Birth, Death and Life after death (KNOW YOUR DEATH - 1)

Birth, Death and Life after death - All at the desire of Mind.

                                                                                                              

What is life? When does it start? When does it end? What happens after it ends? What is the process of rebirth, Moksha or Maha-Nirvana ?

Some of these questions often arise in our mind. Swami Vijnananand has rationally answered these questions in his book “Know your Death”. Also there is a seminar available at Manashakti main center Lonavala (India) where these concepts are lucidly explained.

Mind (or spirit) is an energy which provides ability of doing activities / motion to the body. As long as the mind is associated with the body the condition of “life” exists.

Birth would be the moment of this association and death the moment of dissociation. How do we ascertain these moments with certainty? What must be happening at these vitally important moments of our life?

Relatively it is easier to decide the moment of death. What happens at the time of death? How do we describe the death of a person?  We say:

He departed from his body.

His spirit left.

He breathed his last.

The flame of life extinguished. Etc. etc.

In short death is separation of body from the mind-energy. Logically then, birth would be the moment of this association. This takes place at the moment of conception, the point from which the life energy gets associated with the conceived cell. This cell then starts collecting new cells and form a body to take birth later at the appropriate time.

Mind Energy (Mind Power)

Mind is an energy in the form of non-matter which “Swami Vijnananand” defines as 'transcending the velocity of light, the highest limiting speed of any matter'.

Do we have some idea about the magnitude of the Mind Power or the energy available in a life? We shall try to find this in terms of life and the energy associated with the life. Life begins at the moment of conception where the matter first time gets associated with the mind energy. Then the journey of life begins.

Life is the journey of motion.

Though generally it is believed that life begins at birth, it actually begins at conception, where it is set in motion. The motion continues till a person breathes last, when the motion in the body stops. In short, life is a journey of motion.

Lot of energy is required and released to perform various physical and mental activities from first to the last breath. Everybody, though varying, has given quantum of energy available for use in the life. Studying human energy management in detail, Swami Vijnananand has given some rational measurement for the life energy in his pioneering research on the human life. We will take a brief look at the measure of the magnitude of energy associated with the life which is Mind Power. But before that we should see the enormous un-measurable potential of the mind-energy.

Child Birth, a super-material effect:

If each intricate cell of an infant is to be fashioned by a skilled worker and if s/he would require a minute to create one cell. This means it will take five hundred thousand years to complete the task. Suppose even every person had to contribute a cell to make an infant, entire world population cannot even complete a tiny foot. However, every mother accomplishes this within her womb in 265 days.  How this is done? Science has only begun to perceive the complexity of the miracle. This is the miracle created by the energy associated with life.

(Ref. ‘Mind Power’, Manashakti publication)

Touch of life creates transformation in matter:   

A touch of life creates wonderful transformation in a tiny piece of matter.

Catalase is an enzyme in living protoplasm which accelerates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The reaction can be accelerated by inorganic iron too. But the action of iron is very weak. However, by uniting an iron with special organic substance “pyrrole”, we can make that reaction thousands times more effective. Catalase, a natural enzyme, also contains iron with pyrrole, but its action is about ten millions times stronger because it contains additionally a specific protein.

This specific (protein) difference makes a miracle. Catalyst power of one milligram of iron, contained in the catalase complex (of life full protoplasm), is equal to that of ten tones of inorganic iron. That is the miracle of a touch of life-energy to a matter.

(Ref. ‘Mind Power’, Manashakti publication)

Transcending mind power:

For all our advanced techniques, we have not yet approached the level of rationalism possessed by living nature. Touch of Life gives ten million times more strength to a tiny piece. This is a phenomenon which science has not been able to explain so far. This transcendental power is called mind.

Each mind is unique, so are different its desires, strength and potential, also energy associated with it. Though external energy at physical level could be common to an extent for most human beings, total energy certainly varies from person to person considering the individual mind power.

Example - A billionaire and a middle class person travelling pay the same fare for a plane journey (visible paying capacity for that instance may be the same) while their spare wealth quantum differs, as they deserve.

While absolute total life energy cannot be accurately measured, there are some rational measures for external one. We will take a look at Swamiji’s estimation of external energy.

Life Energy: external measure

We have seen that human body is constantly in motion from birth to death. Thus the motion can be considered as the basis for measure of the life energy. There are a number of motions associated with various body systems. The easiest measurable body motion is pulse rate / heart rate which varies from age to age.

         

Medical text books provide us with the measure of motion, attributable to a living person during the span of life. The medical books say, that three months prior to birth, average normal pulse rate (pulse beats) is at 150 per minutes. At birth, it is 120 and nearing the age of death (advanced old age), it is gradually reduced to 60 per minute, on an average.

Thus, after birth, individual existence can be mathematically defined as capacity to beat the pulse at 120 per minute and proceed to the end when it is reached; reduced to 60 per minute. Thus right from the birth to old age there is reduction in the life energy. The process of aging begins from the first day.

An anticlimax of the pulse rising at a very old age does occur. Yet the same stems from reasons other than usual. Here, it might have occurred but for hardening of arteries or for the phenomenon of lamina shrinking. (Shrinking of cavity from where the blood flows). Other reasons that may account in this out-of-turn rise in pulse may be the loss of control on some organ or the other.

For special reasons pulse is recorded to be far below normal. Napoleon's pulse was said to be somewhere near 40. But the average as given above stands right for our basis.

At death, it is the mind that leaves body.

It is a planned retreat. It is our experience and it can be easily imagined, that the mind leaves body not because it is tired of the worldly desires to be enjoyed through body but because, the mind finds body damaged and so an inconvenient tool to enjoy. (Shall we add the death time declarations?)

In any case, leaving this argument to the exhaustive discussion in New Way Series, at the moment of death, the continuance of the capacity **3153600000 pulse-beats survives without any doubt. (This applies to normal death, the considerations for deaths due to accidents, suicide or voluntary departure by a Yogi from life by ‘Samadhi’ needs separate discussion, which can be provided separately).

We may just mention here that the state of the mind as it departs the body is vitally important to decide the future course of action.

**On an average the pulse-rate is 150/min (say 2.5 A), at prenatal stage, 120/min (2A) at birth, 70 to 80/min. at grown up age and 60/ min (A) at the old age (before death). In short, body motion decreases with increasing age and it is lowest just before death, although not zero.

Let’s consider (assume) average life of 60 years and 100/min. as an average pulse rate for the life span. 

**Based on this, the total energy can be calculated as follows.

 (100* x 60 minutes)       (24 hours)                 (365 days)                       (60* years)

----------------------      X      -----------        X    ----------------       X      --------------

         6,000                       144,000                525, 60 000                           315, 36,000

(* assumption, may vary from person to person).

As estimated above, the total typical average pulse energy during the life of 60 years is about 3.15 billion beats. Before the death moment there is a capacity to beat the pulse at 60/minute.

We have already suggested that these figures are hypothetical and arbitrary. These arithmetical values may better be taken algebraically. Nevertheless, the principle stands vindicated. If we designate algebraically value A to the surviving soul after death (A = 60 beats / min.), i.e. capacity 3153600000 pulse beats, '2A' will be value at birth with capacity 6307200000 pulse beats and '2.5A' (i.e. 7884000000 pulse beats three months prior to birth). Please note that the mind leaves the body at death when it has the capacity A.

Does the mind survive after death? Is it re-born?

The answer to the first part of the question is categorical ‘Yes’. As we have initially defined, Death is dissociation of body and mind. Body (matter) remains as corpse while the mind energy (non-matter) gets released. Now, the question is what happens to the left over capacity A or from where this 2.5 'A' comes from?

By first law of Thermodynamics nothing can come out of nothing. Therefore, the figure 150 (or algebraically figure 2.5 'A') must sometime be 149, 148, 147 and in far end sometime it must be 60 where we again meet the value 'A'.

In each individual case the values of A, 2A, and 2.5A may differ but the principle may stand vindicated.  After death the Mind has following options to choose. (Please see the figure above)

1.      To give up available energy A and go to zero. This is the concept of Maha-Nirvana.

2.      To earn additional energy from A to 2.5 A, and then opt for rebirth.

3.      To not to opt for birth and go on earning additional energy -endlessly up to infinity. This is the stage of Moksha.

As we say “Zero tends to infinity”, both the stages of Maha-Nirvana and Moksha are similar where the mind has given up the right of existence and merged itself in universal cosmic energy.

We have rationally examined the concepts of Birth, Life, Death, Rebirth, Maha-Nirvana, and Moksha. 

What must be the plight of the Mind after death before it chooses its options? We shall see this in the articles to follow.

Vijay R. Joshi.

The essence of human evolution. (E. O. M. - 15)

Here we try to put together the major points in the earlier blogs related to Evolution Of Mind.

To know more about “us” we need to know our 'minds' and the journey of our mind starting from the advent of evolution. Swami Vijnananand (S. V.) has elaborated in details the vital role of 'Mind'. Mind had  the desire to come to existence and evolve from single cell to many cells creatures and finally to the current stage of human being. Evolution, in biology, is a complex process by which the characteristics of living organisms change over many generations as traits are passed from one generation to the next. Though lot of thinkers have put forward different theories on the process of evolution, there are many unanswered questions still waiting for answers. Charles Darwin evolution theory has played a big role for our society, humanity, education and world. Yet, many scientist tend to doubt it or try to revise it

Why evolution?

Stephen Hawking on Learning and Evolution says:

If the human race manages to redesign itself, to reduce or eliminate the risk of self-destruction, we will probably reach out to the stars and colonize other planets. 

Please note that Hawking is emphasizing on the 'motive' of human behavior. And motive emerges from nothing else than “mind”.

Darwin's model of evolution complements a subtle message in the ancient religious texts. Do science and spirituality both point to the same trend using different examples? Does spirituality go a step beyond and predict the future?

Darwin and Dashavataras in Hinduism

Interestingly, Darwin's theory not only enjoys a strong scientific support but also finds a symbolic resemblance in several religious texts of Hinduism. Though there  are delicate differences in the names, the chassis of supernatural forms is generally accepted and recognized as Dashavataras or the ten forms of Lord Vishnu (das: ten, avatar: incarnation).

According to ancient Hindu scriptures, it is the fundamental desire of knowing the life-giving substance that drives evolution. This grand desire is deeply embedded in our life operating system resulting in the evolution of bodily forms followed by the evolution of mind. The evolution of mind ultimately results in the identification of oneself with highest intelligence. To support this phase of  evolution two things were needed - the evolution of brain and the evolution of a neural network. 

Interestingly, the evolution of intelligence seems to match the evolution of brain. Available scientific evidence indicates that human intelligence was an outcome of more cortical neurons and synapses emerging in human brain leading to greater information processing speed.

As humans evolved and survival was assured, the focus moved towards the evolution of intelligence. With the evolution of intelligence, the capability to think and concentrate received a tremendous boost. This led to the emergence of philosophy and religion. Ironically, brain evolution accompanied with mind evolution led to more complex behavioral  outcomes than expected. 

Unfortunately, instead of intensifying the search for highest intelligence, the  need itself got blurred and mind got more survival-oriented, also pleasure oriented, pleasures in  terms of body senses and ego. Since desire is the function of mind the mind  must have evolved with new desires which would have brought about changes in the brain and  behavioral outcome. The present evolution state is believed to be closest to the highest form when physical, emotional and  mental capabilities have reached peak misuse. Spiritually speaking, due to tremendous increase in human empowerment, the world has witnessed a rapid  increase in environmental abuse, natural 

disasters, life threatening diseases and hatred. 

Humanity  desperately needs a major reboot.

Since each of us is a product in the process of evolution, the knowledge of the process is important  for us. Conventional science is still holding a materialistic view and as such many phenomina in the nature turn into riddles. The role of psyche in the form of energy has not been acknowledged by the scientists. The materialistic view that Mind is the expression of brain seems still to be prevailing with majority. We have also seen that many present scientists are echoing the views Swami Vijnananand (S. V.) propounded in his books on Newway Philosophy written before 50 years

Since Darwin’s thesis is stated exclusively in terms of physiological evolution forcibly divided or disconnected from psychical evolution by his own discretion, sounds in-compatible or unsuitable. The evidence provides latter (psychical evolution) as the cause of the former(physiological evolution). The theory of continuity of mind throughout the evolution renders the matter more easy and understandable.

The present theory of evolution (Darwin Theory) pathetically fails to unriddle the gap between the two species. Mind alone can be considered to be accountable for the acquired characters during these  various intervals. Psych and not material brain (in the head cover) is personality or individuality.

Pleasure is the motive, jealous inequality is the mode, cyclic defeats and revenge is the terminating end of each cycle in the process. With the progress of living (resulting evolution) the revenge cycle is also progressing in its complexities. S.V. has given the description of this revenge cycle at each stage from the origin of life i.e. from coaservate to virus to cell to multi-cell lives up to human being. 

Darwin has also unearthed the revenge cycle behind the apparent symbiosis.

The revenge cycle includes not only open enemies but also so called friends and relations ultimately turn into ghost of revenge, often in the pretext of affection. The feelings of envy, jeolousy prevailing in the human mind is the expressed as well as dormant instinct of the desire of possible revenge. 

Symbiosis means living together in cooperation. But if observed in Nature, such examples are few. Greek history, Bible history, Arabian records, Persian records, Indian mythology and whole world history down to this age breathe destruction and revenge. The author (S. V.) says that we are at pain to point out this picture.

Some people profess that world is full of peace. They speak either partial truth, convenient truth, or truth with reference to certain context. Such people paint the picture of world as it should be and not as it is. We (New way philosophy) are underlining the reality and since correct diagnosis will cure corroding melodies. As it stands therefore, the revenge complex is the real menace (dangerous harm).

‘Inequalities of mind’ started the first mystery, and equality is the relieving solution. To fight the ghostly cycle of revenge, the arms of knowledge are the pacifying tools.

The porocess of epigenetics says that the behavior at any moment in the life is the cummulative effect of nature and nurture. The process starts at the stage of conception but even the period of preconception can't be ruled out. S. V. states that the process started from the moment life started on the earth when mind got associated with matter. The desire to associate ofcourse is the property of mind.

All of the living beings are created from the lifeless matter. Evolution simple theorem is that living being is created from the matter in the inanimate stage. If you consider this, then you can put forth a very simple equation, thereafter.

Evolutionists are of the opinion that the living beings were created by the adjustments and modifications. It is correct that the development happened slowly, one step after another. 

But whose basic desire was it to develop?

The believers in Energy (Life) are of the opinion that, it is energy which is important. That got stuck to the body, stuck to the matter, stuck to the inanimate objects; this world is created from both of them together. Some people who say that living being was created from the lifeless objects. Well, that’s OK, but how did this happen?’ They are not able to explain it. 

The doctrine of organic evolution has now been universally accepted. There is, however, no consensus of opinion amongst biologists as regards its modus operandi.

Talking only in terms of ‘New Way philosophy’, we have told earlier that you define the matter. After you have defined matter, we have demonstrated to you that there is something beyond the matter. That which transcends the velocity of light is called as non-matter.

Tracing the history backwards in the sequence of evolution, while counting back from 100 we arrived  at one (1). We agree to it. But why don’t you tell us as to how did one(1) originate? You cannot tell us, about that? Did it come from zero? You are not able to give an answer as to where  one (1) originated from. And that is why we are going to the roots and saying that we are proving (the existence of) energy. We have to accept a simple theorem that the Chetana (energy) has constructed  the nature while taking the help of jada (matter). You will say, what will happen if we don’t accept it?  – You will be caught in a trap.

Who had the need at that time to suddenly transform the non – living matter into living beings? What  kind of need arose for which the nature has done all this? What was its motive? The present theories are unable to explain this by any means. And that is where the evolution or evolutionism falls short,  becomes weak.

Generally even I (S. V.) accept the evolutionism to that extent. I accept evolution steps(11 to 100). Not only this, I am ready to accept it from (1) to (10). It is logically correct. We do accept that  evolution has taken shape very slowly. 

But basically why life was created in the first place? Hence we put forth the theorem of velocity of light there; and we oppose the evolutionists of materialistic orientation. We politely tell them ‘Give us an answer; we are ready to go back’. But none has given any answer to our questions.

While we try to link human behavior to its origin, we have to study the childhood. Where is the root of a child’s existence? What is the root of human behavior? If you take this link into 

consideration, you would realize that the stream of evolution that is flowing over thousands of millions of years,is responsible for our behavior and also for child's existence. It won’t be sufficient to study merely Neurology and Physiology. As we are of the opinion that we should study psychology too! While understanding the evolution process

As per Darwin, first the human being has a desire, then he makes efforts for fulfilling the same. After this efforts, if the nature accepts it and if that effect is stable, then it enters into the descendants, in the  children. It means human beings have achieved permanent progress. If it is so, then why the children of great people aren’t great? Our conclusion should be that Darwin’s theorem is not sufficiently pervasive.

Why did Dinosaurs die? They died because of comfort; they died due to eating too much. The situation came when no competition was left. Hence, if you restrict the meaning of ‘might is right’ as relating only to physical power, then it won’t be correct. The species which came afterward haven’t grown by merely killing each other; they have grown by helping each other as well.

We ought to be thankful to Darwin. It doesn’t mean that ‘whatever Darwin says is correct’. Natural selection functioned in combination with qualitatively new social-economic factors but its importance  grew less as the role of the latter increased. It means that the principle of natural selection, meaning ‘might is right’ was there at the beginning of the world, but it changed later.

Who changed it? Darwin has given an answer for the same . He said, it was changed by human beings who came later. A community was created by humans. He has stated that many a times it is apparent that humans changed the nature. Columbus discovered America. Then the natural selection ceased to remain a natural selection. Then what happened? Mixed breeds of humans were created,   hybrid races were produced. A few new sprouts were added to the human race. Darwin has made an  interesting statement. “When discussing the expression of emotions, of spiritual experiences by means of the face muscles, Darwin came to the conclusion that there is an amazing similarity in this  respect among representatives of different races.” Remember this. Now could an atheist have a  spiritual experience? And again the word ‘mental faculties’ is used. So ‘mind’ has to come.

See how that interesting word has appeared here. Whose wish is it? Nature has chosen the mighty. Who is mighty? The one who won the fight. He had a wish ‘I want to be powerful’ isn’t it? It is right. The wishes originate from mind, don’t they? It is correct. Now the question arises that if this wish is of mind, then whether he became ‘mighty’ for being capable of the desire or because was chosen by the nature? Tell me who gets the credit?

The human being accumulated power with efforts, did he get the status of ‘mighty’ because of the consistency of efforts or because of being chosen by the nature? And if because of power, meaning if he had earned this status of ‘mighty’ because of the unwavering efforts, then the choice of nature has no consequence. Who is nature to choose that? Tell me in certain terms what it is. Are you getting what I am trying to say?

Well, you have to draw only one conclusion: the mind is beyond this brain and body. It is the one which has desires. As long as it keeps doing justice to its task, it will keep on winning until that point. Real Evolution is here

The balance between power and peace, even the feeling of helping each other, has helped to gain victory in the nature So the word ‘might’ doesn’t mean only the physical power but the sturdiness of mind, steadfastness of intellect,  ability to surrender, each of these factors or their appropriate mix. Evolution has taken place as a result of these attributes. It is not sufficient to describe evolution merely as ‘might is right’.

ENTROPY

The law of heat & speed tells you that both of them will reach an even state in the end. What will happen in the whole of this universe? One day the movement of the whole universe is going to come to a standstill. That itself is called as the ‘state of entropy.’ The second law of Thermodynamics tells  the same thing. (Energy flows from higher to lower level till it attains entropy)…Finally everything in this universe is going to enter the state of equilibrium. Everything is going to have one  temperature. The stage and the speed of everything, the intermixing and internal stirring, is going to stop and everything in the world is going to enter one phase. This is the natural attribute of matter. You should take this into consideration.

‘All that got created was from matter.’ Every matter has action. Every action has a re-action. From this battle between action and reaction, the state of ‘Entropy’ is going to arrive eventually. The state  of ‘Entropy’ is the very Dharma (characteristic) of the matter.If you accept that the matter is going to finally enter the state of Sarva Shanti (total peace) and Sarva samata (total equality), then how can Darwin’s theorem of ‘might is right’ be true? If the basic law of ‘might is right’ is prevalent in the world, it cannot ever establish equality.

If the matter says that I am always going to fight and the one who wins in the fight will become mighty, how did progress of evolution go up to the stage of humans? What was your definition of progress? You have defined progress in a wrong way. This is the real issue. And if the evolutionism is unable to give a satisfactory answer to this, then the situation will  arise when we will have to put materialistic evolutionism aside. But don’t we see ‘might is right’? We do see it like that. But I don’t think of that state as a permanent stage. Fundamental law of matter is the state of entropy only; it is not ‘might is right’

The true law instead of that is of peace, adjustment, adaptation. We call it as ‘Symbiosis’. (we) term that as the state of peace, state of adjustment. And if that is the state, then you have to take that state into consideration.It won’t be right to go by ‘might is right’. You have to believe that the one who adjusts has the ability to change the world. The one who adjusts can reach the real next stage in evolution. The evolutionists say that if you learn to make adjustment and if that adjustment is accepted by nature, then you can reach the next stage in evolution.

So remember, to progress in the process of evolution, what should a person do? We have to make adjustments. What does the nature do? It suddenly gives him a prize. It is termed as mutation. While describing evolution it is said that a person makes an adjustment. Then what does the power of nature  do? It selects the one who has the maximum ability of adjustment, out of all of them. 

But  again our   question is, what if the one who does adjustment, is a sweet talker and a cunning person?

Hence we have to arrive at his motive. His motive should be that of peace. And hence, it is not sufficient for the person to make an adjustment; the nature also has to approve your adjustment.

The question is, what is the basic principle for natural selection?

If equality (entropy) is the final word of the nature, then to whom will the nature choose? Who would it elect? Who would it select? It will select the one who has the intent of equality; we have to draw such a simple conclusion. Then who will have that motive? Would it be with the inanimate object? And if it is not with an  inanimate, who will have it? Motive is the characteristic of Mind. One who is struggling in the evolution, the one making adjustments, possesses life. It is the intellect or the inspiration behind the motive. ‘When environment changes, the organism makes conscious efforts to adapt to the surroundings’. 

This is what Lamarck says. It is right. But conscious efforts? OK. So he tries wholeheartedly. Yet has  Darwin denied it at all?

I am making no change in the main theme of Darwinism.Living being has knowledge which says: ‘I want pleasure’. The living being has a motion. According to our principle of evolutionism, the root cause of this motion is pleasure. The animate longs for the state of happiness and that’s the reason he gets sorrow along with it. Here he is bound to get misery as the reaction. When he will get to know this (equation of happiness) – whoever this creature is, - he has acquired some basic knowledge. That is why he is making the ‘so called’ progress. Hence he is  getting the pleasure of motion. Ultimately he is going to get pleasure and pain as action-reaction. 

As that creature will go on increasing in size, more complex & dynamic, he, that is, humanity is going to get more grief. We are experiencing it today. And even science has stated the same. We are getting  those experiences in modern times. Where is the peace today? Miseries of the dynamic life have been created in the form of reaction.

If science has to follow its mission of reaching to the reality, it must get rid of the following misconceptions and revise its base.

1. Only matter matters.

2. Survival of the fittest.

3. Genetic control of life. And

4. Notion of random evolution.

These are the four wrong notions on which entire structure of science is based. Science can not reach to its aim if it dose not revise its base in view of the latest research. In short the existence of the reality beyond matter has to be accepted and incorporated in science by the scientists.

So now we have to acquire that ‘knowledge’ (to know) why we were born? Why has this Universe come into existence? And how this nature is going to move towards the end? What will happen if he  (the animate) connects this knowledge to his life, instead of clinging to the ignorance? Well, then definitely the state of equilibrium will come about. 

The theory which we are presenting is valid from the perspectives of science, religion and communism.We demonstrated to you that if people interpret Darwinism in a wrong sense merely as evolution of the lifeless, of the inanimate, that will result only in creating proofs which are opposed to each other.From one way the evolution theory says that there is a motive to the state of matter that makes efforts as well as to the state of being animate which struggles. Further it says nature selects him. his implies that even the live individual has a motive and the nature too has a motive – merely for making a selection. If it is so, what is the motive? If you have accepted it as an even state (entropy) itself, then even the religion states the same, science states the same.

However, from one angle you say that the matter has no motive. As You say that nothing will be moved unless moved . While laying down the law of motion you have said that matter itself as such has no motion of its own, it also means it has no motive as well.

After all this, the definition we are making of the living creatures, the other proofs and the adjustment  what we are telling - should be accepted. You need to state that Darwinism leads to the self-destruction because of the lack of logic. 

The research by Darwin is very good. Still however, the theorems which he has proposed are bouncing back on him. He has to swallow his own words. That shouldn’t happen. So all of us need to think of it from a different perspective. 

‘Might is right’ is the true situations, but it is transient. Since matter has no motive you have to accept the state of non-material (existence of mind). Hence you need to have a well- meaning motive. That motive should be full of knowledge.The one who couldn’t acquire knowledge on his own, should submit himself wholeheartedly to  the one who has acquired the knowledge. This is what we get to see in nature, or should be seen..

Here we need to carry out research on the above points. We need to acquire proofs for this hypothesis.If you want to build the life afresh, if you want to give new meaning to life, then you should be studying scientifically while applying logic and appropriate tools. Only then you would be able to do something different. Remember, it is not sufficient to know how the world is. You should also understand how to change the world for better.

"Critical self-introspection, acceptance of own faults and be ready to willingly suffer the unpleasant consequence of own karma is the essence to make a progress in the life of an individual . Our noble desires only can fetch us noble reward. That is the right way of progress in the direction of higher evolution"

Here we conclude the series of Blogs on "EVOLUTION OF MIND"..

Vijay R. Joshi

WHY WE BEHAVE LIKE THIS? (E O M -12)

Swami Vijnananand provided guidance to the teenagers through series of discourses on various subjects. In one such series of discourses he talked about the behavioral aspects. Our mind is expressed through the behavior. “Why one behaves in certain way” and “How should one behave in proper way” were the subjects covered. While dealing with the human behavior, he related its origin to the process of evolution of mind. His views expressed in informal language are summarized as follows:

‘Evolutionism’ is a very fundamental subject. Before understanding that subject, first of all let’s understand how the subject of evolutionism is taught in text-books, in schools and colleges. Thereby further description will be simpler for us. This is the book of 12^th standard in India. This is the book by Popular Publications for ‘Steps in Biology’. 

“To state in the words of Darwin, evolution is descent with modification.”

The earlier sentence is like this, “In other words, all organisms are descended from the preexisting and simple ancestors”. That means all these creatures of the world…the complex human beings, were created from very simple creatures created in the beginning. This evolution has started from a single cell and then the various layers were created. But what was there before the arrival of the existence of the single cell? There was a virus. A virus must have been originated from some state existed earlier. So while going like this, where did it originate from?

So they have told in simpler terms – ‘Organic Evolution’. It means that non-matter is created from the matter. In short, all of the living beings are created from the lifeless matter. Their simple theorem is that this living being is created from the matter in the inanimate stage. If you consider this, then you can put forth a very simple equation, thereafter.

They are of the opinion that the living beings were created by the adjustments and modifications.

It is correct that the development happened slowly, one step after another. But whose basic desire was it to develop?

The believers in Energy (Life) are of the opinion that, it is energy which is important. That got stuck to the body, stuck to the matter, stuck to the inanimate objects; this world is created from both of them together. Some people who say that living being was created from the lifeless objects. Well, that’s OK,, but how did this happen?’ Then they are not able to tell. It means they are not able to explain it.

“ The doctrine of organic evolution has now been universally accepted. There is, however, no consensus of opinion amongst biologists as regards its modus operandi.

There was previrus before virus, there was retro – virus. Earlier than that there were coaservate drops, while counting back from 100 we arrived at one (1). We agree to it. But why don’t you tell us as to how did one(1) originate? You cannot tell us, about that? Did it come from zero? You are not able to give an answer as to where one (1) originated from. And that is why we are going to the roots and saying that we are proving (the existence of) energy’.

Talking only in terms of ‘New Way philosophy’, we have told earlier that you define the matter. After you have defined matter, we have demonstrated to you that there is something beyond the matter. That which transcends the velocity of light is called as non-matter. The one which cannot exceed the velocity of light is the matter, meaning the inanimate object as you have called it, which is right. We have demonstrated to you that there is something that can go beyond the velocity of light.

We have to accept a simple theorem that the Chetana (energy) has constructed the nature while taking the help of jada (matter). You will say, what will happen if we don’t accept it? – You will be caught in a trap.

We have seen in the last lesson that Lamarck’s theorem was proven wrong. The other theorem that was proven wrong was that of Darwin.

Limitations to Darwinism are given in this book under reference on page 53 -54. They have told that there are five aspects which are against Darwin’s theorem. They have mentioned these five points as ‘objections to Darwinism’

What was the reason for the nature to select? They cannot figure out that cause. It means they are not able to find the fundamental cause.

Who had the need at that time to suddenly transform the non – living matter into living beings? What kind of need arose for which the nature has done all this? What was its motive? They are unable to explain this by any means. And that is where the evolution or evolutionism falls short, becomes weak.

Generally even I (S. V.) accept the evolutionism to that extent. I accept evolution steps(11 to 100). Not only this, I am ready to accept it from (1) to (10). It is logically correct. We do accept that evolution has taken shape very slowly. But basically why life was created in the first place?

We agree with the fact you described about the way evolution happened from 11 to 100 very well. We are ready to accept it from 1 to 10 as well.

"Hence we put forth the theorem of velocity of light there; and we oppose the evolutionists of materialistic orientation. We politely tell them ‘Give us an answer; we are ready to go back’. But none has given any answer to this yet".


Vijay R. Joshi.

ONLY MATTER MATTERS.(E O M - 6)

MYTH CONCEPTION 1: ONLY MATTER MATTERS.(Ref. Book – Excerpts from Spontaneous Evolution, Authors: Bruce H. Lipton and Steve Bhaerman)

As repeatedly propagated by Swami Vijnananand, we have been mentioning in these blogs the role of mind and the importance and inevitability of mind's role for inclusion in the scope of science. Such opinions are echoed by a few scientists and thinkers in the 21^st century. Next few blogs to follow cover these topics.

In order to examine why the materialistic attitude has been created among the scientists, we need to review the milestones of the science journey in the past.

Aristotle and other thinkers:

As the interference of church in the life proved mysterious and troublesome, the revolution based on the rational, logic based thinking got initiated in the society. The book ‘On the revolution of heavenly spheres’ by Copernicus created first challenge to the church’s authority in 1543 and marked the advent of modern scientific revolution.

The mission statement of science that time meant to “To gain an understanding of the natural order so that we can live in harmony with it”. The present (21st century?) mission of the science appears to be “To obtain knowledge that can be used to control and dominate nature”. (This is how the modern medicine controls the disease).

Essentially the scientific method involves making observation and measurements, creating explanatory hypothesis, and conducting experiments designed to test the hypotheses. The results of the experiments are then used to refine the hypothesis so they become more predictive of the experimental results. In the end predictability is the primary hallmark of the scientific truth.

Rene Descartes further called for completing the scientific reforms. He boldly suggested throwing out the existing ancient Greek beliefs and replacing them with verifiable truths. ‘Doubt everything’ said Descartes. That time the science search was only restricted to matter. The concept of invisible energy, matrix – which modern quantum physicist named “the field” and which Einstein later attributed as “the sole governing agency of matter” – was not clearly accessible to scientific observation at the time of Newton and Descartes.

Consequently, the parameters of the scientific method unavoidably limited science to the studies of the physical material world. By narrowing its focus of study and determining the non material concepts, such as spirit and mind which were out of the box of analytical science, these elements of the invisible realm were happily left to the church not subjected to the rigid rules of physical science. Thus science officially acquired the status of scientific materialism.

(This truce of distributing the ownership of matter to the science and that of non-matter to the church and creating separate kingdoms though suited to science at that time, the bad effects of negligence of science towards the spiritual realities of life are clearly seen today).

Rather than viewing the universe as controlled by spiritual forces, scientists pursued the notion that the Universe was a physical machine. To them the planets, stars, plants, and animals were merely mechanical gears in a giant clockwork mechanism.

Scientists supported the notion that God created the machine, they also believed that once the machine was set in motion, God was not personally involved in day-to-day operation.

Later the great contribution of Newton to science established the mechanics, (also known as physics) of the Universe and substantiated the Descartes theory.

Since the 1700s, three main tenets of Newtonian philosophy have shaped how scientists approached their study of the Universe.

1. Materialism: Physical matter is the only fundamental reality. Rather than dealing with unseen vital forces or spirits (viz. mind) science need to study and understand only visible physical parts. Simply stated: “All that matters is matter”.
2. Reductionism: To understand anything, take it apart and study its pieces.
3. Determinism: We (scientists) can predict and control the outcome of natural processes. An outcome can be predicted by the linear progression of the discrete (distinct, separate) events.

At the end of 19^th century the entire material universe rested on foundation of irrefutable Newtonian truth. In fact that time physicists were so pleased with themselves that they publicly acknowledged that the science of physics was complete and there was nothing more to learn. But later cracks in the mechanical world view started arriving.

Cracks to Materialism:

1. Investigation by German physicist Wilhelm Concard Roentgen of X-rays.
2. Detection of electron by Sir Joseph John Thompson and findings of Max Plank.
3. Einstein postulated the existence of Photons (1905).
4. Louis-Victor de Broglie later confirmed hypothesis that all particles of matter should also behave as non-material waves.
5. The particle-verses-wave confusion was eventually resolved with advent and establishment of Quantum Mechanics.

Einstein showed that atoms are actually not made out of matter but consist of non-material energy. Today it is fully established that physical atoms are comprised of a menagerie (collection) of sub-atomic units such as quarks, bosons, and fermions.

Jerk to “Reductionism”:

Plank demonstrated that some events cannot be linear cause-effect reaction but seem to occur simultaneously as a part of inter-acting energy matrix called “The field”. In order to understand the nature of the Universe, we must abandon reductionism and, instead, turn to holism, where-in everything interacts with everything else.

Determinism:

Science of quantum physics also dispenses with the notion of determinism. The doctrine that all events, including human choices and decisions, are predicted on a specific sequence of causal reaction that adhere to natural law. Simply stated, the determinism proposed that, with enough data, we can predict the future. Heisenberg theory of uncertainty applies to any two conjugate (joined together, coupled) variables such as position and velocity, time and energy, or angle of rotation and angular momentum. The theory implies that the measurement of one variable results in the disturbance of its conjugate partner, so that both variables can never be accurately predicted at the same time.

Existence of matter uncertainty: Not only Heisenberg theory is direct affront (open insult) to determinism, it also suggests that the existence of matter is itself, an uncertainty.

Dilemma:

This is the predicament we find our self in if we try to make sense of our world by only focusing on material realm (dominance).

What Einstein meant was that the field is the Universe’s energy matrix that governs all matter. He also said that “There is no place in this new kind of physics both for the field and matter, for the field is the only reality”.

Still, many people tenaciously (firmly) hang onto the illusion of material reality. After a century passed, in spite of the Einstein’s establishing the mass-energy equation, it is hard to reconcile with such attitude of the so-called scientists.

Spirit: Interestingly, the invisible energy field that shapes matter, as defined by quantum physicist, has the same characteristics as the invisible shaping fields that meta physicians define as “Spirit”.

Newtonian Physics not negated (invalidated): Quantum physics is a larger realm of awareness that includes and substantially adds to the information provided by the Newtonian physics. Consequently, quantum physics accounts for what was already known plus a whole new realm of heretofore-unrecognized forces that control the unfolding of our Universe.

Science can’t have a Dogma.

If the established science cannot prove the existence of ‘the field’ by their known methods, it can’t avoid acknowledging the power of invisible field. We should open an entirely new field of inquiry and challenge science to explore what it has previously ignored.

Conclusion : 

It is the “non matter mind” which matters most. Swami Vijnananand (S. V.) has clearly stated that science can't reach to the TRUTH unless it opens its doors for the entry of 'MIND'.

Vijay R. Joshi.

NATURE OF LIFE: - MATERIAL OR NON-MATERIAL. (MIND POWER – 3).--

(Excerpts from book: MIND POWER (1980) CH 8, Author - Swami Vijnananand (S.V.), Manashakti publication)

 

Emergence of Life, the chain is:

  1. Primitive Ocean with non-rational structure….. 2. Nucleic acid molecule / equivalent of free living gene….. 3. Multiplication with nucleic acid in ocean in the sunlight. ….. 4. Original viruses (non-parasite) 5. Collection of genes: (chromosomes). 6. Single cell organism.

The question of life is related to origin of controversy regarding the nature of life. The question under examination is:-

Was the original form of life -  

-          The specialized development of matter or

-          Spirit merely using the texture of matter as a suitable staircase for its appearance. (Non-matter is using matter for life’s appearance).

Let us consider this aspect “Nature of Life” from bottom end, i.e. Virus.

8.2.      What is virus?

a)      Virus an important link connecting the living organism with inanimate nature. (Border between life and lifeless.) An attribute of living organism is metabolism but viruses do not have this property.

b)      Viruses are singular, very primitive forms of existence of protein bodies. They simultaneously possess attributes of animals and inanimate matter. They do not breathe and have no cell structure, no nuclei, cytoplasm and organoids. They cannot multiply (grow) outside the cell of other organism, but inside the cell of other organism, they increase in number. Many viruses are agents of disease in human beings, animals and plants.

c)      Certain viruses have been obtained in the form of crystals of nucleoproteins, which can be dissolved, precipitated again and recrystallized without loss of their essential biological properties.

d)     The American biochemist W.M..Stanley first isolated virus, in crystalline form in1935. Other viruses were also isolated in crystalline form. Among them is a virus of polio.

e)      Viruses are visible only under electron microscope.

f)       Virus converts itself to the simplest form of living creature.-

Increase in size to a definite degree increases the complexity of the chemical constitution of virus and gradually approximates (almost equalizes) their properties to the simplest form of the living creatures.

g)   The origin of the virus is very complex problem. : Scientists have not agreed whether modern viruses are ancient forms that existed on the boundary between animate and inanimate nature or whether they are secondary phenomenon arising from pathological changes in the Part of animal or plant cells.

Virus: - Can this be considered as “non-living” or is this life in dormant stage?

Since certain viruses can be crystallized, can they be considered as non-living? Or is it the case of life being dormant?

The indirect answer is: Is a sleeping man dead? Is a stored seed waiting new plantation considered dead? No. Here the life is in dormant stage.

Viruses are considered to represent free genes. In search of gene theory you find threshold of physical science, crossed. How can one bring the spirit of life back to the material consideration?

Original virus  Virus: - A free living gene

We have seen that viruses multiply only in the cell of other organizations. If they are considered as origin in the life, then how they could multiply when there was no life and no cells of other animals?

Here we see the answer to the problem. We have seen the chemical scene on the earth and formation of Primitive Ocean with non-rational structure. In the chemical evolution when “nucleic acid molecule” was formed the equivalent of free living gene, (transferred from complex improved structured coaservate drops) or any viruses, were present in the ocean, and they multiplied at the expense of organic compounds that had been built up all about them by the action of sun.

Original viruses, non-parasitic

These original viruses were not parasites for there was nothing for them to be parasitic upon.

Virus (gene) ------------ Chromosome

The life had finally gotten down to the bare chromosome. The smallest viruses were nothing more than collection of wild genes (created from coaservate drops) ready to invade cells and impose their own will upon them, over and above supervision of the cell’s own genes. They (gene-virus) mutate like any cell organism and their genes are similar even if their patterns of heredity transmission may be unique.

The book MIND POWER explains gene “imposing its will” in point 8.4 where as in point 8.5 possibility of viral DNA becoming integral part of chromosome is explained with references.

Virus (gene), imposing its will, later becoming integral part of chromosome and then replicating along with the reminder of the chromosome. Thus here we see that the gene, virus can enter the life of animal/man etc. to impose its free will

Virus destroying cell completely.

In point 8.6 the book explains how a virus called bacteria phage attaches to the cell and devours it (eats like a beast) completely.

What apparently happens is this:-

·         The virus attaches itself to the surface of its choice.(or part of it)

·         Enters the cell and literally disappears.

·         The virologist (virus expert scientists) looks and sees no traces of virus. (Even if he grinds up the cell, he fails to liberate a demons ratably infective agent.)

·         Twenty four minutes later the cell bursts releasing 200 new fully formed virus particles, ready to infect new cells.

·         The host cell is dead, drained and broken.

Viruses don’t grow and reproduce, they replicate. Since these are the things we observe, we are clearly unjustified in stating that virus grow and reproduce, we only know that they replicate.

Virus is a concrete clue.

With all these ghastly pictures of aggression, multiplication, growth, birth how can the whole process be merely the material process? Virus is a domain with such complexities that we have to turn back to it, after we see its different invasions through bacteria, plant, men.

Cell

Cell is undoubtedly agreed as a primary unit consisting of life. The fundamental distinguishing properties of the living cell consist in its ability:-

(i)To assimilate material necessary to its structure from the surrounding medium

(ii)To turn these materials in to the substances used for the growth of its body.

(iii)To divide in to two similar cells, each of its own size (and capable of growth), when its geometrical dimensions become too large

These abilities to eat, to grow and to multiply are of course common to all more complex organisms made up of individual cell.

Salt crystal

If we drop a small salt crystal in a super saturated salt solution in water, the crystal will grow by adding to the surface successive layers of salt molecules extracted from the matter. We can even imagine that, because of some mechanical effects, as for example, the increased weight of growing crystal, they will break up in to two halves after reaching a certain size and then the -  baby crystal- so formed will continue the process of growing.

Why should not we also classify this process “Life phenomenon”?

This is not a life phenomenon, because…..

The food which the crystal uses for its growth is accumulated into its body without changes from its form in the solution. (It is not digested). The molecules of salt collect themselves on the surface of growing crystal. This is ordinary mechanical accretion (matter which is added to and accumulates in layers) instead of typical bio chemical assimilation. Also the multiplication of crystals by occasional breaking up in to irregular parts of no predetermined properties as a result of sheer mechanical force of weight has but little resemblance to the precise and constant biological division of living cells into halves, which is brought about chiefly by “internal force”.

8.3 Three characteristics of Living.

Life cannot be given explanation only on physical terms. If one attempts to give only physical explanation then the life phenomenon turns mysterious. But if the concept of “mind and its desire” are taken as a scientific base then the life phenomenon does not remain mysterious.

Unknown factors (In science)

(i)        We don’t yet know whether viruses without an envelope enter the cell intact, with subsequent release of more nucleic acid or whether the protein coat remains at the cell surface while nucleic acid enters the cytoplasm alone.

(ii)       How viral nucleic acid dominates the metabolism of the host cell is imperfectly understood.

(iii)      Sometimes too there are complex interactions between the virus and host cell and the synthesis of various enzymes is required to produce viral molecules. This too involves a greater amount of nucleic acid in the virus.

(iv)      We do not yet know how virus brakes out of animal cell, but the release of lissome enzymes may play a part.

(v)       Plasma gene (part of cell influencing inheritance) of one host turning into virus in another suitable host.

(vi)      How tobacco mosaic virus can be used as a source of protein by animals.

(vii)     A mutation may occur in a body cell (somatic mutation) and is then transmitted to all cells derived from mitosis from that cell.

(Mitosis: - The usual method of cell division, characterized typically by the resolving of chromatin by the nucleus into a thread like form, which condenses into chromosomes each of which separates into two parts. One part of each chromosome being retained in each of two new cells resulting from the original cell.)

Nature of life is “non-matter” not “matter”

What has already been said appears to be sufficient (Further consideration follows in this book) to convince us of the fact that science at present is crossing the threshold of the purely physical explanation of “mysterious” phenomenon of life.

Nature’s secrets could be understood.

Wisdom added to the secret of nature (secrets, not at the instance of nature, but at the instance of ego elevated man) can be meaningfully deciphered (understood, resolved)

(The biological laws, when studied with “mind” considered as a scientific entity, will reveal rational behind the so called secrets/paradoxes.)

Summary:

-  Virus: life in dormant stage, an important link connecting the living organism with inanimate nature. The attribute of living organism is metabolism but viruses do not have this property. Viruses are singular, very primitive forms of existence of protein bodies. They simultaneously possess attributes of animals and inanimate matter. They do not breathe and have no cell structure. They cannot multiply (grow) outside the cell of other organism, but inside the cell of other organism, they increase in number.

-  Cell is undoubtedly agreed as a primary unit consisting of life. The fundamental distinguishing properties of the living cell consist in its ability:-

(i)To assimilate material necessary to its structure from the surrounding medium

(ii)To turn these materials in to the substances used for the growth of its body.

(iii)To divide into two similar cells, each of its own size (and capable of growth).

-   Life is the association of matter (body) and non-matter (mind). If mind leaves the body the life comes to an end. Desire (of associating or leaving) is the attribute of non-matter (mind).  

(Note: This is an attempt to make reader friendly interpretation of the book “MIND POWER” based on my perception. Inquisitive readers are requested to refer to the original book to cross check their understanding.)

Vijay R. Joshi.