Advancing the Scientific Study of Vedic Philosophy

Why SHABDA?

SHABDA aims to bring the science, philosophy, practices, and conclusions of the Vedic times to the modern world. We present the traditions authentically, through the time-tested system of knowledge descending from spiritual masters to disciples. We rely on Vedic texts and try to make them accessible for the modern reader.

Inspiration

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda told us that God and the soul are as much scientific subjects as matter, rejecting the artificial separation of religion and science as mind and body, private and public, faith and reason. He taught us that Vedic knowledge is superior to present-day contrived sciences and religions as he equally rejected scientific materialism and religious dogmatism. He invited all intelligent people to study Vedic texts, and asked his followers to present them, scientifically. Everything we do is inspired by his teachings and motivated by the desire to fulfill his vision.

Scientific Commentaries on the Six Systems of Philosophy

There is a widespread misconception at present that Vedic philosophy comprises many incompatible doctrines created by different people at different times. Ignorant and malicious interpretations have created this misconception. The fact is that in Vedic philosophy, reality must be described from six complementary perspectives. Each perspective is necessary and they are collectively sufficient. These are called modalities of reality. Any philosophy that tries to describe reality from only one perspective will be incomplete. However, if it tries to fit multiple perspectives into one, it will be self-contradictory.

The Six Systems of Philosophy Series illustrates this view. Vaiśeṣika describes reality as atoms, Nyāya as logic and inference, Sāñkhya as the components of experience, Yoga as bondage and liberation, Mīmāṃsā as rituals and symbols, and Vedānta as a Complete Person, leading to six complementary perspectives. Like blind men see their perspective of the elephant as the whole truth, and consider other views of the elephant false, similarly, problems attributed to Vedic philosophy are problems of blind men.

The commentaries present (1) the original Sanskrit text, (2) English transliterations of the text, (3) word-to-word Sanskrit to English word-meanings, (4) English translations of the text, and (5) a scientific commentary that explains the meaning of the text and its implications in an accessible manner.

Other Recent Book

The Science of God

This book defines God as perfection and discusses the 12 attributes that constitute perfection. These are consistent, complete, simple, parsimonious, necessary, sufficient, empirical, rational, operational, instrumental, stable, and novel. They divide into six pairs of antinomies, called knowledge, beauty, renunciation, power, wealth, and heroism. These antinomies create tradeoffs in the material world, such that nothing has all the qualities of God, which means that nothing is perfect. The search for God is the search for perfection, devoid of these tradeoffs. By studying the qualities that make something perfect, we study God scientifically, in answer to the question: What is that which is devoid of all imperfections?

How You Can Help

If you like what you find on SHABDA, then you can try to help us by taking this knowledge to others. We ask for your time to read and share this knowledge. This is Sankīrtana or singing together. The most impactful thing you could do right now is to write book reviews on Amazon. This helps other people discover this knowledge.