Swami Vivekananda delivered his talk at London in 1896 and he gave the concept to build a common platform for the dialogue between scientist and spiritual master. Unfortunately neither the East nor the West paid the needed attention to work on his talk. Presently SVYASA (www.svyasa.org), a world class yoga university is working to bring out the scientific aspects of Yoga and Vedanta. In continuation, SAP (Spiritual Awareness Program) at Hyderabad, India is trying to explore the possibility to establish a common platform for scientist and spiritual master based on the Swami Ji talk at London.
Swami Vivekananda talk at London related to Advaita Vedanta (common platform for spiritual masters and scientist)
Swami Vivekananda delivered his talk at London in 1896 (ref. complete works of swami Vivekananda, volume II Chapter 6) where he talked about i) Materialism ii) Meaning of duality iii) How dualism affects the researcher? iv) How Advaita can encircle the religions? v) Need of universal religion vi) How Advaita viewed by Buddha? vii) Importance of Advaita and viii) how scientific concept and Vedanta are parallel or closer? About more than 150 years ago, Swami Ji has visualized the common platform for the scientist and also for the spiritual masters to have a dialogue and exchange their views.
1. Materialism
Common man calls it matter and religious people call it God. The belief is same that everything comes from one [from Gold or from God]. This means that for common people Gold (Laxmi) is god or Goddess and religious people God is some other form having more powers than Man. Both identify the super power and try to achieve the same by prevailing means of Worship.
Before Buddha, materialism was “eat, drink and be merry”. They believed that there was no God, Soul or heaven as religion was taken as crooked idea and same came out from the Priest. This is because, the concept of dualism became very much conflicting and the analysis for the same for common people was not clear. There was a downfall of Sanatan Dharma and there was no code and conducts for gracious way of living. Buddha has realized this conflict and he came out the ideal concept which was suiting to the common mass as well as intellectual.
When many branches bifurcated from Buddhism (Hinayana & Mahayana concepts), materialism again came in to picture by creating differences in Society whit help of CLAD (Caste, Language, Area, and Dharma).
These four factors (Caste, Language, Area & Religion or Dharma) are responsible and work as a food for Ego (Ahamkara). Normally, Politician plays on these factors formularizing the mass in respect of getting votes and appreciation.
Ego seems to be the hindrance for mental growth (especially for intellectuals) and also for spirituals checkers. That is why; most of the religions are giving emphasis on removal or minimization of Ego. Wherever Ego centered, religion or society or people are existing; there will be growth of materialism but fall of intellectual’s domain and there will be turmoil in the society.
1.1 The solution against materialism
Economic growth of a people, society and country without intellectual’s growth (having proper rationality of mind for each section of society) will not have sustainability. That is why; there is unrest among the people of the world instead of having good growth in scientific development.
The educated mass with scientific development is not exploring their Emotional Quotient (EQ); though, they have developed their Intellectual Quotient (IQ). Because of this disparity between EQ and IQ, there is a gap between materialistic valve and moral value.
1.2 How to solve the materialism?
Materialism is not bad from economic development point of view; but the same leads to very selfish attitude if the same (materialism) is not nurtured by hidden divinity available in every one. Normally, highly materialistic society becomes isolated from value system, which is also known as Purushartha in Sanskrit. That is why; this attracts the attention of many thinkers for elimination or minimization.
Materialism prevailed in Western World or elsewhere cannot be solved as reasons and discussions are required. This requires a rationalistic analysis which is given by Advaita. Advaita explains how concept of materialism could be minimized and morality can be enhanced up to the highest level. The explanation given by Swami Vivekananda clarifies that Advaita Vedanta looks to be dualistic on the surface but in depth, it is not so.
1.3 How far Advaita is free from materialism?
We are materialistic to some extent as we believe that there is only one; but this oneness fulfills the holistic approach. In Advaita Vedanta we believe that there is one God or Supreme reality for everyone and this oneness fulfills the Holistic approach by combining energy, Space and Consciousness. In Dvaita, the concept of individual God for individual leads to selfish attitude whereas; in Advaita Vedanta concept of one Supreme reality fools us from selfish attitude to selfless attitude.
2. Meaning of duality
The natural tendency of Human Being is to follow the simplest and easiest way in every walk of life. For instance, to reach a building footpath is made so that green grass lawn in front of building should not be destroyed. The natural tendency of the people will be follow the shortcut so as to reach the building earlier. By this way, the people may save few minute times but destroy the beauty of the lawn. Similar phenomena happen in other walk of life.
The weakness of Human being comes on the surface when they are habitual to always follow common sense way of available solution, natural or easy availability for grabbing material and most convenient path in life as explained in the case of destruction of beautiful lawn. This does not means that people should not have the principle of common sense, natural way for dealing with material and convenient way of living but they should have another umbrella of rational and analytical way of living in day-to-day life.
It (Advaita) has no antagonism with the various sects existing in India & the World. There are Dualist existing today and their number is by far the largest in India and abroad. This is because Dualism naturally appeals to less educated mind. It is a very convenient, natural, common sense explanation of the Universe.
In the Universe, first we struggle for basic needs like food, cloths to cover the body and building for rest. When the basic need is fulfilled, we aspire for other development like supplementary needs of electricity, water supply and roads. Till then we are selfish; no harm. But we have to come out from the selfish nature to selfless nature by growing moral and rational values hidden within us for other domain like environment, economy, education and cultural value so that we can achieve the concept given in Veda (Advaita Vedanta) and Buddha. This is because; the world is a nest where people in different parts of the universe have to live as the birds are living in the nest without destroying the nature’s gift.
2.1 No quarrel with dualist
The dualist is shocked with the concept of Advaita and thinks it blasphemous. But Advaita knows that these other ideas must be and hence no quarrel with dualist, who is on the right road.
Dualists are very much right to lead the life by adopting the principle of Eat, Drink and be Merry. The Dual principle can grow the society by balancing the economy and education. By this way, the social structure will be okay but not stable. This is because, there will not be proper growth of hidden potential fully in individual; though, dual concept accelerates the growth of hidden potential to some extent.
History indicates that there were no much scientific growth in the world till dual concepts was prevailing with the firm grip over the mass. When Buddha gave the principle of Buddhism (similar to Advaita Vedanta), the mental growth of the people got acceleration and the nature of scientific people started blossoming up.
2.2 Common Belief of Dualist
The dualist follows the concept of “Ekeshwar Vad” (one god for individual). This means that individual person or society will have one god. This scenario is prevailing in village and city where the people believe in particular god for day –to - day life. They do not believe “Serveshwar Vad” (only one god and the same is present everywhere). This means one supreme god (who is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent) exists in each particle of the universe.
Because of one god for one community or individual, the sense of attachment, jealous, hat redness, like & dislike with other community or another individual, are bound to spring up. This is the main reason for National and International disturbances.
The dualist (all over the World) believes in a personal God, who is purely anthropomorphic (having human characteristics), who like a great Potentate in this World is pleased with some and displease with other.
It is the natural process to have competition with others in respect of religious belief too. In due course the belief turns into blind faith (without having the sense of discrimination) and the people become conservative. This in turn breaks the harmonious stream of the society or nation or world.
Dualist presumes his god as potent one and His presents in some form of creation. Naturally, dualist comes to conclusion that God has favorites, and he hopes to be one of them.
Some dualist are so narrow, as to insist that only the few that have been pre-destined to the favour of God can be saved. The rest may try ever so hard, but they cannot be accepted. This kind of belief prevails all over the world in most of the religious cults. The religious heads exploit the emotional weakness of the followers and convince them with this kind of belief.
Dualistic religions are bound to fight and quarrel with each other and they have ever been doing so. The history reveals the facts that most of the bloodshed or battles happened in the world because of fight between two religions. If Advaita concept or Buddha concept are followed the world war scenario could be eliminated.
The dualistic become popular favour by appealing to the vanity of the uneducated. Dualist thinks that they cannot be moral until they have a God with a rod in hand ready to punish. This scenario could be visualized in most of the religious practice followed all over the world. That is why; the mass is living with “God fearing” sense and try to adopt the moral value.
3. How dualism affects the researcher?
Basic researchers especially scientists need emotion free thinking. The dualistic approach does not culture the emotion rather, it reinforce the same for obtaining the personal and family needs. In other words, to have the growth of an individual and in a family with selfish motto, the dualistic approach is very natural and convenient. Researcher needs to have perfect concentration in their approach provided; the process of thinking is free from emotion. Unless this is achieved, the concentration and expansion on certain hypothesis of the researcher will have many hindrances. That is why, dualistic approach does not provide the proper environment for the researchers and the history is the evidence.
3.1 Solution for researcher
Swami Vivekananda has visualized that the Vedanta which is teaching the theme of Advaita, is the solution to provide the way for researchers. That is why, he emphasized that the Vedanta should be brought from the forest to the door step of each and everyone so that the inner potential of everyone will be explored in a better way. The concept of Advaita in Vedanta was kept secret through master and disciple conversation (Guru – Shishya Parampara) and the same could not get the popularity because of opposition from dualistic concept. Thanks to Lord Buddha and later on seer Shankara to bring the hidden ideology in public domain.
What is needed today is a combination of the greatest heart with the highest intellectuality. In other words, combination of infinite love with infinite knowledge and both can be achieved easily through Vedantic Concept.
Normally, both (love and intellect) are not grown together by any means of modern education. For instance, modern education provides the growth of intellect (IQ) but lags to enhance the sense of love or emotional quotient (EQ). That is why, there is less tolerance, acceptance and sense of appreciation prevailing among the scientist who are doing research in depth. Unless the sense of love consisting tolerance, acceptance and appreciation for others is developed, the repeatability of scientific research will continue and exchange of discovery in depth will not be very open. Vedanta provides the solution “How to harmonize both (IQ and EQ)” to obtain the desired result.
The Vedantist gives the attributes of (i) He is infinite existence (SAT) (ii) Infinite knowledge (chit) and (iii) Infinite Bliss (Ananda). All these are one. In Vedanta, SAT, Chitta, Ananda are attributed to the supreme reality. This means that supreme reality (Parmatma) having three major domains where existence of strength (omnipotent), the domain of knowledge (omniscient) and the domain of bliss (omnipresent). These domains have to be explored by some means so that the human beings are getting the benefit. Vedanta provides the solution by approaching those domains of supreme reality with the help of purification and transformation of the same (strength, knowledge and bliss) existing in human system.
This clarifies that existence without knowledge and love cannot be, knowledge without love and love without knowledge cannot be. Vedanta clarifies that the bliss can be achieved by balancing the knowledge and existence. In other words, in scientific term the bliss is consciousness, the existence is energy and knowledge is space. Unless energy and space are balanced, the controller or consciousness cannot be opened up or linked for sustainability of energy and space. The holistic approach of the same (energy, space and consciousness) can only lead to the new creation in the materialistic world. That is why, Swami Vivekananda has given the emphasis on Vedantic concept and the same can be practiced by means of proper approach which is described in yoga.
4. How Advaita can encircle the religions?
The messenger of god and prophets has given the basic concept of the religion taking into consideration of the needed correction required at that time. The basic scriptures of all the religions are putting emphasis on “Attainment of whole” by obtaining the harmoniously balanced between physical and mental force of human beings.
The existing religions are struggling to attain the whole. This can be fulfilled by Advaita. Advaita has no quarrel with Dualistic concept. Advaita endorses the dualistic concept provided the same is followed with highest moral value. The morality will encircle the positive aspects of dualistic approach like convenient, naturally available resources and without putting more argue mental approach (concept with common sense). With this approach the follower of dualism will be more rational and generous. But this is difficult to achieve because of inherent human weakness of being selfish.
Advaita says that He is the nearest of the near. This means He is oneness with all. According to Advaita, the god is rather prevailing in all parts of the body in the form of protoplasm and He seems to be nearest of the near. At the same time, being present in human cells, the formation of human body indicates the oneness concept of Advaita in common sense.
What is needed is the harmony of existence, knowledge and bliss infinite. This should be our goal. To achieve, the concept is the perfection of subjective. If we analyze our body structure we have left lobe, right lobe and spinal cord. They form the stable structure for day – to – day living. The Advaita concept on “harmony of existence, knowledge and bliss infinite” corresponds to the function of body structure (mentioned above), provided they are purified, energized and integrated. This can be achieved by obtaining perfection in the spirit or soul which is functioning through a spinal cord and connected with the hemisphere (lobes) of human being.
5. Need of universal religion
20th century was the era for scientific development and many discoveries have been explored. The boons of scientific discoveries are very useful for the universe; whereas the banes associated with the boons of scientific discovery have not been tackled. The world is looking for the solution of the banes and thinkers in different fields are trying to find the solution. Yoga seems to be one among the solutions to tackle the banes associated with boons of scientific discovery.
The Vedantic concept (which deals with the different aspects of theory related to nature and human system) and yoga (practical approach to harmonize the psychic, physical and mental forces) are seems to be a new approach in 21st century to solve the banes of the scientific development as well as to propagate the concept of Vedanta. These two together (Yoga and Vedanta) can form a common platform as a universal religion for everyone; especially, for the scientist and spiritual masters to have a dialogue together.
This philosophy preaches a God which is a sum total (God beyond creation). If we seek Universal Religion, the concept of Advaita appeals to everyone. The religion must not be composed of only the path, but must always be their sum total and include all degrees of religious development (like development in gross, subtle and causal body).
The Vedantic philosophy explores that there is a god beyond creation and the same is the controller of the nature (Prakriti) and the universe (consisting galaxy, planets and stars). The nature is the real manager of the creation taking the help of energy, space and spirit (soul) form the supreme reality. That is why; supreme reality is known as god beyond creation.
The universal religion (Vedanta and Yoga) talks about sum total growth of causal, subtle & gross body and the experiences gained while evolution. In brief Vedanta preaches step by step how to reach the root (supreme reality) with the help of gross, subtle and causal body.
Science is telling that all things are but the manifestation of one energy which is the sum total of everything which exists and the trend of humanity is towards freedom and not towards bondage.
The science exactly endorses the concept of manifestation of Absolute reality via nature (Prakriti), which is the sum total of energy as perceived by the seers. The manifestation from this (energy) naturally emerges as existence dominated by energy. While involution process human existence is the last. The seers have also discovered that human being (being the last of involution) has to evolve now for freedom.
AIW proceed through the study of mind, through the metaphysics and logic. The Western World stands from external nature and both are coming to the same result. The difference in approaches between Ancient Indian Wisdom (AIW) and Science is not much. This is because, AIW takes the help of mind as Jada (inactive) but science take the same (mind) as Chaitanya (active having momentum) for investigating the outer nature.
6. How Advaita viewed by Buddha?
Advaita concept elaborates the domain of intellect as well as the domain of love (pity, Karuna, mercy). Lord Buddha has visualized the lagging scenario of Sanatan Dharma (based on Veda) during his tenure. At that time, the people were very much confused because of dominating dualistic concept and they became very much materialistic. Naturally selfishness among the people was the prime hindrance for mental growth or doing any research. Lord Buddha gave the solution against materialism.
Buddha concept talks on Advaita. This (Advaita) saves from Materialism. The Buddhism was the rescue for the common mass from the narrow conflict of dualistic approach. People were feeling relaxed as they have developed the sense of pity, mercy, compassion (Karuna). The highest approach of Buddhism was to yield the sense of forgiveness. These developments provided the softening effect on human behavior and people were selfless.
Buddha’s philosophy died down as most of the people were very ignorant about the concept of Advaita. Though, Buddha gave the complete concept of his findings on Buddhism but the people were not having full-fledged knowledge of Advaita. At the same time, there were many braches of Buddhism which made the people further confused.
Further analysis shows that Buddhism taught No God, No ruler of Universe, but the ignorant masses brought their God and devils and hobgoblins out gain & a tremendous hotchpotch made of Buddhism in India.
Indian seers have discovered (earlier than Buddha) the same concept identifying one god (god beyond creation) but nature (Prakriti) is the manager of all creation on the universe. This concept was kept in the forest (because of Guru Shishya Parampara) as the same was not received and enjoyed by the masses. Because of this, both Advaita and real concept of Buddha were not truly adopted in India or elsewhere. The intellectual mass could not get the help of these concepts (given by Buddha and Advaita) for expanding their mission and vision.
Present intellectual need to join the heart of Buddha (shown infinite heart of love & mercy/ Karuna). This union will give us the highest philosophy. Buddhism is based on compassion, pity & mercy and provides a good foundation for the development of heart. In case of Buddhism, the intellect part was not much emphasized. That could have been another reason “Why Buddhism was not adopted by the intellectual mass?” even though the same has all best possible qualities. Shankara has visualized the mismatch and put forth the factor to equalize head and heart of the common man and intellectual.
6.1 Advaita concept by Buddha and Shankara
Shankara visualized and experienced the lagging scenario of Advaita concept given by Lord Buddha. That is why; he emphasized more on intellectual part compared to Buddha. To summarize the adoptability of the best from Buddha and the best from Shankara, Swami Vivekananda rightly visualized that heart of Buddha and intellect of Shankara (if taken together) can form the best possible platform for the intellectuals to evolve in the direction of discovery from nature and beyond.
It is important to note that left hemisphere of the human brain represents intellectual domain and right hemisphere of human brain corresponds to heart domain. Advaita concept accelerates the growth of both the hemispheres through yogic practice. Because of this, Swami Vivekananda and presently researcher on Spirituality put forward the theme of yoga and Advaita (Vedanta) for the development of human kind.
Buddha stretched up on the moral side of Advaita Philosophy, where as Shankaracharya stressed up to the Intellectual side of Philosophy. Shankara concept having the factors for the development of head and heart of the human mind, but he put more emphasis on intellectual side. This does not mean that he has negated the heart side of human brain.
Buddha has universal heart and infinite patience, made religion practical and brought the same to everyone’s door. At that time, the Buddhism was appealing to many as they got rid of mental conflict which had a network of many theories prevailing at that moment.
Buddha never cared for dualist God, and who been called atheist. He set in motion the highest moral ideas any nation can have. Lord Buddha was against Ekeshwar Vad (one god for individual or society or cult); that is why many call him as atheist. Actually, he gave a purest form of religion which is similar to the concept of Advaita (Vedanta). Whenever there is a moral code, it is a ray of light from that man (Buddha).
Swami Vivekananda visualized that the harmony should not be one sided development. The same (harmony of all) is possible to have intellect of Shankara with the heart of Buddha, if the intellectual wants to have the proper development of his brain. This was addressed by Swami Vivekananda at London in 1896 in order to clarify the vision of the masses from the West.
7. Importance of Advaita
Indian seers have perceived that nature is the great helping hand for the overall development of human being, especially for the development of human brain. It is well known that the nature helps every creation while involution. There are presumptions by the seers that nature can help the common man to evolve from present generation to divine man in the long run (as time passes) provided proper atmosphere is met. However, they (seers) have also found that if yogic process is followed, the evolution to the extent possible for self realization can be achieved. Shankara visualized this and preached the concept known as Advaita Vedanta (Vedanta) to harmonize heart (right hemisphere of human brain) and intellect (left hemisphere of human brain).
When there is a degree of intellectual development; we cannot force the great hearts of the World into narrow limit and keep them there especially present moment (in the history of humanity).
He indicated that modern education can certainly provide the growth of intellect but it should not be left in the narrow domain without enhancing the growth of heart (left hemisphere of the brain). That is why; yogic concepts deals that the most of world’s problem can be solved by balancing the head and heart. This means that by balancing the right lobe with left lobe’s development can solve the number of world’s problem.
If this concept (Advaita) is not used, means that the Scientific World is pushed back to Stone Age via animalistic concept. Shankara visualized that if Advaita Vedanta is not brought from the forest to the door step of everyone, the mental growth of intellectual will be stagnant or rather may decline. Any kind of declination of intellectual growth might push us to be bound by the animal instinct or thinking. It is well known fact that sleep, eat & drink, procreation and fear are the four factors of being animal instinct.
Clinching to lower than Buddha’s or Advaita principle, we are going to kill the intellectual’s moral life. That is why, Swami Vivekananda strongly emphasized that dualistic approach (no quarrel with that) will effect and will lower the perception of intellectuals.
7.1 Shankara views on Advaita Vedanta
Shankaracharya gave the concept in a rational way by uplifting the human mind or brain. He provided the concept of argument while elaborating the content of Upanishad. He made it clear that the argument in the Upanishad should not be kept for the sake of argument but the same should lead to clarification. Because of this, a treasure namely “Brahm Sutra” was written to clarify the content of Upanishad. It (Brahm Sutra) provides the platform for the arguments in between in order to connect the subsequent statement of the Upanishad. This was a revolutionary step taken by Shankara.
Shankaracharya made a rationalistic Philosophy. In Upanishad, arguments are very obscure. But Shankaracharya made it clear and coherent. After the introduction of Brahm Sutra, the meaning and the content of the Upanishad were made very clear to the seeker. Upanishads are meant for uplifting the evolving process of gross body, subtle body and causal body. It (Upanishad) helps to individual up to the extent possible so that the seeker can understand the main purpose of life and how to evolve to reach the root.
Shankaracharya has tremendous Intellectual Power, throwing the scorching light of reason up on every concept of Upanishad. In the Brahm Sutra, he has clarified in depth so that the ignorance of the seeker (while following the Upanishad) is completely eliminated in the light of argument.
Swami Vivekananda has envisioned that Buddha stretched up on the moral side of Advaita Philosophy, where as Shankaracharya stressed up to the Intellectual side of Philosophy. He never meant that Buddha has left the intellectual part completely or Shankara has left the moral part in any way. Swami Ji has a vision that if the theme of Advaita concept of Buddha and Shankara are taken into consideration, the same will be the integral part of Advaita Vedanta, very suitable for intellectual of the present era.
7.2 Swami Vivekananda views on Advaita Vedanta
Swami Vivekananda perceived Vedanta (Advaita) in the form of spirit. He emphasized that unless the concept of spirit is understood and known, the common people including student, fisherman and lawyer will not be able to upgrade their mind as well as living style. In brief the hidden divinity can be explored by understanding the theme of spirit.
Swami Vivekananda strongly pointed out “unless we understand we are the spirit not the body alone, our hidden divinity cannot be manifested and utilized”. Though, it seems to be difficult but it is very easy to explore the potential divinity hidden in each of us. Swami Vivekananda describes it “Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy by one, or more, or all of these and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books or temples, or forms, are but secondary details”.
7.2.1 Importance of experiencing the spirit
The concept of spirit can be understood whenever consciousness (mind) and energy (prana) are together at pituitary gland (Agna charka). Magnanimity (aura) and divinity are felt above the neck region. This is known as zone of knowledge (Gyana). The purity and love are felt at the heart region in between navel point (Manipura Chakra) and throat region (Vishuddhi charka). This is also known as the zone of Bhakti or Krishna consciousness. The personality can be found out if consciousness is kept above the navel point (Manipura zone). This is known as body consciousness or zone of karma (duty). In this region, one should visualize one’s own duty and protect the others rights to develop the spirit. For the development of the spirit, one need not to change the profession; rather one should get fully involved in the profession but visualizing the mind and energy (consciousness) at higher level of the pranic chakra. Viewing this, Swami Vivekananda said it “if student, fisherman and lawyer feel that they are not the body alone but they are the spirit too; they can be better in their own profession”. That means fisher man can be a better fisherman, student can be a better student and lawyer can be a better lawyer by understanding the real meaning of spirit.
7.2.2 Vedic analysis of divinity endorsed by Swami Vivekananda
Vedanta claims that the manifestation of divinity in a man or women is the expression of “infinite oneness” in human nature. When one feels oneness with universe he or she will not be in the grip of cast, creed, language, place (country) and religion. He will feel oneness with all. The manifestation of oneness is expressed in terms of love and sympathy which in turn inculcate moral, ethical and virtuous value in the individual.
This expression of oneness is the highest form of divinity, which cannot be achieved instantly. However, the development of the sense of creativity, kindness, forgiveness, awareness and observing positive thought in day to day life can be inculcated to manifest the divinity by practicing Vedantic and yogic theme. Another way is to purify Panch Kosha (five sheaths) to enhance the feeling of spirit.
8. How scientific concept and Vedanta are parallel or closer?
Swami Vivekananda has given clear cut picture to the world that there is a common platform for scientist as well as for the spiritual master in the background of Advaita Vedanta. For this, he has hinted the function of amoeba while involution till the living creation reaches the human being cycle. After his (Swami Vivekananda) declaration, the scientist like Thomas Henry Huxley, British biologist advocated Darwin’s theory of evolution in later stage of mid 19th century. Thomas Henry Huxley was also known as Darwin’s Bull dog because of his strong advocacy. The concept given by Huxley endorses the Vedic concept on Bindu for which Swami Ji has rightly pointed out in his talk. This shows there is a common platform already built if we compare the concept of protoplasm in science and the concept of Bindu in Upanishad. To have detailed elaboration, the researcher should know the concept of Advaita.
8.1 Why Researcher need Advaita (Vedanta)?
The dualistic approach paves the path of common sense application, natural way of graving and convenient approach whenever and wherever possible. This means that there is no application of the brain where we have to stretch our thinking domain or to struggle for finding out the next better solution. This has inculcated in the common man’s natures and also in the mind of intellectual or researcher. This way the growth of discovery or invention was left stand still.
Researcher found that old dualistic was not helping them to go in depth of Research. In the beginning researcher did not have any other solution as he was prone to be stagnant in thinking domain. The surrounding concept of religious cult was also not favoring because of dualistic approach. The great seers like Buddha and Shankara have imagined the solution. Shankara especially found that Veda (the subject of Ancient Indian Wisdom or Sanatan Dharma) narrates the solution in the form of Advaita Vedanta.
Advaita agrees for Researcher in respect of physical and mental line. Advaita is the science dealing with the spirit which is the anchor point for physical force (prana or energy) and mental force (mind or space) of human system. This shows that the balancing of physical force and mental force can only yield the psychic force (or spirit) for anchoring them. This also clarifies that psychic force (spirit) is obtained by the integration of physical and mental force.
The weakness in Religion or duality must be given up. This is because; it is prevailing throughout the world. This is because; the existing approach of the religion normally hampers the development of spirit. To deal with the psychic force (main aspect of Advaita Vedanta) there is hindrance of dualistic approach. This (dualistic approach) can maximum purifies the physical aspects of human system with least possible growth in the expansion of brain.
Advaita is non duality, the oneness; the idea of impersonal God will have sustainable hold on Intellectual. The Advaita deals with oneness (impersonal god). This means unless the source (spirit) is experienced or perceived, the dualistic approach (personal god) will prevail up on. When the concept of impersonal god or understanding of spirit is known, the integral approach by means of holism can be achieved and the same will hold the expansion of mind for the sustainability of intellectual.
8.2 Need of Advaita in western world
Swami Vivekananda explained the importance of Vedanta in western world in his talk at London. This is because, in western world there is importance of personal god (no conflict to have), whereas Advaita principle stresses up on impersonal god (god beyond creation). Unless, the concept of personal god is completely replaced by impersonal god, the inner development of existing potential and mind cannot be made free to grow or expand.
To have ground of Advaita in Europe & America, the concept of existing religion has to be analyzed and modified. This means the modification of existing religion (reinforced by personal god) by some means is necessary so that the binding force on psychic prana or inner mind will be released. This (modification) is possible with the help of yogic practices as perceived by spiritual masters. Another way is to have the strong impression of certain practices of do (Niyama) and don’t (Yama) in the mind. The poetic form of slogans related to code and conduct will be helpful in this regard.
Plato says that the inspiration comes to people through Poetry. Similar was the case with Indian seers. They framed Upanishad in Poetic language. Plato was born in Greece about 400 years BC. He was western philosopher and advocated Platonism. To impress up on human mind he rightly visualized that the poetic form of statement will be more useful in any language. Long before, similar was the opinion of our Indian seers who framed the Upanishad in poetic language and the same was kept in Guru Shishya Parampara.
To achieve integrative results an attempt is required to make use of the poetic language of Upanishad for the intellectuals so that they can reestablish the boundary of inner mind in a larger area. When this kind of conducive environment is obtained, Science and religion will meet and shake hands. This means that Upanishad verse (Poetry and philosophy) will become friends to the intellectual and the same will work like a platform for investigation.
The poetic language of Upanishad contains the theme of Advaita (presently in the form of Vedanta). Shankara has framed the very important aspects of the Upanishad and brought for the utility of intellectuals. That is why; Swami Vivekananda put the more emphasis on this subject to obtain the beneficial aspects of Advaita.
The glory of Advaita is to have boldness to preach, “Do not disturb the faith of any”, even of those who are ignorant and attached themselves to lower forms of worship. Because of this, Advaita helps everyone to get higher and higher including all human beings.
8.3 How far Advaita (Vedanta) and scientific discovery are parallel?
The sustainable approach needs a common platform for scientist and a spiritual master. This is possible when the result of research by the scientist will endorse the concept of Upanishad and vice versa. The diagram describes both the Spiritual and scientific concepts in nutshell.
When the Scientist asserts that things are the manifestation of one force, they will reach the goal. The same concept is taught in the Upanishad in the form of Nuclei or Bindu or God.
The Upanishad describes the manifestation of supreme reality (also known as Maha Bindu) finally on universe (physical world) via nature (Prakriti). The key constituents of Maha Bindu on universe are Shakti (Prana or Energy), Shiva (Conscious or Chitta or Space) and Bindu (Nuclei or Consciousness or Spirit).
Likewise, the scientific discovery on cellular mechanism of human system shows that the cell consists of cell membrane (as space or shiva), cytoplasm (as Prakriti or energy) and nuclei (as Bindu or consciousness). Cytoplasm and nuclei both together is known as protoplasm in the field of science. The same hypothesis exists in spirituality where nature (energy) and Bindu (nuclei) both together is known as supreme reality or Parmatma.
Swami Vivekananda has distinguished between god beyond creation and god in creation. He has referred no other god in between as Veda and Upanishad have also described. The one thing that God is outside the Universe (God beyond creation), somewhere in heaven and the other that He is own soul, and that it will be irreverence to call him anything more distant. The manifestation of supreme reality in the form of Bindu provides the clear picture of manifestation.
8.3.1 Upanishad describes oneness (impersonal god)
During involution, the supreme reality (Parmatma) descends as Bindu and the same enters and expresses in every creation in various forms. This does not mean that the inner potentiality of supreme reality attains lower potentiality while expressing in different forms. The powerful slogan of Veda describes “Purn Madah……..Purn Meva Vashisyate” to endorse the concept of Maha Bindu expressing in all the creation.
The image explains the theme of Upanishad in brief. Upanishad deals that one fire (force, Bindu) entering into the Universe and the same expresses in the various forms. This means that one soul is expressing itself in every soul and yet is infinitely more besides. This provides the clarification between god beyond creation (who is Maha Bindu or supreme soul) and god in creation (Bindu or soul).
Spiritual Master finds that searching through the mind, we come to the oneness, that Universal one, the internal soul of everything, the essence and reality of everything, the ever free (chit), the ever blissful (Ananda), the ever existing (search).
This is the purest stage of human mind. Mind is the precious gift of Supreme reality (Parmatma) to the human beings. The lower creation (animals, birds etc) does not possess the same. This has been gifted by the supreme reality to understand Him in order to obtain the same state what (Sat, Chit and Anand) He has. Upanishad provides the methods to attain the purest form of mind and the same has been described in “Amrit Bindu Upanishad”. In yoga, this point is described as Bindu Visarga existing at top back of the head. This way through material science (mind) Upanishad shows the way of oneness.
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