Science and religion have something very similar and common; both of them have been striving sincerely to serve the citizens of the state with the maximum quota of happiness. As the men in numbers grew, so do their demands, and the state started its pilgrimage with religion as its spouse.2 It is undeniable fact that during their prime, all religions of the world have served their own immediate generation. However, the societies developed into the new patterns and more complicated scheme of things with time. The same old religion was not able to serve these over-developed societies; and somewhere around the Middle Ages, science joined the company with the same sacred motive of serving the state. The days of monopoly for the religion was over, and now the time has come when it has a worthy competitor. But the old religion, disgusted, jealous and almost exasperated, stayed behind, and science kept pace with the moving world.
Today, we have conquered the space and time (metaphorically), and have even travelled beyond the solar system (actually).3 Scientists and researchers all over the world have discovered means and methods to save the present generation from the clutches of the wild and irresistible powers of nature. Yet, for all our sweat and toil, we have won only fresh fields of carping sorrows in the inner world.2 No matter what we attain, we ultimately feel a sense of emptiness inside us. To fill this void, we are continuously running towards various materialistic pleasures. These pleasures, being finite, lacks the capability to endow us with infinite happiness. In the end, some of us ask ourselves the path by which we can transcend the inner turmoil, and reach the blissful state.
The methods to conquer the inner world and to attain bliss have been scientifically discovered and documented by the Great Rishis in the Upanishads. Just as to the scientists, the world of objects provided the field of enquiry, so also, to the Rishis, life as such presented itself as their theme for investigation and study.2
Supposing a scientist feels a sentimental attachment to the sample of common salt in his test tube; surely, he cannot thereafter do much of an investigation and discover the composition of sodium chloride. Similarly, if we are to maintain a sentimental attachment to life as such, it would generate a host of false values in us. It would distort and dim our vision of the whole.
The Great Rishis, as true investigators of life, developed in themselves a superhuman detachment from life, and by their intense and thorough research declared the truth about life. Some of the insights are as follows:
We, the scientists of the modern day, are in our own way the investigators of the ultimate truth. But our field of enquiry is the world of objects or the 'experienced'. On the other hand, the Great Rishis investigated the ultimate Truth by analyzing the 'experiencer', or the world of subjects. Both are scientists, the only distinction between them is their field of enquiry and in the methods of their investigation. Therefore, I conclude that religion is as scientfic as science. Unintelligent and blind followers may have made the best of philosophies serve as lifeless prescriptions for ritualism. But, if we can find the true source of knowledge, the Upanishads, and can implement the truths declared by the Rishis in our current life, we can see the strength of religion and its vital dynamism.
1 मन: inner-self (mind), दिर: dwelling place. So, mandir means a place where mind dwells. I refrain from using the word temple, because of it's ability to describe the true function of mandir.
2 Swami Chinmayananda, Isavasya Upanishad: God in and as everything
3 https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/
4 https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/vyasablack-genius-of-india
To know about the author Tanul Gupta (
