Spirituality and Science

Coming from a scientific background, I have always held a baseless view that spirituality is unscientific, but I have since come to an understanding that they are but one and the same.

At the heart of science is the scientific method: you observe a phenomenon, but you do not rush to believing it to be a general rule. You first form a hypothesis based on what you observed, then design an experiment to test whether your hypothesis could be wrong. None of this process requires a sense of "me", or the ego. It is but a dance with reality.

I've come to realize that spirituality, at least as taught to me by the Buddhadasa, shares a very similar process. Instead of observing a material phenomenon, you first observe suffering. Just like science, sometimes a remarkable event is missed and things simply pass by instead of being observed. Similarly, suffering may occur without your conscious knowledge, and you will miss a chance to understand it.

However, if you are fortunate enough to reflect upon the suffering mindfully, then you'd perhaps form a hypothesis about why you suffer.

Then comes the most difficult part: the experiment. In order to test whether your hypothesis is correct, you most likely have to face the trigger of your anguish again. This is not to say this should be done forcefully. Just like science, the experiment must be designed with care not to senselessly harm your surrounding or yourself.

If you are right, the suffering would begin to subside. If you are wrong, the suffering will continue.

Just like science, the feeling of "me" or the ego prevents you from seeing the truth. Firstly, you may feel compelled not to accept yourself as suffering, perhaps due to some feeling of superiority or perfectionism. Secondly, you may form a flawed hypothesis, due to the need to blame materials or other people for your suffering, or an infatuation you can't let go. Lastly, you may avoid experiments due to the fear of pain, or you may perform flawed experiments, due to the need to be right.

For this method to be successful one must view oneself as no better or worse than anyone or anything else. You simply are. Ego is a smudged lens which blurs insight. This applies to the science of materials as well. You have to observe phenomena exactly as they are without ego for your scientific method to be successful.

Your mind is already the most sophisticated lab with all the tools you need, but it is up to you to use it to gain true knowledge.