Ancient Indian Wisdom and Modern Science 

by Shri Nitin Tawde, Yoga Vidya Niketan

During 1974, ‘Colloquium of Molecular and Cellular Biologist’ at Versailles, Paris a young scientist, Dr Brian Josephson invited the attendee scientists to read Bhagavad Gita which angered them and they highly criticized Dr Josephson. Dr Josephson was not an ordinary person; he had made this statement very responsibly. In 1973 he was awarded highest accolade in the field of science, the Noble Prize for Physics for his outstanding contribution to science. Dr Brian, at the age of 22 had put forth theory of Quantum Tunneling which is known as ‘Josephson Effect’ in the field of quantum physics. He opined that Modern science has many unresolved questions and answers for them could be found in Veda and Upanishad.

Our ancestors, the Rishi, Muni and Yogis firmly believed in existence of Supreme Divinity which governs the Universe. Their keen observation gave them the understanding that there is no chaos of any kind in the Universe; there exists a perfect order with precision in everything. Our ancestors understood that we too are the part of this whole creation and hence whatever is taking place at microcosm level is in synchronization with macrocosm level in the Universe too. They believed that, all of us are born with same mental faculties and those who explore it to the maximum levels are considered to be intellectuals. They discovered science of Meditation to reach to the deeper realms of the mind. Human brain is like a super computer with tremendous capacity but we hardly make any use of it. Those who are intellectuals are using their brains to much higher levels than the ordinary people.

Maharshi Patanjali says mind and ‘Chitta’ are different and are not parts of our physical body. Mind is like a huge ‘cloud memory’ in today’s scientific parlance and Chitta is like a processor. This way Yogis made best use of Meditative techniques to explore the knowledge stored in so called ‘cloud memory’ of the mind with focused Chitta while Meditating. Today, it is also proved scientifically that Meditation helps in exploring maximum usage of brain.

In Veda, Upanishad, Darshan we find systematic explanation of several phenomenon of the Universe, many scientific facts, Vedic mathematics etc. We find mention of atom or Anu as the smallest non-divisible particle matter, also the concept of gravity, thousands of years ago before the modern-day science discovered it anew.

Triguna Theory – scientific view point?
Samkhya Darshan discusses the theory of evolution of Universe and ‘Satkaryavada’. The theory of Big-Bang is equivalent to Kapil Muni’s theory of evolution. The ‘Law of Conservation of Energy’ is nothing but the ‘Satkaryavada’ of Samkhya Darshan which also says, ‘everything in this Universe is existing since its creation and nothing new is created or destroyed. It only gets transformed from one form into another’. Let us have a look at concept of Triguna. Prakriti gives rise to 23 evolutes due to imbalance of Triguna. They constitute everything in the Universe and hence everything in the Universe has Triguna.
Everything in this Universe is made up of atoms with three fundamental components Protons, Neutrons and Electrons. So, can we say that they are the Triguna mentioned by Kapil Muni in Samkhya Darshan? Since, Proton has positive charge, can it be equated with Satva Guna? Electron is constantly revolving around the nucleus and can be equated with Rajas Guna, the one with action? The Neutron is without any charge and can it be equated with Tamas Guna? In the beginning of this article, we have mentioned Quantum Tunnelling experiment of Dr Brian Josephson which was proved revolutionary as it betrayed the laws of classical physics. From quantum physics we know that an electron behaves as a particle as well as a wave function. Without going into intricacies of quantum physics we can just make one wild guess regard to Rajas Guna which we have equated with an electron. In Samkhya theory, the ‘Tamas Ahamkara’ gives rise to five Sthula Mahabhuta and ‘Satva Ahamkara’ gives rise to Sukshma elements. The Rajas Guna acts as a motivator to initiate both these processes at same time. Can we say that the Rajas Guna acts as a particle – sthula – while giving rise to Mahabhutas? And as a wave function – sukshma- while giving rise to subtle elements? Both functions at a time?

One more wild guess for the imbalance caused in Triguna when Prakriti becomes Vyakta. In Big-Bang theory, actually there is no particular satisfactory reason for the cause behind mighty explosion. One of the theories guesses that it was due to separation of matter and anti-matter due to pressure in the Universe prior to Big-Bang. Samkhya says that the imbalance is caused due to presence of ‘witnessing’ Purusha which is Nitya – eternal and all pervasive, can we say that the Universe has Gravitational force which is non perceivable, which is all pervasive and ever existing and can it be Purusha that has caused the imbalance in Triguna by its mere presence?