Spirience: Experiencing Peace and Prosperity through Spirituality and Science

By: Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadreshdas Swami, et al.

Spirience: Experiencing Peace and Prosperity through Spirituality and Science presents a unique perspective on the significance of spirituality and science to achieving peace and prosperity. The term ‘spirience’ is a blend of two words: ‘spirituality’ and ‘science.’ It captures the essence of spirituality in its prefix “spiri-,” and the domain of science in its suffix “-ence.” ‘Spirience’ represents a harmonious fusion of life’s two great streams encapsulated in a single word that symbolizes the profound synergy between these realms.

In the world we live in, the “spirientific” approach is crucial. Whether we reside in a developed or developing part of the world, live in an era of unprecedented modern science and technology, or enjoy various conveniences, almost every human being experiences a persistent lack of inner peace and lasting happiness. The history of human existence bears witness to this. When the modern world is so richly equipped with science and technology, why then does human life see an increase in conflict, fear, stress, and insecurity? What is missing?

This work seeks to understand this challenge and proposes a shift in how we perceive our world. The 21st century is recognized as the century of the digital revolution and knowledge explosion. Every branch of science brings forth impressive brilliance before our eyes. Yet beyond the quantifiable, analytical, and experimental world is another, one that is immersed by experience and immensely dynamic and personal. This world of spirituality gives profound insight into what true peace and prosperity entail and the means for achieving them. It provides an overwhelming sense of purpose and meaning to life and all its endeavors, including scientific ones. Embracing spirience invites one to reimagine a world where the harmony of science and spirituality inspires solutions and elevates the human experience. Embark on a transformative journey of spirience, as presented by Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadreshdas Swami, V. I. Lakshmanan, and S. Kalyanasundaram, and discover how its experience can unlock a new dimension of peace, purpose, and prosperity in your life.

About the Authors

Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadreshdas Swami MA, Ph.D, D.Litt, D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) is a philosophical luminary of our times and a pioneer at the forefront of advancing traditional Vedic scholarship in the modern era. He is an ordained Swami of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He is the author of the world-renowned Svāminārāyaṇabhāṣya, an original and comprehensive Sanskrit commentary of the Prasthānatrayī that establishes the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan as an independent philosophical school (darśana) of Hinduism. His additional creation of the Svāminārāyaṇasiddhāntasudhā, a Sanskrit vādagrantha or a formal exposition, justification, and defense of the philosophical and theological positions of the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan revealed by Bhagavān Swaminarayan, positions him among intellectual giants of Indian philosophy.

Bhadreshdas Swami has earned five Master’s degrees in Sanskrit and the Shad Darshanas from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Benaras, India and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai, India. After receiving a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from Karnakata University in 2005, he was awarded a D. Litt. in 2010 and the esteemed ‘Mahāmahopādhyāya’ title by Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University in Nagpur, India. The University of Mysore also awarded him the Professor G.M. Memorial Award and the Darshankesari Award in 2013 for his unprecedented work in Indian darśanic philosophy. He also has authored numerous scholarly works on Hindu scriptures and is a recipient of the prestigious Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree from IIT Kharagpur and a D. Litt. for his outstanding contributions to Sanskrit literature. He has also received numerous accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by the prestigious Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the respected accolade of Abhinav Bhashyakar, and Vedant Martand Sanman from Silpakorn University in Thailand. He continues to be honored worldwide for his outstanding achievements in Indian philosophy.

Bhadreshdas Swami currently serves as the head of the BAPS Research Institute, New Delhi, and the Pradhānācārya of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanskrit Mahavidyalay in Sarangpur, Gujarat, where he instructs students in Indian philosophy, Vedic literature, Pāninian Sanskrit grammar, and Indian classical music. He is also the editor-in-chief of the internationally acclaimed BAPS Swaminarayan Research Journal and is an international lecturer on Indian philosophy.

V. I. Lakshmanan, O.C., PhD., is the co-founder of Process Research ORTECH, a pioneering sustainable technology company. With 50 patents and over 150 scientific publications and books to his name, he is widely recognized for his contributions to science and technology. His accolades include being named an Officer of the Order of Canada, receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Guelph, and being awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the Government of India. Dr. Lakshmanan currently serves as the Chair of the Sringeri Vidya Bharathi Foundation in Toronto and is a former Chair of the Canada India Foundation.

S. Kalyanasundaram has nearly 25 years of experience in implementing and marketing advanced technologies for digital telecommunication networks at Nortel Networks. He also served as the Executive Director of the Canada India Foundation for eight years.