hinduism and verification

[SA_mkhya (Sâmkhya)]

Dear all,

            Here is what I have read in an on-line book called "Essence of hinduism": 

“”" Just as we first accept the formulae given by great scientists in our text-books of science and afterwards realize their truth by means of experiments in our laboratories so we should accept the spiritual formulae given by the Rsis and test their validity in the laboratory of our hearts. If we do so, we shall find that they are true for all time and for all men.

That is why we say that the Veda is eternal and impersonal. The knowledge of Brahman that we derive from it reaches its consummation in the individual spiritual experience of all men who have gone through the necessary discipline. Thus the ultimate ground of Hindu religious belief is not merely the arbitrary authority of a sacred book or a piece of historical evidence or an individual utterance, but facts of spiritual experience which could be ascertained by any man.“”"

Would not it be great if, as the text states, hinduism were open to a kind of verification within the reach of everyone? Hinduism would meet the criteria of science and would thereby become, presumably, the most rational of all traditional religions.

[Nick_A]

Hi S

Would it not be great if, as the text states, hinduism were open to a kind of verification within the reach of everyone? Hinduism would meet the criteria of science and would thereby become, presumably, the most rational of all traditional religions.

It is open to verification and is being done so in private circles as are the same essential truths in all the ancient traditions issuing from a conscious source. The truths exist within you.

But if you are going to verify these ancient truths scientifically, you must go by the scientific method:

1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.

2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.

3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.

4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments

The first step is “observation”: to impartially “Know Thyself”. You cannot begin to verify anything without the impersonal and impartial experience of it including yourself. We are either unable or do not want to experience such self knowledge avoiding the first step of the scientific method in favor of rationalization and wishful thinking. How can there be any legitimate verification of the truths of ancient traditions without the first step of impartial self knowledge? This is why verification is so rare.