Law of Love & The Mathematics of Spirituality

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Contents

Introduction...........................................................................xixChapter 1: Vedanta, the Science of Spirituality........................................1Chapter 2: Basics of Vednta............................................................15Chapter 3: The Prakrti-Isvara Paradigm.................................................45Chapter 4: The Logic of Vedanta........................................................61Part II: Mathematical Representation List of Mathematical Symbols......................77Chapter 5: The Experiencer and the Experienced.........................................79Chapter 6: Universal Love and the Fundamental Law of Spirituality......................115Chapter 7: Sri Ramana's Principle of Personal Will.....................................145Chapter 8: A Theory of Vasanas.........................................................157Chapter 9: The Mystery of Time.........................................................201Chapter 10: Riddles of Life............................................................219Chapter 11: The Love That Cures All Ills...............................................235Chapter 12: The Path Ahead- Research and Education in Spirituality.....................247Appendices.............................................................................255References.............................................................................259Glossary of Sanskrit Terms (Alphabetically Listed).....................................267

Chapter One

This book approaches spirituality using mathematical methods similar to those which one will find in science to explain the material world. The credibility of this approach can be questioned if spirituality is viewed as irrevocably wedded to religions which are faith based and not altogether scientific. Association of spirituality with religion is however a historical fact and raises many important questions about the true nature of spirituality: Is spirituality based on faith or can it, like science, be "evidence-based"? Should spirituality necessarily remain distinct from science or do the two have anything in common? Is spiritual progress possible only by the faithful performance of vaguely understood religious rituals or is there a more substantive, objective basis to it? Is its validity totally dependent on the legends and personalities sacred to religions? Do religions have exclusive ownership of spirituality or is it conceivable that science one day may also contribute to its advancement? Can the benefits of spirituality be actually experienced in this life by all who practice it, or, is the reward some unnamed heaven to be experienced by a chosen few after their death only?

In short, can spirituality be intelligently pursued, rationally understood and actually experienced here and now? Vedanta, the philosophical system on which much of this book is based, says "Yes". Spiritual and material realms are part of the one and the same creation. As such, logically speaking, science and spirituality cannot stand in opposition. We will explore in this chapter the mutual relationship between science, spirituality, and religion and show how each can contribute to the welfare of individuals and society without running afoul of one another. The present chapter will also serve as a brief introduction to Vedanta before we get into a more detailed discussion of this philosophy in the subsequent chapters.

Science vs. Religion

Much has been said and written about the constrained relationship between our scientific and religious institutions. Both are great, vital institutions that have served mankind well, though it is not difficult to find numerous instances where both have also been a source of suffering. Science has been generally a constructive force bringing with it many blessings to the modern man. But it has also been misused quite frequently as a destructive power. Similarly, there is no doubt that the great religions of the world have succeeded in providing peace and comfort to their faithful followers from the stress and strain of worldly life; but they have also been misused to incite intense animosities between groups of people resulting in much suffering. These are well documented facts of history.

Well documented too are the many instances where science and religion have clashed. No doubt, both science and religion seek to be on the side of truth. Confrontation occurs when what religion holds as true is not acceptable to science, or vice versa. The approach taken by science to seek and assert truth is quite different from that used by religions. Science accepts as truth only that which can be verified by any observer at anytime by appropriate objective observations. Consistent with this view, science generally preoccupies itself with questions that can be verified through human observation. Religions, on the other hand, deal with many questions which, by their very nature, are beyond the capability of direct observation. They rely on scriptural authority to assert their views on these questions. To the extent the issues of respective interest to science and religion are not overlapping, confrontation between the two can be avoided.

There is some overlap, however, and clashes do occur. For example, religions do have views on origin of the universe and the genesis of human beings which also happen to be areas of great interest to modern science. Here the traditional religious views tend to be at odds with the results of scientific observations. Similarly, some personal and social customs mandated by religions (dietary restrictions, for example) may be contraindicated by scientific principles. Religious dogmatism is often blamed by scientists for the continuation of the controversy in the face of what they consider as objective evidence. But science itself has been blamed as being dogmatic for its view that basic questions of concern to religion, such as God or life after death, are not worthy of discussion since anything we say regarding these cannot be verified by direct observation.

One may rightly despair whether this stand-off between Science and Religion can ever get resolved. A resolution is possible provided we have a right understanding of science and religion and of the mediating role of spirituality. Vedanta, this author believes, provides us with this necessary understanding.

What is Vedanta?

Vedanta is a highly developed system of philosophy that finds its first expressions in the scriptures of ancient India known as Upanisads. This philosophy has been further developed in other scriptures such as Bhagavad Gt and Brahma sutra and interpreted in the elaborate commentaries of generations of subsequent philosophers. Vedanta contains the highest truths in spirituality; many consider it as the science of spirituality because of the rigorous logic employed in analyzing and discriminating truth. It is a science also because of its emphasis on suggesting practical techniques for spiritual development whose promised goals can be personally experienced by the practitioners in their present life. This after all is what a good science is supposed to be-its theories logically sound and predictions personally verifiable.

It is no accident then that the teachings of Vedanta strike a responsive chord...