely.
4 CONCLUSION
"Vedanta would surely be misinterpreted, if it is thought that it considers the universe unreal in this crude sense It says: 'O man, the world is not what it seems to you now. It is infinitely more effulgent, infinitely more authentic, infinitely more delightful and pleasant than you take it to be...' What can be more realistic than this? The scientific mind will eagerly grasp at this idea. Let us go on and on in our understanding, and the world will at last reveal itself as the embodiment of all that we are consciously and unconsciously seeking for. Only at a certain of our research, we shall have to change the laboratory instruments for the mental instrument, concentration, and then the eternal secret will become patent for ever."We thus consider Vedanta to be the hope of the present age. For it alone can successfully transform the dominant tendencies born of science and, through this, regenerate morality and religion.
...The true understanding of science and religion lies in their harmony not only in beliefs but also in the mental attitudes implied. Vedanta fulfills both these conditions. In it lies future of both science and religion, and if it fails nothing will succeed."
