Talk cum interactive session on
Sensing the Essence of the Universe:
Learning from Vedic Scriptures and Sciences

by Ashok Prabhu, Vedic Scholar

Saturday | 25 August 2018 | 11.00 am – 12:30 pm

Organised by The International Centre Goa

Entry free and open to all

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This presentation addresses convergence of important scientific and spiritual accomplishments in terms of the commonality between ancient Vedic scriptural teachings and modern scientific discoveries, play of the Essence of the Universe or Universal Consciousness and its impact on spiritual journey. Modern science is about 500 years old and has great impact on the quality of life of people. Vedic scriptures including Upanishads are considered to be products of revelations to sages and seers, and people in India have believed in them for thousands of years. Thus we have two areas of human accomplishments, spiritual and scientific. This raises interesting questions.
What do we learn regarding the Essence of the universe when we explore both the scientific discoveries and the scriptural teachings in terms of the birth and the nature of the universe?
How do modern scientific discoveries corroborate ancient scriptural teachings?
Can we hypothesize physical mechanisms for spiritual progress leading to enlightenment based upon current scientific knowledge?
This discussion addresses these questions and shows that discoveries in physical sciences corroborate scriptural teachings regarding creation and governance of the universe. Examining saintly experiences of enlightenment in light of advances in neurosciences suggests the possibility that the human brain can directly sense the Essence of the universe. Thus exploring both the scientific discoveries and scriptural teachings in terms of the Essence of the universe gives us a better understanding of God and humans,, working of the universe, human goal, and spiritual progress. Such knowledge can be helpful in adjusting our religious practices to maximize benefits in our spiritual journey. Synergy and convergence of scientific and spiritual thinking will also help us conduct advanced research in subject areas that include scriptural teachings, physics and neurosciences to further uncover the Essence of our universe and derive benefits for and beyond spiritual progress.
Ashok Prabhu has more than thirty-five years of technical and managerial experience in the electronics industry. He has a B.Tech degree from IIT Mumbai and a PhD from Purdue University, USA, both in Materials Engineering. He is an inventor or co-inventor on about thirty patents and has developed and transferred technologies to global
corporations all over the world.
Since retiring from his professional career, as a part of his voluntary activities, he has coached engineering students in India on Innovation, Thinking Big, and Business Startups in dozens of colleges and also made presentations on the importance of Physical Sciences and Preparing for Future at high schools. He also provides mentoring to budding entrepreneurs.
He has been learning Vedic history and Vedic scriptures along with studying recent scientific advances, and has been analyzing synergy between Vedic thought and scientific discoveries to find ways to harness these connections to further spiritual progress. His book, Sensing The Essence, Cinnamon Teal Publishing, 2017, and his article, Sensing the Essence of the Universe, Bhavan’s Journal, April 15 2018, have covered some of his findings.