TODAY'S CONSIDERATIONS
"Science will someday advance to the point that it will confirm the validity of the non-dual teachings."
--Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
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The following comparisons and contrasts were shared on this site in 2009 but remains relevant to the current topic:
1.
Religion usually claims that its teachings can identify the individual cause of each and everything.
Science (as is the case with Nisarga yoga) teaches that the cause of all is all, that what is happening now—or what is now—is merely that which is at the ever-moving, ever-expanding “end” of an infinite series of happenings.
2.
Religions, (twenty-three in total) have claimed that their “leader” or “savior” was born of a virgin; thus, Christianity was not the first and only religion to claim its "savior" or "prophet" was "born of a virgin" but is, instead, the 23rd to make such a claim.
Science (as is the case with Nisarga yoga) explains exactly how impregnation happens, and it involves the vaginal, not the virginal.
3.
Religion claims that a god or gods are involved with what is called “birth.”
Science, again, makes clear that nothing more than an act of friction and an exchange of fluid is involved (as is the case with Nisarga yoga).
4.
Religion has persons believing that a god or gods are involved with what is called “birth.”
Science makes clear that nothing more than an act of friction and an exchange of fluid is involved.
5.
Religions teach tales of destruction by god-arranged floods, by god-sent fire and brimstone, by god-arranged wars, by god-made cracks opening in the earth and swallowing thousands.
Some Philosophies (such as Buddhism) would have you believe that devastation by hurricanes, floods, etc. are set into motions and guided by “negative karma.”
Science proves the actual cause of floods and earthquakes and, in the case of hurricanes, how it is that oceanic temperatures, the earth’s rotation, global torque which accelerates a hurricane’s movement toward the pole of the hemisphere where it forms, and other weather systems determine the course of hurricanes.
6.
Religion would have you believe that it is a sin to masturbate.
Science shows that anything that is natural (that is, anything that no one had to teach you to do) is quite normal.
7.
Philosophy claims that "life" can be defined and that "the meaning of life" and "the purpose of the life" of each person can be known.
Science says that, since a word cannot be accurately used to define itself, life cannot be specifically defined. At best, the characteristics of cells can be named, but to say that “life is a state or mode of living” or that “life is the experience of being alive” do not meet the standard.
8.
Religion tells you that the body that decays or is burned until only ash remains will re-form and be able to experience joy and suffering as well as happiness or physical pain such as that produced by fire.
Science explains that when the elements of a body return to the universal pool of elements, they may cycle as something, but a former body is not included among the possibilities.
9.
Religion would tell you that it is better to die than to have protected sex and waste “the seed,” a message that has worked for centuries to increase membership and income.
Science suggests that the sane and reasonable approach would be to practice safe sex.
10.
Religion wishes to control people and tell them what they can do and cannot do with their bodies.
Philosophy often tries to present arguments that can lead people to “living a better life.”
Science offers facts and then steps back and allows humans to make their own decisions (i.e., “Unsafe sex has been shown to kill “x” number of people annually” as opposed to “Don’t have unsafe sex”).
11.
Religion claims that humans can live in a supernatural fashion.
Science claims that a human’s existence can happen naturally or unnaturally (the latter including efforts to live supernaturally).
12.
Religions come and go and the teachings and dogma vary from one time to the next although a core set of myth-based tales are usually retained and provide a common link in many cases.
Science deals with facts that are unchanging and eternal and unequivocal.
13.
Religion opposes both innovation and discovery.
Science seeks and supports both.
14.
Religion teaches that doubt is a sin.
Science sees doubt as an asset that can lead to discovery and understanding.
15.
Religion is based in fear, is marked by activities intended to avoid or be free of what is feared, but at the same time continues to feed the fears of its members.
Science is based in fact.
16.
Religion is closed to possibilities outside its defined beliefs and rejects facts and proofs even when they provide concrete evidence that certain beliefs or theories are false.
Science assumes no belief before investigating to find fact.
17.
Religion disseminates false tales and superstitions as truth.
Science disproves or disputes false tales and superstitions.
18.
Religion thrives on emotional and spiritual intoxication.
Science thrives on reason and logic.
19.
Religion requires life-long participation in rituals and ceremonies and services.
Philosophy does not discourage endless discussion and dialogue.
Science focuses on questioning and investigation until facts emerge and that ends the focus on that subject matter.
RITUAL-FREE LIVING, DOINGNESS-FREE LIVING,
SPIRITUAL-EXERCISE-FREE LIVING,
AND
NATURAL LIVING
Certain Advaitins also attach to a guru or an ashram and involve themselves in life-long devotion or study or rituals, burning this or ringing that, etc.; some involve themselves in extended occupation with study and the teachings; a few take the nisarga approach which suggests that you “go back the way You came, find truth, and then be free and enjoy the remainder of the manifestation.”
The “going back” is a seven step journey that in almost every case now requires a teacher to explain the steps, after which all study and “spiritual work” can end and natural living can begin.
Of the three options discussed here that persons turn to in a search for a vehicle that might facilitate the traversing of this relative existence with Peace and Love and Light and sanity and logic and reason…
. . . one fosters emotional intoxication as its primary “hook”;
. . . one offers an opportunity to talk about dozens or scores or even hundreds of possible ideas and concepts regarding the questions some humans raise about “life” and “meaning” and “purpose” from dozens or scores or even hundreds of theorists;
. . . and one offers an opportunity to cast aside emotional intoxication; to find certainty in an excess of ambiguity and improbability; to be free of a surplus of theories and theorists; and to tap into the only one of the three that points toward truth.
And by using that scientific, questioning, objective, logical, investigative and open methodology, one set of teachings circumvents the inventions and fantasies of myths and superstitions and fables and tales. And in the process of being free of belief in falsehoods, only one set of teachings uses that objective questioning methodology to point toward truth.
And among all the sets of teachings that circumvent invention and fantasy and myth, only one subset endorses ritual-free living, doingness-free living, spiritual-exercise-free living, and natural living.
For those awakening to even a slight degree, the sane and logical and reasonable approach is apparent; for the remaining masses, religions and philosophies will remain the vehicle of choice.
So it has been for 5000 years, and so it is now. While the hold of dogma and ideology is fading, their efforts to form and control minds is likely to continue for a considerable period. So that is too. Recent surveys show, however, that more and more persons are seeking religious and / or spiritual sobriety and truth by searching outside the “traditional boxes.”
To be continued
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