Mathematics of Spirituality

Vedanta provides the core principles on which one may build a mathematical theory of spirituality. It is an ancient system of philosophy originating in India that has won the admiration of thinkers in both East and West. Schrödinger, the creator of the mathematics of Quantum Mechanics, calls the Vedantic identity of Brahman and Atman “the quintessence of deepest insight into the happenings of the world”. The German philosopher Schopenhauer exclaims that “in the whole world there is no religion or philosophy so sublime and elevating as Vedanta… this Vedanta has been the solace of my life, and it will be the solace of my death.”

“The teachings of Vedanta are profound, yet simple; coldly logical, yet warming the heart with love; completely personal, yet universal; and above all very relevant in today’s world. Even as Quantum Mechanics reveals the subtleties of the world of matter, so does Vedanta reveal logically the nature of the self, its relation to the world of happenings, and beyond that, to the ultimate Reality that underlies both. Today, as ever, Vedanta shines as a stunning testimony to the ability of the human mind to ponder and penetrate the abstract.”

(Excerpted from a Chinmaya Mission brochure)

There are many resources, both online and off, for learning more about Vedanta. Chinmaya Mission centers in many metropolitan centers in the US and Canada offer classes in Advaita Vedanta– see Chinmaya Mission. Swami Chinmayanandaji, founder of the global Chinmaya Mission, worked tirelessly for more than forty years to teach this ancient knowledge to thousands in India as well as in the West. An eloquent and passionate teacher, he has also written extensively on Vedanta with commentaries on Bhagavd Gita, Upanishads, and works of Adi Shankara such as Vivekachudamani and Atma Bodh. These can be purchased online at Chinmaya Publications.

A blog by Benjamin devoted to Advaita and mathematics can be found here. A related site is Sunyaprajna.

There are many organizations such as the Ramakrishna Mission, Divine Life Society, and Sri Ramana Ashram engaged in the dissemination of Vedanta . The Advaita Yahoo Groups, which hosts online discussion on a number of topics in Advaita Vedanta, may be of interest to those who already have a basic understanding of this philosophy.