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>There is a discussion on Religion and Science in our school
>need info. references and quotes on Hinduism and Science.
>Like what does hinduism say about evolution of man, big bang theory,
>uncertainity principle, medicine, surgery, pursuit of science for
>pleasure, pursuit of science to help mankind (& womankind too), women in
>science.
>Did hinduism ever condemn scientists. (Ex. Galilio)
There is, in Hinduism, a distinction between 'higher knowledge' and
'lower knowledge' according to the Mundaka Upanishad I.i.4.
The lower knowledge includes all knowledge that endows a man with the
knowledge of the manifested universe and enables him to enjoy material
prosperity on earth. The higher knowledge enables a man to realize the Self
or God. The lower knowledge is knowledge of the empirical world and there is
no bar to pursuing it. The lower knowledge is obtained by the use of reason.
This is not the case with higher knowledge. The higher knowledge, knowledge of
God, is beyond the realm of logic since God is beyond our senses. Nobody has
ever been able to prove or disprove the existence of God using logic. If you
can do that then God will come under the purview of science. Thus God can only
be "known" in a supersensuous experience (Aporakhsanubhuti). Thus higher
knowledge, obtained by meditation, is supersensuous knowledge. There is no
conflict between these two types of knowledge since they operate in two
distinctly different realms. The higher knowledge does not contradict logic
but introduces us to an alogical realm.
Sri Sankara, the famous Advaita philosopher, makes the same point in
his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita 18.66:
" ...... The appeal to the infallibility of the Vedic injunction is
misconceived. The infallibility in question refers only to the unseen force or
apurva, and is admissable only in regard to matters not confined to the sphere
of direct perceptions etc. ..... Even a hundred statements of sruti to the
effect that fire is cold and non-luminous won't prove valid. If it does make
such a statement, its import will have to be interpreted differently. Otherwise
, validity won't attach to it. Nothing in conflict with the means of valid
cognition or with its own statement may be imputed to sruti." (Bhagavad Gita
Bhashya of Sri Sankaracharya translated by Dr. A.G. Krishna Warrier).
This attitude that sruti statements must not contradict logic and
reason has prevented persecution of any scientist in Hindu society.
Regards
Pradip G
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