Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
archive: Science and Spirituality

Science and Spirituality

Dr Murli Manohar Joshi
Organiser
July 18, 1999


    Title: Science and Spirituality
    Author: Dr Murli Manohar Joshi
    Publication: Organiser
    Date: July 18, 1999
    
    An important issue before humanity today is centred upon science and
    its relationship with the questions of normative demands that are
    central to civilisation and its progress. Science may claim to be
    value-neutral, but is it really so? Knowledge and truth which are
    central to science are themselves values of intrinsic character. And
    when we examine the spring-force of the motivation of science, we are
    irresistibly drawn into the questions that are basic to the realm of
    values. And the question that strikes us is whether values are only
    emotional reactions or whether we can build a system where mind,
    knowledge and values are intimately intertwined. Often, values are
    restricted to the realm of ethics but this restriction collapses when
    we come to the demands of values of rationality, values of aesthetic
    appreciation and values that emerge as we ascend into higher levels of
    consciousness of the Spirit. In that larger perspective it may seem
    that the validity of ethical values may lie in the knowledge that
    spiritual consciousness delivers to us. 
    
    Indeed, we confront issues that relate to the theme of consciousness
    which is now emerging on the frontiers of contemporary science. For
    the remarkable discoveries of the last two decades in Quantum
    Mechanics have broken down the Cartesian division of Matter and Mind,
    as also not only Newtonian but even post-Newtonian world-views that
    could ignore the subjective and objective phenomena of consciousness.
    If we acknowledge the great speed with which science is progressing
    today, it can be safely predicted that the next century may very well
    be dominated by questions concerning consciousness and we can expect
    scientists being drawn towards these questions in such a central way
    that they might bring to light the secrets and applications that might
    surprise us much more than when they had discovered the secrets of
    steam and electricity and of atoms and of cells. 
    
    This prospect also gives us a ground for advancement, of
    inter-disciplinary studies and of a larger synthesis of various
    disciplines of knowledge. In that turn of development, we shall come
    to realise the significance of the need to pursue the theme of Science
    and Spirituality of which many advanced scientists and humanists have
    begun to speak. As a member of the Eastern world, where this theme is
    central to its traditions, India rejoices at this prospect, since it
    promises the early fulfilment of its pursuit of the meeting of the
    East and the West and of its ancient vision of universal brotherhood. 
    
    This prospect also includes reappraisal of the ancient and medieval
    traditions of science which had flourished among many ancient
    civilisations-Indian, Chaldean, Egyptian, Persian and Greek. We need
    to note that science is not merely a modern phenomenon, and ethical
    and spiritual issues relating to science as dealt with in earlier
    periods have salutary lessons to give us and to guide the contemporary
    dilemmas that are being confronted today. 
    
    It is noteworthy that the kind of conflict between science and
    religion that marked the period of Renaissance in Europe was never
    witnessed in Indian tradition which had a long record of scientific
    achievements and had stood out as a pioneer in respect of a number of
    discoveries. If we ask the reason for this, we shall find that in
    India, spirituality itself welcomed the development of new knowledge
    and Indian science acknowledged that knowledge is not the monopoly of
    sense perception, but has also higher sources which are related to
    human reason and spirit. In the Rigveda, one of the ancient seers has
    recorded his aspirations, that "those who speak the world that is new,
    the world that is a discovery of new knowledge should be protected".
    (Rigveda Vl. 8.5) 
    
    We have to note that the modern method of questioning Nature for the
    advancement of scientific knowledge has often been at the roof of
    looking at Nature as an adversary. But as Rabindranath Tagore, the
    great Indian poet and Nobel laureate, had pointed out, human being and
    Nature are not adversaries, but they form one holistic system in which
    the human being should look upon Nature as a friend and as a partner
    of total harmony. If this attitude is adopted, the kind of
    exploitation and ruination of Nature that have taken place and are
    still taking place in the name of science and technology can be
    avoided. We can then speak more meaningfully of our concerns for
    ecological balance and environmental protection. 
    
    We feel sorry that science, as an instrument of advancement of
    knowledge, comes easily to yield itself to the undesirable pressures
    of technology, commerce and war that contribute to the development of
    fractured individuality and fractured society. The time has come when
    we need to put before us mature concept of progress and replace the
    concept of sustainable development by that of sustainable consumption.
    We have to seek for models of society which are non-exploitative and
    non-violent and which do not look upon the human being as a mere cog
    in the machine. The world should set about planning to ensure that
    every individual in the world is enabled to secure a certain level of
    consumption on a durable basis, enjoyment of the exercise of
    faculties, right reward of work and enough leisure to grow inwardly
    and to the fullest possibility of integrality. Integral individuals
    constituting integral society should be our aim; and this coincides
    very well with UNESCO's educational ideals of Learning To Be and of
    Learning Society. 
    
    The vision that we need to place before the world should not only
    advocate a new social bond between science and society for eliminating
    drudgery, poverty and ignorance in the world, but should also
    underline the need for safeguarding traditional and local knowledge.
    Programmes of research should be so conceived that they bring back the
    lessons of pursuit of higher values in various traditions, Eastern and
    Western, ancient, medieval and modern. Thus we should build the paths
    of a new synthesis that would serve the highest interests of the
    solidarity of humankind. We need to generate opposition to the misuse
    and exploitation of scientific knowledge and technology for purposes
    of monopolisation of knowledge and development of trade practices that
    would feed unfavourable competitions. We must plead for open and
    equitable access to scientific knowledge. 
    
    We need to seek harmony in social existence and in relationship
    between science and society on deeper grounds of common spirit and
    common destiny of humanity. It is in this context that we need to
    develop technology with human face, so that life-values dominate
    functional values. 
    
    Sri Aurobindo, the foremost Indian seer of our times, spoke of unity
    for knowledge in the following words: "Not only in the one final
    conception, but in the great line of its general results, knowledge by
    whatever path it is followed, tends to become one." Let us therefore
    seek unity of knowledge and use it to secure unity of forces of
    civilisation. 
    
    Now I will make a brief reference to the five programmes for
    international cooperation in science which India proposes to be
    included in the document, "Science Agenda: Framework for Action" to be
    adopted by World Conference on Science. These are: 
    
    Internet Enabled Science Education and Teaching: 
    
    Generation and availability of qualified and S&T personnel will play a
    vital role in sustaining the global economy in the 21st Century. There
    is a merit in catalysing internet enabled distance education and
    teaching in science, which together with the conventional education
    system, will meet the growing demand of S&T workforce and redress the
    limitations posed by educational infrastructure and shortage of able
    teachers. 
    
    International Mobility of Qualified S&T Personnel: 
    
    Human resource development will require a global perspective in the
    21st century. This will reinforce the current ideology and mechanisms
    for strengthening global economy such as WTO's Agreements to Trade in
    Services. Unanimity is desired of the international community to the
    principle that the employers of qualified S&T workforce, Non-Resident
    citizens, international organisations/developed countries will extend
    support and join in the efforts of government(s) of the developing
    countries for actions inter-alia: 
    
    (a) Expansion and hosting of educational-cum-research institutions of
    world class in developing countries: and (b) Increase in number of
    Fellowships for greater mobility of people from the developing
    countries world-over for higher studies and advanced training in
    emerging fields of S&T. 
    
    World Technology Report
    
    Impact of technology on social systems and culture will be a subject
    of great concern to developing countries in the 21st century, a
    balanced and commonly acceptable world opinion on this aspect calls
    for bringing out a companion volume on "World Technology Report" to
    the present UNESCO's publication, "World Science Report". India is
    willing to offer its intellectual inputs for such an initiative. 
    
    Promotion of Scientific Literary & Culture Accessible to All:
    
    Livelihood, food habits, medical practices, cultural and religious
    rituals of local communities need to be understood. These have to be
    complemented with appropriate technology and modern scientific inputs
    that are conducive for their development by developing a Minimum
    Science Package. Further, these communities need to view the pros and
    cons of the modern developments in S&T with an open mind. Keeping
    these in view, India shares with the world a concept paper on
    "Promotion of Scientific Literacy and Culture Accessible to All",
    prepared under UNESCO's sponsorship for endorsement by World
    Conference on Science (WCS). 
    
    Preservation & Utilisation of Traditional Knowledge Systems:
    
    Economic prosperity in the 21st century can take advantage of
    pragmatic and purposeful knowledge systems/practices evolved over a
    long period of time by various societies and great civilisations world
    over. It needs to be accompanied by due acknowledgement and sharing of
    rights, benefits with holders of such knowledge. Thus inclusion of a
    new international programme on this subject merits favourable
    consideration. 
    
    It is our hope that the WCS will open a new vista for making of a new
    and happier world because what we see today is not altogether
    inspiring. A large part of world suffers in poverty, we still have
    famines, disease, suffering and war. There are not only disparities
    among the nations of the world but among various sections of the
    society within a nation. A small portion of population in the
    countries of the world only moves upward and the majority of humanity
    suffers. It appears to me that the time has come for a dynamic
    improvement in the state of affairs. Science must not only think about
    a few, but for all in the creation of God. This Conference should show
    us the way for non-exploitative, non-violent and a peaceful world
    based on respect, reciprocity, equality of all human beings, respect
    for nature and lasting peace for all.
    
    (Based on the author's statement at the World Conference on Science,
    held at Budapest, Hungary on June 29, 1999).
    



Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements