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Dear SrImathi Maya Iyengar:
Please do not be hurt over the exchanges relating
to
your mail on your impassioned plea for using
the tools
of science in an effort to comprehend the
intricacies of
ArchA Moorthy ( Consecrated Forms , where the Lord
resides for accepting our AarAdhanam).
I am a scientist by training and have a
Doctor's degree
from the top most Scientific& Engineering
University ,
Massachusetts Institue Of Technology (MIT) . Many
Members of the list are Medical Doctors and
Technical
Professionals . All of us have high regard to
Science
and its tools to open up new frontiers
for saving lives
and reduce suffering and to travel to far off
planets and
their Moons .
Many of us , call ourselves rationalists or
traditonalists do
not believe Science as a tool can be of much help
in spiritual matters. Faith takes over , where
Science
is unable to help . There is no irreconceilable
conflict
between science and Religion (Knowledge and belief
).
They are not irreconceilable antagonists as stated
by
Einstein . He says further: " A religious person is
devout in
the sense that he or she has no doubt about the
significance
and loftiness of specific super-personal objects
and goals ,
which neither require nor are capable of rational
foundation "
( in a scientific sense) .
The devout are steeped in Mahaa Viswasam about the
Lord's
rakshakathvam and are like children crossing a
road holding
firmly the hands of its Father . They have implicit
and total faith
in the protective capability of the Lord(Father)
and are not looking for
a rational explanation to
convince themselves as to why and how
the Lord is their protector (Rakshakan ). After
many births ,
they hold on to the Lord's sacred feet and
recognize that
they have no recourse except the Lord and the Lord
does
not dare to shake the firm grip of the devout .
These feeling
states are beyond analysis by scientific methods or
tools.
That is the way it is !
This is not to say that the role of Science in
Vedic way of
life is minimal or nonexistent . The VedAs and
Upanishads
accept and celebrate the Lord as the source of all
knowledge.
Inspired by the Vedic Texts , the Rishis of Vedic
age " developed
their positive sciences and made the world worth
while to live in
with comforts and purposefulness". The
rotations and revolutions
of earth , planets and Sun (astronomy ) were
developed
by the likes of Aryabhatta et al. The concept of
Zero( Kham),
the reciprocal of Infinity and Mathematical
Infinity were developed
form here ." Besides Mathematical infinity , God Himself was
recognized as the Infinite Unity
".
The Science of Vedic geometry arose from Vedic
Rishis . There are
references to all kinds of mechanical systems in
VedAs (Mechanical
Engineering) . The healing powers of
herbs against specific
diseases ( the science of Pharmacology ) has been
recorded
in Atharva Vedam in great detail. The dangers of
Tuberclosis
and its cure has been covered in several hymns of
Atarva Vedam .
The world of herbs (Botany ) and animals ( Zoology)
are covered
again in VedAs . One can go on and on about
physical sciences .
But the Vedic rishis had some thing beyond the
physical sciences
and developed AdhyAthmika Saasthrams dealing
with the metaphysical
tatthvams of the indissoluble kinship between
the Lord of the Universe
and the Jeevans , which are both
co-eternal.
Science ravels along and soon is confounded by its
own
limits . We travel with science and come to the
stage , where
we seek more answers and insights that Science can
not give.
Our sights are lifted , our hearts are
thrilled and we bask under
the warmth of the wisdom of the Rg Vedic
manthram ( X. 121.5):
" By Him , the heavens are strong and the earth is
steadfast ;
by HIm light's realm and sky-vault are supported ; By Him the regions
in the mid-air are measured . To that Lord alone , May we offer
our adoration " . The concept of ananya gathithvam , Aakinchnyam
,
SaraNAgathy arose from such insights .
If the physical Scientists
are blessed to have the initiation into the AdhyAthmic
Science under the tutelage of
a SadAchAryan , they are doubly gifted indeed .
One does not need however to
be trained in Scientific disciplines
to derive the full benefit of
AdhyAthmic Science .
Just Some Thoughts in
passing !
NamO NaarAyaNAya
,
V.Sadagopan
----- Original Message -----
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