Scientific Progress and
Spiritual Beliefs

There are two phases of scientific progress. One is from Isaac Newton (1642–1727) to Albert Einstein, and the second is after Einstein (1879–1955).

Scientific progress is related to material development—that is, progress in things which are visible to everyone. On the other hand, spirituality deals with that which cannot be seen. The world of science is mortal, while the world of spirituality is immortal. After Newton, the scientific phase that began brought countless material advances. Matter was transformed, and a shining civilisation came into being. In contrast, spirituality remained unseen. In such a situation, many people began to think that spirituality was imaginary—and that only matter truly existed.

But the research of Einstein and other modern scientists challenged this view. Earlier, it was believed that everything in the world was made of atoms, and that the atom was a solid, indivisible particle. However, modern research split the atom, the belief of matter was a solid substance disappeared altogether it was discovered that matter is not solid, rather, it was found that the micro sub-atomic world replaced the atomic world, where everything was reduced to unseen waves (of electrons). Once the atom was split, matter transforms into energy, which cannot be seen.

After the atom was split, matter itself became as invisible as spirituality once appeared to be. Because of this, modern scientists were compelled to say that our world is nothing but waves of probabilities.

In this way, modern scientific progress has shown that ultimate reality is invisible. Previously, spirituality and materialism were seen as two separate things. Now, matter itself has turned into something unseen, like the spiritual concepts. Following this change in the basis of scientific argument, proving the existence of God became as

possible as proving the existence of the subatomic particles, which are both unseen. Science, in its early phase, seemed to deny spirituality, but after reaching its final stages, science began confirming it. Spiritual truths became more established and credible than ever before.

Spiritual belief is actually another name for belief in meaningful realities. Spirituality means recognising that the soul is more important than the body in human existence. That moral values matter more than material success. That inner peace is greater than outer beauty. All these are unseen things, and in the first phase of science, such invisible things were considered unreal. At that time, it was believed there was no connection between science and spirituality. But now, when science itself has become a kind of spiritual knowledge, such views no longer hold ground.

This was the theoretical side of science and spirituality. Now, let us look at the practical side. Here, too, many people think that science and spirituality are in conflict—that the two cannot go together. But this belief stems from a wrong understanding of spirituality. If the correct concept of spirituality is kept in mind, then no such conflict remains.

In 1961, an international industrial exhibition was held in New Delhi. I too was among those who visited the exhibition. Each country presented its achievements in industrial progress. The American pavilion attracted the most attention because of a modern machine called a “flying motor car.”

I, along with many others, stood in a special area. A car arrived. The driver first drove it like a normal car on the ground. Then it rose and began hovering about four feet above the ground. It circled the area and then came back down.

We were told that the system of the car worked by taking in air from the top and forcefully expelling it downward, creating a powerful air cushion between the car and the ground. The car floated on this air cushion—just like a boat floats on water.

Among the crowd was also a young sadhu, dressed in ochre robes, with dishevelled hair. He watched the demonstration with deep attention. A newspaper reporter, noticing his focus, asked him for his thoughts. The sadhu replied:

“After seeing this, a new question has arisen in my mind. Should I give up the life of renunciation and seek satisfaction in the world of material progress? This exhibition has made me think—should I choose the spiritual world or the material one?” (Hindustan Times, 20 February 1961)

Events like this may suggest that science and spirituality oppose each other—that to accept one, you must leave the other. But this depends on how you define spirituality. If spirituality means leaving the world, going into forests and mountains, and cutting off from society, then yes, it would seem opposite to science.

But if spirituality is understood differently, then there is no conflict. The second definition of spirituality is purity of soul and self. In this sense, spirituality is not disconnection, but a better connection.

Spirituality is not the opposite of science; it is the opposite of materialism. A spiritual person is non-material, not anti-scientific. To be spiritual means not to live within material things, but within spiritual realities. Such a person has an inner mental life that no one can take away. They enjoy peace of heart and mind that is independent of external gain or loss. On the level of thought, they have discovered something they see as higher than everything else. Their sense of being is rooted in their inner self, not in material things outside of them.

In this world, every person lives between two forces: materialism and spirituality. No one can escape these two. Both are necessary. The only question is: which one should be primary, and which secondary? The person who gives primary importance to spirituality and secondary importance to material things is a spiritual person. The one who does the opposite is materialistic.

The key outcome of this is that spirituality becomes the guiding purpose of a person’s life, while material possessions are regarded as basic needs. This does not hinder scientific progress—it continues unhindered. However, when scientific or material advancement is viewed as the ultimate goal, it leads to social imbalances—imbalances that are corrected when spirituality takes its rightful place in human life. Spirituality brings mental and moral well-being to the individual. Just as physical food strengthens the body, spiritual nourishment strengthens the mind and thought.

For an ordinary person, material things are the goal. For a spiritual person, they are a means. This difference in thinking results in a significant difference in how people live.

One benefit of spirituality is that a person gains the strength to endure loss. The modern world is full of competition and accidents. People often suffer loss. If someone considers material things their highest goal, they are crushed when faced with loss. They may become mentally disturbed—even suicidal. But a spiritual person can withstand loss with resilience. Because even when they lose material things, they still have something higher to live for.

A spiritual person is also free from the greatest evil—pride. Pride is always connected to material possessions. When people regard material wealth as the most important thing, they become proud upon acquiring it. They start to judge others based on their material status. Those with less are seen as inferior; those with more are considered superior. From this arises pride, and an artificial hierarchy forms in society.

But a spiritual person does not fall into this trap. For him, material things are tools, not a measure of worth. He regards material wealth as secondary, not primary. He does not become proud when he gains more, nor does he look down on others who have less.

Spirituality makes a person better for himself—and better for others.

All India Radio, New Delhi, 20 October 1984.