Originally posted on sciy.org by Ron Anastasia on Wed 13 Jul 2005 08:18 AM PDT
035 lp. Attitude towards Science
Subject: Attitude towards Science
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 08:18:37 -0700
From: "Lopa Paul" <LPaul@scif.com
To: scienceandspirit@sriaurobindocenter-la.com
Message - 035/149
Wonderful passages from the Human Cycle and Savitri ! Thank
you. Here are some thoughts that I would like to pass through the sieve
of integral yogins. I decided to omit uncertainties in the language
below, like, "in my opinion," "I think," "I suppose," etc. to
make the writing crisper. But these ideas are ready to be
corrected and widened ( and illumined ).
When I was learning science, I was amazed at the fact that the language
of mathematics does at all capture truth. We know that english or any
other tongue fails when one wants to express certain truths. But here
are numbers that conï¬rm! Yes, mathematics had to stretch itself from
natural numbers, to real numbers, to imaginary numbers, to ï¬ll in
the holes in some intuitive map of reality. But have they ï¬lled
all holes? We are no doubt looking at a "work in progress".
The next phase may not be that concrete. It may be occult, or
spiritual. After all, mathematics too has a tattwam (That-hood), which
is involved in it and it is trying to evolve. The world may not,
but we, who are in touch with Sri Aurobindo's ideas, realize that
science, in the social context, was an essential evolutionary
step. It is a facet of reality, an approximation. Just as
Newtonian mechanics is a good ï¬t in the low velocity range. We
cannot say Newton's laws are wrong, or that we have grown beyond it.
The schools still teach his laws and prepare the mind for Einstein's
relativity, which, in its turn may be just another preparation.
Meanwhile there were other phases of transition, like Hamiltonian
mechanics, which are as valid as Newton's and Einstein's theories, and
are taught and applied in real life. All these theories suffer similar
fates as prophets - use and destroy. I suppose because the
mind has no room for the many, apparently, conflicting truths.
My gut feel is that Sri Aurobindo has seen many steps ahead of
Einstein, it is only when we get there, we will look back and
exclaim in wonder at his prophesies. But why only the laws of
physics, he would have synthesized, integrated, many other pursuits of
knowledge. I would take the following stand. Pay respect to the giants
of each age, and realize their purpose in the big
scheme .
But not lose focus on the Big scheme. Since I am not in a position to
talk about Yoga to a scientist who is about to blow out the world, is
there anything I can do? Sri Aurobindo's practical guide, as I
understand, is to (just) do your Yoga sincerely. It will have its
effects. And if He decides to use your instruments ( mind, etc ) to
shake the world from its torpor, or otherwise, He will direct you.
Maybe scientist-yogins have different methods of communicating the
danger of their trade to their colleagues. Scientists in this mailing
list are called upon to share their ideas. Michael already gave us a
way in his panel talk.
Lopa
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