The Futility of Modern Research
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Definition of Research
Research is defined as human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation of matter. The primary aim of applied research is discovering, interpreting, and developing methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world and the Universe. Research can use the scientific method, but need not do so. (Wikipedia, 2008)
1. Introduction to Research
Everyday millions of dollars are spent on research across various disciplines. Mankind has been the beneficiary of various comforts and material gains as a result of this research. Modern research has not only made us more aware of our surroundings but also provided us the intrinsic knowledge that has in turn led to some critical inventions and discoveries. Various inventions and discoveries have changed the way we live. For example:
 We do not have to watch our children die from malaria.
The telephone allows us to communicate across continents.
The airliner transports us from place to place in a fraction of the time that our forefathers travelled the same distance.
Crop yields have greatly increased due to advanced agricultural techniques.
Yet from a spiritual perspective there is futility in this kind of research and here are the reasons for this bold statement.
2. A few concepts
First, a few spiritual concepts.
A. The basic purpose of life:
If we look at our lives, all our activities are fundamentally either about gaining some form of happiness or reducing pain. Most of us try to achieve happiness by engaging our five senses, mind and intellect. This may be by obtaining a new product, getting into a relationship or employing ourselves in work.
Accordingly we set a number of worldly goals in our life in search of this elusive happiness.
Unfortunately, whatever be our worldly efforts and even if we achieve them, lasting and supreme happiness remains elusive, as ever.
From a spiritual perspective the only purpose of life is:
To undergo destiny, that is, to complete the give-and-take account with various people.
To make spiritual progress with the final aim of merging into God and therefore getting out of the continuous cycle of birth and death. When we progress spiritually and merge with God, we get the experience of Bliss which is a quality of God. Bliss is the ultimate form of happiness. It is of the highest order and not dependent on external stimuli.
Progressing spiritually means transcending/dissolving the 5 senses, mind and intellect and identifying with the God principle or the Soul within us. This is the main purpose why we are born.
(Refer to our article - What is the purpose of life?)
B. Maya (The Great Illusion)
Maya or the Great Illusion refers to the created Universe. While most of us consider the world around us to be real, it is a mistake, although a natural one, to believe that Maya represents a fundamental reality or the Truth.
The Absolute Truth is God, Who is unchanging and resides in each of us as the Soul. The veil of Maya traps us into believing that everything we perceive with our five senses, mind and intellect is in fact the Truth.
Maya may be understood as the phenomenal Universe of perceived duality, a lesser reality-lens superimposed on the unity of Brahman, which is the Supreme God Principle.
Everything in Maya is subject to change, that is, everything in it goes through Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution. Everything in Maya is devoid of Bliss and that which is devoid of Bliss cannot be eternal.
Only God is eternal and Bliss is an experience associated with the God Principle. If we base our happiness on anything in Maya, our happiness is always short-lived as the very nature of Maya is change. Therefore, our happiness will always be based on a target that is constantly changing.
On the other hand, the soul or the God Principle within us is eternal and not subject to change. Once we transcend our five senses, mind and intellect and experience the soul within, we experience Bliss.
C. Pure knowledge
Pure knowledge or spiritual knowledge is the knowledge that pertains to the experience of the God Principle. It is endowed with an inner radiance of its own. It has the inherent quality of dispelling ignorance of the Truth. The Truth is experiencing that we are all part of the God Principle and not individuals in Maya.
3. Why is Research futile?
Reasons why modern research is futile are as follows:
Not aligned with the basic purpose of life: Once we have understood that the basic purpose of life is to realise God or to experience the soul within us, then all our efforts need to be aligned with this. Unfortunately, all research conducted in current times is related to Maya and not towards experiencing the God Principle or soul in us. As a result, it is detrimental, as it is not aligned with the purpose of life.
Promotes Maya: All research nowadays only fuels the notion that Maya is reality. Therefore, it leads us away from the Truth that God is the only reality.
Increased dependence on Maya: Research leads to inventions, which only enhance our dependence on the five senses, mind and intellect. These in turn make our ego more entrenched. Many inventions that we applauded are now harming us on a global scale - plastic waste, genetically altered food, atomic bomb etc.
Does not take into account the spiritual dimension: Modern research does not take into account the spiritual dimension, which is the main reason why we have problems in life. For example, over 90% of the reasons a person becomes an addict is because of root causes in the spiritual dimension.
Spiritual practice can enhance research: If one attains communion with God through spiritual practice, then one can obtain answers to any kind of questions in a fraction of time from the Universal Mind and Intellect. This would save billions of dollars in resources as well as research time.
4. The limitations of Research
Provides only momentary happiness: The reason for this is that it encompasses only that which can be understood by the human five senses, mind and intellect. Since these are a part of this perishable body, so
'Research' too is applicable to us for a limited span.
Impermanent: Every aspect of Maya undergoes the three phases of Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution. As a result, any outcome of modern research will be for a limited time period.
5. Advantages of practicing Spirituality
Move towards the basic purpose of life: By practicing Spirituality, a person gains access to soul knowledge and experiences Bliss and moves towards the basic purpose of life.
The acquisition of real knowledge: This means under-standing the Universe, which is beyond the mind and intellect and is devoid of
'I-ness'. This understanding, which is full of Divinity, purifies the intellect. Once the
'I-ness' dissolves, the being experiences inner Bliss. The Truth about the eternity of life dawns and this is known as
'Realisation of the Truth'.
Overcoming problems in life: Up to 80% of our problems in life have a spiritual root cause. No amount of modern research can shield us from the pain that we need to undergo due to destiny. The only thing that can help us is spiritual practice.
Ability to conduct spiritual research: After we practice Spirituality, our sixth sense begins to grow. As we evolve spiritually we gain uninterrupted access to the Universal Mind and Intellect and are therefore able to conduct spiritual research.
Spiritual research, unlike modern research, takes into account the physical, psychological and spiritual realms.
The spiritually evolved: People who are spiritually evolved live very simple lives, without the benefits of modern research and yet they experience Bliss as a result of their spiritual practice.
(Ref: www.SpiritualResearchFoundation.org )
H.H. Ramanand Maharaj's Janamotsav!
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H.H. Ramanand Maharaj is H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj's successor. (H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj is Sanatan Sanstha's source of inspiration.) He is affectionately called Ramji Dada. Very affable Dada acted as a very humble server of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj, till He lived.
Dada was sthitapradnya, one and the same during rain or sunshine during mirth or misery. He felt nothing during the torrential showers of abuses or lilting laughter of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj. Dada never uses any verbal jargon in a wanton manner! He is like the silent steam working in a railway engine. It does not make any noise, but keeps on running the engine. I quote a sentence very fondly and frequently uttered by H.H. Bhaktaraj to describe Dada thus:
"You will find Bhaktaraj and such similar persons; but you will find only one Ramanand !"
- H.H. Bejon Desai, Nasik, Maharashtra
(We pay obeisance at H.H. Ramanand Maharaj's Holy feet on the occasion of His Janamotsav which falls on Ashwin Shukla Dwadashi,12th October 2008.)
Picture prepared by Sanatan Sanstha adds a Unique Dimension to the realm of Spiritual Art !
This picture integrates into it, frequencies of every level in the entire Universe. Since Sri Krushna is a Purnavatar (Absolute Incarnation), He always manifests in His active form, endowed with the attributes of Shakti, Bhakti, Yukti, Bhukti and Mukti. This picture bestows the experience of each of these attributes. Creating such a picture is akin to actually bringing the Purnavatar Sri Krushna along with His sagun Creation onto the earth. This picture will therefore bestow the experience of Dwaparyug on earth.
- A Scholar (Through Sanatan's seeker Ms. Anjali Gadgil)
Put up this picture that blesses Truth with victory!
It is said that this picture of Sri Krushna-Arjun should not be put up in a house else Mahabharat re-enacts in the house. This is a misconcept. Why will Krushna, the complete Incarnation (instrumental in the victory of the Truth), create a fight in the house? On the contrary, those who fight for the Truth will get His blessings for their victory! From the fact that Sanatan faced a lot of obstacles in printing this picture, it seems that negative energies did not want the picture to reach every house. This shows that there is chaitanya in the picture! - H.H. Dr. Athavale
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Perform a Subtle experiment while looking at this picture !
Experiment: Some numbers are assigned to the grids in the adjacent picture. Look at the part of the picture denoted by no. 1 and then nos. 2, 3 and 4. Pay attention to what you feel at the subtle level while looking at each part and then read ahead.
Result of the experiment: We began making the picture with the thought that of the five spiritual levels of Shakti (Energy), Bhav (Spiritual emotion), Chaitanya (Divine consciousness), Anand (Bliss) and Shanti (Peace), it should emit frequencies of Shakti, since Sri Krushna and Arjun are on the battlefield. However, on its completion when my attention was drawn towards Sri Krushna, I had the spiritual experience of Shanti. Upon looking around Sri Krushna, I experienced Anand, Chaitanya and Bhav respectively. I wondered about the value of Shanti, Bhav, Chaitanya and Anand on the battlefield. Then, I realised that Sri Krushna was never angry during this battle; He never descended to the level of Shakti. Instead, because of His very Astitva (presence), the battle depicted in the picture is at the nirgun (unmanifest) level of Shanti. Hence, looking at Sri Krushna bestowed the spiritual experience of Shanti. From the nirgun, there is generation of Anand, Chaitanya and Bhav, in that sequence. Hence, on moving our gaze from the picture of Sri Krushna, that is grid marked no. 1, towards the grids denoted by nos. 2, 3 and 4, we experience Anand, Chaitanya and Bhav respectively. We know that the sagun (manifest form) is created from the nirgun, but we are seldom able to experience it. This picture gives us the related experience!
This picture by Sanatan's artist-seeker Ms. Janhavi Shinde contains Sri Krushna's Principle to the extent of 27.5%. (In Kaliyug, pictures/idols of Deities can attract a maximum of 30% of the Deity's Principle.) This picture has the ability to add a unique dimension to the realm of spiritual art. However, only those few artists who have a background of spiritual practice will be able to benefit !
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H. H. Dr. Athavale
Who will save the Nation?
Editorial
There is no denying the fact that the serial bomb blasts that rocked the capital city of New Delhi from 6.10 p.m. on 13th September have thrown to winds all the security arrangements of the Government. Once the capital of a country is conquered, the enemy does not need to do anything further.
The fateful evening of 13th September!
After the bomb blasts what remains to be seen? Whatever lengthy discussion will take place now will all be just an intellectual exercise. The intelligence agencies had warned that the Ganesh festival was on and during this period the terrorists will step up their activities. But the Congress Government in New Delhi failed to take preventive action. The Chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Sheela Dixit advanced a strange theory for finishing the demon of terrorism that the Government should possess more sophisticated technology than that available with the terrorists and then everything would be all right. What a ridiculous statement from a responsible person!
In other words, she means that let terrorism grow alarmingly, let the terrorists obtain superior technology during the period, we are sleeping and we will only remain busy discussing how to obtain superior technology. When the massacre was going on for 30 to 45 minutes, the Home Minister of the country was busy in changing his costume - a fact even the news channels also could not lose sight of. At 6.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m. and 10 p.m., the Home Minister came in front of the TV cameras with three different attires. What an irony!
When Delhi was burning, the Home Minister was changing dresses! Someone was heard saying that during the reign of the present Home Minister, 14 incidents of bomb blasts took place in 12 cities and 581 people died.
People should now decide themselves !
With the successive bomb blasts on 13th September, the Prime Minister's weak-kneed policy towards terrorism came to the fore glaringly. The present reign of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister is the re-run of Gandhism that was practised during our freedom struggle. They should themselves decide whether this would be in the best interests of the people of the country.
(Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')
The Truth behind the trouble in Karnataka
Denigration of Hindu Gods : Reason for attack on Christians!
Mangalore (Karnataka) - The Bharatiya media has presented a distorted version of Hindu-Christian clashes in Mangalore.
Presented here is a sample of abuses from one book - Satya Darshini - distributed by the missionaries of
'New Life', which led to the attacks. This book is in Kannada and translation of the abusive passage is as follows.
Urvashi - The daughter of Lord Vishnu - is a prostitute. Vasishtha is the son of this prostitute. He in turn married his own Mother. Such a degraded person is the Guru of the Hindu God Ram. (Page 48)
When Krushna Himself is wallowing in darkness of hell, how can He enlighten others? Since Krushna Himself is a shady character, there is a need for us to liberate His misled followers. (Page 50)
It was Brahma Himself who kidnapped Sita. Since Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were themselves the victims of lust, it is a sin to consider them as Gods. (Page 39)
When the Trinity of Hinduism (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) are consumed by lust and anger, how can they liberate others? Their projection as Gods is nothing but a joke. (Page 39).
When Vishnu asked Brahma to commit a sin, He immediately complied. How can such an
'evil Brahma' be a Creator of this Universe? How is it possible for both the sinner and the entity which provoked the sin to be Gods? (Page 39)
God, please liberate the sinful people of India who are worshipping false Gods that believe in the pleasures of illicit 'relationships. (Page 39)
All the 16 incidents that took place were not attacks on Churches. In fact, unauthorised prayer halls were attacked where the blasphemous pamphlets were distributed and aggressive proselytisation was taking place. These 16 incidents were not localised, but took place across three Districts of Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur.
The only place where attacks took place, apart from 'New Life' prayer halls, was at a small prayer hall in the premises of Milagres Church in Mangalore, where some miscreants had damaged a Jesus idol. The VHP and the Bajrang Dal condemned the attack at this place.
Following this incident, a Christian mob gathered and the situation went out of control, as the mob started pelting stones and disrupting traffic. The Police was forced to intervene and this resulted in unsavoury violence.
In fact, it is more appropriate to call it 'Christian-Police' clashes, since the Christians holed up in Churches engaged themselves in pelting of stones and disruption of traffic. The Police were forced to enter the Church to clear the mob and they found arms inside the Church.
Incidents of stabbing were reported in around four or five places across Mangalore District. In fact, an activist belonging to Sri Ram Sena was stabbed, which led to a bandh call by Sri Ram Sena
- a Hindu outfit that is not connected to Sangh Parivar.
The VHP and the Bajrang Dal have also clarified that they are not against the Catholic faith and the Churches. However, they have clarified that the public outcry would continue as long as illicit conversion activities and blasphemy of Hindu Gods take place.
It may be recalled that there was a public outcry against illegal prayer halls in Davangere District a week before the attacks. In that case, the administration had closed the unauthorised prayer halls that were mushrooming in the region.
Even the Kandhamal murder - which involved the killing of Hindu monk Swami Lakshman-anand by missionaries
- seems to have caste a shadow on this incident since the general public seems to have seen through Christian aggression.
(Ref: www.HinduJagruti.org)
Muslims appeal to Hindus to join them on Babri masjid issue!
Slap in the face of Hindus for seeking help from Muslims on Amarnath issue!
Mumbai - Sadhvi Ritambhara and Sadhvi Uma Bharati appealed to the Muslims to join Hindus on the issue of land for Sri Amarnath shrine board. However, Maulana Abdul Kadri, President of
'Indian Ulema Federation' said that if the Hindus join hands with the Muslims on the issue of Babri masjid, it would display Hindu-Muslim unity. (When history is witness to the fact that Babar demolished Sriram's temple and built a masjid on it, how can the Federation dare to say that Hindus should join hands on Babri masjid issue?
- Editor)
When asked whether the Government's action of giving land to the Sri Amarnath shrine board and withdrawing it later was a correct move, he said it was the issue of Kashmir and it could be solved through discussions. When the reporters insisted on a clear answer, he said the Government's action was wrong. (If the Government action was wrong, why then does he put a condition of Hindus joining them on Babri issue, in case they want support on the Amarnath land issue?
- Editor) When the reporters asked if it was correct to give the land to Sri Amarnath shrine board in the first place, he tried to evade. When the reporters persisted, Maulana Aliuddin Ansari sitting next to him became restless and told Maulana Kadri angrily in a low tone,
"Tell them, the land should not have been given." At last the confused Maulana Kadri said,
"If there is no provision in law, the land should not be given at all." Thereafter, the reporters fired a volley of questions, upon which the other two Maulanas sitting there got angry. After the press conference was over, one of the Maulanas suggested that all sing the National Anthem. All stood, but Maulana Ansari was not prepared to stand. He was made to stand forcibly. However, he did not sing the National Anthem. (The incident demonstrates his utter hatred for Bharat. - Editor)
Urdu has been declared an official language in UP and Bihar. Maulana Kadri said,
"In Maharashtra too Urdu should be declared an official language." (If Hindus are not alert, the day is not far off when Urdu will be declared a National language!
- Editor)
(Ref: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat')
SSRF receives Award from 'Brisbane Indian Times'!
Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF), a non-profit Organisation based in Australia, provides information on Sanatan Sanstha's spiritual research. It contributes an article every month to
'Brisbane Indian Times', a newspaper published from Brisbane, Australia. The aim is to make the people aware of the science of Spirituality through the article and start on their spiritual practice. The newspaper is available free of cost in Australia and its circulation is about 20,000.
An award is given every year by 'Brisbane Indian Times' to those who send the most useful articles and thus render valuable contribution to the society.
This year SSRF was honoured with the award at a function on 29th August 2008. It was given to SSRF for imparting guidance to people on Spirituality. The award was accepted by Mr. Atul Dighe on behalf of SSRF.
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