shabda.coSHABDA – Advancing the Scientific Study of Vedic Philosophy

Books Blog Journal Stories Forums Media Academy Research Advancing the Scientific Study of Vedic Philosophy Why SHABDA? SHABDA aims to bring the science, philosophy, practices, and conclusions of the Vedic times to the modern world. We present the traditions authentically through the time-tested system of knowledge descending from spiritual masters to disciples. We rely on descriptions in the Vedic texts and make them accessible to the inquisitive reader, especially those with a background in modern science. About Goals Manifesto People Discover Something New Everyday 25 Books 160 Blogs 150 Articles 65 Videos 24 Courses 325 Q&A 55 Stories Read More The books from Shabda Press are dedicated to the presentation of Vedic philosophy in a scientific yet accessible manner. They critique problems of materialism in modern science and present the Vedic alternative. Read More The posts on Shabda Blog delve into wide ranging topics of current interest. They have proven useful for beginners to Vedic philosophy who are curious about its differences from other systems of philosophies. Read More The articles on Shabda Journal contain material for the advanced reader of Vedic philosophy. The articles discuss issues of modern sciences, religions, and philosophies and contrast them to Vedic thinking. Read More The videos on Shabda Media contain both beginner and advanced level information for those who prefer to watch and listen. It includes the issues of modern science and their solutions in Vedic philosophy. Read More The courses on Shabda Academy delve into the basic problems of science and the alternative theories found in Vedic texts that are free from these problems, covering topics of both theoretical and practical interest. Read More The discussions on Shabda Forums delve into specific topics of interest to readers and seekers of Vedic philosophy. Since they originate from curious people, they are useful to people with similar curiosities. Read More The material on Shabda Stories brings to the reader the life stories of great personalities from the Vedic texts and recent history. They depict inspiring qualities that can motivate everyone searching for perfection. Inspiration His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda told us that God and the soul are as much scientific subjects as matter. He rejected the artificial separation of religion and science as mind and body, private and public, faith and reason. He taught us that Vedic knowledge is rational and empirical while he rejected scientific materialism and religious dogmatism equally. He invited all intelligent people to study Vedic texts, and asked his followers to present them, scientifically. Everything we do is inspired by his teachings and motivated by the desire to fulfill his grand vision. Scientific Commentaries on the Six Systems of Philosophy There is a widespread misconception at present that Vedic philosophy comprises many incompatible doctrines created by different people at different times. Ignorant and malicious interpretations have created this misconception. The fact is that in Vedic philosophy, reality must be described from six complementary perspectives . Each perspective is necessary and they are collectively sufficient. These are called modes of reality. Any philosophy that tries to describe reality from only one perspective will be incomplete. However, if it tries to fit multiple perspectives into one, it will be self-contradictory. The Six Systems of Philosophy Series illustrates this view. Vaiśeṣika describes reality as atoms, Nyāya as logic and inference, Sāñkhya as the components of experience, Yoga as bondage and liberation, Mīmāṃsā as rituals and symbols, and Vedānta as a Complete Person, leading to six complementary perspectives. Like blind men consider their perspective of the elephant the whole truth, and consider other views false, similarly, problems attributed to Vedic philosophy are those of blind men. The commentaries present (1) the original Sanskrit text, (2) English transliterations of the text, (3) word-to-word Sanskrit to English word-meanings, (4) English translations of the text, and (5) a scientific commentary that explains the text and its implications in an accessible manner. An Alternative Vision of Knowledge The Six Systems of Vedic Philosophy are counterparts of a modern system of division of knowledge into six broad subjects. Of course, the Vedic system treats these subjects quite differently than the modern thinking. Knowledge is fragmented in modern thinking and integrated in the Vedic system. Fragmentation leads to contradictions and integration leads to consistency. Due to integration, the Vedic system is a complete and consistent system of knowledge. The Vedic system is thereby also the method for establishing the unity of knowledge. God is the Perfection of Knowledge This book defines God as perfection and the 12 traits that make something perfect. These are consistent, complete, simple, parsimonious, necessary, sufficient, empirical, rational, operational, instrumental, stable, and novel. They divide into six pairs of antinomies, namely, knowledge, beauty, renunciation, power, wealth, and heroism, which create tradeoffs in the material world, such that nothing has all the qualities of God, which means that nothing is perfect. The search for God is the search for perfection, devoid of these tradeoffs. By studying the qualities that make something perfect, we study God scientifically, in answer to the question: What is that which is devoid of all imperfections? Read More How You Can Help If you like the content on SHABDA, then you can help us by taking this knowledge to others. We ask for your time to read and share this knowledge. This is Sankīrtana or singing together. The most impactful thing you could do right now is to write book reviews on Amazon . This helps other people discover this knowledge. We are looking for people who can write inspirational stories taken from Vedic texts, or the life stories of great Acharyas and devotees, for the Shabda Stories project. We are also looking for people who can convert existing articles to short videos for the Shabda Media project. Your generous help will advance our teaching mission. Contact Information Contact Guidelines Send Us An Email Search SHABDA Sites Newsletter Signup Leave this field empty if you’re human: Latest Blog Posts God is Greatness The Difference Between Māyā, Śakti, and Prakṛti Latest Journal Articles Can Neuroscience Study the Mind? 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