Science, Mysticism and East-West Dialogue

This volume, consisting of a collection of 14 papers presented at an international symposium held in India several years ago, seeks to reconcile the consternation that exists within the divergent philosophies of the eastern and western worldviews. Just as for Kipling‘east is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet’, the papers presented in this volume recognise this to be an adapt description of the superficial differences that exist between the uncompromising scientism of the West and the enigmatic mysticism of the East. The authors, representing a wide array of social and scientific disciplines (ranging from education, engineering, mathematics, microbiology, pharmacology, philosophy, physics and theology), seek to demonstrate that the eastern notions of mysticism, spirituality and subjective experiences of the Divine can both be reconciled and most crucially unearthed within the findings of western scientific disciplines. The underlying narrative throughout the papers is that the ever-increasing global connectivity has augmented the complexity of human life. Thus, they plead with a singular voice for the absolute necessity of a balanced and integrated approach between the western scientific and the eastern mystic traditions.