Despite the ongoing ‘meaningful dialogue’ between spiritual scientists or experientialists and physical scientists or experimentalists all over the world, the riddle of consciousness has defied an unambiguous solution till date. It is perhaps destined to be so for the simple reason that philosophers and scientists can discuss consciousness only within the realm of duality or maya. Therefore, they have not been able to give a precise description of consciousness which not only permeates the visible universe but also transcends it. According to Vedanta, the objects of the phenomenal world are like small whirlpools in the infinite ocean of consciousness; they appear for a while only to disappear, and reappear again; and the process goes on for ever. But the problem remains: How does one consciousness appear as many?
Twenty-two renowned scientists and scholars, including representatives of the major religions of the world – Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – have made a very bold attempt to answer this and many other related questions about the nature and location of consciousness, through their presentations and discussions at a seminar held at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, from 13 to 15 January 2006, the proceedings of which are presented in the book under review. This seminar is the third in the series of international seminars dealing with the theme of consciousness organized by the Institute; the earlier two being ‘Philosophy and Science: An Explanatory Approach to Consciousness’ and ‘Life, Mind and Consciousness’ held in February 2002 and January 2004 respectively6.
Prof.Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman of the Central Tibetan Administration of the Dalai Lama, has rightly raised a doubt whether consciousness – which is completely different from matter – can at all be scientifically researched. He equates consciousness with the realization of shunyata, which is the central theme of Buddhism. His concern is shared by Prof.M.G.K.Menon, who suggests that higher levels of consciousness should be scientifically investigated to the extent possible using time-tested methods.
The book gives vivid descriptions of the personal experiences of the experientialists as well as experimental details of the experimentalists in connection with consciousness. The panel discussions that follow the presentations reveal both he questioners and the panelists at their best. At the end of the seminar the following points emerge: (i) Consciousness is all-pervasive. It is non-dual. (ii) It constitutes the foundation of all value and all knowledge. (iii) It is ineffable. It is an experience of ‘wonder’. (iv) Modern science, especially quantum mechanics and neurobiology, can provide only some useful hints about the nature and seat of consciousness. For example, when consciousness shines on the substrate – metal or plant or animal or human – the degree of reflection would vary depending on the substrate. It is least reflected in the mineral kingdom, and fully reflected in a Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The experiments conducted by Prof.J.C.Bose, and later the well-known double-slit experiment conducted with the help of the electron gun, are also suggestive of the all-pervasive nature of consciousness.
Swami Prabhananda forces the reader to ponder over not the mysterious vastness of the universe but also the mystery of humanity.
The book is interesting, inspiring, and useful for the general reader as well.
Twenty-two renowned scientists and scholars, including representatives of the major religions of the world – Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – have made a very bold attempt to answer this and many other related questions about the nature and location of consciousness, through their presentations and discussions at a seminar held at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, from 13 to 15 January 2006, the proceedings of which are presented in the book under review. This seminar is the third in the series of international seminars dealing with the theme of consciousness organized by the Institute; the earlier two being ‘Philosophy and Science: An Explanatory Approach to Consciousness’ and ‘Life, Mind and Consciousness’ held in February 2002 and January 2004 respectively6.
Prof.Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman of the Central Tibetan Administration of the Dalai Lama, has rightly raised a doubt whether consciousness – which is completely different from matter – can at all be scientifically researched. He equates consciousness with the realization of shunyata, which is the central theme of Buddhism. His concern is shared by Prof.M.G.K.Menon, who suggests that higher levels of consciousness should be scientifically investigated to the extent possible using time-tested methods.
The book gives vivid descriptions of the personal experiences of the experientialists as well as experimental details of the experimentalists in connection with consciousness. The panel discussions that follow the presentations reveal both he questioners and the panelists at their best. At the end of the seminar the following points emerge: (i) Consciousness is all-pervasive. It is non-dual. (ii) It constitutes the foundation of all value and all knowledge. (iii) It is ineffable. It is an experience of ‘wonder’. (iv) Modern science, especially quantum mechanics and neurobiology, can provide only some useful hints about the nature and seat of consciousness. For example, when consciousness shines on the substrate – metal or plant or animal or human – the degree of reflection would vary depending on the substrate. It is least reflected in the mineral kingdom, and fully reflected in a Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The experiments conducted by Prof.J.C.Bose, and later the well-known double-slit experiment conducted with the help of the electron gun, are also suggestive of the all-pervasive nature of consciousness.
Swami Prabhananda forces the reader to ponder over not the mysterious vastness of the universe but also the mystery of humanity.
The book is interesting, inspiring, and useful for the general reader as well.
"Consciousness: A Deeper Scientific Search" - Eds.Jonathan Shear and SP.Mukherjee
Published by Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Kolkata-700029. e-mail: rmic@vsnl.com. 2006. x + 538 pp. Rs.200/-
Reviewed by Dr.S.C.Goswami, Former Reader in Chemistry, Dayal Singh College, New Delhi
Courtesy: Prabuddha Bharata, December 2007
Reviewed by Dr.S.C.Goswami, Former Reader in Chemistry, Dayal Singh College, New Delhi
Courtesy: Prabuddha Bharata, December 2007
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