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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)
In a word no. Hinduism establishes the following hierarchy for knowledge:
1) Raja Yoga - unbiased experience by a practiced yogi
2) Gyana Yoga - understanding gained from reasoning, inference,
debating.
Thus experience of a man with few biases should be taken to be above
the understanding of a philosopher. Experience must naturally precede
understanding but in Hinduism such experience is best described by a
man who has very few biases or personal preferences which may color
his interpretation of his experience. Thus inference should not
contradict experience.
Furthermore, Hinduism divides the cosmos into two parts, one which you
perceive through your senses (Prakrti or nature) and the other which
you experience through consciousness. It naturally considers that
which you perceive through your senses to arise due to conscious
awareness but a somewhat confusing, many times transformed, experience
of it.
However, it considers Prakrti or nature very significant because that
is the only thing that man has to go by when he is born. One cannot
understand or even practice meditation necessary to experience
conscious phenomenon without the aid of the senses if he does not pay
heed to the health of his material body, as meditation takes a great
deal of time to practice. Thus Prakrti is first paid respect in Hindu
rituals in the form of the deity of the Goddess Parvati.
A higher understanding of Prakrti would naturally lead man to conclude
that Prakrti is relative to his senses and his senses are relative to
his consciousness. Thus Hinduism even before Prakrti (deity of
Parvati) pays respect to the deity of Ganesha (Buddhi or intellect).
Thus the system is quite fully integrated. The deity of Shiva is
considered supreme consciousness which manifests itself to the senses
as nature or Prakrti (deity of Parvati) and in the process of
understanding Prakrti, one needs to use his buddhi (pay homage to the
deity of Ganesha) if he wants to reach Shiva. Ganesha is considered
the bridge between Parvati and Shiva.
ON EVOLUTION OF MAN:
The Shaivite branch of Hinduism concerns itself with the evolution of
the universe (Samkhya philosophy). As such it does not see creatures
evolving from other creatures but is far more concerned with how the
world "seems" to evolve from the perspective of the individual self.
The Vaishnav branch of Hinduism introduces and accepts the caste
system as some sort of a good/bad deed (karma) accounting system
resulting in a higher/lower life form in the next life including
castes in human beings. Shaivite history typically questions this
philosophy.
ON BIG BANG THEORY:
The Hindu version of creation or genesis is the Hiranyagarbha (the
golden egg) which describes the origin of the universe from
consciousness down to the basic classification of matter (classified
as manifestations of energy) to individual substances and creatures.
UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE:
All in nature is deemed quite uncertain as consciousness of man is
what really orders the universe.
MEDICINE:
Hindu medicine derives directly from the yogic system and the five
classes of matter (divided according to the senses) originated by
Shaivism. Thus it is quite integrated with religion.
THE REST:
Shaivism neither frowns on surgery nor bothers making statements
regarding differences in men or women. Pursuit of science is
considered a noble pursuit, though pursuit of conscious experience
through yoga is considered even better. It is presumed that the
pursuit of science will eventually lead to an investigation of
consciosness. You can do genetic engineering or anything else as far
as its concerned.
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