YOGADARSHANA
Dr Suvarna Nalapat
Yoga is a science of life.An art of understanding the soul and its unity with the entire universe and maintainance of that harmony throughout life.A systematic practice which improves our awareness ,develop our willpower,-a complete process of personality development and perfection by merging with the universal self ,which some people call God and others call cosmic consciousness ,and still others a force or a sakthy.Whatever you call,or call not,there is some force which binds the multitudes of universes and the ability of the human mind to perceive its harmonious music.Yoga is a darsana ,which means a direct perception .In Tamil literature we find four types of perceptions.
1.Vaayirkaatchi.Perception through the doors of the physical senses.
2.Manakaatchi.Mental perceptions.
3.Thanvedanaikaatchi.Through experiences of pain and pleasure ,you have some aquired intellectual perceptions about the world.
4.Yogakaatchy.Yogadarshana,is the perception of the absolute truth or reality through an intense state of concentration on the subject.
There are four methods of yoga to achieve the yogadarshana.Though mentioned as four different methods they are having a superposed and an overlapping nature between each other.
1.Raajayoga.
2.Gnaanayoga(the way of knowledge and wisdom pursued by the intellectuals)
3.Bhakthyyoga.(the way of love and devotion practiced by the emotional and romantic seekers)
4.Karmayoga.(the way of action and reaction followed by the others who cannot follow the above mentioned methods.)
All are methods to attain the superconscious states of cosmic consciousness.Each has to follow the ashtaangamaarga(the way of 8 steps.)The Raajayoga is especially prescribed for those who are adept yogis.Here the Raajayoga is described in some detail for those who are not aware of it.
Raajayoga.
Raajayoga has eight steps.It forms part of ancient Indian traditional system of medicine and philosophy which are inseparable.Of the eight steps ,the first two ,yama and niyama encompass the moral ethical codes of all the world religions and has the ten commandments (5 in yama and 5 in niyama).These are prescribed for all individuals,irrespective of caste,creed or sex,for a better way of living,peaceful and happy.
1.Yamam.
This includes
Ahimsa:one should not harm any living thing with deeds,words or mind.
Satyam –truthfulness.
Asteyam.Do not covet /steal other people’s belongings
Brahmacharyam. The state of celibacy and onepoited devotion to God.
Aparigraham.(do not receive gifts or bribes that will make you under obligation to others.
These five moral codes of conduct are essential for all people.
2.Niyamam
Of the rules(niyama)the first one is purely medical ,pertaining to the physical and mental cleanliness required by a yogi.
Shoucham. cleanliness of body by daily baths ,care of teeth and mouth etc are baahyashoucha or external cleanliness.Aantharashoucha(internal cleanliness)is cleaning your mind and thoughts from bad thoughts,lust,egocentric emotions,dual feelings etc.This will give you a equanimity in pain and pleasure.
Santhosham. Be contented with what we have and be happy always.When you have achieved this state you are beyond dualities like pain and pleasure.
Thapam. This is the control of your body and senses by selfeffort.Get mastery over the Id or the pleasure principle and the ego.By austerity(thapa)a thermostasis and homeostasis is attained by the brain so that it becomes quite and receptive to knowledge.
Swadhyaayam. The study of books/scriptures etc which help you to understand the transitory nature of the universe.You can resort to the veda,Upanishad,Gita,brahmasoothra,Koran,Bible, Dhammapath or any other scripture you feel like.Study the book you chose thouroughly an dthink about it,learn the truth of the universe,and then compare with the other scriptures and knowledge systems and arrive at a conclusion is the method of swaadhyaya or self study.
Iswarapranidhaanam.The total surrender to God /Guru .Guru is the embodiment of Iswara.Gurubhakthy is crucial for Naadalayayoga tradition of Indian Karnatic music like the other traditions of India.A living sadguru is considered as the living Avathaara of God in human form an dcomplete surrender to the Guru is equivalent to surrender to God.
3.Aasanam
There are 84 aasanaas described in yoga for the 84 types of Jeevakoti(lifeforms).There are Hathayogis who practice these for different types of sidhi(gains).Pathanjali prescribed “Sthirasukham aasanam”which means you can take a posture which is most comfortable to you and in which you don’t have the danger of falling or being disturbed by any external stimuli.It would be better if you can keep the spine straight so that the current can flow through the nerve centers in the spine uninterruptedly up and down from the moolaadhaara to the sahasraara.People have misunderstood that yoga means the yogaasana.This is not so.Aasana is only one of the 8 units of the yoga.A means adopted for an end.Most often those who practice aasana do not reach the endpoint of yoga(the laya or samadhi)the merging with the absolute truth.They get some minor sidhi or other and stops there .On the other hand ,even without practicing the acrobatic aasanaas ,one may have yogadarshana ,like the naadayogin Tyaagaraaja.
4.Prranaayaamam.
The control of the physical breath is popularly called praanaayaama.It also includes control of psychic breath ,the universal life principle ,the praana.The psychic method of control of Praana is by concentration on a particular subject.When mind is concentrated on a particular subject ,we forget our physical state ,our breathing stops naturally or the breathing becomes internal without external sign of life and we go into a samaadhi state.This can happen when you are concentrating on your lover,on your research subject,music or art,contemplating on your ishtadevatha,and so on.Hence praanaayaama naturally leads to Pratyaahaara ,the next stage or step in the yogasaadhana and then to the last 3 steps in order..
5.Pratyaahaara.
Now the mind is introspective.It is directed to one particular object ,say classical music(naadayoga).If you can hold the concentration onto it for twelve seconds then it becomes dhaarana.Needless to say that the object of concentration can be any art /science/idol/deity/symbol/name/manthra/or anything or anyone you are in love with.
6.Dhaarana
When you can hold mind on a particular object irrespective of all the external disturbances and difficulties around and think about it deeply ,then your mind is concentrated and it is dhaarana.You can have this not only in a particular aasana which is your practicing stage but also in a crowded busstop,train,in your own home in the midst of a thousand household duties ,just as the Gopis of vrindaavan experienced when they concentrated on Krishna.If the dhaarana persists for a certain length of time our mind flows to the object in an unbroken current ,as oil poured from one vessel to another ,as Pathanjali puts it.This is then called a meditation or dhyaanam.
7.Dhyaanam
Twelve dhaarana make up on edhyaanam.That is 144 seconds of uninterrupted concentration on one subject is called a dhyaanam or meditation.(2 minutes and 24 seconds is the minimum time of concentration on a subject to be called a dhyaanam).12 Such dhyaanams (144 X 12=1728 seconds)is a samadhi.1728 is the minimum number of seconds for a samadhi.It is the satyayuga number of Indians.And is related to astronomy,mathematics,music of the spheres and of the bioenergy fields.
1728 seconds mean 28 minutes and 40 seconds.(slightly less than half an hour)If you can concentrate your mind on a subject for this time period you are ready to pass on to samaadhi.
8.Samaadhi
The superconscious state that transcends the realm of the finite world where time and space vanish ,we go beyond words and thoughts ,to the foundation of all existence where all questions are answered and all doubts cleared.During saadhna,the saadhaka gets some powers or sidhi which are fascinating ,and they are not to be lured by them.They have to ignore the sidhy and proceed to the highest level where jeevaathma merge with paramaathma ,the God or the universal force.68 such sidhis are listed ,one among them being the healing power.That is why yoga is part of ayurveda,and of naadalaya.Both the musicians and the ayurveda physicians depended upon the praana and its healing powers.
All minds are part of the cosmic mind and healing power is latent in all minds.It manifest only in those who try or practice to get it.Budha,Krishna,Christ,Tyaagaraaja etc had it in them..When Jesus said,”Be thou whole” a leper was cured.Lazarus came into life with his beckoning.Kubja was cured by the touch of Krishna.He gave life to the embryo within the womb of princess Uthra by uttering the words”if I had been a Naishtic Brahmachaari throughout my life,let this seed come to life again.”
Just with a thought healing can occur.Thirugnaanasambandhar ,Tyaagaraaja,Vaidyanaathan shivan cured with their music .
The healing power of the naadalayayogi is made use of in Indian music therapy.
WHAT YOGA TEACHES.
Samatwam yoga uchyathe. Says the Gita.Pathanjali said, maithri,karuna,mudithopekshanam sukhadukha punyaapunya vishayaanaam bhaavana Thaschithaprasaadanam.
Friendship to the entire humanity ,mercy or compassion to all living/nonliving things ,content and happiness,indifference to dualities like pain and pleasure ,praise and scoldings gives one chithaprasaadam (peace and ecstasy of mind).Gita also says that the yogy goes to prasaadam(prasaadam adhigatchathi)Lakshmy,the consort of Vishnu in Lakshmy ashtotthara is prasaadaabhimukhim prabhaam.Prasaadam or divine ecstacy is present only in a healthy mind and body according to Ayurveda.The prasadam you get from the temple authorities is just a symbol of it and is nowhere near the prasaada you get from yourselves,through a devoted life.Direct the mind to a divine cause ,and we get prassada ,a state of perfect health and bliss,physical,mental,intellectual and spiritual.
Friendly attitude and compassion to all living things is natural to us but we have to cultivate it permanently .Christ said,”do unto others as you wish others would do unto you”.Thatmeans returning good for good.But he also said,to return good for evil.If anyone harms you,return good to them.Confucius ,Lao-tse,an dBudha taught the same.Vedantha and Upanishads taught it.The greatest benefactor to the world is the spiritual teacher who teaches to return good for evil.The one who teaches to love the people who harm us.That is why people all over the world love Budha,Christ etc.Christ was not a multimillionaire who could sign a cheque for a million dollar.But Rockfeller could.Yet we love Christ but not Rockfeller.We donot respect Budha because he was the son and heir of king Sudhodana.But because the prince abandoned his wealth and power to teach compassion to humanity,to love the entire creation as himself.
People say that Christ and Budha are exceptions and nobody can become like that.But science do not accept exceptions.If somebody can achieve something,that potential must be in all human beings as a biological heritage.It is a universal law of nature.If we try ,we can also do what the great teachers did.Provided it is done in the proper way.We should have experimental proof.Kapila and Pathanjali were scientists who did experiments on spirituality and came up with a universal system of practice and experimentation of spirituality.Pathanjali did the experiments done earlier by his ancestors before him and then codified the ways and the results.(data,in scientific language)and this rational philosophic and logical scientific method is still acceptable to the entire world.Because it is universal and anyone can experiment it and experience the change in oneself.The energy in us is harnessed and concentrated for doing good things in this world.What we experience in samaadhi is a revelation or a yogadarshan which changes your outlook,your personality for the better.A perfect state of peace is born in you,a Christ is born in you,as swami abhedaananada,a colleague and friend of swamy vivekaananda puts it,.
Yoga awakens kundalini,the mother of all higher perceptions .In the spinal cord there are centers for the different nerve plexuses.These anatomical centers are the chakraas of the yogi.It is through these chakraas the motor and sensory nerves branch out and go to different organs .There are sensory and motor centers and pathways for the heart,lungs,digestive organs,and so on.These nerve centers are radiant ,since nerve impulses are radiating from them and to them,as light rays from the sun.The lower end of the spine(moolaadhaara)or the sacral plexus and the highest center ,the sahasraara in the brain intercommunicate through the middle centers and electromagnetic currents pass through them always ,continuously .The efferent and afferent /centripetal and centrifugal forces cross each other and reach brain centers and hence the entire kundalini has the form of two coiled radiant ,respendent serpents .
When yogi regulates vibrations of molecules in the body ,they vibrate in harmony with the rhythm of the praana ,generate the strong currents and the yogic body becomes something like a gigantic battery and that is why a room where the yogi sits is vibrating with good vaasanaas and everyone feels the vibrations.The physical is transmuted to the mental ,intellectual ,spiritual and vice versa ,because they are not different forces but different manifestations of the same force.Just as heat,light,and electromagnetism are interchangeable forms of the same energy .The difference is only in degree.In sunlight there is electricity,magnetism,soundwaves,xray,gamma ray,laser and photons,bosons,and fermions.The current emanating from a yogi also contain these vibrating forces of the highest order.This is in relation to the harmonious rhythm of the universe .We talk of rhythm ,and hence the naadayoga which is really control of praana itself.The state is attainable easily by nadayogi who concentrates on Karnaatic music.The music allow us toget the same vibrations which were felt by the ancient seers and yogins.For this the musician should have complete an dperfect samyama and control of senses and the listener also should have this.Lya is attained in the superconscious state which is the full manifestation of pure consciousness .Dhaarana or holding the mind on a certain subject by constant practice(saadhakam)an ddhyaana on it takes the musician to a state of perfect samaadhi or superconsciousness.Vishnu or Krishna ,the embodiment of saamaveda ,is the naadabrahman,which merges with the saadhaka .There are many other paths that a saadhaka can take.The path of love and devotion (bhakthy)allow you to concentrate on a personal God (or impersonal_).The idol is only a pratheeka(symbol)or prathima on which you concentrate to reach the absolute.Every idolworshipper knows that.One can give a name to that lover-may it be Krishna,shive,devi,Christ,or allah or whichever name you like.It could even be contemplated as nothingness without name or form.
The path of karma allows one to concentrate on one’s work,profession and achieve excellance in it.the path of gnaana makes one concentrate on research activities and enquiry into truth.But each has the same goal though the methods differ,and if we realize this there is no controversy or rivalry in religions .Whatever is the path ,the ultimate experience is sruthilaya.Sruthi also means veda.Laya also means merging.Hence this word has a meaning applicable to both vedanthins and naadalayayogins practicing music.The jeeva has to merge with Paramaathma.The revelation Aham brahmaasmi is the laya state.It is the anal Haq of the sufi.Knowing is being.Brahmavid Brahmaiva bhavathy.Says vedaantha.Hence yoga is a scienc eof attaining the perfect state.But there are many people whopractice yoga to get some desired results ,and their number is increasing day by day.People practice yoga to pass time ,to run business,to cure disease,etc.These are only some results that come during the process of doing the yoga and are not the ultimate aims of yoga.
A few donts in yoga life.
eat pure desirable food which is nourishing and which will keep your body and mind in good condition since body is the boat that helps you to cross the ocean of life and death.Food makes your organs healthy,and as the organs get finer ,the perceptions get finer too.
Avoid the company of people who will drag your concentration away from your goal.Like people who are immersed inphysical pleasures.People with strong id personalities,people with strong ego personalities etc.Try to have company of people with superego and self personalities.(those who respect the elders and the ancestors,the teachers,and those who lead a simple life and have high thinking)This is called sathsangam(company of the noble people).
Give up arguments that distract your mind.Do not discuss spiritual lessons and instructions with people who do not want them .Let them find out paths suitable for themselves.Do not force your views on others.If there people who wants to force their views on you,just leave their cpcompany.
Spirituality is not a mere study of books and scriptures.Though that will help you in spiritual progress .It is not mere temple/mosque/church/gurudwaara going either.It is not mere observances of customs dogmas and codes of conduct laid by various religions .It is a constant ideal,an urge within you.Just all radii of a circle meet at the center ,all rivers meet the ocean ,all ideals of all living things merge with the center ,the God or the universal force/sakthy .The only difference is that we use different methods.different courses.Respect everybody’s ideal,every body’s method,have friendly and compassionate thoughts to everyone,and do not disturb world peace or peace of society we live in ,by our words,deeds or thoughts.
Prakaasha and vimarsha
Our mind is part of the universe(prakrithy).It has two aspects ,the prakaasha and vimarsha.Prakasha is the all resplendent state of energy where we do not feel any movement or vibration and this is the nirvikalpa or niraakaara ,nirayana state of Brahman.It may look like empty /zero because it has no spacetime,movement,cause and effect etc.
Vimarsham is the vibrating aspect ,moving ,everchanging,with a rhythm of its own ,making universal laws possible.This aspect is experiencable by us.It may be an immeadiate fresh experience (present-varthamaana-jaagrad)old memories(past or bhootha,smrithy)and mental coordination of all such experiences(anusandhaanam).Sushupthy is Prakaasha or nirvikalpa,and jaagrad is savikalpa,saayana state of mind and of universe.Darshans during sushupthy and samaadhi are actually the visions of the self ,which is still and meditative in an alpha,theta brain wave state.Because of this the yogi constantly watches himself in sushupthy and samaadhi states and records th evisions that come to him so that he can understand his personality and the world around better.
Everything is energy.E=MC2.everything is everywhere .(sarvam sarvaathmakam .Pathanjali).Yogic and sleep darshans were systematically analysed by our ancestors in India,China,Egypt,Babylonia,and Assyria,and this science is now coming back into the world of science as Psychoanalysis of dreams(Freud and Jung).Whenever there is creativity there is vibration or movement..But it is the movementless state of samaadhi which gives you potential to become a creator.If movement is creativity,it is created by the movementless.These two are called the female and male principles.Both coexist.Samaadhi is an experience beyond all vibrations,all measures,all words,and thoughts and nirvana is this state of perfect consciousness from which flow all creations ,all vibrations,all with name and form.Therefore,we cant separate male /female.shiva/sakthy,and they are inseparable twins.The object of the realization is first a samavaakya(equation)and an equation is ultimately an identity.Sankara explans this with only 3 concepts.Brahma,Jeeva,and Jagath.
1.Brahma=truth
2.Suppose jagath =illusion.
3.Jeeva=a part of jagath=Brahma.
4.Therefore ,Brahma=jeeva=Jagath=Truth.
5.Or it has to be Brahma=jeeva=jagath=illusion.
Either the 4th or th e5th equation has to be true.We as Jeevaathmaas feel we exist,and the universe exist,and therefore for us,jeeva and the aorld exist (are truths)Therefore,we can come to the conclusion that the 4th equation is truth,and that the second supposition 9equation 2)and equation 5 derived out of it has to be false.In this way,the aasthiks(the one who says that everything exist-asthi)come to the conclusion that there is existence of a God or Brahma.,
I don’t say that I don’t exist,and that I am an illusion or that the world around me does not exist.Therefore,I as a jeeva is truth,and hence the prakrithi of which I am part is also truth.This being true to all living and nonliving things,I mathematically give equations as above and philosophically assert the view as,
Sarvam khalidam Brahma.
Aham Brahmaasmi.
Sarvam Brahmamayam.
Isavaasyam idam sarvam.
All matter is energy and there is nothing but energy and energy is the truth (satyam)and light(chith).In the equations the harmonious merging of jeeva with the absolute in samaadhi ,or in sushupthy (praagna0is shown.It is the direct experience of a perfect yogi.Therefore ,understand yoga as a perfect method of attaining self realization of the highest order by direct perception.All veda,vedaatha,and religions of the world ,spiritual experiments of various people and scientific researchers in every part of the world depend upon the solid rock of concentrating our energy on an idea or subject and that is what yoga is all about.Do not misunderstand it as a series of acrobatics or physical training alone.That makes only one of the steps of the yoga.Even without that people can achieve samadhi,and be a true yogi.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
susruthasamhitha
SUSRUTHASAMHITHA
Aesthetics of a glorious past and its continued remembrance
And practice
A culture’s selfawareness in terms of law ,medicine and grammer is an important precondition for awareness of its aesthetics.The knowledge of medicine –a system of management of pain,of anesthetics,of birth and death is interrelated to poetry,a system of management of pleasure ,of aesthetics and of creation.(G.N.Devy.After Amnesia.page 64-65.Orient Longman 1995)
Being involved in both the systems mentioned above ,I believe in the dictum “In the continued remembrance of the glorious past individuals and nations find their noblest aspirations “as did Sir William Osler ,the pathologist par excellance.Hence during my tenure as ateacher in the Medical college Calicut I probed into the medical history of our nation,and unearthe da precious jewel from its rubbles.The oldest surgical and pathological text of ancient India,the Susruthasamhitha.Being a student and practitioner of the allopathic system of medicine ,it was but natural for me to compare the ancient and the modern systems of medicine.Here I share some of my reflections with the readers.
The beginning
Both Ayurveda and allpathy originated as cults in and around temples.In the months of Hemantha and sisira ,rigorous penances followed by the oath and the holy pilgrimage to the temples on hilltops were common to India and Greece.The pilgrimage centers of vaishnava,saiva and devi cults,chaityas of Budhists and jains with their prathikarma and paryushan parva were of this tradition.These rites were to remove the thridosha accumulated during this and the previous births.The belief that mental (psychiatric)illnesses were due to bhootha (past life)was deeprooted in the ancient mind and it is being proved by modern science.The aesculapean cult of Greek medicine shared the same belief.It was the forerunner of modern medicine prevalent in the Mediterranean basin ,where Asculapeus lived.He had his Guru in a half naaga tribal Chiron,an inhabitant of the serpent country.,Paataala.In BC 429,the cult spread toAthens.The asculapean temples were on hilltops.They were medical schools were the healing art and philosophy were taught by rishis or priests.Students had to prove their merit before getting entry into the school.(temple).Once they pass the entrance exam ,they were to take an oath just like the oath taken before prathikarma ,and it was this oath which later became known as the Hippocratus oath.The temples were built in the most picturesque sites and holy baths,fasting,vegetarian diets,nonviolence,virechana(cleaning of the bowels)and prayers were mandatory for the disciple to get entrance into templeschool.Only after a prolonged period of such rigorous austerities did the main gates open for the aspirant student.Once the student gets entry he prostrates in front of the main deity and the Guru produces a healing dream by hypnosis.Depending upon the nature of the dream the disciple acquires the ability to read the past ,present,and the future and to heal mental and physical illness.In the Tamil epic Chilappathikaram we find evidence of such practices .In the Upanishadic traditions also the healing dream is mentioned many times.
In susruthasanhita ,the oath ,the upanayana into the cult(soothrasthana 2-6)of a meritorious disciple by a Guru as wellas the licensing and permission by the royal court to practice(10-2)are mentioned.The knowledge of the past ,present and futiure(thrikaala)or the Daivagna method was prevalent in Indian medical system and in the Cos island where Hippocratus ,the twentieth generation fromAesculapeus lived and taught the basic principles of modern socalled western medicine.How was the problem (mental or physical)created and what was its past history?What is the present status of the problem and how far it has progresses?Can the problem be solved by a particular line of treatment or other so that the patient be saved?What are the chances of survival of the patient?These were detrmined by history taken,physical examination,and the position of stars and planets.Even now we following modern medicine calculate the past history,aetiology,pathogenesis,and prognosis on the same line of thought.The only fact left out is the position of stars and their influence in modifying the outcome.
Hippo in Greece means a horse.The oldest known vedic doctors ,the aswins were also called horses.Hippocratus is a Greek name for Aswin ,from whom medicine originated.Hippocratus believed that the symptoms of a disease are only the reactions of the body to combat a disease and the duty of a doctor is not to treat symptoms but to increase the natural forces of the body.This is exactly what ayurveda and the tribal traditions also believe and teach..The homeostasis between body and mind was called health and the balance of the three humours was essential for healthy living.The samkhya philosophy and vedic medicine also believe in the homeostasis of three guna(qualities)and the three doshaas(imbalances derived from them)and balancing them for perfect health.Hippocratus said that if a doctor treats an occult cancer ,the chances of survival of the patient is less since the disease become overt by his/her treatment.He said philosophically ,”life is short,and the art of healing eternal.Experience may fail us.Many a time decisionmaking may be difficult.”The doctor in those early days was a kindhearted ,good,honest,divine being with ahealing touch ,a philosopher par excellance,and a rishi.Hippocratus said that as long as such people who love and practice the healing art remain on earth,people who love humanity will continue to exist to serve the world.
Dissection of the Human body
The first Greek to dissect a corpse was Alemaon ,the disciple of Hippocratus.He did it secretly ,and alone.Herophilus was bold enough to dissect and demonstrate it to his students (died in BC 290)but embalming and dissection were not considered a sin in ancient Egypt from time immemorial .In Tibet and India this was practiced.While the dissection was on royal corpses on Egypt,on criminals and enemies in in Peru and Mexico,on captured enemies among the scytheans,it was on Godmen and Laamaas in Tibet ,and on horses in ancient India,.At times a young adult also was selected for it instead of a horse in exceptional situations ,as in the case of Sunasepha ,whom Viswamithra saved.It was performed on royal corpses also as in the case of King Dasaratha of Ramayana by sage Vasishta.
Susrutha,the son of viswamithra lived in ancient times but susruthasamhitha ,the oral tradition bearing his name was codified a sa text only very late during BC 500.By that time there were many restrictions for dissecting a corpse inIndia.Therefore the body was taken secretly to the forest ,kept immersed in a freshwater lake (as if in a formalin tank ,nowadays)for 7 days (minimum)and taken out on a fullmoon night and dissected with sharp roots and bamboochips.This was the reason for adopting either 15 or 16 days for finishing the pithrukarma(burial rite)ceremonies.
During Susruth’s time there were 8 divisions for Ayurveda.
1.Salyathanthra(surgery)
2.Saalaakhyathanthra(E.N.T,Dentistry)
3.Kaayachikitsa(medical treatment)
4.Bhoothavidya(psychiatry ,psychotherapy)
5.Koumaarabrithya(pediatrics and adolescent medicine)
6.Aagathathanthra(toxicology and treatment of poisoning)
7.Rasaayanathanthra(pharmacopoeia and longevity)
8.Vajeekarana(rejuvenation and vitality).
PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOLOGY –MODERN AND ANCIENT
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)forwarded a new trend in psychiatric medicine.His free association methods ,dream analysis,problems of the unconscious mind and Oedipus complex became popular.Freud’s central theme was sex,while Adler concentrated every action and reaction of the human mind on power.Carl Gustav Jung gave a more authentic and holistic explanation of the human mind ,its dreams and its aspirations .His archetypes and shadows resembled the ancient Indian way of analysis.Currently Dr Herbert Benson of the Harward medical university has gone back to the ancient yoga ,dhyana and japa methods for reducing sympathetic nervous system functions and relief of many mental and physical illnesses.In Massacheussets Medical school ,more than hundred hospitals follow praanaayaama and prayers for healing of mind and body and for increasing immunity.A variety of diseases like asthma ,intractable headaches and body pains ,blood pressure ,cardiac diseases ,diabetes ,side effects of cancer chemotherapy and dialysis ,irritable bowel syndrome ,insomnia,emphesema and skin diseases are treated by those methods in many American hospitals.The journal of biomedicine (1980)published an article on how transcendental meditation can be used to decrease stress responses and thereby keep the body and mind healthy.The old concepts are returning to stay.The past is the prologue of the future.
According to susrutha ,Purusha,the endless beginingless eternal changeless absolute principle assumes the shape or relative body of the living Jeevi,(including man).The sarvagnapurusha or absolute thus appear in a living body as a karmapurusha.When karmapurusha leaves the body to go back to his original state or abode ,we say that the jeevi is dead.It is the purusha while entering a zygote gives it consciousness ,creativity,mobility,observing,cognitive,analyzing powers.These were with the karmapurusha during its previous existence.That is past karma(action),vaasanaa(tendencies)of karmapurusha manifest in the new body as his character.The body characters are from ancesters.The character is controlled by the 3 guna(qualities)which are from the karmapurusha ,as prakrithy.(nature)In creating a child,man and woman have only limited roles.They just participate in a divine will.Selection of a suitable pair ,intercourse at the proper time so that a good soul comes to earth and inhabits within the zygote ,protecting the pregnancy are in their control.Mere sexual intercourse is not enough in the creation of a good offspring.For it,the couple need the help of karmapurusha ,one who had a previous past(bhootha)and is in the gandharva(gandabba according toBudhist)state of bardo.
The head ,face,body,hair,bone,nails,teeth,arteries,veins ,nerves ,semen are derived from the seed of the father.Blood,marrow,heart,umbilicus,liver,intestine,genitalia,muscles are contributed by the mother’s seed.The power,colour and shape of body are imparted by the nourishing liquid that flows through the mother’s blood which in turn is derived from mother’s diet..Consciousness ,knowledge ,wisdom,experience of pain and pleasures,and longevity come from the karmapurusha.
When Thamas overwhelms the consciousness ,a natural reaction of the body happens periodically,which is called swabhaavikanidra or sleep.This is different from the Thaamasikanidra or coma where satwa and rajas are very weak.In sleep jeeva is not asleep ,but wide awake according toSusrutha.It visualizes the past experiences and events and gives and gives them to the rajasic mind as dreamvisions.One can awake from sleep only if satwa is powerful.In deep coma when satwa is too weak the state continues to death.Jeevathma in sleep see visions of his sarvagna state through the agency of karmapurusha.Therefore visionary dreams are the signs of sarvagnapurusha(sareerasthaana 4.35)
One can increase one’s intelligence and sustain it upto old age and death.For this,and to increase the healing powers of man and their longevity several methods are prescribed.
1.Medicines,with gold and honey.(chikitsa sthaanam.28,2-8,28,2,21)
2.Living in a cultured environment with no contact with uncultured minds and antisocial elements
3. daily swaadhyaaya and learning
4.discussions,discourses with learned men in various disciplines,and contact with good people(sadsangha)
Among medicines,24 types of somalathaas are prescribed and also other plants with same properties as it.Many people consider that soma was an ancient alcoholic drink .This is not true.susrutha says that those who drink soma has to follow rigorous austerities like refraining from bad company,bad deeds,laziness,alcoholism,medicines with opposite effects,and should lead a pious life .For complete effects of the soma drink ,specific daily routines are prescribed which will be very difficult for an alcoholic to do .These require immense mental and physical control over the senses.The entire period of austerity lasts for a minimum of three months.
Only people who control the senses are free of unmaada(psychiatric illness).There are different types of unmaada.Four of them are due to thridoshakopa(imbalance of the 3 humours)The fifth is due to intense grief or emotions.A sixth is due to chemicals ,toxins,poisons producing the imbalance of humours.Apart from removing the toxins,and giving medicines to combat the imbalance ,methods to avoid intense grief or emotions,depressions etc and give peace of mind are needed and these are devised..pilgrimages to hilltop temples,riverbanks,seacoasts,forests,the cooling prasaada and chandana on forehead,reading holy scriptures,and above all singing the names of God in perfect harmony(keertha)are all prescribed.(the ancient raagachikitsa)Most of the devakarma(rituals for God)are for this purpose.
Unmaada is due to bhootha (past life,causing impurity of the elements)Past life may be this life or the previous lives.(previous life’s karma)Pretha just means a person wholived on this earth ,and went out of it after completing its tenure.The pretha represents the collective experiences of all the ancestors of the human race.Personal as well as collective past experiences of human race give rise to mental disturbances,as well as to mental peace.If it is disturbing ,then we call it paisaacha(that which produce tension and fear)and it causes symptoms of unmaada .That is Bhoothaprethapisaachakrith means madness (unmade)is caused by past experiences of the personal and collective level which cause disturbances and impurity of the 5 elements with which we are made of.Therefore,the 5 elements of our body,of the earth,and the cosmos(our external environment)should not be polluted.This probably is the first recognition of the need for environmental protection.Unless we know the exact meaning of these words it is likely that we may blindly believe the words of others and criticize it.Ot may blindly believe and become mad people ourselves.
It is evident that samsaara (domestic and social life )cause mental tensions and therefore mental disease.To reduce these tensions dhyana ,yoga,bhakthy and gnaana were devised for people of different temperaments .Another very effective method was through the artistic medium-music,dance and literature.When all these preventive and curative methods fail and for people who don’t have tastes for any of these,and immersed in the mundane things only,sometimes it becomes necessary to give a shock treatment.For this they devised creation of a fearful atmosphere or a weird scene and painful experiences.Just like the modern allopaths devised the electric shock treatment.It was not the only method of treatment and it never was the choice treatment the ancients.Once the disease manifests ,bloodletting,oilbaths,swedana,virechana,food mixed with sesame oil were all tried.Susrutha knew that uncontrolled sensory pleasures and falsehoods lead to apasmaara(loss of memory and consciousness –either partial or complete)and prevention was better than cure.
Surgical treatment
Susrutha describes three stages for surgery.
1.poorvakarma(preoperative preparation)
2.Pradhaanakarma(the surgical procedure proper)
3.paschaadkarma(postoperative care)
Poorvakarma includes astrological calculation of best time for surgery,depending upon the position of stars and planets ,the seasons etc,prayers/bhajans/music on presiding deities,for invoking blessings from God,Guru and natural spirits,ancestors(previous teachers or guru –the pithru),examination of the patient ,deciding whether surgical intervention is necessary or not,positioning for the procedure,tightly held by the disciples.For internal surgeries and removal of the dead foetus from uterus Susrutha prescribes an empty stomach by fasting.For minor procedures light liquid diet was allowed.Whether anaesthesia was used or not during Susrutha’s time had been a controversial issue for a long time.I found the word for anaesthesia in chikitsaasthaanam.The reference is of supthivaatham(supthy = sleep,and vaatham =gas)which means the gas that produce deep sleep like coma.This indicates that susrutha knew the use of anaesthetic gas.(supthivaatha sringmoksham kuryarthu bahusho bhishak 4-12 chikitsasthanam).The checking of clean instruments kept at the surgeon’s armslength ,availability of trained nurses to assist,and even the alabu(specimen collection container)are described with precision and accuracy by the text just as an operative surgery text of modern medicine.
Pradhaanakarma can be attempted by a surgeon who can perform the eight karma with accuracy ,speed and experience.Th e 8 karma are
1.chedana(excision)
2.bhedana(incision)
3.lekhana(scraping and curettage)
4.vedhana(puncturing)
5.eshana(probing)
6.aaharana(extraction)
7.vishravana(tapping of fluids including bloodletting)
8.Seevana(suturing)
The surgeon should have complete knowledge of the human body ,and the science of surgery ,should be experienced,courageous,confident,powerful,unselfish,and should possess hands that do not sweat while doing surgery.
The postoperative care is important.At least for 48 hours the bandages should not be loosenened or disturbed.Because the healing should take place from below upwards .On the third day examine the site ,remove dead tissues and pus if any and apply new bandage .In hot and rainy season daily dressings were changed after that.In snowy seasons dressings are changed on alternate days .If the patient complains of pain in an apparently clean healed wound ,pure ghee and liquorice were made into a paste and applied hot.The doctor should be available on call and the nurse should intimate if any emergency or complications arise. All these procedures ,the operative surgery notes of various conditions ,the descriptions of instruments etc are all very scientific and this is really remarkable when we consider the period of the text.It was a time when the western world had never ever imagined it possible to have a surgical intervention for a disease.
Cancer(Arbudha)
W.A.D.Anderson had mentioned in his textbook of pathology that Ramayana was the first known text where arsenic and surgery are mentioned as treatment for cancer.Susrutha considers cancer as growth of tissue,accompanied by pallor.He describes it as stony hard ,fixed to deep tissues ,and spreading from one place to another.According to him some of the cancers are untreatable(asaadhya)and others are treatable.He classifies cancer according to sites and nature.While describing cancer of the yoni,larynx and skin ,he compares it to the white lotus flower(swethapundareeka).In allopathy ,even in presentday classrooms the description of the squamous cell carcinoma of these sites is cauliflowerlike.(the whiteness and the flower like appearence0.Susrutha prescribes a vegetarian diet ,a modest life avoiding illicit sensual pleasures,daily food containing yava and mudga,virochana,dhooma ,daily oilbaths and the use of “karkaruka,naarikela,priyaala,panchamagulachoornam”for prevention of cancer.I think this may be tried for prevention of cancer.Modern science is of opinion that a nonvegetarian diet and excesses of sensual pleasures can lead to certain types of cancer.
We know that cancer is an excessive uncontrolled proliferation of a clone of abnormal cells.I often wonder whether the ancient Indian sage too knew this secret.If not why did he gave the name arbudham to this disease?In Sanskrit arbudham means a number ,a clone more than a crore cells can be an arbudham.Another interesting thing is that in yogavasishta ,sage vasishta ,the teacher of Srirama tells his disciple that the monsterous karkadi (meaning crab-in latin this is translated as cancer)enters the human body as a jeevasoochi(live needle)and gobbles its entire nourishment so that it becomes weak and perish.He adds that karkadi can enter only the bodies of men and women who have excesses of sensual pleasures and uncontrolled lifestyles.Prevention of diseases ,including cancer ,was the aim of the ancient Indian lifestyle .The scriptures ,the different systems of arts and sciences ,the methods of temple worships ,the food habits and even the festivities in relation to the different seasons were devised carefully so that people live a peaceful healthy life .It is sad that in the modern times ,this fact is forgotten and a lifestyle of a particular geographic region ,devised suitable to its geographic and climatic features ,is mistaken and misconstrued as areligion and in its name atrocities are committed.
Indian culture,ans sciences and arts are for the whole world,for the entire humanity.It can never be destroyed by anyone.Nor can it be protected by a few who takes up arms against our fellow countrymen.This eternal spring of wisdom existed and will exist forever ,as long as there are people who love and serve humanity ,on this planet earth,as hippocratus put it centuries back.
Aesthetics of a glorious past and its continued remembrance
And practice
A culture’s selfawareness in terms of law ,medicine and grammer is an important precondition for awareness of its aesthetics.The knowledge of medicine –a system of management of pain,of anesthetics,of birth and death is interrelated to poetry,a system of management of pleasure ,of aesthetics and of creation.(G.N.Devy.After Amnesia.page 64-65.Orient Longman 1995)
Being involved in both the systems mentioned above ,I believe in the dictum “In the continued remembrance of the glorious past individuals and nations find their noblest aspirations “as did Sir William Osler ,the pathologist par excellance.Hence during my tenure as ateacher in the Medical college Calicut I probed into the medical history of our nation,and unearthe da precious jewel from its rubbles.The oldest surgical and pathological text of ancient India,the Susruthasamhitha.Being a student and practitioner of the allopathic system of medicine ,it was but natural for me to compare the ancient and the modern systems of medicine.Here I share some of my reflections with the readers.
The beginning
Both Ayurveda and allpathy originated as cults in and around temples.In the months of Hemantha and sisira ,rigorous penances followed by the oath and the holy pilgrimage to the temples on hilltops were common to India and Greece.The pilgrimage centers of vaishnava,saiva and devi cults,chaityas of Budhists and jains with their prathikarma and paryushan parva were of this tradition.These rites were to remove the thridosha accumulated during this and the previous births.The belief that mental (psychiatric)illnesses were due to bhootha (past life)was deeprooted in the ancient mind and it is being proved by modern science.The aesculapean cult of Greek medicine shared the same belief.It was the forerunner of modern medicine prevalent in the Mediterranean basin ,where Asculapeus lived.He had his Guru in a half naaga tribal Chiron,an inhabitant of the serpent country.,Paataala.In BC 429,the cult spread toAthens.The asculapean temples were on hilltops.They were medical schools were the healing art and philosophy were taught by rishis or priests.Students had to prove their merit before getting entry into the school.(temple).Once they pass the entrance exam ,they were to take an oath just like the oath taken before prathikarma ,and it was this oath which later became known as the Hippocratus oath.The temples were built in the most picturesque sites and holy baths,fasting,vegetarian diets,nonviolence,virechana(cleaning of the bowels)and prayers were mandatory for the disciple to get entrance into templeschool.Only after a prolonged period of such rigorous austerities did the main gates open for the aspirant student.Once the student gets entry he prostrates in front of the main deity and the Guru produces a healing dream by hypnosis.Depending upon the nature of the dream the disciple acquires the ability to read the past ,present,and the future and to heal mental and physical illness.In the Tamil epic Chilappathikaram we find evidence of such practices .In the Upanishadic traditions also the healing dream is mentioned many times.
In susruthasanhita ,the oath ,the upanayana into the cult(soothrasthana 2-6)of a meritorious disciple by a Guru as wellas the licensing and permission by the royal court to practice(10-2)are mentioned.The knowledge of the past ,present and futiure(thrikaala)or the Daivagna method was prevalent in Indian medical system and in the Cos island where Hippocratus ,the twentieth generation fromAesculapeus lived and taught the basic principles of modern socalled western medicine.How was the problem (mental or physical)created and what was its past history?What is the present status of the problem and how far it has progresses?Can the problem be solved by a particular line of treatment or other so that the patient be saved?What are the chances of survival of the patient?These were detrmined by history taken,physical examination,and the position of stars and planets.Even now we following modern medicine calculate the past history,aetiology,pathogenesis,and prognosis on the same line of thought.The only fact left out is the position of stars and their influence in modifying the outcome.
Hippo in Greece means a horse.The oldest known vedic doctors ,the aswins were also called horses.Hippocratus is a Greek name for Aswin ,from whom medicine originated.Hippocratus believed that the symptoms of a disease are only the reactions of the body to combat a disease and the duty of a doctor is not to treat symptoms but to increase the natural forces of the body.This is exactly what ayurveda and the tribal traditions also believe and teach..The homeostasis between body and mind was called health and the balance of the three humours was essential for healthy living.The samkhya philosophy and vedic medicine also believe in the homeostasis of three guna(qualities)and the three doshaas(imbalances derived from them)and balancing them for perfect health.Hippocratus said that if a doctor treats an occult cancer ,the chances of survival of the patient is less since the disease become overt by his/her treatment.He said philosophically ,”life is short,and the art of healing eternal.Experience may fail us.Many a time decisionmaking may be difficult.”The doctor in those early days was a kindhearted ,good,honest,divine being with ahealing touch ,a philosopher par excellance,and a rishi.Hippocratus said that as long as such people who love and practice the healing art remain on earth,people who love humanity will continue to exist to serve the world.
Dissection of the Human body
The first Greek to dissect a corpse was Alemaon ,the disciple of Hippocratus.He did it secretly ,and alone.Herophilus was bold enough to dissect and demonstrate it to his students (died in BC 290)but embalming and dissection were not considered a sin in ancient Egypt from time immemorial .In Tibet and India this was practiced.While the dissection was on royal corpses on Egypt,on criminals and enemies in in Peru and Mexico,on captured enemies among the scytheans,it was on Godmen and Laamaas in Tibet ,and on horses in ancient India,.At times a young adult also was selected for it instead of a horse in exceptional situations ,as in the case of Sunasepha ,whom Viswamithra saved.It was performed on royal corpses also as in the case of King Dasaratha of Ramayana by sage Vasishta.
Susrutha,the son of viswamithra lived in ancient times but susruthasamhitha ,the oral tradition bearing his name was codified a sa text only very late during BC 500.By that time there were many restrictions for dissecting a corpse inIndia.Therefore the body was taken secretly to the forest ,kept immersed in a freshwater lake (as if in a formalin tank ,nowadays)for 7 days (minimum)and taken out on a fullmoon night and dissected with sharp roots and bamboochips.This was the reason for adopting either 15 or 16 days for finishing the pithrukarma(burial rite)ceremonies.
During Susruth’s time there were 8 divisions for Ayurveda.
1.Salyathanthra(surgery)
2.Saalaakhyathanthra(E.N.T,Dentistry)
3.Kaayachikitsa(medical treatment)
4.Bhoothavidya(psychiatry ,psychotherapy)
5.Koumaarabrithya(pediatrics and adolescent medicine)
6.Aagathathanthra(toxicology and treatment of poisoning)
7.Rasaayanathanthra(pharmacopoeia and longevity)
8.Vajeekarana(rejuvenation and vitality).
PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOLOGY –MODERN AND ANCIENT
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)forwarded a new trend in psychiatric medicine.His free association methods ,dream analysis,problems of the unconscious mind and Oedipus complex became popular.Freud’s central theme was sex,while Adler concentrated every action and reaction of the human mind on power.Carl Gustav Jung gave a more authentic and holistic explanation of the human mind ,its dreams and its aspirations .His archetypes and shadows resembled the ancient Indian way of analysis.Currently Dr Herbert Benson of the Harward medical university has gone back to the ancient yoga ,dhyana and japa methods for reducing sympathetic nervous system functions and relief of many mental and physical illnesses.In Massacheussets Medical school ,more than hundred hospitals follow praanaayaama and prayers for healing of mind and body and for increasing immunity.A variety of diseases like asthma ,intractable headaches and body pains ,blood pressure ,cardiac diseases ,diabetes ,side effects of cancer chemotherapy and dialysis ,irritable bowel syndrome ,insomnia,emphesema and skin diseases are treated by those methods in many American hospitals.The journal of biomedicine (1980)published an article on how transcendental meditation can be used to decrease stress responses and thereby keep the body and mind healthy.The old concepts are returning to stay.The past is the prologue of the future.
According to susrutha ,Purusha,the endless beginingless eternal changeless absolute principle assumes the shape or relative body of the living Jeevi,(including man).The sarvagnapurusha or absolute thus appear in a living body as a karmapurusha.When karmapurusha leaves the body to go back to his original state or abode ,we say that the jeevi is dead.It is the purusha while entering a zygote gives it consciousness ,creativity,mobility,observing,cognitive,analyzing powers.These were with the karmapurusha during its previous existence.That is past karma(action),vaasanaa(tendencies)of karmapurusha manifest in the new body as his character.The body characters are from ancesters.The character is controlled by the 3 guna(qualities)which are from the karmapurusha ,as prakrithy.(nature)In creating a child,man and woman have only limited roles.They just participate in a divine will.Selection of a suitable pair ,intercourse at the proper time so that a good soul comes to earth and inhabits within the zygote ,protecting the pregnancy are in their control.Mere sexual intercourse is not enough in the creation of a good offspring.For it,the couple need the help of karmapurusha ,one who had a previous past(bhootha)and is in the gandharva(gandabba according toBudhist)state of bardo.
The head ,face,body,hair,bone,nails,teeth,arteries,veins ,nerves ,semen are derived from the seed of the father.Blood,marrow,heart,umbilicus,liver,intestine,genitalia,muscles are contributed by the mother’s seed.The power,colour and shape of body are imparted by the nourishing liquid that flows through the mother’s blood which in turn is derived from mother’s diet..Consciousness ,knowledge ,wisdom,experience of pain and pleasures,and longevity come from the karmapurusha.
When Thamas overwhelms the consciousness ,a natural reaction of the body happens periodically,which is called swabhaavikanidra or sleep.This is different from the Thaamasikanidra or coma where satwa and rajas are very weak.In sleep jeeva is not asleep ,but wide awake according toSusrutha.It visualizes the past experiences and events and gives and gives them to the rajasic mind as dreamvisions.One can awake from sleep only if satwa is powerful.In deep coma when satwa is too weak the state continues to death.Jeevathma in sleep see visions of his sarvagna state through the agency of karmapurusha.Therefore visionary dreams are the signs of sarvagnapurusha(sareerasthaana 4.35)
One can increase one’s intelligence and sustain it upto old age and death.For this,and to increase the healing powers of man and their longevity several methods are prescribed.
1.Medicines,with gold and honey.(chikitsa sthaanam.28,2-8,28,2,21)
2.Living in a cultured environment with no contact with uncultured minds and antisocial elements
3. daily swaadhyaaya and learning
4.discussions,discourses with learned men in various disciplines,and contact with good people(sadsangha)
Among medicines,24 types of somalathaas are prescribed and also other plants with same properties as it.Many people consider that soma was an ancient alcoholic drink .This is not true.susrutha says that those who drink soma has to follow rigorous austerities like refraining from bad company,bad deeds,laziness,alcoholism,medicines with opposite effects,and should lead a pious life .For complete effects of the soma drink ,specific daily routines are prescribed which will be very difficult for an alcoholic to do .These require immense mental and physical control over the senses.The entire period of austerity lasts for a minimum of three months.
Only people who control the senses are free of unmaada(psychiatric illness).There are different types of unmaada.Four of them are due to thridoshakopa(imbalance of the 3 humours)The fifth is due to intense grief or emotions.A sixth is due to chemicals ,toxins,poisons producing the imbalance of humours.Apart from removing the toxins,and giving medicines to combat the imbalance ,methods to avoid intense grief or emotions,depressions etc and give peace of mind are needed and these are devised..pilgrimages to hilltop temples,riverbanks,seacoasts,forests,the cooling prasaada and chandana on forehead,reading holy scriptures,and above all singing the names of God in perfect harmony(keertha)are all prescribed.(the ancient raagachikitsa)Most of the devakarma(rituals for God)are for this purpose.
Unmaada is due to bhootha (past life,causing impurity of the elements)Past life may be this life or the previous lives.(previous life’s karma)Pretha just means a person wholived on this earth ,and went out of it after completing its tenure.The pretha represents the collective experiences of all the ancestors of the human race.Personal as well as collective past experiences of human race give rise to mental disturbances,as well as to mental peace.If it is disturbing ,then we call it paisaacha(that which produce tension and fear)and it causes symptoms of unmaada .That is Bhoothaprethapisaachakrith means madness (unmade)is caused by past experiences of the personal and collective level which cause disturbances and impurity of the 5 elements with which we are made of.Therefore,the 5 elements of our body,of the earth,and the cosmos(our external environment)should not be polluted.This probably is the first recognition of the need for environmental protection.Unless we know the exact meaning of these words it is likely that we may blindly believe the words of others and criticize it.Ot may blindly believe and become mad people ourselves.
It is evident that samsaara (domestic and social life )cause mental tensions and therefore mental disease.To reduce these tensions dhyana ,yoga,bhakthy and gnaana were devised for people of different temperaments .Another very effective method was through the artistic medium-music,dance and literature.When all these preventive and curative methods fail and for people who don’t have tastes for any of these,and immersed in the mundane things only,sometimes it becomes necessary to give a shock treatment.For this they devised creation of a fearful atmosphere or a weird scene and painful experiences.Just like the modern allopaths devised the electric shock treatment.It was not the only method of treatment and it never was the choice treatment the ancients.Once the disease manifests ,bloodletting,oilbaths,swedana,virechana,food mixed with sesame oil were all tried.Susrutha knew that uncontrolled sensory pleasures and falsehoods lead to apasmaara(loss of memory and consciousness –either partial or complete)and prevention was better than cure.
Surgical treatment
Susrutha describes three stages for surgery.
1.poorvakarma(preoperative preparation)
2.Pradhaanakarma(the surgical procedure proper)
3.paschaadkarma(postoperative care)
Poorvakarma includes astrological calculation of best time for surgery,depending upon the position of stars and planets ,the seasons etc,prayers/bhajans/music on presiding deities,for invoking blessings from God,Guru and natural spirits,ancestors(previous teachers or guru –the pithru),examination of the patient ,deciding whether surgical intervention is necessary or not,positioning for the procedure,tightly held by the disciples.For internal surgeries and removal of the dead foetus from uterus Susrutha prescribes an empty stomach by fasting.For minor procedures light liquid diet was allowed.Whether anaesthesia was used or not during Susrutha’s time had been a controversial issue for a long time.I found the word for anaesthesia in chikitsaasthaanam.The reference is of supthivaatham(supthy = sleep,and vaatham =gas)which means the gas that produce deep sleep like coma.This indicates that susrutha knew the use of anaesthetic gas.(supthivaatha sringmoksham kuryarthu bahusho bhishak 4-12 chikitsasthanam).The checking of clean instruments kept at the surgeon’s armslength ,availability of trained nurses to assist,and even the alabu(specimen collection container)are described with precision and accuracy by the text just as an operative surgery text of modern medicine.
Pradhaanakarma can be attempted by a surgeon who can perform the eight karma with accuracy ,speed and experience.Th e 8 karma are
1.chedana(excision)
2.bhedana(incision)
3.lekhana(scraping and curettage)
4.vedhana(puncturing)
5.eshana(probing)
6.aaharana(extraction)
7.vishravana(tapping of fluids including bloodletting)
8.Seevana(suturing)
The surgeon should have complete knowledge of the human body ,and the science of surgery ,should be experienced,courageous,confident,powerful,unselfish,and should possess hands that do not sweat while doing surgery.
The postoperative care is important.At least for 48 hours the bandages should not be loosenened or disturbed.Because the healing should take place from below upwards .On the third day examine the site ,remove dead tissues and pus if any and apply new bandage .In hot and rainy season daily dressings were changed after that.In snowy seasons dressings are changed on alternate days .If the patient complains of pain in an apparently clean healed wound ,pure ghee and liquorice were made into a paste and applied hot.The doctor should be available on call and the nurse should intimate if any emergency or complications arise. All these procedures ,the operative surgery notes of various conditions ,the descriptions of instruments etc are all very scientific and this is really remarkable when we consider the period of the text.It was a time when the western world had never ever imagined it possible to have a surgical intervention for a disease.
Cancer(Arbudha)
W.A.D.Anderson had mentioned in his textbook of pathology that Ramayana was the first known text where arsenic and surgery are mentioned as treatment for cancer.Susrutha considers cancer as growth of tissue,accompanied by pallor.He describes it as stony hard ,fixed to deep tissues ,and spreading from one place to another.According to him some of the cancers are untreatable(asaadhya)and others are treatable.He classifies cancer according to sites and nature.While describing cancer of the yoni,larynx and skin ,he compares it to the white lotus flower(swethapundareeka).In allopathy ,even in presentday classrooms the description of the squamous cell carcinoma of these sites is cauliflowerlike.(the whiteness and the flower like appearence0.Susrutha prescribes a vegetarian diet ,a modest life avoiding illicit sensual pleasures,daily food containing yava and mudga,virochana,dhooma ,daily oilbaths and the use of “karkaruka,naarikela,priyaala,panchamagulachoornam”for prevention of cancer.I think this may be tried for prevention of cancer.Modern science is of opinion that a nonvegetarian diet and excesses of sensual pleasures can lead to certain types of cancer.
We know that cancer is an excessive uncontrolled proliferation of a clone of abnormal cells.I often wonder whether the ancient Indian sage too knew this secret.If not why did he gave the name arbudham to this disease?In Sanskrit arbudham means a number ,a clone more than a crore cells can be an arbudham.Another interesting thing is that in yogavasishta ,sage vasishta ,the teacher of Srirama tells his disciple that the monsterous karkadi (meaning crab-in latin this is translated as cancer)enters the human body as a jeevasoochi(live needle)and gobbles its entire nourishment so that it becomes weak and perish.He adds that karkadi can enter only the bodies of men and women who have excesses of sensual pleasures and uncontrolled lifestyles.Prevention of diseases ,including cancer ,was the aim of the ancient Indian lifestyle .The scriptures ,the different systems of arts and sciences ,the methods of temple worships ,the food habits and even the festivities in relation to the different seasons were devised carefully so that people live a peaceful healthy life .It is sad that in the modern times ,this fact is forgotten and a lifestyle of a particular geographic region ,devised suitable to its geographic and climatic features ,is mistaken and misconstrued as areligion and in its name atrocities are committed.
Indian culture,ans sciences and arts are for the whole world,for the entire humanity.It can never be destroyed by anyone.Nor can it be protected by a few who takes up arms against our fellow countrymen.This eternal spring of wisdom existed and will exist forever ,as long as there are people who love and serve humanity ,on this planet earth,as hippocratus put it centuries back.
Aama in Ayurveda
AAMA.IN AYURVEDA and the concept of Bhootha as the five elements and the past life
First principle of any scientific enquiry is observation (perception )of facts and it is the first principle of behaviour to acqusition of scientific knowledge.Then classification of observed data using verifiable objective methods follow. Explanation of the data or interpretation of the facts in the simplest and the least complex way should ensue next.In other words,seeking of evidence through direct experience and explaining it using logic is the empiricism of any scientific method.
The stages of science are thus
· 1.description of a problem situation
· 2.Prediction of the outcome
· 3.scientific thinking-:devising hypothesis,verifying them,communication of the results,
· 4.understanding that science is not merely the materials and methods.It is more than the methods,a way of thinking./a way of life..
· 5. A distinction is made between observable and the inferred.Inference on things that are not directly observable.
Aayurveda is the ancient science of our land which deals with observable and inferable facts of life in such a way so that the physical,mental,intellectual and spiritual problems of the world are dealt with and solved.
Oushadi-vanaspathy are the main material through which the treatment is done.What is oushadi? Osha literally means lightbearing ,and it also means kural or sound through praana or vaayu. The energy (anna)in the sun is obtained through the plants by photosynthesis and this sustains life on earth.Therefore the plants indirectly control the energy,water,elements,and the oxygen cycles of our lives.and is the sree(prosperity )of earth.Hence the veda addresses the Goddess sree and agni(energy )thus:
Aadityavarne Tapaso adhijaatho
Vanspathisthava vriksho atha bilwa(sreesooktham)
According to chandogya Upanishad only those people who have healthy ,pure ,brilliant dhathu(elements)can do Aathmavicharam and be spiritually and intellectually ,mentally and physically healthy.(Dhaathuprasaadam is essential for health ).Maithryiupanishad says the pure ocean of bliss bearing each dhaathu and indriya shines in the heartspace as itself by itself(swayam prabha)without any other upaadhi and that is the aathma.The dhaathuprasada thus gives us indriyabhala(physical strength) to have mental ,intellectual and spiritual health.
Eight Drops of paraa energy is needed for life and we directly get it from cosmic energy as suvarannam(without carbon)and half an anjali of apara energy is needed for carrying out our activities including intellectual work and that should come from our foodintake(contain Krishna-or carbon).It is the apara energy derived from the food that our bioenergy field is created,our five elements (panchabhootha)are built up,and the one with dhaathuprasaada can see the mahimaanam(greatness)of Aathma(cosmic energy) in one’s own heartspace
Cosmic energy is the power of Naaraayana (Naarayana Upanishad)seen as agni in the human body .Like a lotus with nadeejhaala(nerve plexuses) it is kept in the middle(the central nervous system and spinal cord)In the naabhi (center )it exists as agni and splits (vibhajanthy)food(aaharam)and keeps the body from head to foot with heat of metabolism(thapas).From this thapa(heat)is derived life and its activities.The virat(cosmic)energy is manifested as the swaraat(individual)energy and hence cosmic and bioenergy fields are ultimately the same and interconvertible energy fields constantly in touch with each other.Aayurveda thus prescribes the plants and its leaves,flowers,fruits etc,available in each season(rithu)characteristic of each geographic area and ensures the food habits are healthy .Rithu or seasons represent time(kaala) and geographic area represent the desa and hence the diet suits the timespace(kaaladesa).In a similar way ,the raagaas prescribed also should be suitable to the timespace (to the seasons and to geographic areas)in raagachikitsa(since it is sound energy which is part of light energy).
Anna is sun’s energy,that is converted to elements by plants(C,H,O,N,Ca,P)and their sanghaatham as proteins,carbohydrates,fats and vitamins etc.Praana is dhaathu in ionic state (suvarna)whereas dravya is dhaathu in solid state(rayi-krishna).When food is digested the subtle agni goes up,the grossest comes down.The medium one spreads all over as jhaladhaathu(watery)and as vaayu.
There are different srota(channels) in our body and praana(oxygen) is sarvathogaamini (flowing in all channels)in our body.Udaana is the one that flows up(urdhwanaadi )as para.samaana is the one that brings oxygen to all tissues and cells.Since the pitha(thejus)of the sun is agni(energy)in all the indhana(firewood or the body),it is by its character without any vaasana ,vignaanamaya.Surya is nityaniraamaya(God has permanent health)and has perfect state of bliss of yoganidra(comparable to dreamless state of sushupthi )and samadhi.But when the channels or the darsanadwaaraas are blocked by the same thejas(energy)then a state of aamaya(unhealthy)occurs and the patient may experience a coma(moorcha).
Thejas (energy)is the agni which gives us our biological field of attractive personality and behaviour,our science and arts also.
Theja:sareerastha:deepthy :ujjawalathwam
Praagalbhyam vaa brahmavarchasam
Vrithaswaadhyaayanimitham theja .
In sadvritha(people who follow good habits)due to their swaadhyaya this healthy state persists..And the three (vatha,pitha,kapha)are in balance giving them brahmavarchasam and niraamaya.In those who follow bad habits the opposite happens and disease (aamaya)occurs.Agnichayanam and formation of anna(food)is cyclical.
In Sudhasindhu(page 919-924 DC Books ,Kottayam)how the gross cosmic body is the origin of the gross body of man and animals is explained..In nadeesamvedanam (nerve impulse communication)the waves of polarization and depolarization is the same agni of the cosmos.Thus cosmic and bioenergy are the same.Mind is not within the brain alone ,the concept of the mind everywhere in the cosmos and brain as a part of it constantly communicating with it is being accepted by the western science.In the last decade (the decade of the brain)we heard the dictum “Mind everywhere”as an echo of this acceptance.The anuishta oorja(the subtelest energy)as nerve transmission is only a part of cosmic energy and the brain is just a gross form of it.
AAMA
According to Saamaveda:ama is purusha(man).saa is sthree(woman).when they are in balance(sama)the body is niraamaya(without disease.)They are equal(sama)in everything (including a plushinam,masakam,naagam-)and because of this there is music(saama)in everything and the world is a combination of name(sound)and form(light).when the yin-yan balance/sivasakthy balance is lost aamaya(disease) occurs.
Aama is immature ,uncooked,unripe,undigested annam which is not useful to the body.In medical context the term refers to events,factors,resultants which follow ,arise and results respectively as a consequence of kaayaagni(fire of the body)not functioning properly .Aama is an essential factor in the development of a pathological state.Aamaya (disease)is a condition produced by aama.It is described as a causative factor in many diseases in ayurveda.
Aacharya vaagbhata says:Due to the diminution of agni(energy)the first dhaathu namely the rasa is not formed properly and the annarasa (food essence)undergo fermentation and putrefaction ,being retained in the aamaasaya (stomach).This improperly digested food is the aamarasa.The toxins generated out of such rasa produces obstruction of channels(srota),loss of strength(balakshaya),gouravatha(heaviness),impediment to flow of vayu(anilamudha),lethargy(clema),ajeerna(indigestion),atyapraseka(excessive salivation),obstruction of natural urges like stools,urine,flatus(vegavrodha),anorexia(mandaagni)and malaise(angsada).
That means aama includes,food containing all incompatable articles,heavy indigestible food,unwanted food by overeating,disgusting foods,any food that produce distension of abdomen,raw uncooked food(other than fruits and certain vegetables),very cold food,irritating foods causing inflammation of mucosa,unclean,contaminated,infected food,dry ,fried ,dehydrated food,food soaked in too much of water,food taken during intense emotional stress like grief,anger,worry ,fearcomplex etc,hunger and irregular food habits(psychosomatic).
The fundamental treatment for aamadosha is langhana or upavaasa.Fasting is till the energy(agni)is maintained.Dry sudation therapy is the second line of treatment by which obstruction,pain and swelling are removed.oleation therapy is contraindicated.Emesis and purgation are recommended to remove the toxic effects.Herbs that combat aama are
Ginger(zingiber officinale),castor(Ricus communis),guduchi(Tinospora cordifolia),bhallathaka(semicarpus anacardium),kuchala(strychnus nuxvomica)
A comparison of the modern views on the free radicals is appropriate at this juncture.They play a key role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases and in normal biological functions.Activated processes in drug toxixicity,aging,carcinogenesis,aetiology of ocular,neurologic and psychiatric diseases are some examples.Darwin observed that white ,blueeyed cats are usually deaf to sound vibrations.Pigmentary abnormality(colour or varna )and deafness(inability to hear sound)in audiology go hand in hand in diseases like waardenberg’s or usher’s syndrome.Association between radical generating metals like iron ,and copper and induction of fibrosis (interocular fibrosis in vitreous chalcosis,liver cirrhosis in wilson’s disease and hemachromatosis)was described.
Oxygen-dependent microbial system:Granulocytes and phagocytes of our immune system possesses a membrane NADPH oxidase ,which takes reducing equivalents from hexose monophosphate shunts and transfers these to molecular oxygen to produce superoxide and other active oxygen species.A further myeloperoxidase converts peroxide produced in this system to microbial products including hypochlorites.Production of activated products by this system plays a keyrole in the cellmediated immunity and microbiocidal activity.There is evidence for similar systems in T lymphocytes,platelets,mucous,an NADPH oxidase of noninflammatory cells may have a role in mediating cyclic nucleotide mechanism.Granulocytes,macrophages,T lymphocytes produce active species of oxygen as part of the microbiocidal/citocidal system.In turn,active oxygen species can modulate specific elements of the inflammatory response in vitro.Biological systems protect themselves against the damaging effects of activated species by several means.These include free radical scavengers and chain reaction terminators :enzymes such as SOD ,catalase and the glutathione peroxidase system and solid state defences Such as the melanins. central catecholaminergic neurons contain stable free radical, melanin. Specific dying-off of pigmented neurons in the substantia nigra is the apparent cause of Parkinson's. Dopaminergic neurons may be concerned in schizophrenia and in various movement disorders ( e.g., choreoathetosis in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome ). Noradrenergic neurons - in endogenous depression and Alzheimer dementia. The function, of melanin in neurons unknown ,may be related to antioxidant and semiconductor properties
Chemical antioxidants act by donation of an electron to a free radical converting it into a nonradical form.The anuishta type of enegy involving the oxygen atom is the one with the vaayu.
The water particle (H2O)and the molecules of the H or the watercontent is important for our bioenergy field or the aura.It is the thousands and thousands of micromagnettes within it that gives us our aura and it is measurable best with imaging techniques.When we hear music and enjoy it our corticotemporal axis is activated and more of blood (and hence H)flow through it.This is mapped by sophisticated methods in neuroimaging.
Now,the functioning of the energy(agni),of the vayu(oxygen)and of the water(H ydrogen),aakasha(spacetime energy),and of prithwi(the elements gross)are fully explained in the ancient and the modern concepts and we can understand the aetiology and pathogenesis of many diseases with these concepts .
What we have learned in the field of modern medicine is actually our technological knowledge and measuring systems ,thanks to physics,astrophysics,and technological advances and they are used by the modern medical people .But ,a modern person can use these techniques and prove their thesis and scientific theories as well.Modern medicine use technology to explain their beliefs.Ayurveda can use it for proving their views,and as an interdisciplinary method.No one can say that technology can be used by a particular branch of knowledge or speciality.
What I feel is that the concept of aama is something which has deep meanings and implications.Some people think that aama is due to bhootha.This is a Sanskrit word which is wrongly interpreted in English as evil spirit.But what is it in Sanskrit and in Indian concept is important in realizing and explaining it as the most scientific theory.
· Bhootha in Sanskrit means two things
· 1.The elements as in the panchabhootha.When the 5 elements in our body(biological system)or in our environment(ecosystem)is polluted and the cyclic energy is obstructed by this process ,aama or disease occurs is the first explanation.
· 2.Bhootha also means the past life as in bhootha,varthamaana and bhaavi.If the past life of an individual(this birth as immeadiate /and previous births as remote)is bad,the consequences set in as to every action ,there should be an equal and opposite reaction.This is the karma theory of Indians.If one is a drug addict or an alcohol addict ,the consequences of the habits will manifest as disease later on.Similarly,a life of uncontrolled sexuality leads to certain types of aamaroga ,like AIDS. The question is not limited to understanding science alone but to be able to live accordingly.Aayurveda ,as a way of life is important because it tells us in an interdisciplinary and holistic way how to live a healthy life ,how to follow clean habits and live in harmony with the cosmos and the environment,keeping a mind free of raagadwesha and passions of greed,envy etc and to have a fruitful existence useful to the world and society.
In this context I would say that the concept of Raagachikitsa ,is also based on the same principles.Have a life free of passions and full of compassion to the entire creation is the message of valuebased education of ancient Indians.
First principle of any scientific enquiry is observation (perception )of facts and it is the first principle of behaviour to acqusition of scientific knowledge.Then classification of observed data using verifiable objective methods follow. Explanation of the data or interpretation of the facts in the simplest and the least complex way should ensue next.In other words,seeking of evidence through direct experience and explaining it using logic is the empiricism of any scientific method.
The stages of science are thus
· 1.description of a problem situation
· 2.Prediction of the outcome
· 3.scientific thinking-:devising hypothesis,verifying them,communication of the results,
· 4.understanding that science is not merely the materials and methods.It is more than the methods,a way of thinking./a way of life..
· 5. A distinction is made between observable and the inferred.Inference on things that are not directly observable.
Aayurveda is the ancient science of our land which deals with observable and inferable facts of life in such a way so that the physical,mental,intellectual and spiritual problems of the world are dealt with and solved.
Oushadi-vanaspathy are the main material through which the treatment is done.What is oushadi? Osha literally means lightbearing ,and it also means kural or sound through praana or vaayu. The energy (anna)in the sun is obtained through the plants by photosynthesis and this sustains life on earth.Therefore the plants indirectly control the energy,water,elements,and the oxygen cycles of our lives.and is the sree(prosperity )of earth.Hence the veda addresses the Goddess sree and agni(energy )thus:
Aadityavarne Tapaso adhijaatho
Vanspathisthava vriksho atha bilwa(sreesooktham)
According to chandogya Upanishad only those people who have healthy ,pure ,brilliant dhathu(elements)can do Aathmavicharam and be spiritually and intellectually ,mentally and physically healthy.(Dhaathuprasaadam is essential for health ).Maithryiupanishad says the pure ocean of bliss bearing each dhaathu and indriya shines in the heartspace as itself by itself(swayam prabha)without any other upaadhi and that is the aathma.The dhaathuprasada thus gives us indriyabhala(physical strength) to have mental ,intellectual and spiritual health.
Eight Drops of paraa energy is needed for life and we directly get it from cosmic energy as suvarannam(without carbon)and half an anjali of apara energy is needed for carrying out our activities including intellectual work and that should come from our foodintake(contain Krishna-or carbon).It is the apara energy derived from the food that our bioenergy field is created,our five elements (panchabhootha)are built up,and the one with dhaathuprasaada can see the mahimaanam(greatness)of Aathma(cosmic energy) in one’s own heartspace
Cosmic energy is the power of Naaraayana (Naarayana Upanishad)seen as agni in the human body .Like a lotus with nadeejhaala(nerve plexuses) it is kept in the middle(the central nervous system and spinal cord)In the naabhi (center )it exists as agni and splits (vibhajanthy)food(aaharam)and keeps the body from head to foot with heat of metabolism(thapas).From this thapa(heat)is derived life and its activities.The virat(cosmic)energy is manifested as the swaraat(individual)energy and hence cosmic and bioenergy fields are ultimately the same and interconvertible energy fields constantly in touch with each other.Aayurveda thus prescribes the plants and its leaves,flowers,fruits etc,available in each season(rithu)characteristic of each geographic area and ensures the food habits are healthy .Rithu or seasons represent time(kaala) and geographic area represent the desa and hence the diet suits the timespace(kaaladesa).In a similar way ,the raagaas prescribed also should be suitable to the timespace (to the seasons and to geographic areas)in raagachikitsa(since it is sound energy which is part of light energy).
Anna is sun’s energy,that is converted to elements by plants(C,H,O,N,Ca,P)and their sanghaatham as proteins,carbohydrates,fats and vitamins etc.Praana is dhaathu in ionic state (suvarna)whereas dravya is dhaathu in solid state(rayi-krishna).When food is digested the subtle agni goes up,the grossest comes down.The medium one spreads all over as jhaladhaathu(watery)and as vaayu.
There are different srota(channels) in our body and praana(oxygen) is sarvathogaamini (flowing in all channels)in our body.Udaana is the one that flows up(urdhwanaadi )as para.samaana is the one that brings oxygen to all tissues and cells.Since the pitha(thejus)of the sun is agni(energy)in all the indhana(firewood or the body),it is by its character without any vaasana ,vignaanamaya.Surya is nityaniraamaya(God has permanent health)and has perfect state of bliss of yoganidra(comparable to dreamless state of sushupthi )and samadhi.But when the channels or the darsanadwaaraas are blocked by the same thejas(energy)then a state of aamaya(unhealthy)occurs and the patient may experience a coma(moorcha).
Thejas (energy)is the agni which gives us our biological field of attractive personality and behaviour,our science and arts also.
Theja:sareerastha:deepthy :ujjawalathwam
Praagalbhyam vaa brahmavarchasam
Vrithaswaadhyaayanimitham theja .
In sadvritha(people who follow good habits)due to their swaadhyaya this healthy state persists..And the three (vatha,pitha,kapha)are in balance giving them brahmavarchasam and niraamaya.In those who follow bad habits the opposite happens and disease (aamaya)occurs.Agnichayanam and formation of anna(food)is cyclical.
In Sudhasindhu(page 919-924 DC Books ,Kottayam)how the gross cosmic body is the origin of the gross body of man and animals is explained..In nadeesamvedanam (nerve impulse communication)the waves of polarization and depolarization is the same agni of the cosmos.Thus cosmic and bioenergy are the same.Mind is not within the brain alone ,the concept of the mind everywhere in the cosmos and brain as a part of it constantly communicating with it is being accepted by the western science.In the last decade (the decade of the brain)we heard the dictum “Mind everywhere”as an echo of this acceptance.The anuishta oorja(the subtelest energy)as nerve transmission is only a part of cosmic energy and the brain is just a gross form of it.
AAMA
According to Saamaveda:ama is purusha(man).saa is sthree(woman).when they are in balance(sama)the body is niraamaya(without disease.)They are equal(sama)in everything (including a plushinam,masakam,naagam-)and because of this there is music(saama)in everything and the world is a combination of name(sound)and form(light).when the yin-yan balance/sivasakthy balance is lost aamaya(disease) occurs.
Aama is immature ,uncooked,unripe,undigested annam which is not useful to the body.In medical context the term refers to events,factors,resultants which follow ,arise and results respectively as a consequence of kaayaagni(fire of the body)not functioning properly .Aama is an essential factor in the development of a pathological state.Aamaya (disease)is a condition produced by aama.It is described as a causative factor in many diseases in ayurveda.
Aacharya vaagbhata says:Due to the diminution of agni(energy)the first dhaathu namely the rasa is not formed properly and the annarasa (food essence)undergo fermentation and putrefaction ,being retained in the aamaasaya (stomach).This improperly digested food is the aamarasa.The toxins generated out of such rasa produces obstruction of channels(srota),loss of strength(balakshaya),gouravatha(heaviness),impediment to flow of vayu(anilamudha),lethargy(clema),ajeerna(indigestion),atyapraseka(excessive salivation),obstruction of natural urges like stools,urine,flatus(vegavrodha),anorexia(mandaagni)and malaise(angsada).
That means aama includes,food containing all incompatable articles,heavy indigestible food,unwanted food by overeating,disgusting foods,any food that produce distension of abdomen,raw uncooked food(other than fruits and certain vegetables),very cold food,irritating foods causing inflammation of mucosa,unclean,contaminated,infected food,dry ,fried ,dehydrated food,food soaked in too much of water,food taken during intense emotional stress like grief,anger,worry ,fearcomplex etc,hunger and irregular food habits(psychosomatic).
The fundamental treatment for aamadosha is langhana or upavaasa.Fasting is till the energy(agni)is maintained.Dry sudation therapy is the second line of treatment by which obstruction,pain and swelling are removed.oleation therapy is contraindicated.Emesis and purgation are recommended to remove the toxic effects.Herbs that combat aama are
Ginger(zingiber officinale),castor(Ricus communis),guduchi(Tinospora cordifolia),bhallathaka(semicarpus anacardium),kuchala(strychnus nuxvomica)
A comparison of the modern views on the free radicals is appropriate at this juncture.They play a key role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases and in normal biological functions.Activated processes in drug toxixicity,aging,carcinogenesis,aetiology of ocular,neurologic and psychiatric diseases are some examples.Darwin observed that white ,blueeyed cats are usually deaf to sound vibrations.Pigmentary abnormality(colour or varna )and deafness(inability to hear sound)in audiology go hand in hand in diseases like waardenberg’s or usher’s syndrome.Association between radical generating metals like iron ,and copper and induction of fibrosis (interocular fibrosis in vitreous chalcosis,liver cirrhosis in wilson’s disease and hemachromatosis)was described.
Oxygen-dependent microbial system:Granulocytes and phagocytes of our immune system possesses a membrane NADPH oxidase ,which takes reducing equivalents from hexose monophosphate shunts and transfers these to molecular oxygen to produce superoxide and other active oxygen species.A further myeloperoxidase converts peroxide produced in this system to microbial products including hypochlorites.Production of activated products by this system plays a keyrole in the cellmediated immunity and microbiocidal activity.There is evidence for similar systems in T lymphocytes,platelets,mucous,an NADPH oxidase of noninflammatory cells may have a role in mediating cyclic nucleotide mechanism.Granulocytes,macrophages,T lymphocytes produce active species of oxygen as part of the microbiocidal/citocidal system.In turn,active oxygen species can modulate specific elements of the inflammatory response in vitro.Biological systems protect themselves against the damaging effects of activated species by several means.These include free radical scavengers and chain reaction terminators :enzymes such as SOD ,catalase and the glutathione peroxidase system and solid state defences Such as the melanins. central catecholaminergic neurons contain stable free radical, melanin. Specific dying-off of pigmented neurons in the substantia nigra is the apparent cause of Parkinson's. Dopaminergic neurons may be concerned in schizophrenia and in various movement disorders ( e.g., choreoathetosis in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome ). Noradrenergic neurons - in endogenous depression and Alzheimer dementia. The function, of melanin in neurons unknown ,may be related to antioxidant and semiconductor properties
Chemical antioxidants act by donation of an electron to a free radical converting it into a nonradical form.The anuishta type of enegy involving the oxygen atom is the one with the vaayu.
The water particle (H2O)and the molecules of the H or the watercontent is important for our bioenergy field or the aura.It is the thousands and thousands of micromagnettes within it that gives us our aura and it is measurable best with imaging techniques.When we hear music and enjoy it our corticotemporal axis is activated and more of blood (and hence H)flow through it.This is mapped by sophisticated methods in neuroimaging.
Now,the functioning of the energy(agni),of the vayu(oxygen)and of the water(H ydrogen),aakasha(spacetime energy),and of prithwi(the elements gross)are fully explained in the ancient and the modern concepts and we can understand the aetiology and pathogenesis of many diseases with these concepts .
What we have learned in the field of modern medicine is actually our technological knowledge and measuring systems ,thanks to physics,astrophysics,and technological advances and they are used by the modern medical people .But ,a modern person can use these techniques and prove their thesis and scientific theories as well.Modern medicine use technology to explain their beliefs.Ayurveda can use it for proving their views,and as an interdisciplinary method.No one can say that technology can be used by a particular branch of knowledge or speciality.
What I feel is that the concept of aama is something which has deep meanings and implications.Some people think that aama is due to bhootha.This is a Sanskrit word which is wrongly interpreted in English as evil spirit.But what is it in Sanskrit and in Indian concept is important in realizing and explaining it as the most scientific theory.
· Bhootha in Sanskrit means two things
· 1.The elements as in the panchabhootha.When the 5 elements in our body(biological system)or in our environment(ecosystem)is polluted and the cyclic energy is obstructed by this process ,aama or disease occurs is the first explanation.
· 2.Bhootha also means the past life as in bhootha,varthamaana and bhaavi.If the past life of an individual(this birth as immeadiate /and previous births as remote)is bad,the consequences set in as to every action ,there should be an equal and opposite reaction.This is the karma theory of Indians.If one is a drug addict or an alcohol addict ,the consequences of the habits will manifest as disease later on.Similarly,a life of uncontrolled sexuality leads to certain types of aamaroga ,like AIDS. The question is not limited to understanding science alone but to be able to live accordingly.Aayurveda ,as a way of life is important because it tells us in an interdisciplinary and holistic way how to live a healthy life ,how to follow clean habits and live in harmony with the cosmos and the environment,keeping a mind free of raagadwesha and passions of greed,envy etc and to have a fruitful existence useful to the world and society.
In this context I would say that the concept of Raagachikitsa ,is also based on the same principles.Have a life free of passions and full of compassion to the entire creation is the message of valuebased education of ancient Indians.
Darsana and Sasthra
There are 6 darsanaas in India.The first is the chaarvaaka or lokayatha which is a naasthik one and says one can believe only those which one see directly.(direct perception alone is the pramaana for science).The others believe that the direct sensory perception alone is not enough and anumaana and aagama are also taken as scientific proofs(especially the nyaya schools of Bengal,assam and kerala)and this is the darsana of akshapaada and of Gouthama.
Anumaana are of 3 types.
1.poorvavath.(as observed before.)one has observed that if raincloud comes there will be rain .because of the previous experience one guess the presence of rain.If we follow only the sensory perception we can never predict a tsunami or a disease epidemic etc.so anumaana is important and thus the nyaya school refuted the lokayatha /charvaka view and thus the naasthik was converted to the aasthic /nyaya side.
2.Sheshavath.There is flood in a river.The inmference is either there is rain in the hills,or there is melting of a glazier or there must be a dam opened.Here also we don’t see the event with our eyes but we infer.
3.Saamaanyatho drishtam.When we see change in position of the planets ,we infer that it must be due to the fact that there is gathi(movement )to them.This is a general theory.All the 3 were accepted because the nyaya school gave adequate illustrations and argued their case logically.This method is used in all the other darsanaas and one can find this type of logical argument at its zenith in sankaraa’s commentaries.That is why all the other darsanaas were pushed to the background.Not that sankara was a autocrat who destroyed anything,he was a scientists who argued logically on his viewpoint and all others accepted his views because they were flawless (.If one can call this conversion,we can call it so. )Conversion on any other background(political,for money,power etc)cannot be called a free conversion by will.It is here that we have to consider the facts very critically.
The science of Pathology (which I follow ,)still uses the 5 steps which Nyaya school used.I will illustrate it thus:
Step 1:Prathigna .In this I state what I am going to prove,in front of a group of people who know the scientific language I speak(fellow doctors/pathologists).I just say that the diagnosis I have made is so and so.
2.Hethu:What are the reasons I have to prove my side/diagnosis.I have to be very thourough in my saubject and should have excellent communication skills to discuss this.
3.3.Udaaharanam:There are some lakshana(linga)for a disease and I should be able to state the relation between these and this comes from my previous experience with similar cases,(case studies)called swaanubhava and the references from others(paraanubhava)
The references are of 2 types.As you know even now in evidence based medicine and other modern sciences ,to be acceptable in a journal we have to cite the thought processes and experiences of other scientists .These may may be people who are still in the human memory with a specified time,space,specified book/journal etc called pourusheya(traceable to a thinker/reformer/scientist in timespace)or may be prehistoric people who have left their ideologies and thoughts for posterity ,but have disappeared from the memory of mankind and hence called apourusheya.(veda/scriptures/cave writings etc)and these are the precious things that we have to preserve for posterity without change.Whereas ,the scientific/logical thoughts and sciences are naturally changed with time and are dynamic(called smrithy )and in memory of man.For a proof ,these two types of references are used and since smrithy /science is dynamic and changes from time to time there is always scope for new discoveries and these has to be substantiated by every scientist.The sruthy(apourusheya)is to be kept for posterity as common heritage of mankind.
4.Upanaya is the 4th step.How I can apply the above said points into the specific case study of my patient(the present case)This is a discussion of the present case
5.Nethy nethy is a deduction/induction process or an exclusion diagnosis in which you exclude the other possibilities by negative findings
It is after these steps that we proceed to the final diagnosis or nirnaya(nigamana)and Akshapaada calls this thought process as Aanweekshiki (tharka/vaada)
Charaka is ver y specific about the two types of assemblies(parishads)and about the two types of discussions or conversations we make.I will briefly state his view thus.
The two types of sambhaasha (conversations)according to Charaka.
Sandhaaya sambhaasha
Vigrahyasambhaasha
Conversation with people who are learned in the particular subject,and are eager to know about the subject more.
Benefit of this:1.Increase of knowledge by 3 means.knowledge of things we have not known before,clearing of doubts,increasing the previous knowledge.
2.Lokakalyana.Benefit to the entire world and the human race.
Conversation with people who don’t know the subject and do not want to know at all.Such conversation is mere jalpa/vithanda.
Prayojana :nil.Just killing time .
Charaka asks to avoid such conversations and to conserve our bioenergy for better things.(this is one of the essential prerequisites of health)
The two types of assemblies(parishads)each consists of mithra(friend),sathru(enemy)and sannigda(neutral)
Agna(ignorant)
Vigna(learned)
The mithra among agna can be slowly and steadily lead to knowledge ,but not through gnaanamaarga .By bhakthymarga or karmamaarga.(This is probably a type of conversion)
The other two(sathru and neutral)among agna has to be ignored and do not waste time in talking to them.
The mithra among vigna are the real rasika,sahridaya ,sishya,etc and they are the real valuable friends and a man with intelligence will not loose a chance to have contacts with them(sadsanga).
The enemy among the vigna just try to win you over and they make mere jalpa just for that purpose,not for increasing knowledge or for lokakalyana.therefore do not have contacts with them.
The neutrals among vignaas have doubts to be cleared.It is the duty of the learned scientist to clear their doubts with logic and intelligence.These clearing of doubts form treatises on each subjects and are known as the commentaries or saasthragranthaas etc used by posterity.
Here,you can see a change in your sentence” Every religion originates as an ideology, rather a Dharsana to uplift mankind both spiritually and materially, but in the course of time degenerates into an institutionalized hierarchy. This hierarchy then overpowers the ideology. Religion then becomes a tool of the hierarchy and the clergy. Religion looses its essence and becomes an institution wielding enormous powers. “
According to Indian darsana and science of Charaka,every science originate in this way,as a darsana for lokakalyana(upliftment of society)for perfect physical,mental,intellectual and spiritual health but after sometime degenerates due to various reasons ,one of them being institutionalized hierarchy.These various reasons include increase in the number of agnaas(ignorant people)and the vignas who are selfish ,and the lack of genuinely interested unselfish people who are ready to do the saadhana for aquiring knowledge and to seek truth.(genuine scientists are less in kaliyuga).
Rather ,it would be correct in the Indian sense,that darsana is a perception only in the primary sense and it is science in the secondary sense.Only when a darsana is tested for a very long time ,Indians accepted it as a science.Long discussions and verifications (documented as treatises)can be sen before a darsana is accepted as a science by the assembly of learned people from Kashmir to Kerala.A scripture(A agama) is thus a darsana+saasthra,accepted by the learned parishads,verified over a long period of time by generations of people and for the sake of the god of society.(the world).
Without such a procedure no conversions can be possible.Individual preferences are what we call an opinion(in Sanskrit a matham which is translated as religion in English)and it can change ,since it is subjective to each person’s level of grasping and intelligence.But ,the values and the scientific methods accepted by generations of human beings (ancient and modern)makes what you really call as spirituality and in that realm whatever change is made has to come from prolonged discussions over the subject,by learned people ,and then verified by everyone and proven that it is for the good of society.Such a democratic conversion is good for society but it doesn’t happen som often because most of the change in opinion (religion)is for other reasons(other than ideology).
In spirituality of India there are two sides to the coin.(it should be there in spirituality of any country or of any individual since these are general things)
1.The logic and scientific methods of the darsanaas verified in the crucible of time by generations of scholars and documented as scriptures for future references.
2.The empathy or compassion originating in an individual mind which thinks about the world’s miseries and tries to find out a solution for alleviation of miseries and pain of the entire world(lokakalyana is a word originated in such a compassionate mind)
If there is only the first(logic )it is science or saasthra.If the second alone is there it becomes a dream or a mirage which we may not be able to put into practice.
But if we combine both,it is the real spirituality and Indians used this as a way of life.Hence,many of their scriptures does not even mention the name of the rishi who formulated a darsana or spiritual path.such selflessness is the hallmark of spirituality.This difference is there in spirituality and religion.The Indian culture and civilizations had this character ,until the period of the Gouthamabudha when there was the first attempt for institutionalization.
Spirituality is always within an individual consciousness.It can never be institutionalized.The personal qualities and charisma of a spiritual person attracts similarminded and learned people.and a sadsangha like that flourish as a gurukula and their ideas spread far and wide.When this is taken up by selfish groups of people to weild power over society ,religions form and they are actually political institutions(church was formed with this reason)and have nothing in common with the idea spread by the spiritual Guru (here ,Christ)To know Christ,one has to go deep into one’s own consciousness.Not into religious rites.For this the scriptures may help .But the best help comes from within your heart and from God’s grace.I just voiced the views of the Indian masters of darsana in brief.I think this is what every ideology will agree to,since human brain and its lateralisation has started during the prehistoric times and so far our brain structure and our hormones and our thinking prowess has not undergone any radical change.As a group human beings(homosapiens)are one race sharing the same characteristics of neuropsychoimmunology and nervous structures and gestalt neuronal assemblies.
For me,the best language which we can share with everyone in the world is musical language because music is universal and speaks the language of the heart and hence of compassion and everyone understands its universal language.That is why saamaveda and Raagachikitsa (music therapy)has healing effects on human species through neuropsychoimmunological effects.
Since I am at present involved with raagachikitsa,I find it a useful tool for generating a global awareness of peace and harmony,a new Mahaa advaitha for the present century.
Anumaana are of 3 types.
1.poorvavath.(as observed before.)one has observed that if raincloud comes there will be rain .because of the previous experience one guess the presence of rain.If we follow only the sensory perception we can never predict a tsunami or a disease epidemic etc.so anumaana is important and thus the nyaya school refuted the lokayatha /charvaka view and thus the naasthik was converted to the aasthic /nyaya side.
2.Sheshavath.There is flood in a river.The inmference is either there is rain in the hills,or there is melting of a glazier or there must be a dam opened.Here also we don’t see the event with our eyes but we infer.
3.Saamaanyatho drishtam.When we see change in position of the planets ,we infer that it must be due to the fact that there is gathi(movement )to them.This is a general theory.All the 3 were accepted because the nyaya school gave adequate illustrations and argued their case logically.This method is used in all the other darsanaas and one can find this type of logical argument at its zenith in sankaraa’s commentaries.That is why all the other darsanaas were pushed to the background.Not that sankara was a autocrat who destroyed anything,he was a scientists who argued logically on his viewpoint and all others accepted his views because they were flawless (.If one can call this conversion,we can call it so. )Conversion on any other background(political,for money,power etc)cannot be called a free conversion by will.It is here that we have to consider the facts very critically.
The science of Pathology (which I follow ,)still uses the 5 steps which Nyaya school used.I will illustrate it thus:
Step 1:Prathigna .In this I state what I am going to prove,in front of a group of people who know the scientific language I speak(fellow doctors/pathologists).I just say that the diagnosis I have made is so and so.
2.Hethu:What are the reasons I have to prove my side/diagnosis.I have to be very thourough in my saubject and should have excellent communication skills to discuss this.
3.3.Udaaharanam:There are some lakshana(linga)for a disease and I should be able to state the relation between these and this comes from my previous experience with similar cases,(case studies)called swaanubhava and the references from others(paraanubhava)
The references are of 2 types.As you know even now in evidence based medicine and other modern sciences ,to be acceptable in a journal we have to cite the thought processes and experiences of other scientists .These may may be people who are still in the human memory with a specified time,space,specified book/journal etc called pourusheya(traceable to a thinker/reformer/scientist in timespace)or may be prehistoric people who have left their ideologies and thoughts for posterity ,but have disappeared from the memory of mankind and hence called apourusheya.(veda/scriptures/cave writings etc)and these are the precious things that we have to preserve for posterity without change.Whereas ,the scientific/logical thoughts and sciences are naturally changed with time and are dynamic(called smrithy )and in memory of man.For a proof ,these two types of references are used and since smrithy /science is dynamic and changes from time to time there is always scope for new discoveries and these has to be substantiated by every scientist.The sruthy(apourusheya)is to be kept for posterity as common heritage of mankind.
4.Upanaya is the 4th step.How I can apply the above said points into the specific case study of my patient(the present case)This is a discussion of the present case
5.Nethy nethy is a deduction/induction process or an exclusion diagnosis in which you exclude the other possibilities by negative findings
It is after these steps that we proceed to the final diagnosis or nirnaya(nigamana)and Akshapaada calls this thought process as Aanweekshiki (tharka/vaada)
Charaka is ver y specific about the two types of assemblies(parishads)and about the two types of discussions or conversations we make.I will briefly state his view thus.
The two types of sambhaasha (conversations)according to Charaka.
Sandhaaya sambhaasha
Vigrahyasambhaasha
Conversation with people who are learned in the particular subject,and are eager to know about the subject more.
Benefit of this:1.Increase of knowledge by 3 means.knowledge of things we have not known before,clearing of doubts,increasing the previous knowledge.
2.Lokakalyana.Benefit to the entire world and the human race.
Conversation with people who don’t know the subject and do not want to know at all.Such conversation is mere jalpa/vithanda.
Prayojana :nil.Just killing time .
Charaka asks to avoid such conversations and to conserve our bioenergy for better things.(this is one of the essential prerequisites of health)
The two types of assemblies(parishads)each consists of mithra(friend),sathru(enemy)and sannigda(neutral)
Agna(ignorant)
Vigna(learned)
The mithra among agna can be slowly and steadily lead to knowledge ,but not through gnaanamaarga .By bhakthymarga or karmamaarga.(This is probably a type of conversion)
The other two(sathru and neutral)among agna has to be ignored and do not waste time in talking to them.
The mithra among vigna are the real rasika,sahridaya ,sishya,etc and they are the real valuable friends and a man with intelligence will not loose a chance to have contacts with them(sadsanga).
The enemy among the vigna just try to win you over and they make mere jalpa just for that purpose,not for increasing knowledge or for lokakalyana.therefore do not have contacts with them.
The neutrals among vignaas have doubts to be cleared.It is the duty of the learned scientist to clear their doubts with logic and intelligence.These clearing of doubts form treatises on each subjects and are known as the commentaries or saasthragranthaas etc used by posterity.
Here,you can see a change in your sentence” Every religion originates as an ideology, rather a Dharsana to uplift mankind both spiritually and materially, but in the course of time degenerates into an institutionalized hierarchy. This hierarchy then overpowers the ideology. Religion then becomes a tool of the hierarchy and the clergy. Religion looses its essence and becomes an institution wielding enormous powers. “
According to Indian darsana and science of Charaka,every science originate in this way,as a darsana for lokakalyana(upliftment of society)for perfect physical,mental,intellectual and spiritual health but after sometime degenerates due to various reasons ,one of them being institutionalized hierarchy.These various reasons include increase in the number of agnaas(ignorant people)and the vignas who are selfish ,and the lack of genuinely interested unselfish people who are ready to do the saadhana for aquiring knowledge and to seek truth.(genuine scientists are less in kaliyuga).
Rather ,it would be correct in the Indian sense,that darsana is a perception only in the primary sense and it is science in the secondary sense.Only when a darsana is tested for a very long time ,Indians accepted it as a science.Long discussions and verifications (documented as treatises)can be sen before a darsana is accepted as a science by the assembly of learned people from Kashmir to Kerala.A scripture(A agama) is thus a darsana+saasthra,accepted by the learned parishads,verified over a long period of time by generations of people and for the sake of the god of society.(the world).
Without such a procedure no conversions can be possible.Individual preferences are what we call an opinion(in Sanskrit a matham which is translated as religion in English)and it can change ,since it is subjective to each person’s level of grasping and intelligence.But ,the values and the scientific methods accepted by generations of human beings (ancient and modern)makes what you really call as spirituality and in that realm whatever change is made has to come from prolonged discussions over the subject,by learned people ,and then verified by everyone and proven that it is for the good of society.Such a democratic conversion is good for society but it doesn’t happen som often because most of the change in opinion (religion)is for other reasons(other than ideology).
In spirituality of India there are two sides to the coin.(it should be there in spirituality of any country or of any individual since these are general things)
1.The logic and scientific methods of the darsanaas verified in the crucible of time by generations of scholars and documented as scriptures for future references.
2.The empathy or compassion originating in an individual mind which thinks about the world’s miseries and tries to find out a solution for alleviation of miseries and pain of the entire world(lokakalyana is a word originated in such a compassionate mind)
If there is only the first(logic )it is science or saasthra.If the second alone is there it becomes a dream or a mirage which we may not be able to put into practice.
But if we combine both,it is the real spirituality and Indians used this as a way of life.Hence,many of their scriptures does not even mention the name of the rishi who formulated a darsana or spiritual path.such selflessness is the hallmark of spirituality.This difference is there in spirituality and religion.The Indian culture and civilizations had this character ,until the period of the Gouthamabudha when there was the first attempt for institutionalization.
Spirituality is always within an individual consciousness.It can never be institutionalized.The personal qualities and charisma of a spiritual person attracts similarminded and learned people.and a sadsangha like that flourish as a gurukula and their ideas spread far and wide.When this is taken up by selfish groups of people to weild power over society ,religions form and they are actually political institutions(church was formed with this reason)and have nothing in common with the idea spread by the spiritual Guru (here ,Christ)To know Christ,one has to go deep into one’s own consciousness.Not into religious rites.For this the scriptures may help .But the best help comes from within your heart and from God’s grace.I just voiced the views of the Indian masters of darsana in brief.I think this is what every ideology will agree to,since human brain and its lateralisation has started during the prehistoric times and so far our brain structure and our hormones and our thinking prowess has not undergone any radical change.As a group human beings(homosapiens)are one race sharing the same characteristics of neuropsychoimmunology and nervous structures and gestalt neuronal assemblies.
For me,the best language which we can share with everyone in the world is musical language because music is universal and speaks the language of the heart and hence of compassion and everyone understands its universal language.That is why saamaveda and Raagachikitsa (music therapy)has healing effects on human species through neuropsychoimmunological effects.
Since I am at present involved with raagachikitsa,I find it a useful tool for generating a global awareness of peace and harmony,a new Mahaa advaitha for the present century.
PERSPECTIVES ON MIND(Medical science,philosophy,psychology)
ED V.M.N .NAMBOOTHIRI
BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE GYAN PUBLISHING HOUSE. NEW DELHI 110002 IN 2001.
(Two chapters contributed by Dr Suvarna Nalapat)
1.Introductory chapter. (21-30)
2.creation of mind chapter 10 pages ( 219-234)
1.Introduction.
Mind is the greatest enigma of all times.While studying this subject one is entitled to fall into the old rivalry and dilemma of universal truth that exists only in the human mind ,and nominalism which deny the very existence of universalism at all .Which is truth?The scientific ,discovered by a process of knowing?The poetic created by a process of making?Are they different or two sides of the same coin?Where does the correspondence theories of scientific truth and the coherence theories of poetic truth merge?Science delimits ,documents and define everything .Coherence theory is intuitive perception of truth where documented evidence is replaced by selfevidence or experience.Can we ever distinguish or prove the truth in the following possibilities?
1.The universe is finite and thus admits a finite complete description as classical science do.
2.The universe is infinite and cannot be completely described by some finite sets of facts as in the theory of relativistic astrophysics.
3.The universe is infinite and cannot be completely deducted by any finite sets of facts as the unified theories of modern science and spiritualistic advaitha philosophy holds .The answer is not always a scientifically proved fact but an intuitionaly perceived reality.Truth discovered by scientific enquiry and intuitional perception merge imperceptibly ,as in the case of Kekule,Poincare,and Einstein.So what is mind?Scientifically proven and welldocumented delimited matter(phenomenon)or intuitionally conceived ,experimented unlimited and not wellunderstood?
This book discusses the different aspects of the mind in the following articles written by brilliant scientists in their own fields.It is desired thus ,that it evokes wide readership and thoughtprovoking discussion and healthy criticism ,so that the infinite possibilities of the human mind are explored to the fullest extant.
Psychiatrist and the new sciences of the mind
Dr Philip John starts with a quote from Francis Crick ,clearly stating his stand that mind is no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells in the brain.His intention is to lead his speciality back to neurosciences,though it had originated in theology and philosophy.He wants to wean it from the mother and entrust it to the fostermother.Mind being matter ,his community (doctors)is trying to treat patients on a physical model for psychiatric illness,and therefore is ill at ease with the nonmedical voluntary agencies who are concerned with mental health of clients (instead of mental illnesss of patients.).Yet,he himself uses the term mental health (from entering the field of mental health-page 3 of the typewritten manuscript).In his eyes psychiatrists can never be equivalent to psychologists ,however much the modern democratic world and the theologians and philosophers talk about equality ,because medical knowledge (and ofcourse its degrees and postgraduate degrees)is a powerful weapon in the hands of the modern India ,with which he treats the ignorant “laymen”.Since mind for the medical man is only a nerve cell which twitches and turns with an electrical stimulus ,we cannot expect anything more from a deterministic standpoint like that.But there is something very commendable in this article and that is the criticism of the columnists who regularly write on extramarital relations and make psychiatry appear as something that deals with either love affairs or extramarital sex or at the other extreme end dealing with ranting raving lunatics,.
According to the author,the mind is the creation of the brain and the total personal experience of the various functions of the brain and psychiatry being a neural science ,studies mutually interacting systems like mind/brain,nature/nurture.Is brain the creation of the mind or viceversa is a philosophical question taken up by science.Something like a hen and egg problem.Or a wave and particle problem.If experiences influence biology and biology inflences experience ,and psychiatist as a doctor is studying the Biology,Biochemistry and Pathology of the brain which influence the experience of the organism which in turn influence the biology .That means they are a mutually interactive pair or system and there need not be any illwill or rivalry between them.
The best part of this is the exhaustive genetic,molecular level cell changes and the structural /functioning imaging techniques used in modern medicine by which “one can watch a thought”or reconstruct a memory in another person’s brain.That again is the crux of the point.A doctor can peep into another person’s personal feelings –his pain,pleasure,grief,every feeling-but cannot go deep into his own self with all his sophisticated equipment .No self –vision is possible and all the machines act as mere extension of our physical eye with which we observe what is outside of ourselves.
We have a sigh of relief when at last theology surfaces in this essay.After all it was the mother of psychiatry and a mother cannot be neglected by dutiful children.The author says,’”the creator has put in three communication systems in the human body” essential for life(neural,immune and autocrine)and that he is excited at the prospect of ancient philosophical questions receiving biological answers.
As everyone of us are looking or peeping through the only window available to us –our mind and the science it had learned –there is no wonder in a medical person being preoccupied with the biological window constructing a mind on the basis of the image of the body.But ignoring the other possible windows and reconstructing the body on the image of the mind and the soul is a sign of lack of flexibility and of deterministic classical standpoint which is being rejected in the modern relativistic world of science.Words one utter,or write reflect one’s mind and knowingly or unknowingly we write our own mind out for others to read its feelings.A thoughtful imaginative and philosophical person is a psychologist who can visualize the feelings of others and of himself ,even without costly spphisticated equipments.
MIND,MACHINE AND TIME
The myth of the consciousness-brain relationship is beautifully brought out by V.P.Joy by his opening question ,does the shape of the nail give shape to the coat?The materialistic reductionism ,Holism and the domain of their intersection ,the concept of the thermodynamic arrow of time ,leading to disorder and creative arrow arrow of time creating order and having the power of selforganisation through a network system ,the associative and reinforcement learning methods and cybernetics are mentioned in a concise yet comprehensive manner.This article conceives brain as special and mind as time entity ,the difference being only in direction ,exactly like the ancient seers like Yagnavalkya and Gargi and modern scientists like Einstein and Hawking.This makes the article interesting. One can conceive imaginery spaces separate from our own.But to conceive imaginery time (or real time)or mind different from our own is not that easy.We can only watch our mind and conceive it.To say that we have conceived it entirely we will have to transcend time and that is next to impossible for an ordinary mind,the faculties of which remain limited to one system of knowledge.The neural network cannot achieve the mysterious unification of the observer and the observed…a mirror reflecting a mirror reflecting a mirror…..Remember that was what Sankara said when he spoke of the entire universe reflected in the mirror of your mind ad infinitum.And this is what Joshua Royce meant when he said Mental image of one’s own mind must be infinite.I am reminded of the Schroder-Bernstein law where ,S is equal to T .It is therefore impossible to describe any one thing exhaustively without mentioning everything as well.
While describing a torroidal spacetime continuum in the mind of the seer ,the mind of the seer is not the usual 4-dimensional mind.It passes beyond the dimensions as described by the ancient astronomers Gargya,Vasishta etc and about this a modern professor of Mathematics (Rudy Rucker –Ralford women’s college,Virginia –“Infinity and the mind”page 23)remarks:”A number of duoverses drift in a 5-D universe….continue indefinitely …..one is reminded of those eastern descriptions of the world as a disc resting on the back of elephants ,who stands on a turtle,who stands on a turtle,stands on a turtle,who stands on a turtle,stands on a turtle>>>>”ad infinitum.
Remember,if you reverse a turtle you get a torus and that on the shell of a turtle divided into 9 (loshu of the Chinese)there is the secret code of the Indian universe.The infinite mindscape can only guess the true infinitythrough rational thought and mysticism (rational mysticism),as Sankara and other great seers did,but can never grasp it in entirety.
TOWARDS A PHYSICAL BASIS OF MIND
Dr Babu Joseph starts with the mind –body dichotomy of Descartes and proceeds to a comparison of the ancient Indian view.He differentiates between consciousness and awareness and includes formation of thoughts and arousal of emotions even in the absence of external stimuli to the realm of consciousness and proceeds to expound Baar’s philosophical theory of consciousness,Kock’s and Eneck’s mapping cortical oscillation /experience,Libet’s and Farah’s views on threshold and high/low quality representations of consciousness.
The article analyses consciousness at physical level,both microscopic and macroscopic.At the submicroscopic levels wave functions ,schrodinger equations ,quantum jumps ,Penrosean views expressed in Emperor’s new mind and shadows of mind and some of its critics are mentioned.At the macroscopic level ,brain as a nonlinear dynamic system as evidenced by ECG signals ,the mathematical analysis of signals ,nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and EPR paradoxes are presented.The role of neurotransmitters also is mentioned.The author explains Mc Culloch’s sequential logical operations and Hebb’s neural network learnings.Essentially the survey attempts to provide a physical basis of mind as a manifestation of matter and is not a holistic approach.Though his window is different from that of Dr Philip John ,it almost resembles it ,being purely physical.
The theory behind the article is that QM and classical stochastic ideas are compromises aimed at understanding the origin of abstract ideas from the ensemble of particular processes.The rationale behind this composite approach is that microlevel phenomena are QM,consciousness (physical level of mind)manifested as classical level.
INDIAN SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY AND AYURVEDA
There are two articles based entirely on the Indian systems of knowledge.One is on the concept of the mind in the Indian systems of philosophy and the other in Ayurveda.From the philosophical point of view C.V.Vasudeva bhattathiri explains the nature of mind in the six philosophical systems of India ,compares the different views.From the purely material ,to the purely spiritual there are several gradations and mixtures possible for the mind in various Indian systems and the debates by these different systems on the nature of things on a purely rational and scientific basis makes India a land of scientific enquiry and flexible democratic ideologies.The language of the Indian sciences is not English.It is either Sanskrit or prakrit .In a book meant for readers of the English language ,a person writing on the Indian sciences has to waste considerable spacetime for explanation of terms which makes such articles more of an explanatory note rather than a scientific paper.This has happened to both the articles mentioned and yet they stand out as a different approach to the problem of the mind. I myself have many a time experienced the impossibility of presenting a paper on Indian sciences to an audience who are not familiar with the Sanskrit words and their correct meanings and connotations.To an Englishspeaking reader/listener one has to first explain terms and only then attempt to compare the modern terms and this usually means that one has to write a treatise on the subject.This dilemma has landed me up in writing volumes on the Upanishads ,Brahmasoothra,yoga,thanthra,jyothisha and other systems of knowledge.Hence I feel that these two modest articles on the Indian systems have tried their best as a preliminary introduction to the subject.
HUMAN MIND-THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL ASPECT.
Starting with the seat of memory and emotional changes and the loss of continence by brain damage.Dr Roy J.Mathew proceeds to drive ,motivation,and goal directed behaviour,associated with prefrontal lobe and pass on to the special mystical spiritual aspect ,the LANGUAGE.The eternal truth,the Vak of the Nyaya ,viseshika,the Sphota of Bharthruhari.According tohim,Mandanamishra accepts the sphota and Sankara does not.Asked by the opponents whether you reject the sphota or not,Sankara had actually said that I do not reject it,but I am experiencing it all the time,within.In his Bhashya to Brahmasoothra,on which at present I am writing a commentary.The receptive,expressive, elements and their complementarity ,communication through signs ,Broca’s Wernicke’s areas associated with speech and processing of language by brain using three interacting sets of mechanisms are explained in the rational,scientific manner.I feel that this is one of the key articles in the book ,since it tries to comprehend both the dominent and nondominent ,both modern and ancient knowledge systems in a scientific manner ,rationally and holistically.
MIND IN INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOLOGY.
One of the most important essays is that of V.George Mathew ,on integrative psychology.This branch of science as the name implies,indicate an integration of modern psychology with parapsychology and psychology of consciousness.This humanistically oriented system of integrating the most modern and the ancient systems is not a new development in the history of human thought.This has existed in every age and every country,where the present and the past thought processes were examined and analysed and assimilated by a thoughtful mind.This was what was done by Vyasa and sankara in India when they compiled the Vedas and the commentaries on the Prasthaanathraya.In recent times the Theosophical society of India under the able guidance of Madame Blavatsky had given a new impetus to this integration.Most of the western thinkers and scientists were influenced by the theosophical society and the rational and scientific way in which it integrated the psychology and parapsychology .My own great granduncle Nalapat Narayanamenon ,was a member of the theosophical society and from his philosophical and scientific integrative approach to the science and arts ,I have gained a lot.Studying the mind in different planes and conceiving it as a band of vibrations ,theosophists brought it from the realm of quantum electrodynamics to that of quantum chromodynamics.From light to colours and sound.From a quantum of light particle to the sound waves with different colours or varna.This was the ancient Thanthra practice of giving different wavelengths and colours to each letter of the alphabet.Sir John woodroffe had beautifully described this in his Garland of letters.Sankara had talked about this in his commentaries to Upanishads and Abhinavaguptha had explained it in terms of dwani and rasa.George Mathew gives us this property of the mind when he conceives the mind as a band of vibrations.His views on Aparokshagnaana and the poornachakra are really commendable,both being vedanthic and thanthric respectively.The mandala of the poornachakra are known to Budhists and to Sreechakra upaasakaas for time immemorial.
The last chapter “creation of mind”is contributed by Dr Suvarna Nalapat and Dr V.M.N Namboothiri writes about the chapter as follows:
CREATION OF MIND.
Dr Suvarna Nalapat examines the subject from two universal experiences-death and timespace and explains the three dimensional view of Einstein’s mind along with special features in his brain which is examined by a group of scientists.She further proceeds to study the question of ‘WHERE ,WHEN AND HOW IS MIND BORN”- the organic body,the inorganic universe,and beyond it as given in Swethaswethara Upanishad and astrophysics.She also discusses the experience of God and Atma vis-à-vis the unseen and unknown aspects of belief where she brings out the example of Einstein’s belief in intuition,faith and conviction in science subjects .Furthermore she discusses the importance of Ayurveda in controlling the mind through niyama and yama.A study of subcellular level of communication or vak and the existence of network of energy in universe is also included in her article.
2 CREATION OF THE MIND.
Life is made up of two universal experiences-one death and the other timespace.Those who are interested only in sex can start with sex as a universal experience.Whichever one takes,one must remember that the universality is always relative.The physical experience of sex or death may seem the same but mentally it is not the same for all.The sacred bond between a Brahmin boy and girl as in the Tamil tradition ,or that of the Abraham-David dynastic traditions of the bloodline of the grail may be similar both mentally and physically but not for those who see it only as a pleasure principle.Even the experience of death is different in people following different traditions and value systems .For a medical person ,theoretically it is cardiac arrest or cessation of cellular functions.For a phycisist /advaithin dissociation of energy (atma)from mater(anathma).The mental understanding of death in different people differ.The bardo state of the Budhist tradition is comprehendable by one familiar with the Gita and the Katha Upanishad,but not by a medical doctor.
This is so with spacetime.Many of the members of the human race ,even those with superior mental qualities and intelligence ,are not able to comprehend the spacetime of Einstein’s brain.Iam aware of the fact that three-dimensional view of Einstein’s mind is attributed to some special features in his brain by a group of scientists.But for this only a limited number of brains were examined for comparison and we cannot rule out the following possibilities:
1.A similar brain structure may be identified in an old astronomer/astrologer of the present day India who is not famous as Einstein but still have a threedimensional understanding of the universe.This is also possible in other parts of the world ,in faraway Polynesian tribes ,chaldean Polynesian races.If a collective consciousness can exist,the possibility of it manifesting as an Einstein brain also exists.The energy manifesting itself as matter can take up its form at will .If it wants to experience time-space continuum it will assume the form the shape most suitable for its experience .Just like the body of a man with musical intelligence(naadayoga)is different from ours,the brain of a mathematical/special genius has to be different.But the difference in bodystructure need not be the cause for the difference in genius and viceversa.
2.Suppose we find the same change in a group of persons with low IQ and mental faculties after examining more number of brains ,would we then brand Einstein as mentally retarded or the mentally deficient one as a genius like Einstein even though there are no signs of a genius in the poor man’s life or actions.We must remember that science is not deterministic anymore.
WHERE,WHEN AND HOW IS MIND BORN?
Swethaswethara Upanishad(sl 6.sec 2)says that when the ocean of energy is churned ,when the praana is controlled ,and when the sweet bliss of Ananda is experienced(as soma)the mind or manas is born.That means the mind is born within the organic body as well as outside of it within the inorganic universe and beyond it.In an organic body,mind is born when one churns the intellect with rational thought and analysis(chith),controls praana (senses /indriya)with concentrated yoga(the state of sath or truth)and when one experience ecstacy of ananda in creativity(poetry,music other aesthetic arts).In the inorganic universe and beyond it is born as an eternal energy concentrated into a universal manifested powerpoint or the Bindu in an ocean of unmanifested energy field(wave particle or tharanga,kana)and from this the entire sarga(creation)and ananda(bliss)including that of the organic body emanate.This means that the organic mind is in direct continuity with the inorganic universe and beyond or in religious vocabulary,man is in direct continuity with God.(jeeva with paramathma).The vyasthy is only a particle in the vast ocean of samashty mind.The individual mind is only a wave particle in the oceanfield of universal mind,tossing in it ,floating on it,experiencing the different moods of it,yet mostly unaware of its unity with it.This unawareness is because of the lack of a sixdimensional(shadchakra)view of the entire creation.The individual mind sometimes understands itself as a mere speck or point ,at other times as a line or wave or a series of points ,in a line of descent which one calls a bloodline or family tree or vansavriksha.Beyond that ,the threedimensional view of truth is very rare ,not to mention the six dimensions.Therefore when a person like Einstein passes beyond the twodimensional awareness we are surprised at his genius.
According to the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad,hunger is death.In the beginning the universe was encompassed by death/hunger/pralaya.Death wished.Let me have a mind.From that thought ,or will ,mind was born.The universal energy existing alone wanted to see,experience and enjoy itself,so that it assumed the shape of mind and the mind to enjoy the fruits of its activity assumed the shape of the body and in this way ,the seen matter was born out of the unseen energy.From what the astrophysics of the modern times say about energy and matter this explanation of the ancients is not different.
Narayana Upanishad gives a physical basis for mind.There is a swarat and a virat(individual and collective)consciousness.These exist in the ghatakasa and chidaakasa (within a pot and outside of it)but are continuous and the same.Sankara uses these terms often and so too Einstein when he says that the boxspace and the outer space are continuous and the same.This brings us to the ageold seen-unseen conflict.
Have you ever seen or experienced God?Have you ever seen or experienced Atma?Why should you believe in the unseen and unknown while you can be satisfied with the known and the seen,the physical body and the world .This is the vainaasika logic of India.Aham or self as different from the seen body /brain is only an imaginery unseen thing never experienced by anybody and hence one need not bother about its existence.But have a science student ever seen an atom or an electron with the naked eye.Still they learn a lot about it and still do believe in it because others with better equipped minds have said about its existence.In a conversation with another scientist ,when he asked how could you grasp the vibration of an inertial coordinate system Einstein replied:”It is merely a useful fiction and I have no idea how to realize it.If I could only get far away from all material bodies and free myself all external influences ,my coordinate system would then be inertial.”(Evolution of Physics).That was exactly what the Advaithin seeking Brahma or absolute reality have been saying for yugaas or kalpaas.Einstein said while delivering a lecture in Japan “I was sitting in a chair in a patent office at Berne when all of a sudden a thought occurred to me.If a person falls freely he will not feel his own weight.I was startled.This simple thought made a deep impression on me.It impelled me towards a theory of gravitation.It was apure intuition.While sir Frank Dyson ,the English astronomer was experimenting to prove the Einstein theory ,during the 1919 solar eclipse on May 29 ,Einstein wrote to his friends:”I do not doubt the correctness of the whole system(general theory of relativity)whether the observation of the solar eclipse fails or not.”
That is faith and conviction of one’s faith,with or without proof.This is so in all science subjects.Then why not in philosophy?Parabrahma according toSankara is absolute energy state without time ,space,movement or cause and is linked to an ocean having the symbol zero to represent it.But he asserts that the symbol zero does not mean nothingness but a state of having no dualities whatsoever and this is manifested as the mind of a sarvagna(all knowing person-a rishi)during samaadhi ,and when there is the slightest vibration in it as the form of a thought ,mind is born as a bindu and the symbol is zero with a dot in center,representing antharyamipurusha.In an ordinary human being who has not bothered to concentrate into a samadhi state ,or tried to concentrate and think upon a specific subject ,the Brahma still exists but in the form of a stormy ocean where there is no clarity of thought or of memory ,where everything is in a chaotic jumbled up existence so that there is no awareness of the unity of existence.This represents the samsaarijeevan.Modern psychiatrists are concerned with the problems of these samsaarijeeva alone.The mind and intellect of creative artists and scientists ,of yogis and rishis, are the concern of mystics and philosophers.The importance of ayurveda and other Indian systems lie in the fact that they had over the years evolved a system of yama and niyama to control the mind as a daily routine basis and to keep it calm and diseasefree.Unfortunately this system was considered as part of a religious tradition by the English educated postcolonial population of India and neglected.
Language is a way of communication.The subtle communication at physical level taking place from cell to cell also is a language ,or Vak and according to the ancients ,vak is agni or energy .At the subcellular level communication occurs as endocrine ,paracrine ,neuroendocrine and synaptic levels between two cells and as autocrine in the cell itself.The first four are communication between two cells and needs a cell outside of itself ,whereas the last ,the autocrine,communication is from a cell to itself and needs only a single cell.A cell can control itself and the neighbouring cells and the entire mandala or field or environment in which it is situated(the human body itself)by these communications.For the subtle communication ,gross word is not needed and the mind of a being is not situated only in its brain and nervous system but in the entire body and in continuation with the outer field in which it is situated.Simply because we cannot see this network with our gross eyes we do not negate the existence of the network of energy in the universe.
There are energy particles in our body called the mitochondria.When food is metabolized to carbon dioxide and water ,because of the metabolic energy ,H atoms in the water are liberated in the mitochondria.Some of these are converted to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)and others to FAD (flavine adenine dinucleotide).The electrons of the remaining H atoms pass through mitochondrial respiratory enzymes ,combine with protons,converted to hydrogen,to combine with oxygen and form water.The energy obtained from this transfer of electrons along a series of electron carriers is finally utilized to generate ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.There is a subtle space within the inner and outer coverings of the mitochondria where the enzymes and the protons are stored.Pumping of electron from the internal space to the outer space happens within the mitochondrium.According to the chemiosmotic theory of Mitchell this pumping is the first stage of the electron transfer.The proton gradient so formed represent the energy.The cells need this energy for communication.This process and the structure of the mitochondria in man and microbes are the same.That means the biological energy at the subtle level is the same in man and the tiniest creature.And it is the same as in the inorganic world of protons and electrons.We should also remember that the subtle energy which is free and universal in everything known as communication (vak)occur in the mitochondria and is therefore always feminine.
Chandogya says that mind is annamaya,praana is jhalamaya,vaak is thejomaya.Annam or food is Krishna or black and associated with earth.All things contain carbon,including CH,Fats,proteins constituting the physical body belong to this and it is not restricted to brain alone.Thejas in the world shines ,and is oorja(energy)both in the physical world and beyond belonging to vak and these two are reconvertable and recycling through the intermediary of praana or jhala.There is annam ,jhalam and agni in every object ,and the only difference is in the proportion of each which gives rise to different form and structure to each.This saying of Sankara is now proved by science.Only when annamayam ,the earth,and the jhaladevatha which is represented by the moon,joins with the agni(sun)and the praanaajhala in the atmosphere ,does creation occur.Only then does thought,sight,and hearing occur.Says the Acharya,which is very scientific.According to the principle of a light object rising above the heavy object ,he says that the subtlest annam in the physical world is manas or mind,the subtlest jhalum is vayu ,and the subtlest thejus is vak or communication.Just like protons and electrons emit from a burning star ,hot and pure words emit from a burning pure mind.The entire spacetime is filled with these electrons wave particles.The vak emitted from the minds of men and women of earth spread upwards since they are the subtlest and the lightest.
At this juncture we will just compare a few grosser terms which both sankara and the modern science think as arising from one another.
SANKARA
MODERN SCIENCE
Annam
food
Jalam & jadaraagni
H2O,HCL,+ENZYMES
Rasam
Digested food
Raktham
blood
Maamsa&medas
Connective tissue&epithelium
asthi
bone
majja
marrow
Bheeja+sonitha
Testis(sperm)+ovary(ovum)
praja
Zygote(child)
When we look at the microscopic picture of the germ cells of the testis and ovary resemble more of the reticuloendothelial /lymphoid cells especially in case of germ cell tumours and one wonders who is right and who is wrong.Creation starts in the philosopher’s mind as energy or invisible absolute truth and ends with visible gross matter and body with its nervous system.The astronomer agrees with this.The sequence is somewhat like this:
THE CYCLE OF CREATION
Energy(brahma)
Absolute truth ,invisible
Universe(prakrithy)
Solar system
Light/sound waves
Subatomic particle(subtlest)
Subatomic particle(grosser)
Atom
Elements
Proteins.CH,Fats
Genes
Chromosomes
Cells,tissue
Organs
Physical body with welldeveloped nervous system
Relative truth(visible)
Sun,the visible energy source of earth/planets
Seen/heard thanmaathra(quantum dynamics)
Paraparamaanu ,paramaanu
Anu
Moolakam
Annam
Janithakam
Kosa,kala
Anga
Sareera,with angopaanga and kundalini sakthy.
The subtle energy becomes grosser and grosser with each step.Now reverse the order of events ,we get the view of medical science starting from gross physical matter.The ancient medical texts however do not stop short at the bodymind level ,but explores the possibilities beyond that in a holistic approach.
Modern medicine considers the physical body and the brain as the seat and creator of the mind ,but the ancients and the astrophysicists know that it is the oorja that condenses to form the sookshma or subtle mind energy and this in turn condense to form the gross body and the brain and ultimately ,in essence there is nothing but oorja(energy).Matter or gross visible universe and body are nothing but invisible energy .Mind is the intermediary stage ,between the two states of energy.It is only in poorvamimamsa,among the six philosophical systems of India ,we find the question of the problem of dharma or ethics.In all others the question of truth and its manifestations are rationally explored through different windows.Of these vaisheshika is the ancient quantum dynamics and nyaaya the logical,rational scientific approach,jyothisha the classical and relativistic astrophysics,ayurveda the science of the body and its health,samkhya reduces the question of two different manifestations of the truth ,the visible and invisible energy,purusha and prakrithy.This duality is even reduced by the utharamimamsa,where the grand unification of energy into brahma is expounded.In its sheme of things there is nothing but energy.
Once we realize that the energy (Brahman)is within us as a chaaya or shadow seen in a mirror.Or the sun seen in a clear lake ,and our annamaya mind is active only when it joins agni from the sun and jhala from the atmosphere and when these three separate ,they enter their own state of energy itself ,we naturally wants to know our own nature or the brahmi state.
How can one see or experience that state ,if one is not a rishi or a person with exceptional concentrating powers?When is the mind free from all sensory objects and is almost like absolute energy ,or God?For an ordinary mortal who is not a rishi or yogy it is the state of sleep,and therefore the upanishadic rishi analyses that condition.
Consider the figure. Above.1 &2 are the two states of mind (jagrat and sleep states)as two mirrors reflecting Relative truths . When one sleeps the physical or annamaya mirror of mind is suddenly withdrawn.Then there will be no sensory stimulations or objects and the early state of energy alone remains.There are no names ,forms or colours of the waking(jagrat)state .During dreamsleep ,or the REM sleep there is a mixture of memories of the jagrat and those of the pure sushupthy state and could be predictive or signs and communications from a higher realm or our self.This paradevatha is called sadakhya by sankarabhashyam and says that without the sadakhya or light ray ,no external or internal eye can see or communicate anything.When modern psychology after Freud started dream analysis based on the dreams of patients with chaotic minds ,the ancient African and Indian tribes analysed the dreams of rishis and scholars with calm concentrated minds.Jung was able to lead dream analysis in this direction and he discovered the virat in every swarat as a collective memory of the past.He also noticed the dream discovery of the benzene ring by kekule.The astronomic synchronicity was studied in detail and Volf Gang Pauli and Penrose recognized the importance of a mathematical theorem being grasped in sleep visions.
Julian Robert Poppenheimer said:The general notions about human understanding ..which are illustrated by discoveries in atomic physics are not in the nature of things wholly unfamiliar,wholly unheard off or new.Even in our own culture they have a history and in Buddhist and Hindu thought a more considerable and central place .What we shall find is an exemplification ,an encouragement and a refinement of old wisdom.
In mysticism and the new physics Mitchell Talbot calles Thanthra ,an ancient quantum physics theory.Naada,Bindu and Naadabindu are vibrations ,wave and particle of the quantum astrophysics.The electrical lines of force or sakthy converges and concentrate upon a region of space ,crisscross,but also sink into the fabric of space ,like threads pulled through a funnel or drawn a bathtub drain.A classical geometrodynamical elective charge is a set of lines trapped in a prologuy of space..The thanthraspace permeated by lines of force(sakthy)is likened to the hairs of Shiva who has the spacetime as his hair(vyomakesa),an equivalent is kesava,for the vaishnavathanthra.
I have been studying the development of consciousness in the oldest and ancient cavemen ,the development of multiple intelligences in various spheres of activity including languageand literature,music,arts,sciences and philosophy in various countries and civilizations from time immemorial,To the most modern .I could not find any controversies between art and science ,intuition and rational thought ,ancient and modern.The human mind is the most beautiful and the most unique phenomenon which defy all explanations and yet experienced by one who contemplates on its potentialities ,which are infinite .It is able to grasp infinity ,because it is infinite in nature and that is probably the ultimate one can reach.There is a grand unification (mahaadvaitha)of the natural forces ,both in the ancient and the modern mind.I would like to summarise it thus:
Step1:.Electricity(vaidyuthi)+magnetism(kaantha)+light(prakaasam)
Faraday
Maxwell
Quantum (qed,qcd)
Step2:Electromagnetism.weak forces(1900)W,Z particles(rubbia)
Weinberg salam (1970)
Unification of EM and weak forces
Step3:planetary motion(saayana)+space+time+Weinberg salam +strong forces,theory of relativity
Varahamihira
Newton
Einstein
unification
Step4:Bioenergy(jeeva),neurophysiology(vaayu,praana and jeeva of the 5 elements+theory of relativity (laws of the brahmaanda(universes)and the nirayana(inertia)+unification of natural forces
Mahaa
Advaitha
Superunification.
It is like this the great vedanthins established the unity of the jeevathma and paramathma.That is the science of their language is good as or even better than the modern English language in explaining the universe and the place of the human mind in it.Mind or the biological energy is equivalent to Brahma ,but experienced as such only by a selected few ,they argued.This is true ,since not every one of us can become an Einstein or Sankara.
Quantum ,relativity and neurophysiology ,A comparison:
Quantum
relativity
neurophysiology
Light(prakaasa)
Zero(Brahma)
Satya(truth)
E
Gathi(movement)
Number 1+jagrat(awakened state)
Mithya(relative)
C2
Bioenergy(jeeva)
1+…n= 1(successor)jeeva
sathya(truth)experienced
M
By intuition,logic,mathematical induction and observation of the universe and its movable and immovable matter,biological behaviour ,dreams and symbols used by the most active and intelligent mind in the multiple spheres of activity ,can one reach the grand unification and the infinite possibilities of the human mind.One cannot boast of having fathomed the depths of the mind,merely by knowing one branch of science ,or one branch of art alone.In her book,Infinity and the mind,Rudy Rucker has tried to assess the infinite human mind ,the alef of the Hebrew,the alfa of the Greek,the leminiscate of the west and the ashtadalapadma of the east.To grasp infinity and the absolute ,a finite object is not suitable.Mind ,though unable to explain it fully ,is capable of grasping and experiencing it,which Sankara calls swaanubhoothy.He says one can try to explain it in rational and scientific logic but this viveka alone is not the experience ,that is unexplained and unutterable.Rudy Rucker also says that one can grasp infinity with two methods:the rational or scientific ,attempted by scientists all over the world,and the mystical and artistic,aesthetic ,attempted by artists,musicians,poets,philosophers,seers,spiritual people.One cannot say that one method is superior to the other categorically,unless one has the experience and proficiency in both methods.
I would like to end this note with a quotation from Rudy Rucker:”There are two distinct forms of consciousness,finite and infinite.As long as I identify with my body and my rational mind,I cannot conceive of my W°.But it is not hard to envision my W°.if I identify with the absolute.This does not lead to the usual type of theoretical regress because someone who has merged with the absolute is in a position to ‘ name’ each and every natural number at once”.
Being a mathematician she speaks of natural numbers.Being an Advaithin ,I would substitute each and every natural emotion and thought.That probably sums up the alpha and omega of all extrasensory perceptions(ESP)as well.
ED V.M.N .NAMBOOTHIRI
BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE GYAN PUBLISHING HOUSE. NEW DELHI 110002 IN 2001.
(Two chapters contributed by Dr Suvarna Nalapat)
1.Introductory chapter. (21-30)
2.creation of mind chapter 10 pages ( 219-234)
1.Introduction.
Mind is the greatest enigma of all times.While studying this subject one is entitled to fall into the old rivalry and dilemma of universal truth that exists only in the human mind ,and nominalism which deny the very existence of universalism at all .Which is truth?The scientific ,discovered by a process of knowing?The poetic created by a process of making?Are they different or two sides of the same coin?Where does the correspondence theories of scientific truth and the coherence theories of poetic truth merge?Science delimits ,documents and define everything .Coherence theory is intuitive perception of truth where documented evidence is replaced by selfevidence or experience.Can we ever distinguish or prove the truth in the following possibilities?
1.The universe is finite and thus admits a finite complete description as classical science do.
2.The universe is infinite and cannot be completely described by some finite sets of facts as in the theory of relativistic astrophysics.
3.The universe is infinite and cannot be completely deducted by any finite sets of facts as the unified theories of modern science and spiritualistic advaitha philosophy holds .The answer is not always a scientifically proved fact but an intuitionaly perceived reality.Truth discovered by scientific enquiry and intuitional perception merge imperceptibly ,as in the case of Kekule,Poincare,and Einstein.So what is mind?Scientifically proven and welldocumented delimited matter(phenomenon)or intuitionally conceived ,experimented unlimited and not wellunderstood?
This book discusses the different aspects of the mind in the following articles written by brilliant scientists in their own fields.It is desired thus ,that it evokes wide readership and thoughtprovoking discussion and healthy criticism ,so that the infinite possibilities of the human mind are explored to the fullest extant.
Psychiatrist and the new sciences of the mind
Dr Philip John starts with a quote from Francis Crick ,clearly stating his stand that mind is no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells in the brain.His intention is to lead his speciality back to neurosciences,though it had originated in theology and philosophy.He wants to wean it from the mother and entrust it to the fostermother.Mind being matter ,his community (doctors)is trying to treat patients on a physical model for psychiatric illness,and therefore is ill at ease with the nonmedical voluntary agencies who are concerned with mental health of clients (instead of mental illnesss of patients.).Yet,he himself uses the term mental health (from entering the field of mental health-page 3 of the typewritten manuscript).In his eyes psychiatrists can never be equivalent to psychologists ,however much the modern democratic world and the theologians and philosophers talk about equality ,because medical knowledge (and ofcourse its degrees and postgraduate degrees)is a powerful weapon in the hands of the modern India ,with which he treats the ignorant “laymen”.Since mind for the medical man is only a nerve cell which twitches and turns with an electrical stimulus ,we cannot expect anything more from a deterministic standpoint like that.But there is something very commendable in this article and that is the criticism of the columnists who regularly write on extramarital relations and make psychiatry appear as something that deals with either love affairs or extramarital sex or at the other extreme end dealing with ranting raving lunatics,.
According to the author,the mind is the creation of the brain and the total personal experience of the various functions of the brain and psychiatry being a neural science ,studies mutually interacting systems like mind/brain,nature/nurture.Is brain the creation of the mind or viceversa is a philosophical question taken up by science.Something like a hen and egg problem.Or a wave and particle problem.If experiences influence biology and biology inflences experience ,and psychiatist as a doctor is studying the Biology,Biochemistry and Pathology of the brain which influence the experience of the organism which in turn influence the biology .That means they are a mutually interactive pair or system and there need not be any illwill or rivalry between them.
The best part of this is the exhaustive genetic,molecular level cell changes and the structural /functioning imaging techniques used in modern medicine by which “one can watch a thought”or reconstruct a memory in another person’s brain.That again is the crux of the point.A doctor can peep into another person’s personal feelings –his pain,pleasure,grief,every feeling-but cannot go deep into his own self with all his sophisticated equipment .No self –vision is possible and all the machines act as mere extension of our physical eye with which we observe what is outside of ourselves.
We have a sigh of relief when at last theology surfaces in this essay.After all it was the mother of psychiatry and a mother cannot be neglected by dutiful children.The author says,’”the creator has put in three communication systems in the human body” essential for life(neural,immune and autocrine)and that he is excited at the prospect of ancient philosophical questions receiving biological answers.
As everyone of us are looking or peeping through the only window available to us –our mind and the science it had learned –there is no wonder in a medical person being preoccupied with the biological window constructing a mind on the basis of the image of the body.But ignoring the other possible windows and reconstructing the body on the image of the mind and the soul is a sign of lack of flexibility and of deterministic classical standpoint which is being rejected in the modern relativistic world of science.Words one utter,or write reflect one’s mind and knowingly or unknowingly we write our own mind out for others to read its feelings.A thoughtful imaginative and philosophical person is a psychologist who can visualize the feelings of others and of himself ,even without costly spphisticated equipments.
MIND,MACHINE AND TIME
The myth of the consciousness-brain relationship is beautifully brought out by V.P.Joy by his opening question ,does the shape of the nail give shape to the coat?The materialistic reductionism ,Holism and the domain of their intersection ,the concept of the thermodynamic arrow of time ,leading to disorder and creative arrow arrow of time creating order and having the power of selforganisation through a network system ,the associative and reinforcement learning methods and cybernetics are mentioned in a concise yet comprehensive manner.This article conceives brain as special and mind as time entity ,the difference being only in direction ,exactly like the ancient seers like Yagnavalkya and Gargi and modern scientists like Einstein and Hawking.This makes the article interesting. One can conceive imaginery spaces separate from our own.But to conceive imaginery time (or real time)or mind different from our own is not that easy.We can only watch our mind and conceive it.To say that we have conceived it entirely we will have to transcend time and that is next to impossible for an ordinary mind,the faculties of which remain limited to one system of knowledge.The neural network cannot achieve the mysterious unification of the observer and the observed…a mirror reflecting a mirror reflecting a mirror…..Remember that was what Sankara said when he spoke of the entire universe reflected in the mirror of your mind ad infinitum.And this is what Joshua Royce meant when he said Mental image of one’s own mind must be infinite.I am reminded of the Schroder-Bernstein law where ,S is equal to T .It is therefore impossible to describe any one thing exhaustively without mentioning everything as well.
While describing a torroidal spacetime continuum in the mind of the seer ,the mind of the seer is not the usual 4-dimensional mind.It passes beyond the dimensions as described by the ancient astronomers Gargya,Vasishta etc and about this a modern professor of Mathematics (Rudy Rucker –Ralford women’s college,Virginia –“Infinity and the mind”page 23)remarks:”A number of duoverses drift in a 5-D universe….continue indefinitely …..one is reminded of those eastern descriptions of the world as a disc resting on the back of elephants ,who stands on a turtle,who stands on a turtle,stands on a turtle,who stands on a turtle,stands on a turtle>>>>”ad infinitum.
Remember,if you reverse a turtle you get a torus and that on the shell of a turtle divided into 9 (loshu of the Chinese)there is the secret code of the Indian universe.The infinite mindscape can only guess the true infinitythrough rational thought and mysticism (rational mysticism),as Sankara and other great seers did,but can never grasp it in entirety.
TOWARDS A PHYSICAL BASIS OF MIND
Dr Babu Joseph starts with the mind –body dichotomy of Descartes and proceeds to a comparison of the ancient Indian view.He differentiates between consciousness and awareness and includes formation of thoughts and arousal of emotions even in the absence of external stimuli to the realm of consciousness and proceeds to expound Baar’s philosophical theory of consciousness,Kock’s and Eneck’s mapping cortical oscillation /experience,Libet’s and Farah’s views on threshold and high/low quality representations of consciousness.
The article analyses consciousness at physical level,both microscopic and macroscopic.At the submicroscopic levels wave functions ,schrodinger equations ,quantum jumps ,Penrosean views expressed in Emperor’s new mind and shadows of mind and some of its critics are mentioned.At the macroscopic level ,brain as a nonlinear dynamic system as evidenced by ECG signals ,the mathematical analysis of signals ,nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and EPR paradoxes are presented.The role of neurotransmitters also is mentioned.The author explains Mc Culloch’s sequential logical operations and Hebb’s neural network learnings.Essentially the survey attempts to provide a physical basis of mind as a manifestation of matter and is not a holistic approach.Though his window is different from that of Dr Philip John ,it almost resembles it ,being purely physical.
The theory behind the article is that QM and classical stochastic ideas are compromises aimed at understanding the origin of abstract ideas from the ensemble of particular processes.The rationale behind this composite approach is that microlevel phenomena are QM,consciousness (physical level of mind)manifested as classical level.
INDIAN SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY AND AYURVEDA
There are two articles based entirely on the Indian systems of knowledge.One is on the concept of the mind in the Indian systems of philosophy and the other in Ayurveda.From the philosophical point of view C.V.Vasudeva bhattathiri explains the nature of mind in the six philosophical systems of India ,compares the different views.From the purely material ,to the purely spiritual there are several gradations and mixtures possible for the mind in various Indian systems and the debates by these different systems on the nature of things on a purely rational and scientific basis makes India a land of scientific enquiry and flexible democratic ideologies.The language of the Indian sciences is not English.It is either Sanskrit or prakrit .In a book meant for readers of the English language ,a person writing on the Indian sciences has to waste considerable spacetime for explanation of terms which makes such articles more of an explanatory note rather than a scientific paper.This has happened to both the articles mentioned and yet they stand out as a different approach to the problem of the mind. I myself have many a time experienced the impossibility of presenting a paper on Indian sciences to an audience who are not familiar with the Sanskrit words and their correct meanings and connotations.To an Englishspeaking reader/listener one has to first explain terms and only then attempt to compare the modern terms and this usually means that one has to write a treatise on the subject.This dilemma has landed me up in writing volumes on the Upanishads ,Brahmasoothra,yoga,thanthra,jyothisha and other systems of knowledge.Hence I feel that these two modest articles on the Indian systems have tried their best as a preliminary introduction to the subject.
HUMAN MIND-THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL ASPECT.
Starting with the seat of memory and emotional changes and the loss of continence by brain damage.Dr Roy J.Mathew proceeds to drive ,motivation,and goal directed behaviour,associated with prefrontal lobe and pass on to the special mystical spiritual aspect ,the LANGUAGE.The eternal truth,the Vak of the Nyaya ,viseshika,the Sphota of Bharthruhari.According tohim,Mandanamishra accepts the sphota and Sankara does not.Asked by the opponents whether you reject the sphota or not,Sankara had actually said that I do not reject it,but I am experiencing it all the time,within.In his Bhashya to Brahmasoothra,on which at present I am writing a commentary.The receptive,expressive, elements and their complementarity ,communication through signs ,Broca’s Wernicke’s areas associated with speech and processing of language by brain using three interacting sets of mechanisms are explained in the rational,scientific manner.I feel that this is one of the key articles in the book ,since it tries to comprehend both the dominent and nondominent ,both modern and ancient knowledge systems in a scientific manner ,rationally and holistically.
MIND IN INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOLOGY.
One of the most important essays is that of V.George Mathew ,on integrative psychology.This branch of science as the name implies,indicate an integration of modern psychology with parapsychology and psychology of consciousness.This humanistically oriented system of integrating the most modern and the ancient systems is not a new development in the history of human thought.This has existed in every age and every country,where the present and the past thought processes were examined and analysed and assimilated by a thoughtful mind.This was what was done by Vyasa and sankara in India when they compiled the Vedas and the commentaries on the Prasthaanathraya.In recent times the Theosophical society of India under the able guidance of Madame Blavatsky had given a new impetus to this integration.Most of the western thinkers and scientists were influenced by the theosophical society and the rational and scientific way in which it integrated the psychology and parapsychology .My own great granduncle Nalapat Narayanamenon ,was a member of the theosophical society and from his philosophical and scientific integrative approach to the science and arts ,I have gained a lot.Studying the mind in different planes and conceiving it as a band of vibrations ,theosophists brought it from the realm of quantum electrodynamics to that of quantum chromodynamics.From light to colours and sound.From a quantum of light particle to the sound waves with different colours or varna.This was the ancient Thanthra practice of giving different wavelengths and colours to each letter of the alphabet.Sir John woodroffe had beautifully described this in his Garland of letters.Sankara had talked about this in his commentaries to Upanishads and Abhinavaguptha had explained it in terms of dwani and rasa.George Mathew gives us this property of the mind when he conceives the mind as a band of vibrations.His views on Aparokshagnaana and the poornachakra are really commendable,both being vedanthic and thanthric respectively.The mandala of the poornachakra are known to Budhists and to Sreechakra upaasakaas for time immemorial.
The last chapter “creation of mind”is contributed by Dr Suvarna Nalapat and Dr V.M.N Namboothiri writes about the chapter as follows:
CREATION OF MIND.
Dr Suvarna Nalapat examines the subject from two universal experiences-death and timespace and explains the three dimensional view of Einstein’s mind along with special features in his brain which is examined by a group of scientists.She further proceeds to study the question of ‘WHERE ,WHEN AND HOW IS MIND BORN”- the organic body,the inorganic universe,and beyond it as given in Swethaswethara Upanishad and astrophysics.She also discusses the experience of God and Atma vis-à-vis the unseen and unknown aspects of belief where she brings out the example of Einstein’s belief in intuition,faith and conviction in science subjects .Furthermore she discusses the importance of Ayurveda in controlling the mind through niyama and yama.A study of subcellular level of communication or vak and the existence of network of energy in universe is also included in her article.
2 CREATION OF THE MIND.
Life is made up of two universal experiences-one death and the other timespace.Those who are interested only in sex can start with sex as a universal experience.Whichever one takes,one must remember that the universality is always relative.The physical experience of sex or death may seem the same but mentally it is not the same for all.The sacred bond between a Brahmin boy and girl as in the Tamil tradition ,or that of the Abraham-David dynastic traditions of the bloodline of the grail may be similar both mentally and physically but not for those who see it only as a pleasure principle.Even the experience of death is different in people following different traditions and value systems .For a medical person ,theoretically it is cardiac arrest or cessation of cellular functions.For a phycisist /advaithin dissociation of energy (atma)from mater(anathma).The mental understanding of death in different people differ.The bardo state of the Budhist tradition is comprehendable by one familiar with the Gita and the Katha Upanishad,but not by a medical doctor.
This is so with spacetime.Many of the members of the human race ,even those with superior mental qualities and intelligence ,are not able to comprehend the spacetime of Einstein’s brain.Iam aware of the fact that three-dimensional view of Einstein’s mind is attributed to some special features in his brain by a group of scientists.But for this only a limited number of brains were examined for comparison and we cannot rule out the following possibilities:
1.A similar brain structure may be identified in an old astronomer/astrologer of the present day India who is not famous as Einstein but still have a threedimensional understanding of the universe.This is also possible in other parts of the world ,in faraway Polynesian tribes ,chaldean Polynesian races.If a collective consciousness can exist,the possibility of it manifesting as an Einstein brain also exists.The energy manifesting itself as matter can take up its form at will .If it wants to experience time-space continuum it will assume the form the shape most suitable for its experience .Just like the body of a man with musical intelligence(naadayoga)is different from ours,the brain of a mathematical/special genius has to be different.But the difference in bodystructure need not be the cause for the difference in genius and viceversa.
2.Suppose we find the same change in a group of persons with low IQ and mental faculties after examining more number of brains ,would we then brand Einstein as mentally retarded or the mentally deficient one as a genius like Einstein even though there are no signs of a genius in the poor man’s life or actions.We must remember that science is not deterministic anymore.
WHERE,WHEN AND HOW IS MIND BORN?
Swethaswethara Upanishad(sl 6.sec 2)says that when the ocean of energy is churned ,when the praana is controlled ,and when the sweet bliss of Ananda is experienced(as soma)the mind or manas is born.That means the mind is born within the organic body as well as outside of it within the inorganic universe and beyond it.In an organic body,mind is born when one churns the intellect with rational thought and analysis(chith),controls praana (senses /indriya)with concentrated yoga(the state of sath or truth)and when one experience ecstacy of ananda in creativity(poetry,music other aesthetic arts).In the inorganic universe and beyond it is born as an eternal energy concentrated into a universal manifested powerpoint or the Bindu in an ocean of unmanifested energy field(wave particle or tharanga,kana)and from this the entire sarga(creation)and ananda(bliss)including that of the organic body emanate.This means that the organic mind is in direct continuity with the inorganic universe and beyond or in religious vocabulary,man is in direct continuity with God.(jeeva with paramathma).The vyasthy is only a particle in the vast ocean of samashty mind.The individual mind is only a wave particle in the oceanfield of universal mind,tossing in it ,floating on it,experiencing the different moods of it,yet mostly unaware of its unity with it.This unawareness is because of the lack of a sixdimensional(shadchakra)view of the entire creation.The individual mind sometimes understands itself as a mere speck or point ,at other times as a line or wave or a series of points ,in a line of descent which one calls a bloodline or family tree or vansavriksha.Beyond that ,the threedimensional view of truth is very rare ,not to mention the six dimensions.Therefore when a person like Einstein passes beyond the twodimensional awareness we are surprised at his genius.
According to the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad,hunger is death.In the beginning the universe was encompassed by death/hunger/pralaya.Death wished.Let me have a mind.From that thought ,or will ,mind was born.The universal energy existing alone wanted to see,experience and enjoy itself,so that it assumed the shape of mind and the mind to enjoy the fruits of its activity assumed the shape of the body and in this way ,the seen matter was born out of the unseen energy.From what the astrophysics of the modern times say about energy and matter this explanation of the ancients is not different.
Narayana Upanishad gives a physical basis for mind.There is a swarat and a virat(individual and collective)consciousness.These exist in the ghatakasa and chidaakasa (within a pot and outside of it)but are continuous and the same.Sankara uses these terms often and so too Einstein when he says that the boxspace and the outer space are continuous and the same.This brings us to the ageold seen-unseen conflict.
Have you ever seen or experienced God?Have you ever seen or experienced Atma?Why should you believe in the unseen and unknown while you can be satisfied with the known and the seen,the physical body and the world .This is the vainaasika logic of India.Aham or self as different from the seen body /brain is only an imaginery unseen thing never experienced by anybody and hence one need not bother about its existence.But have a science student ever seen an atom or an electron with the naked eye.Still they learn a lot about it and still do believe in it because others with better equipped minds have said about its existence.In a conversation with another scientist ,when he asked how could you grasp the vibration of an inertial coordinate system Einstein replied:”It is merely a useful fiction and I have no idea how to realize it.If I could only get far away from all material bodies and free myself all external influences ,my coordinate system would then be inertial.”(Evolution of Physics).That was exactly what the Advaithin seeking Brahma or absolute reality have been saying for yugaas or kalpaas.Einstein said while delivering a lecture in Japan “I was sitting in a chair in a patent office at Berne when all of a sudden a thought occurred to me.If a person falls freely he will not feel his own weight.I was startled.This simple thought made a deep impression on me.It impelled me towards a theory of gravitation.It was apure intuition.While sir Frank Dyson ,the English astronomer was experimenting to prove the Einstein theory ,during the 1919 solar eclipse on May 29 ,Einstein wrote to his friends:”I do not doubt the correctness of the whole system(general theory of relativity)whether the observation of the solar eclipse fails or not.”
That is faith and conviction of one’s faith,with or without proof.This is so in all science subjects.Then why not in philosophy?Parabrahma according toSankara is absolute energy state without time ,space,movement or cause and is linked to an ocean having the symbol zero to represent it.But he asserts that the symbol zero does not mean nothingness but a state of having no dualities whatsoever and this is manifested as the mind of a sarvagna(all knowing person-a rishi)during samaadhi ,and when there is the slightest vibration in it as the form of a thought ,mind is born as a bindu and the symbol is zero with a dot in center,representing antharyamipurusha.In an ordinary human being who has not bothered to concentrate into a samadhi state ,or tried to concentrate and think upon a specific subject ,the Brahma still exists but in the form of a stormy ocean where there is no clarity of thought or of memory ,where everything is in a chaotic jumbled up existence so that there is no awareness of the unity of existence.This represents the samsaarijeevan.Modern psychiatrists are concerned with the problems of these samsaarijeeva alone.The mind and intellect of creative artists and scientists ,of yogis and rishis, are the concern of mystics and philosophers.The importance of ayurveda and other Indian systems lie in the fact that they had over the years evolved a system of yama and niyama to control the mind as a daily routine basis and to keep it calm and diseasefree.Unfortunately this system was considered as part of a religious tradition by the English educated postcolonial population of India and neglected.
Language is a way of communication.The subtle communication at physical level taking place from cell to cell also is a language ,or Vak and according to the ancients ,vak is agni or energy .At the subcellular level communication occurs as endocrine ,paracrine ,neuroendocrine and synaptic levels between two cells and as autocrine in the cell itself.The first four are communication between two cells and needs a cell outside of itself ,whereas the last ,the autocrine,communication is from a cell to itself and needs only a single cell.A cell can control itself and the neighbouring cells and the entire mandala or field or environment in which it is situated(the human body itself)by these communications.For the subtle communication ,gross word is not needed and the mind of a being is not situated only in its brain and nervous system but in the entire body and in continuation with the outer field in which it is situated.Simply because we cannot see this network with our gross eyes we do not negate the existence of the network of energy in the universe.
There are energy particles in our body called the mitochondria.When food is metabolized to carbon dioxide and water ,because of the metabolic energy ,H atoms in the water are liberated in the mitochondria.Some of these are converted to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)and others to FAD (flavine adenine dinucleotide).The electrons of the remaining H atoms pass through mitochondrial respiratory enzymes ,combine with protons,converted to hydrogen,to combine with oxygen and form water.The energy obtained from this transfer of electrons along a series of electron carriers is finally utilized to generate ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.There is a subtle space within the inner and outer coverings of the mitochondria where the enzymes and the protons are stored.Pumping of electron from the internal space to the outer space happens within the mitochondrium.According to the chemiosmotic theory of Mitchell this pumping is the first stage of the electron transfer.The proton gradient so formed represent the energy.The cells need this energy for communication.This process and the structure of the mitochondria in man and microbes are the same.That means the biological energy at the subtle level is the same in man and the tiniest creature.And it is the same as in the inorganic world of protons and electrons.We should also remember that the subtle energy which is free and universal in everything known as communication (vak)occur in the mitochondria and is therefore always feminine.
Chandogya says that mind is annamaya,praana is jhalamaya,vaak is thejomaya.Annam or food is Krishna or black and associated with earth.All things contain carbon,including CH,Fats,proteins constituting the physical body belong to this and it is not restricted to brain alone.Thejas in the world shines ,and is oorja(energy)both in the physical world and beyond belonging to vak and these two are reconvertable and recycling through the intermediary of praana or jhala.There is annam ,jhalam and agni in every object ,and the only difference is in the proportion of each which gives rise to different form and structure to each.This saying of Sankara is now proved by science.Only when annamayam ,the earth,and the jhaladevatha which is represented by the moon,joins with the agni(sun)and the praanaajhala in the atmosphere ,does creation occur.Only then does thought,sight,and hearing occur.Says the Acharya,which is very scientific.According to the principle of a light object rising above the heavy object ,he says that the subtlest annam in the physical world is manas or mind,the subtlest jhalum is vayu ,and the subtlest thejus is vak or communication.Just like protons and electrons emit from a burning star ,hot and pure words emit from a burning pure mind.The entire spacetime is filled with these electrons wave particles.The vak emitted from the minds of men and women of earth spread upwards since they are the subtlest and the lightest.
At this juncture we will just compare a few grosser terms which both sankara and the modern science think as arising from one another.
SANKARA
MODERN SCIENCE
Annam
food
Jalam & jadaraagni
H2O,HCL,+ENZYMES
Rasam
Digested food
Raktham
blood
Maamsa&medas
Connective tissue&epithelium
asthi
bone
majja
marrow
Bheeja+sonitha
Testis(sperm)+ovary(ovum)
praja
Zygote(child)
When we look at the microscopic picture of the germ cells of the testis and ovary resemble more of the reticuloendothelial /lymphoid cells especially in case of germ cell tumours and one wonders who is right and who is wrong.Creation starts in the philosopher’s mind as energy or invisible absolute truth and ends with visible gross matter and body with its nervous system.The astronomer agrees with this.The sequence is somewhat like this:
THE CYCLE OF CREATION
Energy(brahma)
Absolute truth ,invisible
Universe(prakrithy)
Solar system
Light/sound waves
Subatomic particle(subtlest)
Subatomic particle(grosser)
Atom
Elements
Proteins.CH,Fats
Genes
Chromosomes
Cells,tissue
Organs
Physical body with welldeveloped nervous system
Relative truth(visible)
Sun,the visible energy source of earth/planets
Seen/heard thanmaathra(quantum dynamics)
Paraparamaanu ,paramaanu
Anu
Moolakam
Annam
Janithakam
Kosa,kala
Anga
Sareera,with angopaanga and kundalini sakthy.
The subtle energy becomes grosser and grosser with each step.Now reverse the order of events ,we get the view of medical science starting from gross physical matter.The ancient medical texts however do not stop short at the bodymind level ,but explores the possibilities beyond that in a holistic approach.
Modern medicine considers the physical body and the brain as the seat and creator of the mind ,but the ancients and the astrophysicists know that it is the oorja that condenses to form the sookshma or subtle mind energy and this in turn condense to form the gross body and the brain and ultimately ,in essence there is nothing but oorja(energy).Matter or gross visible universe and body are nothing but invisible energy .Mind is the intermediary stage ,between the two states of energy.It is only in poorvamimamsa,among the six philosophical systems of India ,we find the question of the problem of dharma or ethics.In all others the question of truth and its manifestations are rationally explored through different windows.Of these vaisheshika is the ancient quantum dynamics and nyaaya the logical,rational scientific approach,jyothisha the classical and relativistic astrophysics,ayurveda the science of the body and its health,samkhya reduces the question of two different manifestations of the truth ,the visible and invisible energy,purusha and prakrithy.This duality is even reduced by the utharamimamsa,where the grand unification of energy into brahma is expounded.In its sheme of things there is nothing but energy.
Once we realize that the energy (Brahman)is within us as a chaaya or shadow seen in a mirror.Or the sun seen in a clear lake ,and our annamaya mind is active only when it joins agni from the sun and jhala from the atmosphere and when these three separate ,they enter their own state of energy itself ,we naturally wants to know our own nature or the brahmi state.
How can one see or experience that state ,if one is not a rishi or a person with exceptional concentrating powers?When is the mind free from all sensory objects and is almost like absolute energy ,or God?For an ordinary mortal who is not a rishi or yogy it is the state of sleep,and therefore the upanishadic rishi analyses that condition.
Consider the figure. Above.1 &2 are the two states of mind (jagrat and sleep states)as two mirrors reflecting Relative truths . When one sleeps the physical or annamaya mirror of mind is suddenly withdrawn.Then there will be no sensory stimulations or objects and the early state of energy alone remains.There are no names ,forms or colours of the waking(jagrat)state .During dreamsleep ,or the REM sleep there is a mixture of memories of the jagrat and those of the pure sushupthy state and could be predictive or signs and communications from a higher realm or our self.This paradevatha is called sadakhya by sankarabhashyam and says that without the sadakhya or light ray ,no external or internal eye can see or communicate anything.When modern psychology after Freud started dream analysis based on the dreams of patients with chaotic minds ,the ancient African and Indian tribes analysed the dreams of rishis and scholars with calm concentrated minds.Jung was able to lead dream analysis in this direction and he discovered the virat in every swarat as a collective memory of the past.He also noticed the dream discovery of the benzene ring by kekule.The astronomic synchronicity was studied in detail and Volf Gang Pauli and Penrose recognized the importance of a mathematical theorem being grasped in sleep visions.
Julian Robert Poppenheimer said:The general notions about human understanding ..which are illustrated by discoveries in atomic physics are not in the nature of things wholly unfamiliar,wholly unheard off or new.Even in our own culture they have a history and in Buddhist and Hindu thought a more considerable and central place .What we shall find is an exemplification ,an encouragement and a refinement of old wisdom.
In mysticism and the new physics Mitchell Talbot calles Thanthra ,an ancient quantum physics theory.Naada,Bindu and Naadabindu are vibrations ,wave and particle of the quantum astrophysics.The electrical lines of force or sakthy converges and concentrate upon a region of space ,crisscross,but also sink into the fabric of space ,like threads pulled through a funnel or drawn a bathtub drain.A classical geometrodynamical elective charge is a set of lines trapped in a prologuy of space..The thanthraspace permeated by lines of force(sakthy)is likened to the hairs of Shiva who has the spacetime as his hair(vyomakesa),an equivalent is kesava,for the vaishnavathanthra.
I have been studying the development of consciousness in the oldest and ancient cavemen ,the development of multiple intelligences in various spheres of activity including languageand literature,music,arts,sciences and philosophy in various countries and civilizations from time immemorial,To the most modern .I could not find any controversies between art and science ,intuition and rational thought ,ancient and modern.The human mind is the most beautiful and the most unique phenomenon which defy all explanations and yet experienced by one who contemplates on its potentialities ,which are infinite .It is able to grasp infinity ,because it is infinite in nature and that is probably the ultimate one can reach.There is a grand unification (mahaadvaitha)of the natural forces ,both in the ancient and the modern mind.I would like to summarise it thus:
Step1:.Electricity(vaidyuthi)+magnetism(kaantha)+light(prakaasam)
Faraday
Maxwell
Quantum (qed,qcd)
Step2:Electromagnetism.weak forces(1900)W,Z particles(rubbia)
Weinberg salam (1970)
Unification of EM and weak forces
Step3:planetary motion(saayana)+space+time+Weinberg salam +strong forces,theory of relativity
Varahamihira
Newton
Einstein
unification
Step4:Bioenergy(jeeva),neurophysiology(vaayu,praana and jeeva of the 5 elements+theory of relativity (laws of the brahmaanda(universes)and the nirayana(inertia)+unification of natural forces
Mahaa
Advaitha
Superunification.
It is like this the great vedanthins established the unity of the jeevathma and paramathma.That is the science of their language is good as or even better than the modern English language in explaining the universe and the place of the human mind in it.Mind or the biological energy is equivalent to Brahma ,but experienced as such only by a selected few ,they argued.This is true ,since not every one of us can become an Einstein or Sankara.
Quantum ,relativity and neurophysiology ,A comparison:
Quantum
relativity
neurophysiology
Light(prakaasa)
Zero(Brahma)
Satya(truth)
E
Gathi(movement)
Number 1+jagrat(awakened state)
Mithya(relative)
C2
Bioenergy(jeeva)
1+…n= 1(successor)jeeva
sathya(truth)experienced
M
By intuition,logic,mathematical induction and observation of the universe and its movable and immovable matter,biological behaviour ,dreams and symbols used by the most active and intelligent mind in the multiple spheres of activity ,can one reach the grand unification and the infinite possibilities of the human mind.One cannot boast of having fathomed the depths of the mind,merely by knowing one branch of science ,or one branch of art alone.In her book,Infinity and the mind,Rudy Rucker has tried to assess the infinite human mind ,the alef of the Hebrew,the alfa of the Greek,the leminiscate of the west and the ashtadalapadma of the east.To grasp infinity and the absolute ,a finite object is not suitable.Mind ,though unable to explain it fully ,is capable of grasping and experiencing it,which Sankara calls swaanubhoothy.He says one can try to explain it in rational and scientific logic but this viveka alone is not the experience ,that is unexplained and unutterable.Rudy Rucker also says that one can grasp infinity with two methods:the rational or scientific ,attempted by scientists all over the world,and the mystical and artistic,aesthetic ,attempted by artists,musicians,poets,philosophers,seers,spiritual people.One cannot say that one method is superior to the other categorically,unless one has the experience and proficiency in both methods.
I would like to end this note with a quotation from Rudy Rucker:”There are two distinct forms of consciousness,finite and infinite.As long as I identify with my body and my rational mind,I cannot conceive of my W°.But it is not hard to envision my W°.if I identify with the absolute.This does not lead to the usual type of theoretical regress because someone who has merged with the absolute is in a position to ‘ name’ each and every natural number at once”.
Being a mathematician she speaks of natural numbers.Being an Advaithin ,I would substitute each and every natural emotion and thought.That probably sums up the alpha and omega of all extrasensory perceptions(ESP)as well.
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