Indian thought and Western Science

The main difference in the two IMO is that Indian philosophies developed on an abstract basis versus the exact nature of the Western rationale (which has it's roots in Aristotle and Greek science). Consider the view of nature of the two - The Western thought says everything is divisible. You break a substance into atoms and molecules, they are further divisible into electrons, protons etc, which are further divisble. Everything can be studied by dissecting it infinitely. This thought, although changed a little bit with particle physics and quantum theory still forms the basis of Western science.
On the other hand, Indian or more correctly Eastern thought believes in the essential unity of things. If you want to study and object, do not break it, rather see its interaction with others, and most importantly study the system as a whole, rather than its parts. To state a simple example compare Ayurveda and Western medicine. Antibiotics are full of side effects,as any doctor should tell you. On the other hand, Ayurvedic medicines are such that the "whole body" is considered, hence curing a burn does not affect any other organ. The whole body is treated rather than the individual parts. With a little thought, one can get this stark difference in thoughts in Eastern and Western philosophies easily in almost all of their aspects.


The same happens when one deals with the question of evolution. With their characteristic experimentation, Western scientists came up with classic explanations of the phenomena. Microbes to aquatic animals to amphibians to terrestrials to apes to humans. One can see the evolutionary tree in any biology book.
The Indians, on the other hand do not give as much attention to the detail. They base their theories on abstract concepts. They realize that everything starts small, as a seed. Be it a plant, an animal or a work or a thought, it needs a seed. Thhe seed, when nourished completely results in a plant. Like Tukaram says:
'Aadhi beej ekale, beej ankurale rop vadhale'
or there was but one seed, the seed germinates and the plant grows.
The Indians realize this inevitable process in all processes. The seed germinates, grows and dies. This is the inescapable law of nature. Similarly, there cannot be something as complicated as a man ad hoc. It (the life) has to start with something small, simple, but has all the potential to fully grow. But what was in the small is also in the magnification, hence the equal importance given to all life-forms in Indian scriptures. The basic knowledge that life started with simpler creatures and then became more and more complicated is present in the Indian thought, however there are no details filled in like the Western thought. A classic example (and proof) of this is the Nasadiya Sukta or Creation hymn in Rig Veda. It says there was a ‘source of power’, and nothing else. From ‘It’ came everything else. This is the highest generalization about the nature of the process, without any details. The stress again is on knowing the essential nature, and not the details.

With this striking difference in methodology, the one striking similarity is that they both are intensely rigorous. When one says that mind has a material nature and depends on external input (like food, water) just like the body, the rishis have studied the mind carefully to discern that. In Indian thought, the entire stress is on experience, no logic, words or explanations, only experience proves the truth. There is not a shred of blind belief; all realities described as ‘truth’ are open to questioning and have stood the test of repeatability. The same can be said of Western science, with one major difference. The difference being that science still admits there is no ‘Theory of everything’, in other words, science is still not in a position to explain everything. On the other hand, Indian rishis claim to have found the truth and simply describe it as ‘indescribable’. Although they say the truth cannot be conveyed in words, they prescribe the ‘yoga’ for finding out the truth for oneself. This is perhaps the only thing to suggest that Western thought is on its way, while the Indian philosophy has reached the goal in deciphering the truth, and hence is able to grasp the underlying unity in all the things.

To sum up, it is wrong to say one system of thought is superior to another or vice versa. Rather, both are not only complementary but also useful for the human race. While the spiritual thought process (Indian/ancient Vedic for our discussion) is required for a basic sense of understanding of our own Self (no matter what degree the understanding is at), the Western science and technology is required for the daily sustenance and wellbeing of the race. A combination of both, and an intense study of both is required for the advancement of the human race!

Kabir's doha

Kabir was a saint in India, who is dear to many people's heart. Unlike many other saints who walked in India from time to time, Kabir refused to have himself categorized as either a Hindu, Muslim, or a Sufi or a bhakta. Kabir's dohas are usually in simple, easy-to-understand Hindi, with a very nice meaning and moral.

I wish to present one of his dohas here.

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein
Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein
Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta
Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon
Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Mein To Hun Viswas Mein

This is a crude translation:
Where do you search me, my friend
I am near you
Not in a teerath(holy place), nor in a moorat (idol)
Nor am in solitude
I am neither in a mandir or a masjid
Nor am in the Kaaba or in Kailas
I am near you, my friend,
I am near you.
I am not in jap (recitation) or in tap (penance)
Nor am in proceedings or in fastings,
I dont stay in kriya-karma (action)
nor in yoga or in sanyaas (renunciation)
Not in the pran (the vital elements) or the body
Not in the universe or the sky
I am not in the womb of nature
Or in the breath of the breath
If you look for me, you can find me immediately
With searching just for a moment,
Says Kabir, listen all you good folks,
I am present in the trust (vishwas).

As is evident, the 'I', in the whole poem is the 'Self' or the 'truth' or simply the 'peace', that a common man searches in his life. Kabir starts off by declaring it is not to be found in any of the common places, such as places of worship, holy places, or in actions or renunciation. It is not even present in the body or the breath or the sky or the Universe. The last verse, then says, that "it is always within us, and hence can be found within a moment, if you know where to look for."

The moral of the doha is to turn oneself inward, to seek what one is finding within and not outside. All our life, we move around to try and find some things. Although there is an excitement of search, there are also wounds we incur as a result of ceaseless movement. The key to stopping this is to look for the truth first within oneself, which according to Kabir, is where it always rests!

In the last line, Kabir says, 'main to hun vishwas mein'. 'Vishwas' can be translated as faith or belief or trust. Here, Kabir asks the seeker to simply have trust in God! Most people try to find Him, without trusting Him. The key is complete submission, like Krishna asks one to do in Gita. Do your duty, let Him take care of the results. If you depict your life as a chariot, the key is to hand over the reins in His hands and do what part He asks one to do. That is the complete 'trust', which Kabir asks a person to have within himself. Only a man with such complete submission comes close to finding the truth!

May we all have that trust within ourselves, may we all follow the path of complete submission, may we all get a taste of that Infinite Bliss the saints covet! May we all follow on our path towards Truth!