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religions and science

Updated on March 4, 2010
Konark temple
Konark temple
Nakoda  temple
Nakoda temple
Namgyal temple
Namgyal temple

Religions and Science

Irrelevant discussions

One often sees people loosing tempers etc and lost in heated discussions on science or rationalism verses religion. I have seen both types of people, those who consider themselves public leaders or defenders on religious aspects or those who try to defend scientific aspects, often adopting irrational or irreligious style to score a point.

I wonder what do they feel they have gained. To me it seems happiness and true knowledge lies some where else.

Darwinism verses creationist in USA-- opposite direction duels in India

I am quite surprised at amount of time and efforts lost in USA in a useless game being played between defenders of Darwin's theory of evolution and christian creationist philosophy. Each side trying to intrude in affairs of others. As usual defenders of religious thoughts hesitate much less in trying to win a point by political bulldozing or creating mass sentiments. In India also often similar game is played. Though not to such an irrational extreme as you see in USA. Game in India many times is in the other direction. Many religious leaders want to claim that current science is a part of their ancient studies and defenders of science want to claim that old Indian thoughts had nothing to do with their studies. Again time lost in such discussions is enormous and final results are as useless and aimless as one can think about.

I wrote the following comments in a discussion in hubpages where initiator had asked a question. Whether studies in ancient times by monks of one of the religions in India included "modern science". I hope you will also enjoy my comments and share your views here.

Comment

First, to join adjective "modern" to science! I am not sure how far it is right.

Modern style of Science
Perhaps what you mean is modern style of science. Modern style of science is basically devoted to analytical and experimental deductions. Today's scientists try analytically, using logic (Sanskrit word is "Tark") as a tool, to deduct statements from axioms formed mainly by observations from experiments.


These deductions are then used by them to predict, what might happen in certain situations. Main focus today is on using these deductions to create technological and economical tools for better physical living. This second aspect, technological or economical style focused on better physical living can perhaps be associated with word "modern". But science, if you consider it as an analytical understanding, is as old as any body can think of.


Surely as India is one of the place where human beings have lived much longer, people there have excelled very often in these activities.

Indian rishis monks and tirthankars practiced as much science as spiritualism ( I do not know equivalent word in English to describe "rishi" - closest one I can think about is a hermit who is dedicated to development of science or knowledge, self-spiritual aspects and welfare of people. Jain tirthankars are very few and in this sense they are much more special and respectful. Practically all in India worship them, again irrespective of whether they belong to Hindu, Jain or Buddhist religion, Buddha as a monk is indeed unique and is adored by the followers of most religions in India, practically as a god). For all ancient rishis, monks or tirthankars, irrespective of whether they were Hindus, Jains or Buddhists, science and spiritualism were not separate aspects . All of them contributed a lot to scientific as well as spiritual development.

Once you decide that science is eternal in this sense, I think any discussion on "whether people had knowledge in ancient time of what today people discuss" becomes a bit irrelevant. In each era focus has changed to life style of that era. Some of this focus may have been on common aspects, some may not be. Quite a lot of people, in each era, may have known a lot, which we do not even know or focus on, today.

Just a drop in ocean of knowledge
Indian ancient saying "What ever you know any time is just a drop in the ocean of knowledge" is indeed one of the best thoughts, which has come out of that country and has been followed there by practitioners of practically all religions. It helps you to keep yourself away from proud (Sanskrit word "garur" is perhaps more appropriate). You are always thirsty for knowing more, trying to do better in science or going still closure to Brahma (unique true knowledge) or Moksha in spiritual aspects.

At the same time, it inspires you to have strongly another characteristic quite visible in thinking and style in India (again in all religions and in all ages) "to be nispriha" (to have a detachment).

Socrates or Einstein were also rishis
These qualities are visible not just among wise people in India but also quite visible among people in other countries too like Socrates (Greek philosopher) or among very recent scientists like Einstein. Indeed their styles were quite a bit similar to that of rishis in India.

Getting rid of "Garur"

Once you decide to mold yourself towards these qualities, all the proud ("garur") about sentiments like "this is special in my religion or in my country" goes away automatically. People in India have always considered science, knowledge or spiritualism to be shared with all, rather than feeling proud about. Generally average Indian will want to feel happy about breaking mysteries of science or spiritualism and will like to share this enjoyment {"Ananda"} with others near him or her.

Sarva Dharm Saman Bhav (Equal glance on all religions)

This is how Indians had moved in since ancient times to another important aspect in their style of science and philosophy "sarva dharm saman bhav" (to have equal glance on all religions and spiritual philosophies).

For Indians, science, religion or spiritualism were never separate compartments. They always looked at all of them together. All of them had only one aim to help one to get true knowledge, "nirvana" or "moksha". Average Indian practically never had in any era adopted to a style in which you get lost in criticizing other religions or philosophies. This is quite a bit true even today also in average Indian's life. They always consider different religions and philosophies as parallel thoughts and let any individual decide what is most suitable for him or her to achieve true knowledge, brahma or to get moksha.

Chistianity - practiced continuously in India since St. Thomas came there in 1st century AD

Indeed this is also one of the reasons that even religions, which did not originate in India have had continuous streams of people, who adopted to them. India must be among very few countries where Christianity has been continuously practiced by many, since first century AD when St. Thomas came to India.

Criticism moves you away from the path of knowledge

Criticism of thoughts or style of others was always looked down in Indian style, simply because it distracts you from actual path of knowledge (or science in today's terms-- good scientists today are also not far from this path of keeping one away from useless criticism, just as good spiritual leaders are).

Today's style of professional science and technology has several limitations too. For example one generally does not study in this style those aspects of knowledge which can not be repeated in front of others. Experimental reproduction of what you preach is an important aspect of science today.

Indian ancient studies in all religions, Hindu, Jain or Buddhist had no such restrictions. Studies of scholars and spiritual leaders then were not just restricted to one style. They studied in almost any style and on any action, thought or object. No wonder they could go into depths, in several secrets of living and nonliving being as well as human knowledge and spiritual aspects.


Just to associate, what was preached by Rishis or Tirthankars or monks in ancient times in India with today's style of science, specially trying to win a point by saying that "Oh! they knew this aspect of today's Knowledge" is indeed doing injustice to them and belittling them.

(pictures of temples taken from Images available on internet)

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