Head of Shri Ramkrishna Ashrama , Rajkot, Swami Sarvasthananda has stressed for  synthesizing spirituality with science and technology.

Swami Sarvasthananda was delivering a seminar talk on ‘Time is Life: Experiencing Each Moment Consciously’ at Panjab University (PU), today. The talk was organized by Interdisciplinary Centre for Swami Vivekananda Studies (ICSVS).

Swami Sarvasthananda initiated the lecture by quoting the ideas of Swami Vivekananda, stressing on synthesizing spirituality with science and technology. Swami Ji emphasized on this synthesis and explained that application of Vedanta in a scientific way could help in understanding the concepts of conscious living. He explained the concepts like ‘time’, ‘life’ and ‘consciousness’ by amalgamating the eastern and the western thought and giving a rational base to the same.

While explaining that ‘Time is life’ Swami Sarvasthananda said that while in the West the concentration was on ‘What’ and ‘How’, in the East the stress was on ‘Why’. He explained that it was through asking ‘Why’ that one proceeded towards and conscious and purposeful living. As Swami Sarvasthananda spoke further about the concept of ‘experiencing each moment’ he took the audience through the various phases in the scientific, philosophical and psychological ages. Beginning from the Newtonian Age and Darwin’s Theory of ‘Survival of Fittest’, he moved on to the Einstein’s concept of Relativity and finally to the ‘Age of Uncertainty’ where science comes in close proximity to Vedanta and the concept of awareness and conscious living becomes pertinent.

Sarvasthananda also spoke about the concept of Tri-Partite Existence and explained that how from the initial understanding of whole mind as conscious, the gradual acceptance of major part of mind being unconscious, the philosophers agreed on the concept of mind being unconscious and consciousness belonging to Atman. Quoting from the book ‘Rajayoga’ by Swami Vivekananda, he emphasized on the need for understanding the ‘mind’ and suggested the book as an essential reading. Quoting the principles of Patanjali Yogasutra he said that yoga is the practical aspect of Vedanta and it is the science of the mind. He discussed various means to control the mind and concluded the lecture by talking about different stages of Yoga like Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi in detail.

Secretary Ramkrishna Mission Ashrama, Chandigarh, Swami Satyeshananda  chaired the session and Prof. Banerjee from NIPER was the guest of honour at the seminar.

ICSVS, Coordinator, Prof. Nandita Singh, while introducing the theme of the seminar mentioned that in the fast paced world of speed dialing and multitasking, it is essential for all of us to understand the significance of conscious living. She highlighted the need for heightened awareness and concentration of mind for innovation in any field.

 Chairing the session Swami Satyeshananda congratulated the Interdisciplinary Centre for Swami Viivekanand Studies for organizing seminars on various topics related to youth development, character and nation building regularly.

Prof. Banerjee stressed the need to bring about the change in present day curriculum which lays emphasis on academics only. The seminar concluded with an interactive session addressing queries of large number of audience.