From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!torn!utcsri!rpi!usc!sdd.hp.com!mips!mips!munnari.oz.au!metro!grivel!loki!rmurali Tue Jun 23 13:21:33 EDT 1992
Article 6347 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: rmurali@loki.une.edu.au (Murali Ramakrishnan)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy,sci.philosophy.meta
Subject: Re: On Study of Human Experiences and Introduction to Raja Yoga
Message-ID: <2890@loki.une.edu.au>
Date: 23 Jun 92 03:23:55 GMT
Followup-To: comp.ai.philosophy
Organization: University of New England - Northern Rivers, (Lismore)
Lines: 61

>From article <1992Jun18.192546.17196@saifr00.cfsat.honeywell.com>, by shanks@saifr00.cfsat.honeywell.com (Mark Shanks):
> In article <1992Jun18.172853.21746@doc.ic.ac.uk> pvr@doc.ic.ac.uk (Venkat P. Reddy) writes:
>>
>>
>>ON STUDY OF HUMAN EXPERIENCES AND  INTRODUCTION TO RAJA YOGA 
>>There exists, for example, an observation that even if half the human brain is >removed, consciousness continues to be exhibited. There are even some quietly >shelved cases of total deteration of the brain that still permitted full mental >faculties to 
be expressed!
> 
> Which no doubt explains this posting.
> 
> (Large amount of bandwidth noise mercifully edited out)
> 
> If you MUST post drivel like this, at least learn to use a carriage return.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Mark Shanks

                      It is very easy to categorise something as rubbish
  based on superficial and external criteria. A true "scientist" goes
  beyond such trivial imperfections and makes an attempt to grasp the
  Truth in what is being said. Science , by it's very definition means
  "pursuit of Truth". Any search for "Truth" can and should be termed
  Scientific irrespective of what is being studied - what matters is not
  the subject matter that is being studied - but the methods used in the
  Study.

                      Spirituality , as is the case with other material
  Sciences , like Physics or Chemistry or Astronomy is a perfect Science
  - a Science where one needs to "conduct" experiments - it is NOT for
  discussing over a cup of tea ! Just by saying "Oh ! Chemistry , Please
  come to me" , the knowledge of Chemistry does not come to one. One
  has to conduct the Experiments. So is the case with any branch of Science.
  

                      Any "Experiment" should be able to be repeted with 
  the same result under the same conditions. This being a prerequisite
  to prove or validate a Scientific Theory , Spirituality cannot be exempted
  from this criteria , if it can be classified as a Science. And in fact 
  this is claimed to be true - because each individual CAN attain to that
  "perfect State" as did a Buddha or a Jesus or a Ramakrishna or a Ramana
  Maharishi - and there are thousands of them ! It being an "Experience"
  obviously it cannot be spoken of in words - it is beyond speech and mind -
  It is Experiencing one's own SELF , which is PURE CONSCIOUSNESS , without
  any addons. This "Experiment" has to be "conducted" by each individual
  and "Experienced" by each individual. There is no other way. As long as
  the "experiment is repeatable" , IT IS SCIENTIFIC. Since it is the quest
  for the understanding of the inner nature of man - a quest for the
  understanding of the Universe - a quest to KNOW THE TRUTH - IT IS 
  SCIENTIFIC.

                     To understand and appreciate this , one has to go
  beyond one's little ego - have a broad-mind and be humble ! and first
  get rid of the feeling "I KNOW EVERYTHING".

                     So let's not judge anything based on external appearances.
  Let's have the courage to dive deep into the subject matter - let's have a
  Scientific Mind !


-- 
Ramakrishnan Murali      	Internet:rmurali@loki.une.edu.au
Phone:	+61 (066) 203634
     University of NewEngland, Northern Rivers Lismore NSW Australia


