Scientific Vision of Guru Nanak

drdpsn · #1 (**permalink**) 25-Jan-2009, 09:30 AM

Preview:
‘What is the Universe? Who has created it? What was there before its creation? Where did the Universe come from? Will it ever come to an end? What is God? What is the origin and purpose of life? What is soul and where does it exist? What is the best way of living? Is there life after death?’ - are some of the most frequently asked questions. These have remained a matter of concern for almost all the great scientific minds as well. Col. Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal in his book titled ‘Scientific Vision of Guru Nanak’ makes a successful attempt to answer these using Gurbani as the cornerstone. The author articulates that a detailed study of Guru Nanak’s hymns reveal a wealth of information about these most intricate problems of modern science.

SCIENTIFIC VISION OF GURU NANAK By Col. Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal
Published by National Book Shop, Delhi Pages 255, Price: Rs. 300

A Review by Dr. D. P. Singh*

‘What is the Universe? Who has created it? What was there before its creation? Where did the Universe come from? Will it ever come to an end? What is God? What is the origin and purpose of life? What is soul and where does it exist? What is the best way of living? Is there life after death?’ - are some of the most frequently asked questions. These have remained a matter of concern for almost all the great scientific minds as well. Col. Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal in his book titled ‘Scientific Vision of Guru Nanak’ makes a successful attempt to answer these using Gurbani as the cornerstone. The author articulates that a detailed study of Guru Nanak’s hymns reveal a wealth of information about these most intricate problems of modern science.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/books-on-sikhism/23911-scientific-vision-of-guru-nanak.html
Dr. Grewal stresses that Guru Nanak’s version appears to be unique, scientific, truthful and logical. Using appropriate quotes from Guru Nanak’s hymns he points out that the great Guru has explained the origin, development and existence of the Universe very vividly. These hymns bring us face to face with the concreteness and reality of the interdependence of all life. Science, with its factual data, does not clash with truth revealed in the sacred hymns rather it reveal their far reaching insights and contemporary relevance. In the chapter ‘Guru Nanak’s Answers to some Unanswered Questions’ the author points out that Guru Nanak through his immense knowledge, analytical and scientific vision, had propounded certain new doctrines. He stresses that several important questions about God, Universe, Creation, Nature, Life, Transmigration and Spirit has been answered by Guru Nanak very vividly in his hymns.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=23911
Elaborating on ‘Finding Truth’ the author emphasizes that the knowledge of the ‘True Lord’ and His functioning cannot be obtained by ordinary scientific paradigms. True wisdom comes through self-realization, achieved by concentration, super-consciousness, awareness and intuition.In describing ‘Guru Nanak’s Methodology of Finding Truth’, the author points out that according to Guru Nanak, the Ultimate truth is the one that is permanent and does not change. It is ‘The True Lord or God’ alone that is permanent and unchangeable. Guru Nanak’s method of attaining ‘The True Lord’ was natural assimilation through meditation on ‘His Name’ with devotional love. Lord’s Grace was an essential requirement for such assimilation.
After a thorough analysis, Dr. Grewal opines that Energy, Light, Sound and regular Dynamical Change Processes are important fields of study in Guru Nanak’s hymns. The hymns of Guru Nanak describe ‘The True Lord’s Scientific Management System’ meticulously and provide a very clear methodology for the salvation through his Spiritual Technology expertise. These extraordinary features of the great Guru’s hymns demand an urgent attention of the interdisciplinary researchers. In the chapter on ‘Theories, Concepts and Doctrines propounded by Guru Nanak’ the author describes that Guru Nanak’s concepts of God, Creation, Nature (Maya), Soul, Life, Death and Transmigration, Ego, God-realization and Salvation show originality of thought and in depth knowledge. Guru Nanak’s hymns are a treasure trove for several Doctrines propounded by him such as Doctrines of Cause and Effect, Space and Time, Duality, Change, Divine order, Ethical Conduct (Dharma), Knowledge, Karma, Hard Work (Saram) and Divine Grace. The author points out that these Doctrines of Guru Nanak are superior to the corresponding doctrines propounded by modern science or other religions.
Dr. Grewal stresses the need to understand the ‘Preordained Divine Order’ to know the Truth of the Universe in the chapter titled; ‘The Divine Order’. He points out that even the modern scientists have stood in awe at the intelligent order exhibited throughout the Universe. He concludes that scientists agree that everything in our Universe is in a particular order. This fact is in strong consonance with Guru Nanak’s saying, made almost 500 years earlier, that ‘Everything is subject to Lord’s order, No one is beyond His order’. ‘Divine Light’ and ‘Guru Nanak’s Theory of Energy’ are the topics discussed in the next two chapters. After a detailed review of the various forms of energy, the author concludes that although scientific tools for the study of subtle energies are still in their formative stage, many individuals over the centuries have had the ability to see these energies. Guru Nanak was the one, who has foretold that the entire universe is a play of the Lord with the help of energy. These thoughts expressed by the great Guru are in complete agreement with the prevalent scientific theory of Energy.
‘Creation or Evolution?’ has been a matter of discussion for the ages but without any universally accepted answer. In the chapter ‘Theory of Developmental Assimilatory Creation’ Dr. Grewal presents an analysis of the modern scientific theories of Creation of Universe. He concludes that Guru Nanak gave an explicit answer to this question in ‘Japuji’. The author points out that Guru Nanak was however very clear that it was beyond anyone to have the exact knowledge of the origin of the Universe, a fact in complete agreement with the thoughts prevalent among modern scientists. Dr. Grewal has summed up the discussion with an article titled, ‘Sound as a Source of Creation and Ultimate Assimilation’ to emphasize the inter-relationship in Science and Religion. He opines that a thorough analysis of Guru Nanak’s hymns points to the importance of sound as a source of creation as well as the source of salvation or ultimate assimilation with the ‘True Lord’.
Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal has done a momentous work in projecting the divine thought of Guru Nanak to the modern world through this book. The Scientific Vision of Guru Nanak comes out brilliantly through this work. Although the book is a gist of several research papers prepared by the authors, yet each article is complete in itself and is a treat to read. It is pertinent to add that this is one of the best books ever authored on this topic till date. I strongly recommend that this book should be on the shelves of all the libraries and be distributed by all Gurudwaras. It is imperative that the Sikh youth of today are encouraged to read works of this nature.