Science & Spirituality — Dichotomous or Unified?

The Great thinkers of our time have?defined?Spirituality?as the “Search for a higher experience of our own self”. What does it truly mean? Why are we born here?on this Earth,?to begin with? What is our true?purpose?in life? These seemingly mind-boggling questions have trickled down the corridors of time and still probe for an answer.?Science?has taken us far into the depths of this realm. Whether it be the magical atomic structures inside the?cell?and the DNA or even the subatomic particles lurking in the shadow of an atom, they all are masterpieces in existence and form intangible pieces of a larger puzzle. The?Universe?thus forms the canvas of an epic portrait! In this article, let us explore?through an ordinary man’s notion, both the scientific and spiritual theories, that have?taken us a step closer to answering this puzzle.

Humans have always been fascinated by the world around them. Whether it be the pioneering discoveries of Newton?who discovered gravity, or the revolutionizing ideas of Max Planck’s quantum physics, Man has always sought to understand his true place in the universe. Each idea or reason forms an indispensable link in this chain of life. Each of these ideas arose out of a ‘thought’—?the thought of?understanding the fundamental truths of his own existence. This thought, even though subtle, has proven to be a powerful agent of influence and change. Thus we see that?what emerged as a thought, has paved the way for a truer and better awareness of our own selves.

The greatest faculty a human being possesses is the ‘ability to think and perceive’. The human mind is thought to be the most advanced in the animal kingdom. As of now, we still haven’t discovered any other species with such a heightened level of intelligence. There are still various disputes among scientists as to the exact nature of the human mind. Spirituality professes that the mind is a conduit for consciousness to exert itself. So basically it is like the operating system of a computer. Now, what is this term ‘Consciousness’?

To understand the nature of consciousness, let us consider the life of a single human cell. The human cell is a wondrous, thriving, living entity. It is the fundamental building block of the human body. The body typically comprises about 100 trillion cells. In accordance with the basic laws of chemistry,?a?cell is made up of several molecular structures such as proteins and amino acids, formed by the agglomeration of different kinds of atoms. This molecular union forms the DNA; the magical ingredient to cellular coherence. What most of us have failed to acknowledge is the intelligence behind this molecular symphony. How is it that these chemicals are aware of how to form some of the most complex structures ever seen? Modern research in the field of cellular biology and embryology points out the fact that each cell, even though part of a greater whole, has a separate and unique identity. Inside every?cell is a bustling community, that?performs various processes with utmost precision. This is where the importance of consciousness arises. Behind every act of the cell, some unknown field waves its magical wand. This field is thought to be the mastermind of whatever we see around us. People often refer to it as ‘energy’ or even ‘consciousness’.

Surprisingly the ever-evolving field of Quantum Physics seems to cherish this notion. During the past decade, scientists have tried to foster different kinds of research in this branch of science. What they infer from their research has created a paradigm shift in our sense of reality. This reality that we perceive with our senses, is nothing more than the interaction of energy at different vibratory levels. What we perceive as solid tangible objects, are in fact merely the ‘ballet’ of this energy. This might be the term ‘Maya’ as referred to in our spiritual heritage.

When we journey into the vastness of space, we would again notice similar forces at work. With the recent advancements in science and particularly astronomy, we are capable of journeying into the exuberance of space without even leaving the Earth. We have recently spotted millions of galaxies and star systems than ever in history, with the help of modern telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope and Kepler Telescope. We have observed the marvels of creation within cosmic giants like Supernovae and Nebulae. We have noticed stars cannibalizing other stars, hot gases agglomerating to form nascent protostars, stars exploding to form black holes, and so on. The forces at play do not seem to be accidental.?All these entities have provided a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of creation itself. We cannot help but perceive a sense of familiarity with what happens at the cellular and quantum levels.

We observe that whatever?happens at the Quantum level and in the vast expanse of the cosmos is nothing but a faint reflection of the consciousness which we can now infer to be universal. Swami Vivekananda described this as the concept of microcosm and macrocosm. Whatever that exists in ourselves, is exactly what is present in the outside universe as well. Within the macrocosm of the universe dwells the microcosm of our own selves. In the physical context too, whatever that exists today, came from the smoldering ember of dying stars.

“We’re made of star stuff

We are a way for the cosmos to know itself”.

-Carl Sagan        

Our physical body is nothing but the coherence of atoms and molecules. So what is?that?essential ingredient to the existence of life? Is it something that is constrained to the body? Or is it something beyond the narrow confines of bodily awareness? Spirituality affirms that it is the flow of ‘Prana’, the primal vital life force, which sustains life. This force circulates through all living things. Proper channeling of Prana ensures perfect homeostasis. It is the essence that governs the rhythm of life.

So what is the purpose of this precious life that is given to us? Modern scientific research conducted using tools such as hypnotherapy provides keen insights into these uncharted waters. Scientific work by Dr. Brian Weiss, Dr. Raymond Moody, and others reveal what spirituality stated thousands of years ago. This human life is one among the many lives that we have had before. Our true place in this?dynamic universe is focused upon the very cause of our existence. It is said to be changeless, formless, omnipresent, and immortal. It is a part of the source from which all things emerged.?Entombed in the sufferings of the human condition, we slowly learn and march on. Thus the purpose of human life is to refine and expand our consciousness to the extent possible so that we can finally reach our true ‘home’. It is said that when this refinement achieves its highest level, we begin to experience reality in its true nature. So Spirituality and Science really do meet on common grounds in the search for the Truth. It really is the “search for a higher experience of our own self”.

As of today, Science is still in its infancy, even though it has come a long way from the Descartian concepts to a greater holistic?nature?as encapsulated in the quantum theory. With further advancements in technology, directed toward the progress of humanity, we shall see a new revolution emerging. Like a plant that derives nourishment from the soil, Science draws inspiration from Spirituality. Although various debates are still ongoing as to the role of science and spirituality in the development of humanity, if we observe closely, we can see that they are indispensable tools for our evolution, provided we use them wisely. At present, both Science and Spirituality have symbiotic ties with each other. Like a sharp knife, it all depends on how we utilize them, whether it is for our evolution or destruction.