________________
94
TULSI-PRAJNA
describe it. It is indescribable. However, all knowings depend upon seeing or experiencing. When science believes in experience of the reality, it simply means sense perception and experiment which can be known or described.
Thus, both science and spirituality are empirical so far their knowleges are concerned. The difference is only regarding the nature and depth of experience. Capra distinguishes these experiences in the following way ;
“Physicists perform experiments involving an elaborate team work and a highly sophisticated technology, whereas mystics obtain their knowledge purely through introspection, without any machinery in the privacy of meditation. Scientific experiments furthermore, seem to be repeatable any time and by any body, whereas mystical experiences seem to be reserved for a few individuals at special occasions,” However, the differences lie only in their approach and not in their "reliability or complexity." The parallels can be seen in the fact that both the physicist and mystics require rigorous training of years by the experienced persons. "A mystical experience, therefore, is not more unique than a modern experiment in physics.”
Intuitive experience is of two kinds-deep mystical experience which requires long preparation with the help of meditation and direct intuitive insight limited to extremely brief moments. The deep mystical experience occurs, only when the "thought-noise" is controlled with the help of meditation. A thought-noise has been defined by Dr. D. S. Kothari “as randum uncontrolled, distracting thoughts pleasant and unpleasant that comes to us from nowhere as it were : from the sub-conscious mind.” (Atom & Self, P 26) However, this “thought-noise" is different from direct intuitive insight which is essentially creative in nature. The scientists are very much familiar with the concept of direct intuitive insights because every new discovery originates in such a sudden non-verbal flash",
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
