Dharma and Science at Sutra Journal

Articles on Dharma and Science

Fritjof Capra and the Dharmic Worldview

August, 2015 by Aravindan Neelakandan

On 18-June-2004, a 6.5-foot statue of dancing Siva was unveiled at CERN by its Director General, Dr. Robert Aymar. A special plaque next to the statue explained the traditional symbolism of Sivas dance also quoted Fritjof Capra a particle physicist himself, For the modern physicists, then, Shivas dance is the dance of subatomic matter. The statue, a gift from the Indian Government, was to commemorate the long association of Indian scientists with CERN that dated back to 1960s. read more

Fritjof Capra on Science and Spirituality

December, 2015 by Fritjof Capra

The systems view of life, not surprisingly, includes a new systemic understanding of evolution. Rather than seeing evolution as the result of only random mutations and natural selection, we are beginning to recognize the creative unfolding of life in forms of ever-increasing diversity and complexity as an inherent characteristic of all living systems. Although mutation and natural selection are still acknowledged as important aspects of biological evolution, the central focus is on creativity... read more

A Cognitive Science View of Abhinavagupta’s Understanding of Consciousness

March, 2016 by Loriliai Biernacki

I propose that the Hindu, nondual Śaivite system that Abhinavagupta lays out offers a framework that may be useful for our contemporary cognitive science and philosophy of mind precisely because Abhinavagupta offers a theory for connecting the material with the phenomenal. read more

Ahimsa and Ecology

March, 2016 by Pankaj Jain

Several scientific studies have pointed out that every being in nature is intrinsically valuable because every other being is directly or indirectly dependent on each other's survival; this is the fundamental motivation of scientists and environmentalists to save the biodiversity in every part of our planet. Therefore, even a cobra has the right to survive. Moreover, other beings have an intrinsic duty to protect it as long as it is not a threat to them. read more

Kriya Yoga in the Light of Recent Findings in Neuroscience

January, 2016 by Marshall Govindan

If we consider that the mind is an embodied and relational process that regulates the flow of energy and information, we can use the mind to change the brain. By focusing our attention, intentionally directing the flow of energy and information through our neural circuits, we can directly alter the brain’s activity and its structure. To do so, we must know how to promote well-being through awareness. Mental activity actually creates new neural structures. Hence, even fleeting thoughts and emotions can leave read more

Science vs Spirit: A Secular Spirituality for the Digital Age

December, 2015 by Nick Seneca Jankel

For a long-time, I was stuck in the classic double bind of modernity. I enjoyed a deep love affair with science - Randomized Control Trials, Evidence-based Solutions, Proofs and Refutations, Logic, Reason… Brilliant! But I thought all this conflicted with an even deeper intuition of something inherently meaningful and interconnected about the universe we live in. read more

Vedic Cosmology - Integrating God and Physics

February, 2016 by Mauricio Garrido

Even though the explanations found in the texts of the world’s spiritual traditions are admittedly not exhaustive in the details referring to the origin of the universe, they do outline key concepts thereof which are important to the development of the philosophy for spiritual development that they present. The Vedic cosmology of ancient India is incredibly rich and has many points of tangency with modern cosmology which may help in the construction of that common ground between science and religion. read more

Why Believe in Rebirth?

December, 2015 by Dr. Jeffery D. Long

In a now famous conversation between Carl Sagan and the Dalai Lama, Sagan, a scientist and renowned skeptic, asks, Your Holiness, what if we were to prove, scientifically, that there is no such thing as reincarnation? To Sagan’s great astonishment, the Dalai Lama replied without hesitation that if rebirth were to be disproven, then the word would need to be put forth that Buddhists should stop believing in it. The Dalai Lama, however, then stumped Sagan with the question... read more

Consciousness: The Ultimate Reality

May, 2016 by Navin Doshi

Mathematics is the golden key to communicable truth of reality of the natural world-maybe even beyond our limited bandwidth. The key to non-communicable truth is the mystic experience through yoga and meditation. read more

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Articles on Dharma and Science

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