Spirituality through the lens of Science -

Interview with Dr. Pawan Kumar Mishra
By Dr. Manisha Bose

Is our destiny predetermined, or do we have free will to shape our lives despite our astrological birth chart?

Ans: The primary question of pre-determinism versus free-will has not arrived at a consensus amongst philosophers or scientists. For our common understanding, we may look at the question in the following way –

We have free will to choose amongst available options. Once we have chosen, the consequences of that choice we made appear in front of us as destiny, pre-determined by the choice we made out of our free will. We must learn to make superior choices exercising our free will arising out of our Intellect. This shall manifest as the destiny we desire.

As an aside, we need to become aware of the fact that our merely our choices or following actions do not convert into results. No! The events and experiences that we go through are a product of our actions and the prevailing circumstances.

Thus, astrology is more than merely predicting the future. It is a dynamic tool to shape our lives as we live through it, through mindfulness, self-reflectionand a profound understanding of our own personality and the unique treasures we hold.
Why is ancient wisdom of Astrology still relevant? How scientific or unscientific is Astrology?

Ans: Astrology offers an insight to one’s mind, unmatched by any other tool available with Mind Sciences. It can help map active and dormant patterns, impressions and proclivities of one’s mind, which directly influence the nature, attitude, behaviour and choice making aspects of a person.

Astrology is based upon Astronomy which is scientific. The interpretations arrived through astrology are accurate in higher percentage than a toss of a coin or mere guess work or intuiting can do. In my personal practice, I am left to wonder at the accuracy of predictions even in cases which may potentially have complex outcomes. In so much, Astrology can be called scientific. However, for Astrology to be called scientific but the scientific community, it needs to pass through several filters, some of which it may not be able to. Thus, we may refer to Astrology as being quasi-scientific.
You have been honoured with Spiritual Scientist awardby All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG), Andhra University Center, India. In your journey as a Spiritual Scientist, how do you bridge the gap between science and spirituality? Can spiritual experiences be studied through a scientific lens?

Ans: Science has provided us with a sophisticated methodology to approach, learn about and know the facts about matter, energy and all the products and phenomenon arising out of these. Science extends into understanding life sciences including mind sciences. Spirituality on the other hand concerns itself with consciousness and conscience and phenomenon that may not all belong fully to the matter-energy realm.

I use whatever methods are applicable from the field of science to understand spirituality. This makes it easier to understand apparently complex aspects of consciousness, bringing in as much objectivity, rationality, reproducibility and testability as possible. Spiritual experiences have to be validated through the lens of scientific methodology, unless they are totally subjective. My Guru, Swami Veda Bharati and his Guru, Swami Rama were subjects of several scientific studies by the Institute of Noetic Sciences (USA) and the Menninger Foundation (USA). However, Swami Veda once explained to me that the instruments of science, for example the EEG machine can at most record a flat line showing no electrical activity in the brain. This is a material phenomenon, not strictly spiritual. But the seven levels that the mind crosses beyond the flat line, also known as isoelectric EEG, cannot be captured by any instrument.
Your magnanimous book Living Hanuman, a syncretic commentary on Chalisa is called a Journey from one’s selfie to the Self. Can you explain this phenomenon?

Ans: Selfie is known to all! Selfie shows the outermost layer of one’s physical personality. The Self, also known as the Aatman, is the innermost point of one’s Being. Human life is mostly a journey at the level of the selfie. But one’s true purpose is to undertake the inner journey from this layer of the selfie to the point of the Self. It is also known as realizing the Self.
Your book Happytual by Rupa Publications is a self-help book. You mention about Bindu, one’s deepest inner Point. What is this Bindu that you are referring to that one needs to arrive at to experience true happiness?

Ans: This Bindu is Aatman, the Indweller Self which inhabits each one our body-mind shell. Ananda or Bliss is its innate nature. The happiness one seeks is one’s own true nature, just as a throughout its life, musk-deer chases the fragrance of the musk, which is embedded in his own navel. True happiness which is sustainable can be experienced only by arriving into one’s Bindu and living one’s life from here- the Happy Point.

Dr. Pawan Kumar Mishra
Spiritual Scientist I Author I Vedic Astrologer
Founder- Ivalyou Foundation

Dr. Pawan Kumar Mishra is a Transpersonal Coach and Vedic Astrologer. Through his transformative sessions and workshops for individuals, groups and companies worldwide, he helps to wake up people to their true potential, purpose and happiness. He has earlier worked in the corporate sector in senior management roles in organizations such as DCM-Toyota Limited, The Times of India group, Expeditors International (USA), and others. He served as a spiritual guide for HELP, a corporate leadership program of CBS-Executive under Copenhagen Business School, Denmark.
He founded the Shrine Of Universal Love (SOUL), where an unbroken stream of round-the-clock prayers for world peace were offered for nine years (2008-17). In 2020, he founded and currently guides Sri Kula, a global community of spiritual seekers, who belong to diverse cultures, nationalities, religions and beliefs. He is the founder of Ivalyou Foundation (2022), an NGO serving to bring about an inner shift from ME to WE in individuals and organizations.
Books written:
Happytual – The Non-Pursuit of Happiness (2024)
Living Hanuman (2019)
Diwali Pooja Vidhi (2005, 2016)

Awards:
Spiritual Scientist award by All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG), Andhra University Center.
Doctor of Philosophy – Spiritual Science and Writing(Honoris causa), by Hessen International University, Germany.

Linkedin: in/PawanKumarMishra108
Facebook: PawanMishra108
Instagram: PawanMishra1008
YouTube: LivingHanuman5225
Mobile Phone: +91 9582260744

Email: mishra_pawan@yahoo.com
Website: www.astroshree.com; www.ivalyou.org

Links to buy the books by Dr. Pawan Kumar Mishra are given below :
Living Hanuman (only e-book version available now):
https://a.co/d/dgJjA0X
Happytual
https://a.co/d/cI5D3Sx