Albert Einstein and Spirituality: From the Man of Atom Bomb

Ambarsaria · #1 (**permalink**) 18-Feb-2011, 11:30 AM

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Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.
Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.
My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.
The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge.
Every one who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe-a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.
The scientists’ religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.
There is no logical way to the discovery of elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious; It is the source of all true art and science.
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.
Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.
When the solution is simple, God is answering.
God does not play dice with the universe.
God is subtle but he is not malicious.
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty.
Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate but almost disqualified for life.
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
Only a life lived for others is a life worth while.
The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books—-a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.
What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism.
The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties - this knowledge, this feeling ... that is the core of the true religious sentiment. In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men.
The real problem is in the hearts and minds of men. It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.
True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.
Intelligence makes clear to us the interrelationship of means and ends. But mere thinking cannot give us a sense of the ultimate and fundamental ends. To make clear these fundamental ends and valuations and to set them fast in the emotional life of the individual, seems to me precisely the most important function which religion has to form in the social life of man.

http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/einstein/

I see lot of references in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji on the highlighted parts on the quotes from one of the most brilliant minds of this century. Spiritually it almost seems at times he is reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.

Please contribute with comments and complete shabad references or other scripture references. Let us not focus on literals from scriptures but the essence behind. Learning about elephants in space or exact birthing process are examples of little value from the way I read the quotes above.

Thank you.

Caspian · #2 (**permalink**) 18-Feb-2011, 16:16 PM

It is important for me to note, in any discussion involving Einstein and Spirituality/Religion, that Einstein himself did not believe in a personal God.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/34540-albert-einstein-spirituality-man-atom-bomb.html

This post reminds me of a speech given by Neil Degrassi where he talks about how throughout history. The most brilliant minds have un-needlessly defaulted to religious explanation at the limit of their knowledge.

YouTube - The God of the Gaps (by Neil deGrasse Tyson)

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34540
Its in the first 7 minutes or so. But the whole thing is a good watch. Particularily cool is the comparison between modern america and the ancient arab world.

Tejwant Singh · #3 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 00:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caspian

It is important for me to note, in any discussion involving Einstein and Spirituality/Religion, that Einstein himself did not believe in a personal God.

Sikhi does not believe in a personal God either.

Ambarsaria · #4 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 00:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh

Sikhi does not believe in a personal God either.

Tejwant Singh ji you are absolutely right as always

. I noted that too but wanted to do a more detailed Gurbani construct if I could.

In the highlighted in "RED" I am pretty sure about Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji shabad references but it is going to take some time. In my mind those are in the essence of Sikhism.

I also try to avoid jumping on young men/women boys/girls in a philosophical discourse allowing them to rethink certain things. Nothing like discovering on your own versus being told.

Sat Sri Akal.

spnadmin · #5 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 01:16 AM

Thanks that two forum members have convergence on this. A belief in a personal god is not a requirement for being a theist. Lack of belief in a personal god does not make you an atheist either.

Caspian · #6 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 07:57 AM

While I agree that for the most part "sikhi" does not believe in a personal god. I cant say the same for "sikhs." It seems as if many sikhs behave in a way that would make their god a personal god.

If you ever find yourself praying to this god for something—your god is a personal god.

If you put food before the guru granth sahib—your god is a personal god.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34540
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34540

Treating the guru granth sahib as if it was an actual living guru that needs even a bed to lay on—seems like a personal god to me.

So yeah, I'll agree that "sikhi" rejects a personal god. But many "sikhs" act in a manner that supports a personal god. Albert Einstein would find those actions inconsistent with his idea of god. Albert Einsteins god needs neither prayer, food or a bed to lay on.

Ambarsaria · #7 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 09:06 AM

Caspian ji generalizations have pitfalls just as nit picking or flagging exceptions.

Einstein or any learned man will talk about the books they love and the authors they respect. Sometimes to the extent that they will go to great limits to preserve out of love and respect.

The ceremonies you mention perhaps played a great role in times of one room Gurdwaras with "kachian kandhan" (walls of uncured clay bricks) prone to leaking in the rainy season. Whether same is needed for all situations and even further enhancements to safe keeping or knowing clearly where things can be found is a separate issue.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34540
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34540

I do see ritualistic practices and beliefs displayed by some, but that is not a genralizable concept or applicable in general. As the saying is "you don't throw the baby with the bath water", the generalization appears to me to be that.

No offense just raising an alternate view.

Thanks for your post.

Sat Sri Akal.

Tejwant Singh · #8 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 09:49 AM

Caspian ji,

Guru Fateh.

It is surprising to see how you are wrong on many things in your post. This is not the same Caspian I have known for sometime.

Let's start, shall we?

Quote:

While I agree that for the most part "sikhi" does not believe in a personal god. I cant say the same for "sikhs." It seems as if many sikhs behave in a way that would make their god a personal god.

What do you mean by the "for the most part"? And rest is all judgmental which is strange coming from someone who calls himself an Atheist and is totally wrong in his judgment.

Quote:

If you ever find yourself praying to this god for something—your god is a personal god.

It is sad to notice that you do not understand the meaning of prayer according to Sikhi. It is nothing but introspection. There is no deity (a personal god) that a Sikh prays to.

Quote:

If you put food before the guru granth sahib—your god is a personal god.

FYI, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our only Guru is not any God. I thought you knew that. And secondly, there is no need to bring food near the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At Harmandir Sahib where 70,000 meals are served, no such thing is done.

Quote:

Treating the guru granth sahib as if it was an actual living guru that needs even a bed to lay on—seems like a personal god to me.

Before I respond to the above, I would like to know what is your own concept and what do you understand by an actual living guru ?

I do not know if you are aware of or not, that in most of the houses in Punjab, the cots were and still in some places are used for everything, from sitting to sleeping. There were no sofas then. Sitting rooms had cots. So, laying Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on a bed is more a tradition. In many Gurdwaras in the west, no bed is used but Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is placed in a small palki.

Quote:

So yeah, I'll agree that "sikhi" rejects a personal god. But many "sikhs" act in a manner that supports a personal god.

I am glad you have corrected yourself from your first post which said "for the most part". Having said that,Yes, I agree that many dogmas have crept into Sikhi which were not meant to be and I am sure with more understanding of Gurbani, they will be eradicated. After all Sikhi is a learning process, not a consequence. It is a journey, not a destination. If that were not true then the name Sikh would be meaningless.

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Albert Einstein would find those actions inconsistent with his idea of god. Albert Einsteins god needs neither prayer, food or a bed to lay on.

Let's not be pretentious enough to talk on behalf of Einstein.

Who knows how he would have thought had he read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?!!

Regards

Tejwant Singh

Caspian · #9 (**permalink**) 19-Feb-2011, 10:22 AM

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What do you mean by the "for the most part"? And rest is all judgmental which is strange coming from someone who calls himself an Atheist and is totally wrong in his judgment.

What I mean is that as far as I know, the sikhi god is not a personal god. But their are certain customs and traditions that sikhs participate in, which may or may not be explicitly written in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, that in my mind are better suited for a personal god. I gave a few examples up their but another example would be praying for the good of humanity (nothing wrong with it btw) but it just seems like something better suited for a personal god.

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It is sad to notice that you do not understand the meaning of prayer according to Sikhi. It is nothing but introspection. There is no deity (a personal god) that a Sikh prays to.

I am quite aware of the distinction that SIKHI makes. However, I was not referring to sikhi. I was referring to SIKHS many of whom have a simplistic understanding of their own faith. For example, the majority of my family and my friends who identify as sikhs will routinely admit to praying for something. So I was simply saying, if you are a sikh who finds himself praying for something—you believe in a personal god.

Quote:

FYI, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our only Guru is not any God. I thought you knew that. And secondly, there is no need to bring food near the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At Harmandir Sahib where 70,000 meals are served, no such thing is done.

Again, I realize that bringing food before the Guru Granth is not part of SIKHI nonetheless, many sikhs do it. This custom is also better suited for a personal god. I'm not arguing about whether or not the sikh god is a personal one or not. I believe it isnt. But many sikhs behave as if it is a personal god. Many customs are better suited for personal gods.

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Before I respond to the above, I would like to know what is your own concept and what do you understand by an actual living guru ?

My point of view. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a book. Its not a "Guru" so to say. Much in the same way that a chemistry text book is not actually the chemistry teacher. The student-teacher analogy is an oft used one in sikhism. If we are to assume that we (as sikhs) are students, and the gurus were teachers, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji becomes a teacher because of its identity as a guru. I find that identity somewhat troublesome as you cannot ask the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji for clarification, for its exact interpretation, for anything really—you have to rely on someone else or your own best judgement. So its a book that contains teachings but its not a teacher (therefore, I wouldn't consider it a Guru in the same way I would consider Guru Nanak dev ji a Guru).

However! As this post is about Albert Einstein and how much of what he says aligns well with the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. I would go further and say that much of what has become secular hallmarks in western society (gender and racial equality, freedom of religion, etc) all independently arose without the influence of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. So much of what the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji teaches seems to be innately human and not divine in any way. In my opinion, you dont need a Guru or a God (personal or otherwise) to arrive upon the same concepts and conclusions that our Gurus arrived upon.

I think that is an important point and ultimately I think that almost every major "Sikh" concept has a secular/humanist counterpart or a socialist/communist counterpart. That is why its so easy to look at quotes from people like Albert Einstein and align them with the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. I am almost for certain that you can do the same with the likes of Abraham Lincoin, Thomas Jefferson, Carl Sagan etc. all of whom were atheists/humanists.

Not to mention. Albert Einstein himself was a humanist, he served on the advisory board of the first humanist society of new york.

Quote:

I do not know if you are aware of or not, that in most of the houses in Punjab, the cots were and still in some places are used for everything, from sitting to sleeping. There were no sofas then. Sitting rooms had cots. So, laying Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on a bed is more a tradition. In many Gurdwaras in the west, no bed is used but Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is placed in a small palki.

If cots were also used as bookshelves. I wouldn't mind. But I think most sikhs personify the Guru Granth Sahib in the same way that many Roman Catholics personify the wine and cracker as the bloody and body of christ.

Quote:

Let's not be pretentious enough to talk on behalf of Einstein.

Who knows how he would have thought had he read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?!!

Ah its safe to assume that though based on other stuff he said.

“It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I feel also not able to imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere. My views are near those of Spinoza: admiration for the beauty of and belief in the logical simplicity of the order which we can grasp humbly and only imperfectly. I believe that we have to content ourselves with our imperfect knowledge and understanding and treat values and moral obligations as a purely human problem—the most important of all human problems.” - Albert Einstein