For many decades, western science has been looking for objective, measurable evidence of spiritual experience and the so-called "super-normal powers" that are said to exist within human beings. (Eastern science has been looking much longer, so its point of view ought not be ignored by western scientists.)
There has been quite a lot of progress over the years in numerous studies done on meditation, psychic phenomena, near death experiences, UFOs and other kinds of extraordinary human experiences. Yet, questions remain, and the debate rages on. What better place to continue it than here in this forum?
And what about the collected systems of yoga practice being regarded as a science in its own right? Where there is cause and effect, there can be science. If a particular cause (say, a systematic method of meditation) causes a particular effect (like feelings of peace, or rising intelligence), and this is a repeatable "experiment," then doesn't that make yoga itself a science? This is especially true if the many causes and effects involved in a full range of daily yoga practices can be optimized to be highly effective and safe for anyone to use. Isn't this the same process we have gone through in developing all of the wonderful technologies we often take for granted today? A science is most useful when it can be applied successfully to a practical endeavor -- such as promoting human wellfare, or, say, promoting human spiritual transformation and the resulting "enlightened" condition that comes with it. Then it can be called "applied science." That is what we'd like to see happen with yoga -- see it come out of the shadows of ignorance and superstition, and into the full sunlight of practical applied science.
Looking further out on the mental plane, there is also the question of the many philosophies that have evolved in every culture to explain the nature of existence and the role of humanity in it. This forum can also be useful for those who are inclined toward examining philosophical systems, with the goal of utilizing calm and measured reason and logic to answer the question, "What on earth are we doing here?!!"
Some food for thought...
The guru is in you.
