2. For example, since the day I landed in USA, I met many great experts from reputed institutions
to know about ‘energy’ ‘quantum energy’, ‘photon’ and many other words from science
equated with ‘Prana’ or ‘life force’ as it is called in yoga. One professor talked at detail and
when I was not convinced, argued that ‘it is there, that I cannot reject’ whether you say it is
‘Prana’ or not. I said , I agree with you when you say , it is there as there are many unsolved
mysteries around us , for which science could not say anything at present but to correlate it
with ‘scientific principles’ and ‘conclusions’ become ‘pseudo-science’. I, being a humble student
of yoga, Tantra and spirituality agree with ‘consciousness –force’ but I will never venture to
correlate it with any forms of ‘energy’ or ‘energy particles’ that science had discovered and
understood in physics and other allied sciences. Rather, I would love to put forth my argument
and invite you to understand and find ways to discover if it really exists or not.
Fundamentally, yoga begins its journey from consciousness and descends down to matter and
science begins its journey from matter and still progressing to understand the mystery of
consciousness. If I correlate the understanding of science with what comes consciousness as life
force or Prana, I will surely meet with many arguments which I may not be able to answer.
Later, if I would be branded as ‘pseudo scientist’, perhaps, it would be acceptable to me. But it
does not mean, yoga does not work. I simply encourage people to come forward and develop a
research project where subjective parameters can be understood by objective experimentation.
We need to create a new paradigm where ancient principles should be considered as
‘hypotheses for future research into human consciousness. There is a need for integration not
argument in favor or against if we want to end all arguments once and for all.
In ancient books, there are two types of arguments known as ‘samvad’ and ‘vivad’ in Sanskirt
language. The word ‘vivad’ means argument to refute, reject and challenge the authority of
others without any logic put forth in what I say and have said. This is the kind of an argument
that creates skepticism in the minds of people. It may be known as ‘bullying’ as it happens to
small students of yoga and spirituality like me. But to challenge a person who has made his
presence felt is quite intimidating to ordinary people in the world. They can only be challenged
by people who have similar authority in the world.
Second argument in Sanskrit is known as ‘samvad’. I think it is better to cite an example to
make this kind of argument or challenge easily understood. There was Shankar who wrote
more than 200 texts which modern experts refer in alternative medicine, specially yoga, Tantra
and spirituality. There was another great master who lived during his time, was known by the
name Mandan Mishra. Mandan Mishra was an authority on Buddhism and Shankar was an
authority on Veda, Yoga and Tantra. Before the debate started, a question of appointing a judge
came and wife of Mandan Mishra who was an equal authority was appointed a judge to decide
who is going to win the debate. The argument started and Shankar won. To cut the story short,
Shankar accepted Mandan Mishra as his disciple who made him another great master. It is true
debate where none was defeated as Mandan Mishra understood, agreed and submitted to the
truth and not to the simple reasoning put forth by the opponents. Shankar never felt as if he
3. won but accepted Mandan Mishra as his disciple but discovered in him a great learner who
could make a mark in the lives of millions of people. We should and must argue for truth, for
the sake of truth and for the sake of millions who look forward adopting or changing their lives
for the sake of truth.
The argument, counter reasoning, bullying, skepticism and other negative words were absent in
debate which was known as ‘samvad’. What a normal person like me has to do with
information that one has many medals and recognition in his credit. Well, if because of
credentials in the past, one is known to be a philosopher and spiritual teacher then , great
masters like Jesus, Mohammad, Shankar, Sri Aurobindo, Confucius, Socrates and others have
to another birth to receive their credentials before ………………………….
What is more important is ‘the truth’. Let ‘truth’ prevails in our arguments. If one goes against
the truth, people will know it and reject the person. To argue because of authority or position is
demean the truth and if god exists , he laughs at all of us.
