Science and Spirituality: Delusions & Riddles of Nature
Many of our experiences of 'reality' in the physical world are in fact 'delusions' of Nature! For example look at some of our familiar experiences and the scientifically unraveled facts associated with them.
Delusion of Existence — Matter or Energy!
The science of understanding the manifested Nature can be broadly classified as that pertaining to: (i) Matter and (ii) Energy. There are infinitely many kinds of material substances known to naturally exist in this world. But the basic elements that constitute matter are identified to be only 108. The advancement of modern physics and technological developments has made feasible the conversion of matter into energy and transfer of one form of energy into another or even into matter.
Delusions of Perception
The things that appear stationary or stable around us also are not so in reality. Continuous rotation, vibrations, and movements of their molecules make their existence possible. Whatever we see through our eyes is not the ultimate truth. The sky appears like a blue colored limitless umbrella to us. Thick layer of water in a deep pond or river looks greenish. But any student of Physics would know that — the sky as well as water is colorless. It is the effect of reflection or refraction of light through specific angles because of which a specific color appears as the color of an object.
Atom — the smallest structural constituent of matter — is schematically depicted as a solid (single unit). But, in fact, over 90% of its space is empty — the electrons orbit around the nucleus at specific distances in its outer periphery.
Nature's Complexity Beyond Our Perception
Schulkoff and Hutten families experienced one such mysterious incident in 1923 on the Silt Island of the North Sea. They saw a huge boat fighting to survive the high tides. Fishermen fired life-saving tools with a cannon. Three consecutive attempts went futile. Naval cadets sailed in a small boat to rescue, but a huge wave gulped both boats. The sea then became calm. When the tourists turned to offer condolence — nobody was there! The hundreds of people who had been screaming and crying minutes before had vanished. The cannon itself was gone; only a stony platform remained. An inscription read: "In the memory of the brave fishermen and their saviors who sacrificed their lives, fighting the dreaded cyclone on the eve of 2nd August 1872." It was 2nd August today! So they had witnessed a replay of the 51-year-old reality!
Renowned psychologist Dr. Ramsey Bernard Hutten writes: "What all happens or is experienced in this world cannot always be explained by the theory or science that is based on visible evidences. There is also a world beyond our perception and beyond the reach of our extrovert intellect." He explains: "Nature can express the events of the past as well as the future anywhere in the eternal flow of time. The 'Time Capsule' of our mind receives these subtle signals in specific conditions at specific places as per its linkage with the subliminal impulses of Nature."
On an average, we use only a miniscule fraction of the real potentials of our mind. Even the highest level of intellectual performance corresponds to at the most about 7–9% activation of its immense power. In view of the intrinsic capabilities and hidden knowledge of the inner and yet undeciphered cores of our mind, we should not have any prejudices in accepting the possibility that — if discovered and employed ingeniously, the science of the sublime (spiritual) faculties of mind would elucidate the delusions and riddles of Nature and help enlighten the multiple dimensions of life.
"There can never be any real opposition between religion and science; for the one is the complement of the other. Every serious and reflective person realizes, I think, that the religious element in his nature must be recognized and cultivated if all the powers of the human soul are to act together in perfect balance and harmony. And indeed it was not by accident that the greatest thinkers of all ages were deeply religious souls." — Max Planck