The world today “looks” much better in places but “feels” far worse in as many places. If science were the panacea it should “look” and “feel” good all over; ditto for spirituality if it were the key to everything. Thus there is something to be said for both science and spirituality. This paper aims to offer an almost comprehensive philosophy (cum pseudo Darshan:– Hindi Equivalent of Philosophy) encompassing– science, religion, Science v/s Religion and technology & spirituality. Besides incorporating almost generalized applications and near universalized implications for the whole world, it has special relevance to India.

A short backgrounder would go a long way in setting the tone. Till, the first millennium (and before) man was mostly concerned with survival. Once agriculture made physical survival relatively easier, a few men had leisure (spare time to think/ observe). This set them out trying to answer all the questions about the natural world and unravel all mysteries of the spiritual realm. It is in this period that almost all the major religions evolved (since they were mostly concerned with survival). Two distinct branches of humanity– broadly described as Oriental & Occidental (Eastern & Western) developed– each having a different way to engage with nature. The former interacted with nature by harmonizing with it while the latter engaged with it by going against it– trying to conquer it. While the Oriental was focused on survival, status quo, harmony, subtlety etc. the Occidental thrived on change, conflict, bigger, faster, multiple…

The cradles of eastern civilization– India & China (in particular India) were lush green valleys with vast hinterland and little or no immediate threat from the outsiders. It made them inward looking, self preserving/security seeking, sticking to the tried and tested. This formed the basis of the evolution of religions.

On the other hand, the regions of origin of the western civilization (Egypt & Mesopotamia) though river valley areas were not ideally suited for long term settled way of life – being surrounded by the desert and coming as they were from a warring, nomadic, tribal way of life. It made them outward looking, adventurous, searching for the new. This provided an ideal state for the development of science – based on analysis; looking for the differences and similarities in the parts. (It is not a coincidence that the clarion call given was “Go west man; go west“).

However, at the end of the day too, science couldn’t provide all the answers and all mysteries could not be revealed to everybody by spirituality. In other words, the biggest generalization is that there is no ultimate generalization in Science; and the greatest universalisation is that there is no universal religion. So, the two tolerated each other – if not with respect or acceptance. Meanwhile, the undercurrents and overtones of conflict remained –particularly between pure science and religion. ISHR looks at the ways to minimize it – by insisting upon science to steer clear of ultimate generalization/ homogenization and religion to stay off perennial Universalisation / romanticisation. In fact, ISHR goes further to claim that not only does any such ultimate generalization/ perennial universalisation not exist presently but it will never arise ever in future too. In other words, everything in science is relative and all aspects of religion are relational. This becomes pronounced at the extremities/ extremes – infinite & the infinitesimal : matter / thoughts and subtlest & supreme : sensations/ emotions. (Since the day to day life is not concerned with extremities/extremes – generalization of science and universalisation of religion ”seems” to work). This view reduces the arrogance of Science and shakes religion out of its smugness.

The above mentioned developments took place simultaneously with material and social stages of scientific development and spiritual evolution respectively. With the increase in the size of human brain the survival ability increased and with increased convolutions of the neocortex the potential to achieve enhanced. Man started grasping with the more complex and subtler aspects – the non-rational and para-rational. For instance, Science tried to ”control” the non-rational by developing psychology, psychiatry etc. and spiritually attempted to ”discipline” para rational by evolving Tantra, Mantra, Yantra etc. Though their mutual tolerance grew yet the undercurrents of conflict persisted.

At the end of the second millennium, philosophy was outpaced by the developments of science and men started to feel that they’re losing control over their lives. Furthermore, the two world wars exposed the futility of carrying the conflict to its logical conclusion. Ways were sought to means of marrying (combining and / or harmonizing) science/ technology with religion/ spirituality. However, the endeavours were half baked half hearted at best- more in the nature of co-opting or diminishing than collaborating or cooperating. In an attempt to gain respect in the west, spirituality attached to itself various scientific tags viz. Yog science (a contradiction of terms) while in the undercurrent religion retained the dismissive attitude (Oh! It’s all been mentioned in the Vedas/ Puranas etc.); likewise to gain more ”acceptance” science avoided direct conflict with science (viz. most western scientists being agnostics-and not atheists) while technologists retained the condescending overtone (viz. saying that after all, spirituality too is applied knowledge – which it is not ; it is ”shared experience”; it begins when you stop thinking and start ”feeling”). This has precluded the maximizing – optimizing of the overlap areas of science and religion. ISHR aims at facilitating and furthering it. (The saying ”East is east and west is west and the twain can never meet” holds true- but only at the extremes; barring extremities, the two can and should meet)

At the turn of the second millennium, some more steps were taken in that direction- globalisation for instance. Terms such as GDW (gross domestic well being) started floating alongwith. GDP(e.g in Britain); EQ alongwith IQ etc…. ISHR outgrows and transcends all these – viz. by stating that even GDW is not enough- it should be GDH (gross domestic happiness- as practiced in Bhutan) alongwith GDP; likewise mere EQ is not sufficient it should be SQ (spirituality quotient) in tandem with IQ. As mentioned earlier, ISHR works at minimizing the conflict zones between science & religion/ thoughts & feeling / East & west as also to maximizing – optimizing overlap areas between technology & spirituality/ sensations & actions.

This is done through a clear understanding of the ”limits” of science and ”limitations” of religion. Science is limited by the fact that it cannot explain as to why was the universe created in the first place (or the scenario prior to creation and many such things) – it tries to play it down by limiting the role of the creator post big bang – saying that for all practical / phenomenal purposes it doesn’t matter what happened pre- big bang ; Religion, on the other hand cannot explain all phenomena in experiential terms, esp. the purely intellectual ones viz. it has no means to make anyone experience an equation of pure abstract mathematics (neither is it of any great help in creating new things). The closest religion comes to a science is physics – by explaining physical phenomenon in terms of the creator. Beyond a point the purely scientific approach leads to frustration ending in a conflict – and, after a time, the purely religious approach becomes dissatisfying and leads to disengagement from the phenomenal/ real/ material/ practical world.

What ISHR does is to point out that not only are science and religion in their purest/ most evolved forms incompatible today (esp. in the external/ material/intellectual/ rational world) – they’d remain so for all times to come. For, they are so by their definition/ nature. That doesn’t spell doomsday – and it doesn’t also mean that scientists must give up searching for the answers to the pre- big bang scenario – all it is saying is that at most the scientists will get increasingly closer to the answers (a reason enough for continuing) without actually getting there – now or ever in future.All ISHR is saying is that there is a difference between an impossibility in lay terms and a mathematical impossibility- you cannot fathom the infinite while being in the finite (body). Though the scientists will never get an accurate answer but they’ll start asking the right questions about phenomenon and reach increasingly closer to the answer. Likewise, the religions will never be able to satisfy all the queries of the phenomenal world (Viz. who created the creator?). This is no reason for banishing religions– ISHR is merely saying that you cannot create a perfect world/ being – all you can do is to take the world from an imperfect state to subsequently less imperfect stages without actually ever becoming perfect. For, you can never experience the whole while being a part of it – there is a difference between individual improbability and universal improbability.That a person/ world can be less imperfect is justification enough for being religious/ spiritual. Though he may never have the ultimate holistic experience – with every subtler experience doubts/ questions about god/ creator will reduce/ vanish.

To sum, though one may keep trying to keep trying to reconcile science and religion -some areas are both impossible and improbable to combine/ harmonise viz. never try to explain an equation of abstract pure maths in terms of religious experience nor for that matter attempt to describe a sublime religious experience in terms of a mathematical equation.

Thus whatever the level of scientific progress the space for god / creator is there and will continue to be there in the future. (As Voltaire said ”Even if there were no god people would’ve invented him”). Hence scientists must stop short of usurping the respect of religion by labeling science as the religion of modern times and all that. Similarly, whether in conflict with religion or not, science will have a scope in the affairs of men. So, there is no point in religion trying to co-opt its admiration by adopting scientific tags and the like. All in all, it must be ensured that the conflict of irreconcilable areas (pure abstract maths & religion) should remain limited to the realm of ideas/ feelings and not be allowed to spill into the field of action/ reaction. Science should stay off collective faith; religion should not meddle in individual belief.

Having identified the irreconcilable areas of science and religion we now come to the focus of our paper: Which are the areas which can be reconciled and how to maximize– Optimise them? The aspects which lend themselves to reconciliation, theoretically speaking are technology and spirituality– the applied aspects of science and religion respectively. Unfortunately, in the present state it is precisely these areas where conflict is the maximum- at least in the overt, temporal sense. It has largely to do with ignorance and a lack of clarity.

Whereas scientists of the highest order (In particular pure mathematicians) often lead a monastic life, it is the technologists – with their ”can do” approach that is focused on the ends alone – who often overlook the means thereby trampling upon others’ spirit. The way out of this is to make the technology available to the poorest, the moment it is devised- without much time lag (instead of the opposite as it happens today). This’ll remove/ reduce the ends only fixation and make the technology into spiritual technology. Likewise, at its most evolved level spiritualists are as disciplined as scientists in serving one and all (esp., the poorest)- they are secular- but when it comes to the religious leaders they are cued to the believers alone which helps divisive tendencies. For this, we must increasingly reduce the role of religion in the phenomenal/ temporal life leaving it to secular spiritualists and spiritual technologists alone. That doesn’t mean the end of religion for it is equally fallacious to be an atheist as it is to be superstitious. As for agnosticism (which many scientists adhere to– believing in a limited god)- it is another name for not believing in god in the absence of a personal experience. The way out is to be a believer with personal experience by becoming a secular spiritualist – helping the less fortunate, sharing the material/ intellectual goods- irrespective of caste, class, time, space… To quote a prayer of the Indian Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The USP of this ISHR is that it does precisely that– it gives you the strength to change for the better by showing the limits of science (which are practically infinite for the day to day life), it gives you the courage to face the unchangeable by showing the limitations of religion and it also gives you the wisdom to know the difference by talking about mathematical impossibility and religious improbability.

It encompasses both the external (material, natural) as also internal (emotional, spiritual) world. In many ways ISHR outgrows whole of Darshan (pseudo philosophy) and in other aspects it transcends even the most overarching scientific theories such as the string theory (the theory of everything) propounded by Einstein (extrapolated by Stephen Hawking and others)- it that sense it is the most integrated and holistic Philosophy-Darshan till date; yet it remains at best an outline– its details and subtleties will have to be provided/ filled up by the technologists and spiritualists (perhaps by spiritual technologists and secular spiritualists). The merit of ISHR lies in pointing to the futility of trying to combine the irreconcilables (Science & religion; at best their irreconcilable aspects can be contained within the non- temporal) and shifting the focus to the aspects which can and should be combined– technology and spirituality. The myth has to be broken that science is the panacea of all the material ills and religion is the balm for all misfortunes. It is only with spiritualist technology that the material ills of the poor can be combated and it is through secular spiritualism that the unfortunate can be empowered to face life.

Till Newton’s time, it was possible for an educated man to have a broad idea of the whole human knowledge. Overspecialisation meant the loss of control as it was no longer possible to do so. ISHR once again makes it possible for an ordinary individual to have a broad idea of the entire knowledge. At the same time, it becomes probable for him to have an entire range of experiences.

The basic theme of ISHR is that mind and soul (mind is the software of brain and heart is the hardware associated with soul) are two different things. That ”thoughts” and ”feelings” are two different entities (though they are transformable). Even the physical paraphernalia associated is different– the ”thoughts” mechanism works primarily with the brain & spinal chord whereas the ”feelings” setup constitutes primarily of thalamus, hippocampus, amyglada and pre-frontal cortex.

Using an analogy, our body is like an automobile- Brain is like the engine; mind is like the braking system; organs of movement are like the accelerator and senses of perception are the hand brake. The point is that ”thoughts” and ”feelings” are two extremes of a continuum- transformable into each other when tending to infinity. Thus, for all practical purposes in day to day life, they are completely different entities and should be treated as such.

When that is the case, virtually a whole new vocabulary would be required- to understand from the twin perspectives of thoughts and feelings. For instance with this concept Science and Vigyan will not connote and mean the same thing. Whereas science would be mostly based on, analysis, induction, proof and rigour, Vigyan would have most of its basis in, synthesis, deduction, observation and experience. Whereas in Science the theoretical part would be primary and the applied aspect- technology– would be secondary, in Vigyan the application/ experience would be supreme; with Gyan (theory) only as a support element. While the former would include all the sciences (in particular, pure sciences), the latter would comprise ayurveda, astrology and other such applied branches.

In the same vein, Religion would not connote the same thing as Dharma- the latter being more about the applied aspect- Aacharan (spirituality) while the former is more concerned about rituals, prayers, congregations, sermonizing etc.

The key premise of ISHR is that a very high level (if not the highest) of science-religion harmonisation can be attained and the highest level of technology– spirituality combination should be achieved. It exhorts to make science integrated by harmonizing it with spirituality and to make spirituality holistic by combining it with technology.

ISHR speaks of the fact that science is by definition exclusivist and thus inclusive ”growth” is not possible using science alone. However inclusive “development” is a possibility– using technology for the collective material/ intellectual upliftment of the poor. Likewise, holistic religious development of all too is an improbability given that world is divided into many religions which have been there for far too long to give way for a universal world religion. To talk of it is utopian– at best, efforts could ensure peaceful co-existence of all religions at a level higher than mutual tolerance– that of mutual respect. However individual spiritual growth is a possibility through spirituality– by alleviating the grievances of the most unfortunate, by protecting the traditions and the like.

So, ISHR combines integral scientific management of natural resources for sustainable growth with holistic spiritual activation of human resources for equitable development. Being a Philosohy– Darshan ISHR has applications/ implications in all the areas of life (barring perhaps the extremes like pure abstract maths) viz. Polity, economy, education, health, media et al; Likewise it has relevance/ influence to all the aspects of humanity (Save perhaps the extremities like the saints) : individuals, couples, family, society et all. India has the best chance to apply ISHS as it has a highly evolved spiritual backdrop and a developing Scientific temper.

The idea of ISHR is to lead from an imperfect to a less imperfect world. As the limits of science and limitations of spirituality stand exposed, a paradigm shift is called for.While doing so there is no need to reinvent the wheel besides being careful about not throwing the baby out with bathwater. In other words, the new approach has to pick the best of science and the most valuable of spirituality while leaving out their worst and add it to more than the sum of parts. Mere globalisation (the world is a village-competing with everybody) will not do; it’ll have to be combined with glocalisation (Vasudhaev Kutumbkam– treating everybody like your neighbour). When the majority of humanity starts believing and practicing these principles & values, the human race would’ve finally shed its animal tag. Many sects/ spiritual bodies (viz. the Brahmakumaris) have been predicting the end of the dark period (Kalyug)/ coming of the new age (viz.the Bahais) by the end of this century; eminent scientists such as Stephen Hawking too have expressed cautious optimism about discovering the ultimate laws of nature as the century draws to a close; I too second the optimism and predictions albeit with a rider- that this will come about if and only if the quest of spirituality is combined with the search of science.

The first millennia belonged to Religions (east/ mid-east); the second millennium was shaped by science (west/ far west); if we have to make the world”look”as well as ”feel” good at most (if not all) places and for most (if not all) people- if we are not to self destruct in the third millennium, we’ll have to work with both science and spirituality at the same time. It is not an either/ or issue- it is ”the” way.

ADDENDUM (AUDIO – VIDEO/ SPACE –TIME: OUTLINE)

There is just one energy which expresses itself in various forms, it being both audio & Video (non-dual particles and waves) at the same time. Video represents the material world (also of thoughts)- is external and futuristic. It begins as a longitudinal wave and gets increasingly faster and bigger till at infinity it starts behaving as both particle and wave at the same time (becomes non–dual). It all began/ begins with Big bang when the duality is created and ends in White dwarf leading to black hole when duality ceases.This explains the material/ inorganic world.

In the organic world too matters proceed in a similar manner. Audio symbolizes the organic world (also of feelings)– is internal and past oriented. It is initiated as particles moving at same place- gets increasingly subtler and slower till at minus infinity (infinitesimal space, oldest past) it starts behaving as both particle and wave (transcendental)- becomes non-dual. Life is initiated when the smallest part of mobile visible video (sperm) comes in contact with the subtlest section of audible audio (Ova) and a non-dual visible audio-video: the first cell (embryo) is formed. It is akin to the primordial non dual audio-video/ nature/ god of the material world- save in time and space. Gradually, differentiation takes place and when the first completely dual visible video– audio is reached that the child is born. (It is because of the least amount of differentiation/ non- duality that the stem cells are being used for genetic diseases). The differentiation of video and layering of audio takes place– the former quicker than the latter through the life till death when the duality ends. (The relation of video with life is illustrated by the fact that when the child is born eyes are closed; around age forty eyes start dimming; in fear, eyes become wide open; at death eyes become still…)

Within the day too, there is an audio– video cycle which mimics the Universal and life cycles. When you get up in the morning, video starts increasing with the activation into the visible range till it peaks at noon whereafter it starts decreasing till it reaches the median level at sunset.

Audiostarts getting subtler post sunset and attains the median level at bedtime. Further slowing down means the audio reaching its subtlesst just before get up and the cycle is repeated.

N.B: ISHR’s key premise– To attain a very high level of science-religion harmonisation and achieve the highest level of technology– spirituality combination : by mapping the parts of brain (brain stem, cortex, neocortex etc,) and ascertaining the layers of mind (sensations, feelings, emotions, etc.) in terms of audio-video/ space time and thereafter using specific techniques and universal kriyas to attain/ achieve/ it.

ADDENDUM

ISHR explains all phenomena and describes every experience in terms of four basics: Audio &Video in relation to/ conjunction with space & time.As is known, science tries to describe all phenomena in terms of space and time and spirituality attempts to attain all experiences in terms of audio & video (Shabd & Jyoti- Hindi equivalents of Sound & light). While the former describes everything in four dimensions (three of space and one of time) the latter shows the path to universal experiences in terms of three levels of audio (audible sound, primordial sound and silence) and one of video (visible).

At the beginning of the universe/ big bang there was infinitesimal matter which was non-dual; in other words infinitely long ago (for all practical purposes) an infinitesimal (zero- for all practical purposes) non–dual (behaving both as video & audio; particles and waves) matter became so dense that it blew up (big bang) and our universe came into existence. In this universe matter had a dual nature– video and audio behaved differently– as particles and waves respectively. At the other end of the spectrum is the point in infinite future (for all practical purposes) wherein the duality becomes extreme and matter once again collapses into non-dual (black holes, white dwarfs and all that). This phenomenon has a counterpart in organic experience- whence a cell is born as non-dual entity (carrying both X & Y chromosomes); subsequent differentiation increases the duality which on reaching an extreme collapses into the non-dual again (death). Thus began the natural phenomena and likewise organic experiences originated in this manner. Over time Orient deciphered the subtleties of Audio, while the Occident mastered complexities of Video.

LEVELS OF AUDIO-VIDEO

Basically there are three levels each of video and audio which are:

VIDEO

1.Visible video (conscious)– in the present visible space outside of body.

2. Aware video (supraconcious)– current thoughts– beyond the present visible space and about the immediate future.

3.Unaware video (overconscious) Timeless holistic thoughts about life

AUDIO

1.Audible audio (conscious)- in the present time inside the body- interior monologue.

2. Aware audio (subconcious)– current feelings– beneath the present audible external sound and about the immediate past (Naad swara– the sound that is heard when you close the ears).

3. Unaware video (unconscious) Spaceless unchanging feelings.

Besides the above there are three more aspects of audio-video. They are:

1. Quasi Audio-Video : Brain Stem- it is non-dual albeit limited to present time space.
( feels present in relation to past ; sees a part representing the whole– holographically)

2. Quasi– video : It is video limited in space by the body (organs of movement).

3. Quasi– audio : It is audio limited to the present time (senses of perception).

The importance of this audio-video concept lies in the fact that by relating the correct/ apt audio-video to a matching/ harmonius time-space through appropriate Education/ Shiksha and by applying the right/ apt techniques/ kriyas one can tend to actual self realization/ real self actualization.

N.B : Three of the nine abovementioned dimensions cannot be worked upon– being non-dual (Brain stem, Overconscious and unconscious), genetically endowed/ predestined- either by Education/ Shiksha. They can at best be controlled/ disciplined by correct/apt Techniques- Kriyas.

SOME INDIA SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS (BASED ON ISHR)

• What should be the approach to agriculture (allowing corporates into agriculture only into barren lands and in non-traditional crops– where they can try mechanised, fertilizer based agriculture using genetically modified seeds and to promote organic farming with traditional crops in individual holdings); land to the tiller in traditional holdings & land to the owner in non-traditional ones.
• What kind of cutting edge technology to pursue (nano technology and stem cell research will suit Indians better on the basis of ISHR: Audio-video as they have a better chance at smaller/ subtler/ complicated aspects than bigger/ faster and complex ones such as astronomy);
• Water management– planning should be both watershed upwards and top down: in rural areas most water should be private property; in towns water for household consumption should be private property and that for commercial consumption should be public property and in metros all water should be the property of the state.
• What kind of architecture for which place: singled storeyed houses & commercial establishments using locally available resources and traditional designs in rural areas; Duplex houses with traditional designs & local resources and multistoreyed commercial establishments with modern designs in towns; multistoreyed structures for both houses and offices in Metros.
• Basic Sciences: Must be concentrated in the Metros/ Developed areas.
• Science communication– Basic sciences should be communicated through English; technical knowledge to be disseminated through regional languages.