Questions, Questions, Questions

[sravna]

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Everybody has curiosity and several questions about our own self and things around us keep cropping up in us. There are many questions which great philosophers and scientists have grappled with and tried to provide satisfactory answers.

In this compilation we try to provide answers in accordance with both science and spirituality to questions which are not normally scientifically analyzed. . We hope seekers of knowledge would find this useful not only by being able to find a new perspective but also in being kindled to further explore by themselves more on such questions.

Disclaimer: In the spirit of science I try to be logical as far as possible. But still some may have different views and they are welcome to air their views.

1.What is spirituality?

Spirituality is the way of life in accordance with the laws of reality of inner self. The inner reality comprises of time, mind, thoughts and at even deeper level it comprises of timelessness, pure consciousness and blissful experience. The external reality on the other hand comprises of space, physical energy and events. I use the term physical energy to include matter also. The extent of one’s spirituality depends on the extent to which the inner reality prevails.

 

[renuka]

Dear Sravna,

Today I was reading up some stuff about changes in the brain during some conditions and I found this about spirituality.

Read this...

It explains about spirituality and the brain.

Subject for case studieswere nuns and Buddhist monks

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_brain03.htm

 

[sravna]

Dear Renuka,

Thanks for the article. The article talks about hard evidence relating positive experiences and feelings to spirituality. It also talks about not being able to find a particular god spot in brain and hence suggests whole brain experience of god which may mean that more interconnected the brain is, greater the spiritual experience. It also talks about practical uses of spiritual practices.

It seems science is just beginning to scratch the surface of spirituality.

 

[renuka]

Dear Renuka,

Thanks for the article. The article talks about hard evidence relating positive experiences and feelings to spirituality. It also talks about not being able to find a particular god spot in brain and hence suggests whole brain experience of god which may mean that more interconnected the brain is, greater the spiritual experience. It also talks about practical uses of spiritual practices.

It seems science is just beginning to scratch the surface of spirituality.

Dear Sravna,

So there is also a possibility that Spirituality might even just be the conditioning of the mind.

I believe therefore I become scenario.. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati.

Now the question....Is spirituality just mind games?

We were made to believe... therefore God exists ...so looks as if God only exists in the human brain/mind.

May be thats why the focus is always inward...when we believe that God/spirituality exist..brain changes occur..MRI findings prove this...just like drugs too make changes to the brain..therefore are we are all sedated by the idea of God/Spirituality?

So when do we wake up?

Or are we the dream of a higher being that is sleeping?

What happens when that higher being wakes up?

Do we exists?

 

[sravna]

Dear Sravna,

So there is also a possibility that Spirituality might even just be the conditioning of the mind.

I believe therefore I become scenario.. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati.

Now the question....Is spirituality just mind games?

We were made to believe... therefore God exists ...so looks as if God only exists in the human ybrain/mind.

May be thats why the focus is always inward...when we believe that God/spirituality exist..brain changes occur..MRI findings prove this...just like drugs too make changes to the brain..therefore are we are all sedated by the idea of God/Spirituality?

Do we exists?

Dear Renuka,

It is just not conditioning of mind or mind games. Long long before these experiments spiritual gurus were saying that there is a lot of positive experience associated with spirituality, that spiritual experience is holistic in nature and that there are benefits to mind and body because of specific spiritual practices. They have also said a number of other things which I think science will figure out eventually.

 

[renuka]

Dear Renuka,

It is just not conditioning of mind or mind games. Long long before these experiments spiritual gurus were saying that there is a lot of positive experience associated with spirituality, that spiritual experience is holistic in nature and that there are benefits to mind and body because of specific spiritual practices. They have also said a number of other things which I think science will figure out eventually.

Dear Sravna,

Have you ever tried just for 24 hours..not identifying with spirituality?

Why don't you try it.

I have some interesting news to share..today to my surprise a Christian preacher wanted to speak a few words to me while I was at work.

He was actively trying to preach his religion to me saying he was a former Hindu..had all troubles blah blah blah..and all went away after he converted and accepted Jesus.

He told me he used to drink before but now he stopped cos even when he tries to think of alcohol he hears Jesus speaking to him from the sky in a loud voice saying "do not drink my child".

Then he said how important Bible study is to the mind..etc..also spoke about spirituality etc.

So I was thinking''Ok this is going to get interesting!"

I then told him...any voice coming from an external source is an auditory hallucination.

In your case..its your own guilty conscious of thinking of alcohol..so you pacified your self by imagining Jesus is speaking to you.

Your mind has been conditioned to believe that Jesus resides in heaven..therefore you heard the voice from the sky..if you were conditioned to believe that Jesus is in your heart...you would have heard the voice from your own heart.

So frankly speaking Jesus was not speaking to you..you were speaking to your self.

Your mind assumed a different form to give yourself a Holy feel that you are spiritual..when in fact you are still thinking of spirits!

He was surprised with my answer and he rattled about how being a former Hindu he never had any problem solved but now he is saved by Jesus.

I asked him a few questions:

1)What happens if you do not go to church...stop attending Bible classes...stop praying etc..

He said 'My pastor would come to ask me why I am not coming to church..studying bible etc.


I said you see...you are COMPELLED!

There is nothing spiritual about this..its just a Law that you are abiding and its fear that rules your mind that if you miss any session your pastor will come after you.

You have lost your freedom..you can't say No!

Now this freedom I have in my religion..in Hinduism we can say Yes and also say No and both are not a virtue nor a sin.

Sadly you had your freedom when your were a Hindu..now you lost it..I feel sad for you but I value my freedom.Try to have a mind that is independent and not bound by ideologies that are constricting.

I dont know what effect it had on him but his eyes were filled with tears and he left.

I dont know why he cried? May be he thought I am the Devil!LOL

 

[sravna]

Sadly you had your freedom when your were a Hindu..now you lost it..I feel sad for you but I value my freedom.Try to have a mind that is independent and not bound by ideologies that are constricting.


I dont know why he cried? May be he thought I am the Devil!LOL

Renuka,

You are right. Able to be free in thoughts is being spiritual.

No you are not the devil. You just played the devil's advocate

 

[renuka]

No you are not the devil. You just played the devil's advocate

Good one! Now I know why he cried!LOL

 

[sravna]

Question 2.

How do we know that inner reality exists?

 

[sravna]

To answer the question, how do we know that inner reality exists, let us recall what external reality is:

A external reality is defined by space, physical energy and events. Physical energy is contained in the space and events occur in the space. Anything which do not satisfy these and accessible to us can be called as inner reality.

We defined inner reality as time, mind and thoughts and then at a deeper level as timelessness, pure consciousness and blissful experience.

Let us consider some physical energy which has mass of 5 units.

If additional physical energy of 5 units mass are added to it , we except the total energy of the system to be 10 units mass.
But something different happens if the added physical energy synchronizes or bonds with the original energy. Synchronization has the property of reducing the total mass of the system. But the state of synchrony producing a higher energy than the sum of the parts, the total energy i.e, mass plus non-mass will actually increase.

In the above example the total mass will decrease say by 2 units so that the total mass of the system is 8 units but the energy itself will be more than 10 units say 12 units. So by bonding 10 units mass has been converted to 8 units mass and there are 4 units non mass.

So we see that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. There is thus the additional experience of the whole. This is what we call as self awareness or consciousness. This consciousness reaches the level of life when there is greater and greater synchronizations of energy and the mass part becomes zero. And then the inner reality of mind and soul follow.

So to answer the question whether inner reality exists we just have to know whether pure undifferentiated energy is possible and whether it exists within us. With greater and greater synchronization differentiation disappears more and more and the state of pure energy can be reached. Mind represents the intermediate form of that energy and pure consciousness the ultimate state.

 

[sravna]

3. Why should we care to know about inner reality?

Because it is knowledge too like the knowledge uncovered by science. Laws of science are universal. Are they also time independent? I do not think so. That there is a time dependent reality would be evident from considering our own brain.

Consider a physical system as a black box. For a particular set of inputs it behaves the same way and repeats the same output. Science depends on such repeatability. But considering our brain as a black box , for the very same signal it can give different outputs. Brain has the capability to evolve with time.

Thus we can say that the laws according to which the brain acts are not confined to the laws of science. There are higher laws than laws of science and so a higher reality. So to possess real knowledge and improve ourselves we need to master the knowledge about this reality.

 

[renuka]

Thus we can say that the laws according to which the brain acts are not confined to the laws of science. There are higher laws than laws of science and so a higher reality. So to possess real knowledge and improve ourselves we need to master the knowledge about this reality.

It is ONLY the action of the mind that is not confined to the laws of science or even Dharma for that matter.

The best example is during dream state.

In the dream state we can have dreams that defy logic or even laws of physics...we can also have immoral dreams even though in real life we might behave morally.

This shows that the mind is not confined to any laws known to mankind.

So why is this so?

Why is our own subconscious mind so different from our wake state?

Is the real human being actually what he is in the dream state?

Does the dream state symbolize the true desire of man?

BTW even if a person is said to be a Sthita Prajna or even a so called realized soul...does he dream?

What are the dreams of a Sthita Prajna?

If he still dreams...is he really a Sthita Prajna?


If I were Arjuna I would have asked Krishna...Does a Sthita Prajna still dream?

If he still does how can we call him a person who has stabilized his consciousness?

 

[sravna]

Dear Renuka,

The reason why brain can defy the laws of science is that it is governed by laws of spirituality and comes under the direct influence of mind. As a matter of fact everything is governed by laws of spirituality but I think to varying extent.

I would say a mind in perfect control has gone beyond the dream stage.

 

[renuka]

I would say a mind in perfect control has gone beyond the dream stage.

Does a perfected mind(if it exists) dream?

If No...why?

BTW Sravna...the brain does not defy the laws of science...its the mind that defies every known law.

 

[sravna]

Does a perfected mind(if it exists) dream?

If No...why?

BTW Sravna...the brain does not defy the laws of science...its the mind that defies every known law.

Dear Renuka,

Yes, brain is able to defy laws not by itself but because of the influence of the mind. Dreams I believe happen when the mind is capable of being disturbed. A perfect mind is imperturbable and so does not dream. The sleep is a deep sleep.

 

[renuka]

Dear Renuka,

Yes, brain is able to defy laws not by itself but because of the influence of the mind. Dreams I believe happen when the mind is capable of being disturbed. A perfect mind is imperturbable and so does not dream. The sleep is a deep sleep.

Dear Sravna,

Dreaming is actually essential for well being of humans.

I dont think a total dreamless sleep is normal.

It would be totally boring if we do not dream.

BTW may be all of us are just in the dream of a Higher Being and when He wakes up we cease to exists!LOL

 

[renuka]

Sravna...the brain is an organ...it has to follow the Dharma of its organ.

Its the mind that breaks rules.

Just like a heart...a heart too follows its Dharma and when it dysfunctional we die.

 

[sravna]

Sravna...the brain is an organ...it has to follow the Dharma of its organ.

Its the mind that breaks rules.

Just like a heart...a heart too follows its Dharma and when it dysfunctional we die.

Agree. Now a scientist may manipulate at the genetic level and make a brain work according to his wish but if the brain is backed by a powerful mind it can thwart the scientist's plans and defy the laws of science.

There is something beyond the physical which current science cant reach. What do you think?

 

[renuka]

Agree. Now a scientist may manipulate at the genetic level and make a brain work according to his wish but if the brain is backed by a powerful mind it can thwart the scientist's plans and defy the laws of science.

There is something beyond the physical which current science cant reach. What do you think?

Dear Sravna,


No matter how strong a person's mind is he/she can be anesthetized or sedated.

You come here...I will give you a shot of IV Dormicum and then lets see if you would still be conscious.

Easier method is alcohol...take a few shots of liquor and you would become "spiritually" high.

The mind is to a great extent dependent on the function of the body.

 

[sravna]

Dear Sravna,


No matter how strong a person's mind is he/she can be anesthetized or sedated.

You come here...I will give you a shot of IV Dormicum and then lets see if you would still be conscious.

Easier method is alcohol...take a few shots of liquor and you would become "spiritually" high.

The mind is to a great extent dependent on the function of the body.

Dear Renuka,

It is a less known truth that mind can make the body immune to external influences i.e., physical and mental energy . Just as a mind can be imperturbable, a body can also be made imperturbable by such a mind.

BTW dont waste your shot of IV Dormicum on me. It will not work.

 

[renuka]

BTW dont waste your shot of IV Dormicum on me. It will not work.

Have you ever been sedated by Dormicum so far for any medical procedure?

It works really fast.

Unless you have been sedated for any procedure before you can not be so sure it wont work for you.

BTW I am sure at least you would have taken local anesthesia before for some dental procedure or some injury that needed stitches ..surely it worked for you.

Ok..there is another way...how about I pull out your finger nails using pliers...do you think you would feel pain?

Sravna...dont be too sure..I am sure you would scream!LOL

 

[sravna]

Have you ever been sedated by Dormicum so far for any medical procedure?

It works really fast.

Unless you have been sedated for any procedure before you can not be so sure it wont work for you.

BTW I am sure at least you would have taken local anesthesia before for some dental procedure or some injury that needed stitches ..surely it worked for you.

Ok..there is another way...how about I pull out your finger nails using pliers...do you think you would feel pain?

Sravna...dont be too sure..I am sure you would scream!LOL

Yes you guessed it right. I was sedated by local anesthesia for dental procedure. I tried to not make it work and it succeeded. By the way I did not feel the pain either.

Renuka, I am also getting interested in the topic of kundalini shakthi. The ancients seem to be dead right about kundalini power and where the chakras reside. For example on whichever chakra I place my hand , I feel the spiritual energy rising rapidly.Nice area for research.

 

[sravna]

Ok..there is another way...how about I pull out your finger nails using pliers...do you think you would feel pain?

Sravna...dont be too sure..I am sure you would scream!LOL

Dear Renuka,

What the spiritual energy does is, it takes the force out of anything. So without the force your pliers wont have any effect.

 

[renuka]

Renuka, I am also getting interested in the topic of kundalini shakthi. The ancients seem to be dead right about kundalini power and where the chakras reside. For example on whichever chakra I place my hand , I feel the spiritual energy rising rapidly.Nice area for research.

Can you explain how the energy rising feels?
How do you know its the Kundalini?

 

[sravna]

Dear Renuka,

The energy rise feels like a positive flow through the body. I know it is kundalini because it rises only when the hands are placed where the chakras are supposed to be present. It seems to get subtler at higher chakras as at lower chakras it makes me shout but not at higher chakras but the effects are more pronounced at higher chakras.

I am very much a novice in this and would want to know more about the kundalini power.