In a previous post I gave the proposal why it is an urgent need of the hour to have science and popular science books become available for reading amongst monks/nuns/spiritual practitioners and seekers in any spiritual organisation across monasteries and ashrams.
Can you guess what the excuse will be? Funding? What is the price of a single popular science book? A book can be donated. Gifted. Now private ashrams: Have you seen the net income of commercial ashrams and the exorbitant amounts they charge for ‘guidance’?
I’m not even proposing science replace metaphysical lessons. Not at all. Science simply be introduced, available to read. Simple. For those curious. As a grounding practical education. Monks/nuns have the right to knowledge of how far we understand the universe. It is their birth right. It will not in any way interfere with inner spiritual discipline or the practice of virtue, rather it is a supplement.
So what’s the excuse?
I can imagine how private ashrams will react:
Is it simply because if seekers are acquainted with science narrated beautifully so mesmerisingly, and they become well informed, it’ll hurt their business? The businesses of most commercial ashrams thrive on your ignorance. The more ignorant you are the merrier, they can guide you, mould you like their adopted children. They can easily convince you to leave your jobs and donate all your wealth to the ashram and guarantee you that this the legit first step on the path of Moksha/ enlightenment/nirvana. Please note: My attack is towards commercial Ashrams only.
I adore quiet monasteries in the Himalayas. I tear up at the thought of visiting one. I rever Monasteries. Once I step in, my heart refuses to leave. I wanted to be a nun too. Not to escape from life. To me that was the perfect life I dreamt of. I grew up adoring Buddha since the age of 9. Looking at monks I never think they lack anything at all, I envy them, I feel how lucky they are to have earned that life. I have the deepest respect for them. I just think adding in science books on cosmology and astrophysics in a monastery library would be really cool.
if I were a monk residing at a remote Himalayan monastery since birth, a science book on our understanding of our cosmos is the one thing I’d have missed out. Monks and nuns must have access to scientific knowledge is all that I am suggesting. Their library can include one popular science book where concepts are explained and simplified, is that is all I’m saying.
The commercial ashrams though? They don’t want you to read the Upanishads nor the Dhammapada. They don’t want you find out you don’t need to visit those ashrams at all. They want you as dependants. And god forbid a spiritual seeker discuss science instead of metaphysics. God forbid a seeker stargazes.