Scientific Spirituality in Indian
Perspective
Presidential Address by:
– Dr. Pranav Pandya, MD
Head – All World Gayatri
Pariwar, Shantikunj
Chancellor – Dev Sanskriti
University,
Haridwar, Uttarakhanda
Global Crisis Requires …
A Paradigm Shift in
• Understanding
• Valuing
• Knowing, Our World
Factors governing life style…
In the days of yore
• Religion
• Spirituality
• Nature
Since the 17th century
• Science
• Technology
• Exploitation
Science V/s Spirituality
At the root of the clash lie two streams of
beliefs.
Reductionist Approach V/s Holistic Approach
Science V/s Spirituality
Science believes
• Everything is made
up of matter
• Demonstrable
through experiments
Spirituality advocates
• Pure Spirit is reality
• A subject matter of
consciousness
• Can be experienced,
but difficult to
demonstrate in
laboratory
Science V/s Spirituality
Science
• Physical senses are
our only means of
obtaining knowledge
Spirituality
• By transcending the
limitation of senses
only true knowledge
can be experienced
Science V/s Spirituality
Science
• Denies existence of
anything that is
supernatural,
Metaphysical or
extrasensory.
Spirituality
• Emphasises on
harnessing of subtler
and causal realms.
Science V/s Spirituality
Science
• Life is manifestation
of bio-chemical and
bio-physical matter .
Spirituality
• Life is manifestation
of Supreme
Consciousness
• Has definite purpose
and order.
Swami Vivekananda
The various life forms are nothing but the
degree of manifestation of Omnipresent
consciousness
Science and Spirituality in Indian
Context
• India was not merely a religious nation of
snakes and Sadhus as projected by western
scholars.
• Majority of people were leading material
life for mass teaching guided by righteous
wisdom, not merely seeking Nirvana.
Science and Spirituality in Indian
Context
• There was no dearth of people like
propagators of modern materialistic view.
Charwak : “Bhasmi Bhutasya dehasya
punaraagamanm kutah”
Science and Spirituality in Indian
Context
• The religion was based on progressive
thoughts.
• Ten tyaktwa bhunjitha..Ishavasyopnishad
• Words of scriptures were debated and
treatises were written for better explanation
of existing knowledge.
Science and Spirituality in Indian
Context
• No boundaries of nations, religions,
languages etc.
• Spirituality and religion were one and the
same and integrated with day to day
material life.
Religion can be explained in its 3
forms
Metaphysics
Ethics
Spirituality
The Medieval period
• Emergence of new practices and hence
religions/sects.
• Conflicting things about true nature of
spirituality were propagated and imposed in
the name of religion for vested selfish
interested.
Scientific Spirituality
Pancha Tatva
Apara
+
Prana Chetna
Para
A unification of these two is
desirable for this Universe to
come into existence.
Scientific Spirituality
Pancha Tatva
+
Prana Chetna
Science not guided by spirituality
became self-destructive and a
liability rather than asset.
Religion isolating itself
from Science became
superstition.
The prevailing misconception ....
izpfyr Lo:Ik &
/keZ v/;kRe dks vkt ds le; esa deZdk.M vkSj
fdz;kvksa ls tksMdj ns[kk tkrk gS
Hkxoku dh iwtk Hkh O;fDrxr rFkk rqPN
HkkSfrd lq[kksa dh izkfIr gsrq dh tkrh gS
Our Sages - Rishis were scientists
of consciousness
They made their own body the
laboratory to conduct
experimentation and they devised
the disciplines adopting which
ordinary human being can develop
supersensory and Para
psychological powers.
Some Pioneers of Ancient India
• Yagyavalkya – Science of Yagya
• Vishwamitra – Science of Gayatri Sadhana
• Kanada – Theory of Atom
• Patanjali – Ashtanga Yog
• Bharadwaj and Charak -AYURVEDA
• Sushruta – Surgeon
• Aryabhatt – Astrology and Mathematics
Some Pioneers of Ancient India
• Garg Rishi - principles of
Constellation
•Bhaskaracharya – Mathematics
•Bodhayan -
Geometry
•Koutilya _Economics & Political
sciences
Synthesis of Science and
Spirituality
Stages of development of Science
• Childhood stage : considered
consciousness as mere matter
• The Juvenile period : Psyche and power
of mind were recognized.
Synthesis of Science and
Spirituality
Stages of development of Science
The Middle Age: With some hiccups science is
accepting spiritual powers like
*
The behavior of Earth as a single
living organism,
*
Telepathy,
*
Precognition,
*
The presence of a Universal Mind, etc.
Synthesis of Science and
Spirituality
Stages of development of Science
• The Maturity: Science will finally integrate
with Spirituality and It will become Science
of Consciousness.
• The religion of future.
• Psychology and Philosophy – the subjects
of 21st Century.
Deep Ecology

This is now a global grassroots movement
founded by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess
in Early 1970s
 In his view shallow ecology is anthropocentric or
human centered
 Deep ecology sees the world as a network of
phenomena that are fundamentally interconnected
and interdependent
 Was
IT RECOGNISES THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF ALL LIVING BEINGS AND
VIEWS HUMANS AS JUST ONE PARTICULAR STRAND IN THE WEB OF
LIFE.
Physics and Spirituality
* Physics deals with mattes, beings.
* Spirituality deals with consciousness.
Matter and machine have made life
material
(Newtonian Mechanics)
Now Scenario has changed …
Atomic Structure – Particles – Quantum
Mechanics – Grand Unification of Forces
Much closer to spirituality
Now Scenario has Changed …
Mattah Parataram Nanyat Kincidasti Dhananjya
Mayi Sarvamidam Protam Sutre Manigana Iva 7/7
– - Bhagwat Gita
“ There is noting else besides me Arjuna. Like
clusters of yarn beads formed by knots on a
thread all this is threaded on me”
Theory of Everything is
Spirituality
Physics has made a journey from matter to
energy fields and then GUF.
Now physics is merging with spirituality
Pioneers of Synthesis
Scientists and Philosophers : Albert
Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Karl Jung,
Elvin Toffler, Fritjof Capra,Dana Johar
Spiritual Personalities of Modern Era :
Sri Aurobindo, Maharshi Raman, Swami
Vivekananda, Pandit Shriram Sharma
Acharya
A center for research and training
on Scientific Spirituality
Research has been conducted to establish the intercommunion of Science and Spirituality.
More than
80,000 results
have proved
that the
synthesis is
very strong.
The Research
Lab
Computerized Tread Mill Test
An Advanced Test to Measure Cardiac Efficiency
Computerized E.E.G.
Computerized E.E.G.
21 channel Polyrite
This Electroencephalograph Equipment is used to measure
various parameter of the Brain. Various wave burst pattern
specially alpha waves are noted during intense meditation.
Bursts of alpha waves are
measured after filtration
through Crude EEG by a two
channel Physiograph. The
Percentage
improvement
shows efficacy of Meditation
and power of Mantra Shakti.
The Effects of Yagya

Human beings
Plants and Environments
 Subtle World

The Institute, Equipped
with most modern instruments
to find out the effects of Sadhana
and Yoga
A G E W IS E P ER C E N T A G E D IST R IB U T IO N O F
S A D H A K S IN S H IV IR
15%
1%
43%
18%
1 5 - 2 5 Yrs
2 26 3- 3%5 Yrs
3 6 - 4 5 Yrs
4 6 - 6 5 Yrs
>
6 5 Yrs
Younger Generation is coming up more and more in
Shantikunj to attend the Training Camps
From the land of Ganges –
Saptsarovar area, Haridwar
Dev Sanskriti University
2002
Organic extension of
Brahmavarchas Research Instt.
A Centre for Research and Study of
Ancient Indian Sciences and Spirituality with dedicated faculty for
Study of scientific spirituality
Situated at the foothills of Himalayas - in Haridwar ,
about 200 Kms from National Capital Delhi
Emphasis
Value based practices :
•
Prayer
•
Meditation/Yogic
exercises
•
Community services
•
Yagya therapy
Emphasis
Value based Management
• Work culture
• Subsistence allowance
• Teaching by behaviour and action
• Involvement in the development
of society
Headquarter at Haridwar
SHANTIKUNJ
On Delhi Badrinath Highway
Patron-Founders
The World is Getting ready
for a big Change. Scientific
Spirituality is going to be
st
century
the Religion of 21
Will You Participate?