Science, Rituals, Jyothisham, Vaastu etc

[a-TB]

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Thank you for your comments.

I have critiqued beliefs in a general manner across various areas and highlighted their harmful effects at both individual and societal levels. These ill effects are far-reaching, transcending generations, and can be very detrimental. I have provided a few examples to illustrate this point.

When it comes to individuals and their personal beliefs, I do not debate or challenge them. I respect everyone's right to hold their own beliefs, provided they do not harm others.

Regarding science, I have made several specific and concrete comments in this thread. If you disagree with any of my points, you must quote the exact statements I’ve made to support your critique, in which case I will be able to respond appropriately. However, your general characterization of science versus spirituality is not accurate if spirituality is understood as the teachings of Vedanta. Logic, as the domain of the intellect, plays a crucial role in going beyond the intellect itself—a teaching upheld by the Upanishads and the Gita, as explained in Shankara's commentaries.

The Pramana (means of knowledge) for concepts such as Karma Phala, papa, punya, etc., is found exclusively in the Veda Vakyas (statements of the Vedas). No other Pramana is available. The Karma model commonly propagated in society, which aligns with the perspective you have expressed, does not have a strong basis in scripture.

At the highest level, the Gita and the Upanishads speak of the absence of birth and death—there is no ultimate duality. References to rebirth and similar concepts are preliminary teachings only intended for preparatory purposes and are negated as one progresses toward the ultimate understanding.

Therefore, all the points you’ve raised fall within the domain of your beliefs. I can only respect your right to hold these beliefs and will leave it at that.

 

[sravna]

Thank you for your comments.

I have critiqued beliefs in a general manner across various areas and highlighted their harmful effects at both individual and societal levels. These ill effects are far-reaching, transcending generations, and can be very detrimental. I have provided a few examples to illustrate this point.

When it comes to individuals and their personal beliefs, I do not debate or challenge them. I respect everyone's right to hold their own beliefs, provided they do not harm others.

Regarding science, I have made several specific and concrete comments in this thread. If you disagree with any of my points, you must quote the exact statements I’ve made to support your critique, in which case I will be able to respond appropriately. However, your general characterization of science versus spirituality is not accurate if spirituality is understood as the teachings of Vedanta. Logic, as the domain of the intellect, plays a crucial role in going beyond the intellect itself—a teaching upheld by the Upanishads and the Gita, as explained in Shankara's commentaries.

The Pramana (means of knowledge) for concepts such as Karma Phala, papa, punya, etc., is found exclusively in the Veda Vakyas (statements of the Vedas). No other Pramana is available. The Karma model commonly propagated in society, which aligns with the perspective you have expressed, does not have a strong basis in scripture.

At the highest level, the Gita and the Upanishads speak of the absence of birth and death—there is no ultimate duality. References to rebirth and similar concepts are preliminary teachings only intended for preparatory purposes and are negated as one progresses toward the ultimate understanding.

Therefore, all the points you’ve raised fall within the domain of your beliefs. I can only respect your right to hold these beliefs and will leave it at that.

Beliefs are not accorded the status of truths whereas knowledge is. So what is truth? In an ideal sense those that hold universally and in a timeless way. For example the concept of Brahman. what sort of evidence do some thing need to be considered truths? I would say physical evidence and apt logic that exp[lains it perfectly with no possibility of contradictions.

Is Science then a belief system or a system of knowledge? Proclamations of Science are neither universal nor timeless. what is true in Science today is replaced by something else in the future. We do not know about universality but we can say if they are not timeless they not universal. Law of gravity may not hold in some spaces or may be different. Is science atleast verifiable? Not fully except for the physical evidence that it totally relies upon. but the logic are not irrefutable making the intellectual evidence shaky. The theories keep changing for the same evidence.

So science as is theorized and practised today is a system that solely hinges on physical evidence. How reliable is physical evidence? Not quite because they are tested at a particular point of time. we do not know the evolving status of the evidence. So there is a problem there too.

What about spirituality? It does talk about the universal and the timeless such as brahman and maya etc . Can we verify whether it is universal and timeless? Not by physical evidence but by logic and intuition. Logic that is not contradictory. Thats a huge thing. If we have to explain everything in nature starting from the creation of the universe and the origin and nature of space and time, the logic of timelessness has to unfold. The fact that we can see spiritual truths through our mind is consistent with spiritual knowledge though manifestation or implications can be physically seen.

So we see spirituality on a much stronger ground when it comes to deciding which is knowledge system and which is belief system.

 

[sravna]

Also spiritual knowledge is more inclusive. It honors the body too and talks of mind body integration for a spiritual experience whereas science totally dismisses mind and soul.

 

[sravna]

Timelessness is a logical necessity and there has to be a super intelligent entity associated with timelessness because if time and space constrained humans can be intelligent what about something unconstrained by space and time. It is essentially omnipotent omniscient and omnipresent and is what we call as God. Time bound reality then is more an illusion all of these beautifully expounded especially in Advaita.

 

[sravna]

Karma is nothing but the manifestation of the non dual reality in a physical mental setting. The nondual system by being timeless incorporates intelligence, ethics in an aesthetic and cohesive way. The system by nature incorporates dharma or righteousness. When projected as a dual reality the inherent righteousness manifests as the karmic system maintaining spiritual law and order.