QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

 

Q: Gurudev, is there a difference between the Vedic Tradition and Science?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

See, our ancestors gave a lot of prime importance to the intellect. Our most important mantra is the Gayatri Mantra which is unparalleled. In the Gayatri Mantra it is said “Dhiyo yonaha prachodayaat”, which means, “May our intellect be illumined and inspired by the Divine”. It does not pray for just one person’s intellect, the mantra prays for everyone’s minds and intellect to be illumined and inspired by the Divine light. So, by the Gayatri Mantra, we pray that all our minds together are nurtured by the Divine, and may all our intellects blossom. This is the prayer we make through the Gayatri Mantra.

 

Science also gives importance to the intellect, to logic and rationality. Anything that does not agree with the intellect, or is not aligned with intelligence - cannot be called as Science. When you see things from this perspective, then you realize that both Science and Spirituality work along the same lines. Spirituality just goes one step further than Science and asserts that not only must we inquire “What is this?”, but also go deeper and inquire “Who am I?” This inquiry too is within the scope and boundaries of Science. Here it is not only the scenery that is important; rather the observer or the Seer is also equally important. The Seer too has a very prominent role here, and Spirituality, or Vedic tradition makes this aspect (of the Seer) more evident and clear.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar