advertisement
Inspiration and science
Why is it that the notion of inspiration finds so little attention in modern science? In 2005, at the Presidents Dinner of the WGC, I suggested that there is no true science without inspiration. The famous Upanishads, teachings from ancient India 4000 years ago, have been described as 'inspired teachings of a transcendent reality', rather than instruction. Inspiration is derived from the Latin 'spirare', which means breathing. Spirit comes from the same source. It is presumed that there is a source (or transcendent reality) that is able to 'inspire' thoughts that lift us to a higher level of knowledge. The fact that inspiration has been with us for so long is explained by the undestroyable experience of many humans who have told/written about it and still do so. Mystics as well as scientists. If a source of eternal and infinite knowledge exists, it seems vital to any scientist to know the secret of opening up to inspired knowledge from that source. Let me suggest that inspiration comes to those who concentrate enthusiastically on a certain topic, have intellectually worked over all sides of the issue and are finally willing and able to stop all thinking and wait in thoughtless silence for the door of inspiration to open. Inspiration requires an 'open mind' and the realization that further knowledge has to come from a source beyond trained thinking: 'To go beyond word and discrimination to reach the path of realization.' Could this be the essence of science? It seems quite practical too if we want to be innovating scientists and extremely useful for daily life.Erik Louis Greve
Something mysteriously formed
born before heaven and earth
in the silence and the void
Solitary and unchanging
ever present and infinite
It is the mother of the universe
For lack of a better name
it is called the Tao
Tao te Ching, nr. 25
Do you have the patience to wait
till the mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises by itself?
Tao te Ching, nr. 15
