Matter and Spirit

Matter and Spirit

G. S. Tripathi

This year is being celebrated as the World Year of Physics-2005(WYP-2005) to honour the centenary of Einstein’s seminal contributions to Physics in 1905. These were papers on the photoelectric effect, theory of relativity and the Brownian motion. Einstein was considered as one of the two greatest men of the last century, the other being Mahatma Gandhi. While Einstein represents the best in science(Physics), Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest spiritual man of the said period. Einstein once remarked about Mahatma Gandhi that , thousand years after, world would scarcely believe that such a man in flesh and blood had ever walked on the earth. This was a remark coming from the greatest scientist about the greatest spiritualist. In this background, the question is- is there a unity between matter and spirit?

In 1905 Einstein proved that energy and mass are related. He developed the now-famous equation, E=mc2, where E stands for the energy of a particle, m its mass and the c is the universal constant, the velocity of light. This seemingly simple equation changed the world of thinking in Physics. It suggests that mass and energy are mutually convertible. The principle of the conservation of energy says that energy is indestructible; it only transforms from one form to the other. So is the mass. In other words, both matter and energy are indestructible. The concept of indestructibility enunciated in Physics has a parallel in the ancient Indian Philosophy. From the Bhagvad Geeta, we find that the soul is indestructible:

Nainam chhindanti shastrani
Nainam dahati pabakah
Nachainam kledayantapah
Nashosayati Marutah.

This means the soul is not cut by weapons, representing the solid state of matter. It is also not burnt by fire, representing the heat energy. It is not wet by water representing the liquid state; and, finally, it is also not blown away by air representing the gaseous state of matter. In other words, the soul is not affected by matter or any form of energy and hence indestructible.

While the concept of indestructibility of matter and energy is constantly subject to experimentation, the indestructibility of soul is a matter of faith, specially by Hindus. However, the most important point to be underscored is that the ancient Hindus did know about the concept of indestructibility about two thousand years ago. Historians believe that the Hindu puranas were written some time between 300BC and 300AD.

Physics suggests that the entire universe is controlled by the processes of creation, conservation and annihilation. On the other side the Hindu Trinity, as envisaged in the scriptures, also control these processes. The energy is conserved in the universe through these processes. However, ideas about universe are not yet clear. There are still valid questions: How did the universe begin? Where does it end? If the universe is expanding, how is the principle of the conservation energy valid? Answers are yet to be found for these questions.

Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are the different manifestations of the spirit. These properties are also inherent in matter. Sattva represents lightness and purity. Rajas signifies stability, energy and motion. Tamas stands for weight, darkness and inertia.

The above examples suggest that there are analogies in physics and spirituality. It, however, should not be viewed that there is an attempt to suggest that spirituality is a scientific process. It only explores the possibility of a unity beween the two. In the world year of physics, let us try to find out whether Einstein and Mahatma Gandhi had a unity of mind, heart and soul.

Address : Professor of Physics
Berhampur University
Berhampur 760007, Orissa