Science, Spiritualism and Service

The three sides of a triangle which merge with one another at the deeper level. Science is an inquiry in the world outside. Spiritualism is an inquiry into the world within. Both are complementary to each other, as there cannot be a world, without a world within and vice versa. Both search for truth into the nature of things around us and also into the vast world within us.

Science deals with the study of nature, matter and their behaviour, to which all physical sciences belong. Spiritualism, on the other hand, is a study of our feelings, emotions, meaning of life and the unlimited world of the spirit within us. If we wish to know man in all his dimensions and facets and also if we wish to study the entire world in which we live, science and spiritualism have to grow together so that the total knowledge becomes comprehensive and integrated.

That is why the greatest scientists ultimately become spiritual and the spiritually evolved saints appreciate the majesty of science. It is only at a very low level that the pseudo scientists and the pseudo saints separate the two from a very superficial point of view.

At the deeper level of understanding science and spiritualism merge with each other beautifully. No wonder Albert Einstein, the father of nuclear physics, said “Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind.” Service to mankind is actually, as Mother Teresa says, love in action. There cannot be love without service, nor can anyone serve without love. In fact, service is an appreciation of the unity of creation and to comprehend that all of us are children of God. The Upanishads declared, Ekam sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti (Truth is one, sages call it by various names).

This is the view of modern science also with the GUT theory (Grand Union Theory) wherein the scientists postulate that the entire universe is created and sustained by one form of energy alone. The more we understand this aspect of life, the more we get attracted towards service, because by serving others we are only helping ourselves.

The entire creation is interdependent. Nothing can survive without the help and support of the other parts of creation. Even human beings cannot survive without the presence of the plants and trees around us, which make oxygen for us. In fact the trees are only the forms of Lord Siva in the sense they take poison, that is carbon dioxide from us and, in return give us life saving oxygen.

This is the law of nature. Every flora and fauna in the world is interdependent for survival on others. Therefore, we are all interlinked by the majestic energy of God which binds us and unites us into one complete whole. The beauty of life is in realizing this and giving abundantly to others. The joy of giving is always in the lives of saints, seers and sages in all times and climes. A society or a nation that takes more than it gives perishes in no time whereas a society that gives more than it takes flourishes and nourishes others. The story of all civilizations is reflected in this eternal truth.

Khalil Gibran says : “Beauty is that which attracts the should and that which loves to give and not to receive”. The joy of giving is in not expecting any return from the taker. The best example of this is abundant in nature, which continuously gives us sustenance and nourishment of our lives without expecting any return from us. The trees, the flowers, the fruits, the rivers, the sky, the planets and the sea all give us their products or beauty without asking anything in return. And it is all given free.

Swami Vivekananda says: “The only living who live for others the rest of mankind is more dead than alive.” Sometimes we have a little pride and arrogance in giving without realizing the real spirit of giving. Swamiji says it beautifully, “Do not think you are doing a favour by helping somebody, on the other hand he is doing you a favour by helping to get rid of your debt.”

In fact, we should realize that we are all indebted to others for whatever we are worth now. We are indebted to our parents, brothers and sisters, teachers in school and college, society and the people around us who serve us, friends and customers in fact, to the entire creation around us.

We have received all our lives, many things in many ways, without which we could not be what we are today. Is n’t it our duty to pay it back to society ? Therefore, service is not a luxury, a hobby or a fashion but an unavoidable obligation and sacred duty towards the society. If we think deeply about our life, we will easily appreciate that, in truth nobody gives anything. We can only give what we have. And all that we have, we have received from others only, as we came to this world with nothing.

We also go from this world nothing and we cannot carry anything to the next word. It is therefore foolish to acquire so many things here, without giving it to others. In fact, it should be called hoarding as any businessman does, in case we do not give after taking everything. In essence, no one really gives, we only recycle. The water that comes from the clouds in the form of rain goes back to the sea which in turn sends it by evaporation to form the clouds. Thus again, the law of nature illustrates the joy of recycling. Life is only in the joy of giving and not in acquiring and keeping it with ourselves.

We come to the inevitable conclusion that service is only a way of life and an attitude of mind and a deeper understanding of the law of nature. The true scientist and the spiritual people, the seers and saints of this world fully appreciate and lead their noble lives reflecting every moment this beautiful principle of existence. To give is to live and to keep is to die.

In summary, science, spiritualism and service are only three sides of the same coin if we are allowed to use such an expression. Service only makes us appreciate the unity in creation and the love for fellow human beings. Our lives should be an unending story of realization of this truth. Now wonder our sages said in the Sastras, Paropakaram idam shareeram, which means this body is to serve others only. Let this be the motto and goal of our life.

By Dr. Arundhati Devi
The Writer is a Director-
Editor, International
Indecency Prevention
Movement

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