The message of Vedanta cannot be explained more beautifully than Swami Vivekakanda. Vedanta is more of a science than a philosophy. It is a science with a goal. The goal in Vedanta is to identify unity among the things which we perceive and don't perceive. Modern day science has its foundations in the principles of mathematics. Science never accepts anything that is not mathematically modeled. And mathematics in turn has its foundations on axioms (like the axiom of choice). Thus any scientific theory indirectly presupposes these axioms and hence it is not devoid of any assumption. On the other hand, Vedanta doesn't assume anything other than one's own existence. Of course, one might claim that this is also an assumption, but I guess for a normal person (unless one is really drunk), the reality of one's existence will be more fundamental than a belief in an axiom ! So Vedanta deals with more real things than modern day science.
However, Vedanta has no conflicts with science and technology. Even if we are going to find an extraterrestrial or set up a base in some planet, Vedanta will appeal to mankind. As long as we believe in our existence, Vedanta is going to exist. Moreover, Vedanta is in perfect harmony with science and its findings. Present day views on quantum mechanics suggests this harmony. Erwin Schrodinger claimed to have been inspired by Vedanta in his discovery of quantum theory. The medical community is rediscovering the benefits of yoga and meditation. Vedanta is in perfect accordance with the law of conservation of energy.
Vedanta teaches a systematic way to observe the condition of the mind in order to discover facts about it. Just like any other science which validates the theories through experiments, the truths in Vedanta can be acknowledged through the experiments of Yoga. Yoga is more than a set of bodily exercises. The asanas (bodily exercises) are a set of experiments that are useful in identifying the goal in Vedanta. Just like the modern science which has branches that suits each individual's interests, Vedanta gives us the paths of Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bakthi Yoga and Karma Yoga to identify the goal-which is unity in life. Asanas come under Raja Yoga. More details on the yoga sutras of Patanjali can be found here. The beauty of Vedanta is that it is not a single person's vision, but it is time tested by the wisdom of hunded's of thousands of induviduals.
However, Vedanta has no conflicts with science and technology. Even if we are going to find an extraterrestrial or set up a base in some planet, Vedanta will appeal to mankind. As long as we believe in our existence, Vedanta is going to exist. Moreover, Vedanta is in perfect harmony with science and its findings. Present day views on quantum mechanics suggests this harmony. Erwin Schrodinger claimed to have been inspired by Vedanta in his discovery of quantum theory. The medical community is rediscovering the benefits of yoga and meditation. Vedanta is in perfect accordance with the law of conservation of energy.
Vedanta teaches a systematic way to observe the condition of the mind in order to discover facts about it. Just like any other science which validates the theories through experiments, the truths in Vedanta can be acknowledged through the experiments of Yoga. Yoga is more than a set of bodily exercises. The asanas (bodily exercises) are a set of experiments that are useful in identifying the goal in Vedanta. Just like the modern science which has branches that suits each individual's interests, Vedanta gives us the paths of Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bakthi Yoga and Karma Yoga to identify the goal-which is unity in life. Asanas come under Raja Yoga. More details on the yoga sutras of Patanjali can be found here. The beauty of Vedanta is that it is not a single person's vision, but it is time tested by the wisdom of hunded's of thousands of induviduals.
1 comment:
This is a good blog.
Science uncovers that which exists. There is nothing more existential than that which is predicated by "I". Is this a locus of sorrow?
If there is an axiom in Vedanta, it would be that it is not a locus of grief.
Vedanta states with authority that there is no basis for sorrow, yet this is something to be knowm.
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