We are all karma scientists!

Science is defined as a systematic process of observation to acquire "knowledge". Various definitions of science also mention experimentation as a key tool for observing natural phenomena under controlled conditions. This, among other things, ensures that the results of scientists' observations can be verified independently.

To most people, science originated relatively recently in human history. But the essence of everything that science stands for is actually as old as life itself. Observation, learning and action are intrinsic to all life and are not unique to humans. All living creatures interact with their external environment and collect knowledge, which they use to adapt continuously to the ever-changing external world. Over the long term, the results of that accumulated knowledge are seen as evolution.

All living creatures are capable of observation. They demonstrate an innate capacity not only to take notice of their environment (internal as well as external), but also to "remember" (for varying periods of time depending on the species) what they see, hear, smell, taste, or feel. Together, the capacity to notice the environment and memory create "awareness", which serves as a driver for all actions—whether it is to avoid a predator, devour a  prey, find a mate, respond to a hunger pang, or stop and wait to enjoy the sunset.

The interaction between the observer and the object(s) of observation produces a constant flow of information, which is recorded by each individual as memory. New memories pile upon older ones and become the breeding ground for our likes, dislikes and wants. We spend our entire lifetime collecting and processing information to draw conclusions—just as scientists do. From time to time we hypothesize scenarios and manage our environment to the extent possible to achieve preset goals. We also sketch mental visions of our world (models of the way life works for us) and try to tune our future actions based on those models. That too is exactly what scientists do, albeit in a more organized and rigorous manner.

Life of karma is a life of experimentation

All our actions (related to making observations, recording memories, building models, responding to our needs and wants) collectively make up our karma. Since all actions happen in the context of time, and after each action our state is altered (e.g., we are hungry, we eat, and we become full), karma also refers to the consequences of our actions. Thus, actions and their consequences are two sides of the same coin. Each karma becomes the determinant of our destiny in the next moment. Moreover, since our karma happens in a constant cycle of action and learning, all karma can be regarded as continuous experimentation.

Reincarnation: living lives to refine karma

A key idea within the concept of karma is that the consequences of our actions in one life are carried forward to the next life. Each life comes with its specific set of givens. Bound with those specifics, we experiment with our karma as we evolve towards greater knowledge and liberation from our material existence. The cycle of birth and rebirth (reincarnation) explains why some people are born more "fortunate" than others. Life follows the Montessori approach to schooling: we are all learning from our experiments at our own pace. 

Can we improve our karmic experiments to attain freedom?

Yes, we can! And there is a lot we can learn from modern scientific methods.

A key principle in modern science is objectivity. In the context of our daily karma, this can be seen as the ability to see beyond our first-reaction point of view. Unless we develop tolerance for others and their thoughts we may be making choices based on limited information, and less information always means less fruitful action.

There are many other lessons to be learnt from science, and the list is too long to go into all of them here. However, let's consider one other very important lesson from science. Scientists know that it is easy enough to set up experiments and make highly accurate, verifiable observations about the objects of observation. But the next step, extracting meaning from all the data that are collected, is not so easy. The same applies also to our karmic experiments. Often our failure to learn the "right" lessons from our karmic explorations results in cyclical repetitions of our karma, prolonging our suffering.  

So how can we know the "true" meaning of what we observe? Is the true meaning simply what the majority can see or experience and agree with? These are difficult questions and there are no easy answers. This is the point at which hard science melts away into philosophy. (Note that the highest academic degree even in science is a degree in philosophy!) Vedic philosophers of ancient India have suggested that true answers to such questions lie deep within each of us. The only way to get there is to leave the external "reality" occasionally and dip into the inner one. That is where we can remedy our karma and progress towards real freedom.

© Jitendra Khanna 2012. All rights reserved.