Spirituality and Science: Two Ways to Arrive at the Truth

By SANT RAJINDER SINGH JI MAHARAJ

Spirituality and Science: Two Ways to Arrive at the Truth

Some of the greatest scientists have attributed their sparks of genius to spiritual inspiration. "I assert that cosmic religious experience is the strongest and the noblest driving force behind scientific research," said Albert Einstein.

Scientists today are striving to discover how creation came into being, and how human beings came to be. A state-of-the-art space telescope has been able to detect some of the earliest moments of the Big Bang. By picking up signals from several light years away, we are able to glimpse at the early universe, whose light is only now reaching us, billions of years later. Will we ever be able to discover the secret of creation?

The question Who created us? continues to haunt us. Few scientists are satisfied with the theory that creation was a mere accident, the outcome of a combustion of cosmic dust. Spiritual seekers, too, are engaged in a similar quest. They are interested in the scientific laws of nature, but wish to go even further to find the divine law that brought everything into being. While scientists search through outer instrumentation, spiritual scientists plumb the inner consciousness.

There have been numerous accounts of people who have had near-death experiences. In fact, more such cases are being reported today because advances in medical techniques have enabled doctors to bring patients literally 'back to life' from what is called 'clinical death'. Reports talk about how more people today are turning to religion and spirituality, evincing keen interest in near-death experiences and the afterlife. Such people see no contradiction between science and spirituality.

What people take to be miracles are nothing more than higher laws hidden from us. Scientists are coming to realise that this universe is not as solid as we thought it was. Matter is vibrating energy that appears to the physical eye as solid. Performing miracles is nothing more than tapping into energy and manipulating it by power of thought and spirit.

Medicine today is slowly evolving towards a more holistic approach to healing. A lot is being said about the mind-body connection - of healing the body by healing the mind. Meditation as a way to reduce stress and eliminate stress-related illnesses is being explored.

Innovators have often confessed that their ideas were the result of some kind of "divine" inspiration. Some people live only to gratify their own desires and wants. But those who come in contact with a higher power discover that the greatest purpose of our life is to love and serve others. Scientists, for instance, devote their lives to better the lives of others. Thus, we find that the mission of both scientists and spiritual masters is one and the same. They are both here to find the hidden laws of nature, the higher power that created everything, and use their discoveries to better the lives of others. The striving is relevant for, as the great mystic poet, Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, wrote: "We are communing with the moon and the stars, but have not reached the heart of our neighbour".

Science and spirituality make for a mutual partnership. If those engaged in science spend some time in silence, looking within, they will get inspired to find answers to the questions they ask. Similarly, spiritual seekers, when they test hypotheses in the laboratory of their own body and soul, will find the answers.

So one can safely conclude that science and spirituality are two sides of the same coin. The aim of science is to uncover the deepest spiritual truths, and the aim of spirituality is to search for the cause behind scientific fact.