Science prides itself for using an objective, scientific, method. Scientific method stands for a range of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. Such techniques must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence. The core of the scientific method is that whatever is postulated as a hypothesis must be verifiable by a prescribed experiment(s), with steps that are repeatable. This is to remove all biased interpretations and build objective understanding of the Nature (phenomena).
By definition, God is the spiritual noumenon, inaccessible to measurements and experiments that are designed to study phenomena. God said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9).
And yet, He also said, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This “be still” defines the prerequisite for the scientific method to be also applicable in the field of religion. If you are still, you will surely succeed in the “experiment” to know and prove God for yourself. To be still means to calm the mind , so after it ceases to play with the myriads of human thoughts, it could start to receive the thoughts of higher vibrations (i.e., from the divine realms). To still the mind also means to “disconnect” it from the senses, which are providing constant input, so that mind is constantly busy, and it doesn’t have time to process more subtle divine signals.
Mind is essentially a receiving instrument—it’s not a factory (of thoughts) like we think. We don’t own thoughts, we just tune-in to the particular strata of consciousness, so that particular kinds of thoughts (available in that strata) are received by our minds. Sri Yukteswar said, “Thoughts are universally and not individually rooted; a truth cannot be created but only perceived. The erroneous thoughts of man result from imperfections in his discernment. The goal of yoga science is to calm the mind, that without distortion it may mirror the divine vision in the universe” (from Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 15).
So, if you want to experience God like a particular saint did, you have to put your mind into the same state as that saint had. You cannot expect to achieve proper and valid results from the experiment called “Replicating St. Frances’ relationship with God”, unless you put yourself into the same state of mind as St. Francis had. It’s true that you would be able to guess and gain some insight into his relationship with God by reading stories about St. Frances and what he said, but this would not be a replica of his experience, but some sort of translation of his world (of consciousness) into yours, where you would “see” his experiences through the “tainted glass” of your own state of mind.
And here we come to the point were it becomes clear why it is difficult to repeat somebody’s spiritual experiences, or “objectively measure” somebody’s state of mind—this can be done only if you have the same mind state as that person, and so you are able to tune-in to the same strata of consciousness as the person in question is connected to.
As one could imagine, this is not easily achieved. Experiments in the domain of consciousness require the appropriate preparation time, where the environment (i.e., one’s mind) is placed into the required initial state for the experiment to be repeatable. Therefore, religious experiences cannot be dismissed as unscientific and unrepeatable, as some scientists would like to conclude (after trying to execute religious experiments without properly setting up the initial conditions). The emphasis must be rather placed on the proper investigation and description of the target state of mind that is required for the successful execution of the experiment.
Obviously, depending on the distance (i.e., difference) between the required target state of mind, and that of the would-be experimenter, the preparation time will differ, but the method is always the same—by “stilling” of the mind. Stilling the mind will disconnect it from the current strata of consciousness, after which the experimenter would be able to choose to which particular strata she or he would like to connect.
Suffice it to say that the best possible strata (of consciousness) to connect to is God’s, because “In It is the origin of all knowledge and love; the root of all power and joy” (from Sri Yukteswar’s book The Holy Science, chapter I, sutra 2).
