RELIGION AND SCIENCE (I)

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

RELIGION AND SCIENCE (I)
Sri Swami Sivananda
Yoga and Science are inseparable. Science and Religion are inseparable. Science is part of
Religion. Science and Religion are necessary correlatives. Scientists are also monists in one sense.
They also emphatically declare that there is only one thing viz., Matter or Energy. A Yogi tries to
control the mental forces,a scientist the physical forces. This is all the difference between a Yogi
and a scientist. A scientist is also an unconscious Raja-Yogi, but his mind works in external
grooves.
Before the invention of watch, Yogius used to calculate time by measuring the shadow in
day and by the study of the movement of the stars in the heavens at night. They were perfectly exact
in their calculations. Astronomy and medicine received their first impulse from the exigencies of
religious worship. Yogins have a sound practical knowledge of Ayurveda. One who endeavours to
qualify himself as his own doctor can become a Yogi. He has to live sometimes in the jungles and
has to treathimself first, whenever diseases manifest. Otherwise his Sadhana will suffer and he
cannot have rapid progress in Yoga. You will find in the books on Ayurveda: “A healthy body is a
good instrument for doing virtuous actions and practising Yoga.” Those who wrote these
Ayurvedic books were great Rishis and Yogins.
Science is partially unified knowledge. A scientist observes the laws of Nature,
experiements in his laboratory, investigates, infers and draws exact conclusions from his
observations. He understands Nature. But he knows nothing of the origin or destiny of Nature! Who
made the sun and gave power to its rays? Who combined four parts of nitrogen with one part of
oxygen? Who gave power to electrons? Who gave power to atoms to combine into molecules? Who
or what made and bestowed upon the ultimate particles of matter their marvellous power of varied
interaction? Science does not know this great mystery. On the contrary, Yoga is completely unified
knowledge. A Yogi gets inner divine realisation. He clearly sees with his inner Yogic eyes the
subtle rudiments of matter. He identifies himself with the Supreme Being who is the Lord of the
Prakriti (matter). He gets control over the five elements. He clearly understands the whole mystery
of creation through direct intuitional knowledge. The scientist lacks this sort of knowledge. He has
only experimental knowledge.

In the matter of evidence in psychological question, the sense-perceptions with which
science naturally deals are only second-rate criteria and therefore to be received with caution. The
closing of the external channels of sensation is usually the signal for the opening of the psychic, and
from all evidence it would seem that the psychic sense is more extensive, acute and in every way
more dependable than the physical.
The business of science is generalisation of phenomena; it is the function of philosophy and
Yoga to explain. Religion is the practical aspect of philosophy. Philosophy is the rational aspect of
religion. The scientist tries to answer the “How” of the problem; the philosopher and the Yogi the
“Why” of it. It is a mistake to say that such and such an event occurs because of certain laws of
Nature. The laws of Nature do not give any real explanation of the phenomena. It is simply a
statement in terms as general as possible of what happens under given circumstances in his
expression of an observed order or uniformity in a natural phenomena. Science is concerned only
with the phenomena. It shows a marvellous harmony of Nature. But it is the problem of philosophy
and Yoga to solve the “Why” of Nature’s harmony. Scientists possess partial knowledge of the
universe. They have not understood the whole code of Nature’s laws. They have no knowledge of
the occult side of things. They have no knowledge of the astral, mental and higher planes such as
Brahma-Loka (world of Brahma). The unseen world is of far greater importance than the
sense-universe which is visible to the naked eye. A fully developed Yogi can function in all the
planes and so he has full knowledge of the manifested and unmanifested Nature. The senses by
which you get knowledge of the external objects are not fully developed. Therefore the knowledge
obtained is partial. The external senses are exact counterparts of the internal astral senses. Scientists
have no knowledge of the subtle rudiments of matter. Life will become fuller and richer, when one
develops this inner eye-sight by the practice of Yoga. Just as blood, when seen under the
microscope, reveals many mysterious things such as leucocytes, lymphocytes, nuclei, pigment,
germs, bacilli, etc., so also the inner Yogic eye reveals many mysteries of the hidden side of things.
The knowledge of the scientists is only fragmentary or partial whereas the knowledge of the Yogi is
full and perfect.
Science differs radically in its outlook from philosophical musings. Consequently the mode
of approach to its specific problems is different from that of philosophy. Yet there is some similarity
in their findings, when some broad questions are discussed.
Scientists have to learn many things from the Seers of the East. Who gave power to the
electrons to revolve? Who gave life to the cell or the protoplasm? What is that power that unites
atoms to form molecules? Who gave intelligence to the cells to secrete milk or bile or gastric juice
from the blood? Scientists are still observing and experimenting. They are still groping in darkness.
What is the cause of the origin of an impulse? Who is the director of the mind? What is the cause of
the origin of thought? Even if all the living scientists were to put their heads together to solve these
questions, they cannot give definite conclusive answers.
English-educated people are unduly carried away by scientific theories and discoveries.
Anything, however stupid it may be, when stamped by the seal of science, is regarded as gospel of
truth. A theory or doctrine, however fallacious it may be, is accepted as true wisdom for all ages,
when it is proclaimed in the name and on the authority of science. Even if some fantastic and
ludicrous statements are made with the stamp of science by a Haeckel, Einstein or Tyndel, people
are quite ready to swallow it with great avidity. Such is the fashion of the day! They reject as base
superstition the sublime teachings of the ancient Rishis and Sages. The brains of these so-called
educated and cultured people need a prompt, drastic and thorough flushing for a protracted length
of time. The poison has percolated into their very cells and tissues.
But I do not mean to condemn the wonderful discoveries and inventions that modern
science has contributed to the vast store of knowledge and happiness which the present generation
enjoys today. The radio, the aeroplane, the microphone and other marvels of science are bound to
baffle human intelligence. Scientists have found ways to fertilize an ovum with chemicals, without
the help of semen. It is stupendous success. Some children are also born. They inject the semen that
is obtained from renowned and cultured men of the world in order to improve the race. They are
attempting to fix a radio in a match-stick. They are trying to get the necessary nutrition to the body
by pressing an electric button, so that eating and defecation may be entirely abandoned. They are
endeavouring to make the streets move so that there will be no necessity for motor-cars and
carriages. They are trying to establish means of communication with the planet Mars. They may
succeed in all their attempts. May God bless them with roaring success in all their undertakings! But
the question is: Can all these comforts and scientific discoveries and inventions give immortality,
eternal satisfaction and everlasting peace? Have these material comforts enhanced human
happiness? Is not man more restless today than ever before? Is he not more dissatisfied and
discontented despite all these comforts? Life has become more complex and intricate. Luxuries are
increasing day by day. Even a rich man finds it difficult to make both ends meet. There is only one
remedy for all these ills. You will have to abandon all luxuries and go back to simple natural living,
if you want to enjoy real and lasting happiness. Immortality can be attained by realising the Self
through simple living, practice of Yoga, self-control, mental discipline and meditation.
Matter exists in different conditions or states viz., solid, liquid and gaseous. The conditions
may be made to change by variation of pressure and temperature. Water is turned into ice at a low
temperature and steam at a higher temperature. Every solid may become a liquid or gas under
suitable conditions; every liquid may be rendered solid or gaseous; every gas may be made liquid or
solid. One form of energy can be also transmuted into another form of energy. Heat can be
transmuted into light and light into electricity. Even so, seminal energy or muscular energy, anger,
etc., can be transmuted into spiritual energy (Ojas-Shakti).
There is life in the mineral kingdom. This has been conclusively proved by the experiments
of Prof. Von Schron at Naples. Even the elements manifest distinct preference. One element has a
strong liking for the company of another. One element may even give up the company of one
substance in order to join another element. This is chemical affinity. Every chemist fully knows this
well. Hydrogen likes the company of oxygen. Two molecules of hydrogen combine with one
molecule of oxygen. Water is formed. If you place sodium in the water, you will notice that oxygen
likes sodium better than hydrogen and immediately abandons the company of hydrogen and joins
sodium.
Likes and dislikes are more markedly present in the vegetable kingdom,than in the mineral.
Many plants exhibit a remarkable degree of ingenuity in accomplishing their ends.

You should not think that the different planes or realms are lying one above another like the
trunks in a shop. The different planes fill up the same space and interpenetrate one another like the
light of a hurricane lamp, electric light, gas lamp and an ordinary kerosene chimney in a room.
Matter has different degrees of density and different planes are constituted according to the
different degrees of density of matter. These different planes are not separated in space. You are
surrounded by these planes. You can be in touch with these planes, if you develop the inner astral
eye or the clairvoyant sight. It is not necessary for you to travel in space to study the condition of
these planes. Within the space of the room you have the seven planes interpenetrating each other.
The beings of a higher plane cannot be seen by the beings of a lower plane. But a being of the higher
plane can see the beings of the lower plane.
According to the theory of Relativity some scientists believe that the world will expand
after some years and man of future generations will be seven inches tall only, because matter will
have to accommodate now to the increased size of the universe. Some matter is taken out of the
bodies of human beings and distributed elsewhere to adjust the state of affairs. This is only a
speculation and guesswork of some adventurous scientists. It may not happen at all. So you need
not be afraid in the least. Be bold and cheerful. Try to get liberation in this very birth so that there
will not be any chance for you to get a tiny body of the size mentioned above even if such an event
were to occur. One question strikes me very prominently: Can there be the police department then?
Can there be military and naval forces and world-wars? How can a tiny man wield a machine gun?
So there will be no world-wars. There will be perfect peace everywhere. Scientists will also have to
close down their laboratories. No more inventions and discoveries. No more radios and aeroplanes.
No more dictators and tyrants. No more Hitlers and Mussolinis. But Yogins there will always be.
Yogins can maintain their usual size. They can even expand their bodies ad infinitum through their
Mahima Siddhi. They can change their atoms and molecules and rearrange them. They can create
new minds, new bodies by their Yogic powers. Even during the Cosmic Deluge they can live. Yogi
Kaka Bhusunda lived during many deluges. The position of Yogins is always safe. Yoga is the
Supreme Divine Science. It is the Science of sciences. There will be more peace through simple
living. Let us pray to have that new happy era soon.
God is the greatest Mathematician. All scientists and astronomers are stunned. They bow
down their heads and say: “We cannot proceed further. There is something beyond intellect. Our
knowledge is imperfect. The riddle of the universe can be solved only by knowledge of the Greatest
Mathematician through intuition. The intellect is a frail and finite instrument. The deductions from
various theories have not given us perfect illumination. We are still groping in darkness. We are
open to correction. Salutations and adoptions to that Greatest Mathematician! Salutations to the
Lord of the Universe! May He soon open our inner eyes of intuition!”
He who dwells within this electron or atom, who is within this electron or atom, whose body
this electron or atom is, whom this electron or atom does not know, who rules the electron or atom
from within is thy Self, Inner Ruler, Immortal. It is this Science of Yoga that can help man to unfold
his latent divinity and realise his inner Self, the basis or source of this world, body, mind, electron,
atom and all sciences. Let us all pray to the Lord of the Universe and practise Yoga in right earnest
and commune with the Lord and obtain Immortality, Supreme Peace and Infinite Bliss!
Om Peace! Peace! Peace!