With the ‘Nature and Structure of Theories’, by C. U. Moulines as a framework, Yoga can be defined and outlined as a robust empirical scientific theory.
This is the outline of the empirical, scientific theory of Yoga:
1. Any theory is built on first principles, a basic set of assumptions. All other concepts of the theory can be defined through these basic axioms as they are also called.
First principle:
a) ‘Samskaras’ are the latent impressions or residues of experiences (desired or undesired).
b) The subtle, latent samskaras materialise into physical experiences, in order to be used up, exhausted. Just like potential energy might convert to kinetic. We know that gauge symmetry is a fundamental property of nature. There is the same gauge symmetry between samskaras and experiences.
c) Life = Samskara-Experience continuum. Samskaras continuously convert into experiences and the other way around as well. The more the samskaras, lesser the experiences and vice versa. One is just a different form of the other.
Spooky analogy: The space-time continuum?
c) The need for human life is there till there are samskaras to be exhausted, to be converted into experiences. Samskaras are thus the foundational impetus of human life (life experience).
2. It should have an underlying ideology, metaphysical motivations and assumptions.
a) Life happens because there are samskaras to be exhausted; to be converted into experiences.
b) Exhaustion of samskaras through experience is the central underlying ‘program’ of human existence.
c) Samskaras are constantly being exhausted by experience and being created newly from the feedback of experience, in a never ending cyclical feedback loop.
d) All desires (wanted experience) and fears (unwanted experience) arise from and feed this self propagating, self organizing samskaric feedback loop.
e) This loop is the source of all human suffering. It is the source of the entirety of the human condition.
3. It should have a goal.
a) Quicker exhaustion of samskaras, by application of a hack to break the feedback loop.
Yogic hack utilizes the technology of Yoga.
b) When the Yogic hack fulfils its purpose, the loop breaks, and an individual undergoes a cognitive and sensory upgrade.
c) All fears and desires are lost i.e. suffering is transcended. The need for experiences stops when fear and desire, which are the seeds of wanted and unwanted experience are lost. No new samskaras or seeds are created. The human condition is transcended.
d) A supra-cognitive and supra-sensory state produces a condition of uncaused and unmarred ‘bliss’.
e) Uncaused and unbroken because it is independent of any sensory experience or any mental function.
This state is supra-sensory, extra-mental and extra-psychological. This is the true goal of Yoga; of human life.
4. It should have its methodological and ethical values.
a)Yogic technology is an organically evolving structure.
b) It rests on three principles: A troika of meditation, cognitive restructuring and emotional processing.
c) Its methodology is eight pronged: Four external aspects and four internal. For the process to work, external and internal configuration and calibration must be achieved.
d)The internal configuration cannot be achieved before the external is in place.
Our physical yoga, as the world knows it today, is just one of the four external configurations required!!!
e) The first four external aspects can be significantly controlled and manipulated, but the internal aspects to a lesser extent. In fact the last two internal aspects depend entirely on the strength of configuration and fineness of calibration of the first six. In essence, the last two depend only on preparedness.
5. It must have instruments for observation and clearly outlined methods of observation.
a)The psyche-mind-body unit is the instrument for observation.
b) There are four contra distinct configurations of the psyche-mind unit of individuals, i.e. they could be divided into four broad categories.
c) The methods of experimentation for the different categories is different. It depends on inclination, configuration and style.
d) The goal of all four types of experimentation are the same. As the yogic technology takes effect in each method, an overlap of configurations happens.
In the end, differences converge and the resultant supra-cognitive, supra-sensory state is common to all. It is universal.
No relativism!
6. It must have applicability.
Yogic technology has applicability for every aspect of life: from personal, societal, to the whole world. It could be the answer to practically all the world’s problems; from poverty, war, terrorism, sickness to geo-politics. Since it starts with the individual and takes him to a supra-cognitive, supra-sensory state, suffering-less state, in a world of individuals with this higher cognitive and sensory level, suffering would be lost collectively.
Although its applications are endless, for the purpose of these blogs alone, I have chosen to discuss three intractable, confusing questions of:
a) Identity
b) Free will
c) An objective moral framework