Research topics for the Vedanta College and Research Center

In accordance with the Prospectus for the Vedanta College, it is necessary to establish the authority and the validity of the Vedic shastras. This will require research showing (1) that the Vedic world view is consistent with observed reality, and (2) that certain accepted scientific theories that contradict the Vedic version are not correct. Research is needed in the following areas:

1. Vedic History

A. History of Indian kings in the Kali Yuga. Extensive research into the Puranas and related literatures is needed. Archeological material should also be investigated, and the dates of kings going back to the Mahabharata should be ascertained. This establishes the historicity of the Mahabharata.

B. Dispersal of peoples from India from the period of Svayambhuva Manu up to recent times. This involves investigation of:

1. The dispersal and origins of Indo‑European languages and the question of the Aryan invasion of India.

2. The question of Vedic influence on other cultures, including ancient cultures of Latin America, Egypt, etc.

3. The role of primitive peoples in previous yugas. Our work on archeology and the human evolution theory is relevant here.

4. The identification of peoples and geographical regions in Bharata Varsa. This topic is also relevant to Vedic cosmology.

5. The origin of city life. (This is discussed in the Puranas in connection with the story of Prithu Maharaja.)

2. Vedic astronomy and cosmology.

A. Study of Jyotish Shastra. This includes investigation of:

1. The relation between Jyotish astronomy and Greek and Babylonian astronomy.

2. The relation between Jyotish astronomy and Puranic cosmology.

3. The accuracy of Jyotish astronomy in predicting eclipses, etc.

4. The role of Jyotish astronomy in the dating of Vedic literature.

B. Systematic study of Puranic cosmology, and the comparative study of the cosmological material in all the Puranas. This includes:

1. Study of Puranic geography in both space and time with reference to higher dimensional aspects related to the interplay of gross and subtle energies.

2. Study of the Vedic humanlike species living on higher, lower, and middle planetary systems. Comparison between Vedic accounts, traditional accounts in different cultures, and modern accounts.

3. Study of the strengths and weaknesses of modern cosmological theories (including the Big Bang theory, etc.).

3. Study of the evidence and arguments advanced by scientists regarding evolution and the origin of life.

A. Analysis showing the weakness of evolutionary theory. B. Study of the empirical evidence cited by evolutionists, including paleontological and archeological evidence.

4. Study of mind, body, and consciousness and their interrelationships. This topics falls under the heading of psychology, and it involves:

A. Psychical research. Research topics in this area include:

1. Out‑of‑body experiences‑‑a cross cultural study involving India and the Western World.

2. Different types of social labeling and categorizing of out‑of‑body experiences in different cultures.

3. Evidence for memory of past lives (Ian Stevenson).

4. Strong paranormal phenomena (poltergeists, etc.)

5. Parapsychology, or the study of weak paranormal phenomena.

6. Psychical healing and "miracles." Here we can interface with scientific societies such as ISSSEEM (International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine) and the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

B. Study of subtle energies and siddhis from the Vedic viewpoint. This can be pursued in relation to the empirical data in (A).

C. Study of modern scientific ideas about the mind and brain (cognitive science, etc.) in relation with the Vedic understanding.

5. Study of physics from a Vedic viewpoint. Two topics of interest in this field are:

A. Sankhya philosophy and the origin of the elements. This can be related to modern cosmology and the controversy over the Big Bang.

B. Ether and akasha‑‑a comparative study of Vedic and modern scientific concepts. This is relevant to the mind‑body question.

6. Epistemology and the philosophy of science. This topic includes:

A. Extension of our work, as presented in the book Forbidden Archeology. The academic fields of Sociology of Science and Sociology of knowledge can be brought into play here.

B. Vedic epistemology: the study of nyaya and the different pramanas (pratyaksa, anumana, and sabda).