From
the Desk of Coordinator, Bioinformatics Centre
The
Supreme Energy
While
scanning the ‘Current Science’, I was intrigued with the postulates on
Ātman, the immortal aspect of the mortal existence. Narasimhan states
that the Ātman described in old Hindu scripts is possibly genetic
material as it carries all the manifestations, behavioural characteristics
and even memory as already programmed to the progeny from generation to
generation (Narasimhan NS. Curr Sci. 2003;85:1115-1116). However it does
not meet the imperishable property of Ātman and explain how it
migrates to another body, when the body dies as envisaged by saints. Crick
states that one’s joy, sorrow, memories, ambitions, personal identity,
free will are no more than the behaviour of vast assembly of nerve cells
and their associated molecules (Crick F. The Astonishing Hypothesis.
Maxwell Macmillan, 1994, P. 3). It does not spell out causative factor
responsible for the heterogeneity in human taste, temperament, character,
perception and performance. This brings us back to importance of Nature
Vs nurture (effect of environment). Further Vedas say that the three
principal gunas Satva, Rajas and Tamas blended in different proportions,
influence the mind and intellect giving a distinct flavour to each
personality. As the human being is energy centre – physical, biological,
psychological and spiritual and all thoughts, words and deeds are
expressions of these energies translated into work done, all actions obey
the law of nature i.e. for every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. The Hindu doctrine of Karma is its moral equivalent. Karma –
yoga, the path of right action with free will (work done in spirit of
dedication and selflessness, beneficial to society without expecting any
reward) helps in Self-realisation and thus breaking the birth – death
cycle.
Swami
Rama says that consciousness is energy, which circulates in the energy
channels and is known as Prana (Swami Rama, www.hihtindia.org).
As per Yoga Vasishta, the consciousness that tends towards thinking, on
account of the movement of Prana, is known as the mind. Movement of
thought in the mind arises from the movement of Prana and movement of
Prana arises because of movement of thought in consciousness. They thus
form a cycle of mutual dependence. When cessation of thoughts of desire,
greed, aversion etc. is brought in mind by meditation, the appearance of
the World-illusion ceases leading to Self-realisation.
Advances
in physical science seem to validate the concept of Brahman (derived by
Metaphysical Science approach), a state of pure consciousness, the
Universal spirit, sum totality of the Universe and its phenomena.
Physicists are coming close to explaining, why, if everything is
eventually made up one single substance, Energy, does nature provide
different types of fields for energy to work its magic? Physicists now
realize that these divisions of fields are nothing but different aspects
of a single entity, the ‘Unified filed’. Yogananda stated that body is
only a manipulatable form of condensed or frozen energy (Yogananda,
Autobiography of a Yogi. P. 278). Chattopadhyaya is too simplistic
in stating that our ancient wisdom derived by years of meditation by the
Enlightened to explain physiological phenomena has no rational basis and
does not carry conviction (Chattopadhyaya MK. Curr Sci. 2004;86:626).
According
to Tejman the Grand Unified theory explains every principle process that
occurs in nature including diversity within human species by introducing
‘energetic matter’, which is composed of time, space and energy. Wave
theory contends that energetic matter transmutes to other wave formations
by means of its energetic path and phase transitions. It provides a
theoretical and practical basis for the notion of ‘Life after death’,
reincarnation or existence of “ghosts” (Tejman CH. http://www.grandunifiedtheory.org.il/).
According to Nanduri, The Science of Cosmic Philosophy inter links the
human spinal cord with consciousness and the soul to the Cosmic Vision of
the Universe and attempts integration of science of philosophy and the
philosophy of science. Sa 187-188 in the L 204 complex has a structure
similar to a human spinal cord projected by Yoga philosophers (Nanduri V. http://ingeocities.com/vidyanand1941/).
Gratitude
Gratitude stands out as the foremost of individual qualities. From the moment one is born one is indebted to the world. We are given food and drink, air and light, temperature and right pressure. A sense of gratitude must be cultivated. The more we develop the attitude of giving, the more we gain in life both in terms of happiness and prosperity. The way to gain something is to lose it said Swami Rama Tirtha. This is evident in nature as well. Light consists of seven colours. When an object is bathed in light it absorbs certain colours and reflects back the others. The object actually gains the colour of that which it gives away. A blue object appears so because it absorbs all colours, giving back the blue. So also in life, we are parted from that which we cling to and gain that towards which we maintain a spirit of dispassion. A value-conscious person maintains an inner cheer. His actions are dynamic and beneficial to all. Of such a person says Coleridge: “For him in vain the envious seasons roll, who bears eternal summer in his soul”.