iSpirituality

At the confluence of Science & Spirituality

iGlobal Desk

Professor Nawal K. Prinja is a world-renowned UK-based scientist who specialises in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in engineering and mechanical and civil design codes and standards used in the nuclear industry worldwide. He is also the author of definitive books such as 'Explaining Hindu Dharma: A Guide for Teachers'.

Dr Gaurav Prinja specialises in the field of streamlining and automation and is the author of 'To Ve or Not to Ve', a critique of veganism.

In this Science & Spirituality podcast series, the father-son duo will go head to head on some of the most common, and at times not so common, aspects of our spiritual life that have their roots in scientific theory.

Episode 1

The ubiquitous Aum and Gayatri Mantra

This well-known Hindu chant, the signature tune for this iSpirituality Show segment, is based on a deep understanding of the human mind and psychology, Prof. Prinja explains.

Episode 2

Laws of physics and the immortal soul

In this episode, the focus is on the cycle of life and death and the law of thermodynamics.

Episode 3

Shiva & Shakti: All about the God Particle

In this episode, Prof. Prinja explains all about atoms and the scientific discovery of the Higgs Boson and why it was declared the God Particle.

Episode 4

Gravitational Waves and Panchbhuta

Gravitational waves are disturbances in the curvature of spacetime, generated by accelerated masses that propagate as waves outward from their source at the speed of light. So how does this connect with the Hindu philosophy of Panchbhuta – the five physical elements referenced on a daily basis?

Episode 5

Quantum Mechanics within Vedic philosophy

Religious traditions are often criticised for providing un-testable elements in their books of wisdom. Among these elements, the soul’s existence is one of the most debated in talks between science and religion. But is the concept of the soul really so vague and does it really have no empirical evidence for a practical theory? Vedic philosophy and quantum mechanics may bring interesting ideas to consider.

Episode 6

The Beginning of the Universe

In the distant past most people accepted their religion's explanation of how the universe began. As the world became more interested in science in the 18th and 19th centuries, however, religion alone couldn't always explain the new discoveries being made. In the 1920s, the Big Bang Theory was proposed as a possible scientific explanation for the creation of the universe.

In this episode, we hear where the Nasadiya Sukta from the Rig Veda connects with the beginning of the universe.

Episode 7

From Zero to Infinity

The focus here is on shunya or zero, its philosophical connotations beyond the mathematical, and why it was India that came up with the name and symbol for this crucial concept.

Episode 8

Artificial Intelligence and learning to listen to oneself

Over the past 2,000 years, humanity has successfully advanced in the direction opposite to itself. The human perceives light through its external manifestations and has completely forgotten how to listen to the world through inner sensations. This has gone that far that in the 21st century the ability to listen to oneself is considered an exotic skill and “learning to listen to oneself”, “understand oneself”, “observe oneself” have become a fashionable trend.

We just don’t know how to do it. We are spiritual entities living in the material world, who have forgotten that fact! Prof. Nawal Prinja and Dr Gaurav Prinja explain in this episode of Science and Spirituality.

Episode 9

The Science of Yoga

Yoga is an ancient practice; it has been associated with cultural, religious and physical activity for more than 2,000 years. Its practitioners have asserted its effect on balancing emotional, physical and spiritual health for decades. But only recently has there been a move to substantiate these claims through research, Prof. Nawal Prinja and Dr Gaurav Prinja explain in this episode.

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