spirituality should be a quest into truth

Science is defined as a “dispassionate enquiry into truth”. Quest of truth is inclusive of both the material and spiritual domains. Lots of studies have been done in both these domains. The material sciences facilitate the method of probing through experimentations and technology because the world around is perceptible to the senses. But for those seeking the truths related to the psychic and spiritual truths that are beyond the normal sensory world, a subtler and intuitive study becomes necessary. In case of study of the psyche, at least the context of the person’s lifestyle, his innate nature and his relationship with the outer world provide some data for study. But the spiritual plane, which is independent of any influence within or without, is much too subtle and lofty to comprehend. It requires extraordinary genius and focus to tap the secrets of spiritual truths. Unlike material and psychic sciences, it is purely experiential in nature and not inferential. (When I say experience, it does not denote the sensory but super sensory / spiritual experience) We should take note of this before we study spiritual and metaphysical sciences. It is in this sense that Swami Vivekananda said – “Where (material) science ends, there (the science of) religion begins”

Extracted from my key note address at National science congress session- psycho-spiirtual and philosophical sciences, at AIISH, Mysore, hosted by SVAK, 2009