2025

Scientific Interpretation Of Spirituality In Modern Indian Thought: Swami Vivekananda And Acharya Shree Ram Sharma.

Author(s): Lalon Sarkar

Abstract

The relationship between science and spirituality has been a subject of deep intellectual debate in modern philosophical discourse. In the Indian context, two prominent thinkers who attempted to harmonize spiritual philosophy with scientific reasoning were Swami Vivekananda and Acharya Shree Ram Sharma. Both philosophers argued that spirituality should not remain confined to dogma or ritual but should be approached in a systematic and rational manner similar to scientific inquiry. Vivekananda emphasized the scientific nature of Vedanta and yoga as methods for exploring the inner world of consciousness. Acharya Shree Ram Sharma further developed the idea of “scientific spirituality,” presenting spiritual practices such as Gayatri meditation and Yagya as processes capable of influencing human psychology, social ethics, and environmental harmony. This paper critically examines the philosophical foundations of scientific spirituality in the works of these two thinkers and compares their perspectives on religion, science, human consciousness, and social transformation. The study finds that while Vivekananda laid the intellectual and philosophical foundation for the scientific understanding of spirituality, Acharya Shree Ram Sharma institutionalized and applied these ideas through social and spiritual movements. Their combined contributions represent a significant effort to bridge the perceived divide between modern scientific thought and ancient spiritual traditions.