Science of evidence
To prove a theory of concept one needs to provide evidence. These evidence are called praman (Devanagari: प्रमाण ISO15919: pramāṇa ).
How do you learn anything?
You learn by seeing yourself, deducing from the facts you know or by hearing from those you know.
For example you went in front of the World Trade Center when the two planes hit it. This is first hand experience and is a great way of learning. If you were not in front of it at that time you can still learn from those who experienced it. They share their experience, pictures and if you believe them then you will take their word for it.
There is another way which is you already know the interactions between two things and you can deduce the conclusions.
So, there are the three primary ways of proving a theory or concept. These are
- Perceptual evidence called pratyaksh praman - This is first hand experience of using our senses.
- Inferential evidence called anuman praman - The is the logical deduction from the facts in front of you.
- Scriptural evidence called shabd praman - Accepting someone's word as truth.
The perceptual and inferential evidences are useful in the material world because we can experience this world. Also, we know rules of the interactions between the objects of the world. Scriptural evidence is also heavily used to gain knowledge and act on it.
However, we have no way of experiencing the spiritual realm, not do we have any knowledge of the divine rules. So, perceptual and inferential evidences cannot be used for knowing the spiritual matter. Evidence provided by God-realized saints called Shabd praman is the only acceptable evidence to know the divine realm.
Pratyaksh praman
Pratyaksh praman (Devanagari: प्रत्यक्ष प्रमाण ISO15919: pratyakṣa pramāṇa ) is perceptual evidence means it can be seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelt with our senses . This is a great way of learning and it has its limitations because there are things that cannot be perceived by our senses e.g. you have feelings. Can you see them?
That is why perceptual evidence is the weakest form of evidence yet we perceive it as the strongest form of evidence . Don’t take offense, instead ponder on the following before forming your own opinion on the applicability of this form of evidence to prove the matters.
1. Many things cannot be perceived by our senses such as feelings. How can love, hatred or any other sentiment be proven by matters of gyandendriyan ?
2. Gyandendriyan are not perfect. Our eyes see the sky is blue, whereas the sky has no color. An empty space is called sky.
- Senses can work only with the association of the mind and the mind has its faults. Sometimes, it perceives things according to its own preconceived notion about the thing or person. Psychiatrists term it as a "confirmation bias".
- Along with the mind, the senses are also limited in their capabilities e.g. eyes cannot perceive ultraviolet or infrared spectrum of light. Similarly, ears can perceive a limited range of frequencies and that too only when the source of the sound is within audible range.
- If the mind is preoccupied then senses cannot grasp any data even if it is laid out in front of them. In your own home you might have observed that when children are busy playing they can’t hear their mom calling them for a meal.
A couple of centuries ago an artist was busy painting a picture in his shop in Jagannath Puri. Right outside his shop the huge annual procession called Jagannath rath-yatra passed by. The procession had thousands of people playing various musical instruments. Yet his ears did not perceive the tumult.
Swami Ram Krishna Paramhans wanted to participate in the Rath yatra but reached there a little late. Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa, asked the artist, “Has the Rath-Yatra already passed by?”
The artist answered, “so far the Rath-yatra has not crossed this place”.
Others around him admonished him for lying to a great saint, but the artist was insistent that he did not see any procession pass by. Swami Ram Krishna Paramahans then went into a meditative state and saw that the artist was indeed speaking the truth. He was so engrossed in his art that he had failed to notice the Rath Yatra pass by from in-front of his shop.
So, perceptual evidence does not offer perfect evidence in all situations, yet it speaks to us the loudest.
Anuman praman
anumana pramana (Devanagari: अनुमान प्रमाण ISO15919: anumāna pramāṇa ) is the second form of evidence. It is "inferential" evidence.
One can infer things using logic. When one knows the relationship between the things then seeing one thing they can draw an inference; even though the second situation cannot be directly perceived.
For example, most of us have seen smoke from a bonfire.
यत्र यत्र धूमस्तत्रतत्राग्निः |
yatra yatra dhūmastatratatrāgniḥ |
“Wherever there is smoke, fire is also there”.
So, when smoke is seen atop a mountain we know there is a fire, even if the fire is not visible.
This requires knowledge of the rules of interactions between the objects. Also, it requires higher intellectual prowess.
Shabd praman
Shabd praman (Devanagari: शब्द प्रमाण ISO15919: śabda pramāṇa ) is Scriptural evidence.
Sensory perception and inferential logic are incapable of conclusively proving everything. Heads of Governments use intelligence report (means other people's words) as evidence and act on them.
For example Presidential advisors research different topics. The President consults with them to make a decision. The whole public media is based a reporter going somewhere and then sharing about what they see and hear with others. Through those people you learn about various things without having any pratyaksh praman (first hand experience) of those those.
So, how are these evidences useful in learning about the divine world?
The only way to know about the divine world
Vedas are the irrefutable evidence of spiritual truths. These are produced by God Himself.
There are other Vedic scriptures as well. These scriptures are produced by those trikaaldarshi God realized sages and seers who could see the past, present and future. They have documented their personal experience as a treasure for us. So these are the solid and irrefutable research.
So this is the strongest form of evidence and in the spiritual realm, this is the ONLY acceptable form of evidence.
So, could we read the Vedic scriptures ourselves and learn those spiritual truths?
Well, will any airline allow you to fly a passenger plane by a myriad of books on flying?
No. You will have to take instruction from an experienced pilot, then undergo intense practical training again under the supervision of an experienced pilot. When training is complete then you get the license. Only after that can you fly a plane.
Similarly, you will have to learn theory and undergo practical training again under the supervision of a Guru who has experienced God.
How do I know who has experienced God?
This is a great question. Read Identify the saint and expose the pretenders to know how to recognize the saints.
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