Energy

The Energy Aspect

   The most important thing in quantum laws and particle physics is the Energy aspect. It is the subtle set form of sub-atomic particle that controls the entire universe at both the macro and the micro levels. This energy is the sustaining force of galaxies and the souls of all living beings.  It is a ‘phonon’, a photon that contains the entire plan of creation, transformation and sustenance, and finally dissolution. How the universe functions at different levels is a mystery that can never be understood by man since Man is himself an entity supported by it! This is exactly what is ‘knowing oneself’, i.e., the knowledge of the Self (Atmajnyan). Once a person realizes who he/she is, the search ends! It (the Self) is this immortal, unborn, eternal and all-knowing that is called the ‘Atman’. 

     The Universe is governed mainly, Energy; Electromagnetism (that includes light, electricity and magnetism), Forces that are both strong and weak, and Gravitation. While we all know that solar radiation is electromagnetic waves, there is no clue as to what ‘Gravitation’ is and how and where it comes from. But scientists have predicted the existence of Gravitational force. It exists in the form of waves formed due to collision of two massive black holes, a billion light years away! This prediction confirmed the theory of Einstein assumed a century ago. Rainer Weiss of MIT and Kip Thorne and Barry Barish were given the Nobel Prize in 2016 for their works in this field. The entire universe is covered by the gravitational waves as ripples in time-space. Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity 1916 had predicted this force operating in the universe and affecting everything! Einstein suggested that matter and energy would warp the geometry of space-time producing gravity. He also predicted that “space-time could stretch and expand, tear and collapse into black holes”. 

   Energy is released when the matter and anti-matter coalesce, merge, or hit as in the case of quarks, electrons and positrons. Energy is the inherent property of matter. At the one end lies the huge mass of clouds of stellar dust where every particle is capable of emerging out as a star! At the other end lies the smallest of the small particle, almost invisible to the eye. The scientists were in search of this miracle ‘angel particle’ an idea based on fantasy, but true! This is the anti-particle of the fundamental particle!- an identical twin, but with an opposite charge. When the particle meets this antiparticle both would be annihilated releasing ‘energy’. The first antimatter particle- electron’s opposite, the positron was finally discovered.  At the lowest end lies the fermions that includes the proton, neutron, electron, neutrino and quark, there should be particles that are their own antiparticles. The scientists found the first antiparticle of the fermion and called it ‘angel particle’. Actually there does not exist anything like that! 

    It is only an intellectual exercise, at the most a mathematical equation. This majorana fermion, fermion’s antiparticle, is called ‘chiral’ fermion, half a sub-atomic particle (moves in a single dimension in a particular direction). This is useful in computers for storage of information without fear of losing it.

    Thus, we have on the one hand, the galaxies as the huge mass of clouds of stellar gases at the one end, and on the other, the invisible tiny particles, almost non-existent (?) like the ‘pions’, fermions and bosons, or quarks decaying into gravitons; The quarks and anti-quarks crash and disappear releasing energy! Even the Fermions and Majorana Fermions, as matter and anti-matter, crash and get annihilated releasing energy. But, nobody has ever seen any graviton or an anti-quark! All these are theoretical speculations. However, the tiniest particles are the source of all that exist! The tiny emery particles like the phonons are the nuclei of all that exist as the material objects of the world, including the ‘Soul’ of the living beings, providing energy to sustain the body! It is stated that, “Over the next ten years a new telescope, James Webb, and other radio telescopes will allow us to see the gas before they form the stars, we will also see the first stars, the first galaxies and will be able to see the life history of the universe.” (Brian, Raman Res. Inst. Bengaluru).

   However, the Vedanta gives a better picture and a more comprehensive one. It is much easier to know about the fundamental principles of creation, with no contradictions whatsoever. The fundamental principles have been stated to be 76 in all, further reduced to 36 principles according to Shaivagama shastra, whereas, these are reduced to just 25 principles, such as, the 5 Great basic elements (pancha mahabhuta) and their respective qualities (tanmatra), 10 organs to experience these qualities (knowledge/jnyan and action/ karma), and three qualities emerging from nature such as sattva, tamas and rajas. Thus, according to the Sankhyans, everything comes within these fundamental principles. One may add a Creator, purusha and its power, shakti as His Nature (prakruti) to these. The Purusha is attributed with 5 powers, such as, ability to create (srushti), sustain (samrakshana), dissolve (laya), appear and disappear at will (tirodhana), and bless (anugraha). These again make it 35 fundamental principles that govern the universe.

    The earth’s atmosphere extends upward to about 10 Kms. and it consists of the exosphere freely moving hydrogen ions at the outer-most level, and the ionosphere below it, followed by the chemosphere (with ions of oxygen), the stratosphere (strata of streams of air mass) and the thick troposphere (consisting of dense mass of air). Air becomes rarified as one goes up into space. What the Sankhyans put as the basic five principles- ‘pancha mahabhuta’, such as, the Akasha, vayu, agni, jala, and pruthvi are stated in science as space, air, fire, water and earth that contain almost all the known and the unknown elements- gross and subtle, gaseous, metallic and non-metallic, organic and inorganic, etc. These are the fundamental building materials of the universe and can be traced to the tiniest invisible sub-atomic particles, including the living beings. Everything is energy and emanates (as gross matter) and gross matter inheres energy to sustain it. Space is also matter and is considered to be a flexible transparent envelope that can accommodate all that exists! The space was considered to be ‘ether’, a medium through which matter passes, and was later discarded by the scientists. Now, space is a thin invisible entity that envelopes the Universe. It is within and outside everything that we see, touch and feel. Air freely moves in space and generates heat; it is the compression (generating heat), or expansion (cooling particles of air), that produces condensation. Air consists of lighter gases like Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Ozone, Argon, and Methane that were already present in the exploding stars. The differential heating and cooling of air particles creates pressure differences leading to movement of air from the High to Low Pressure areas.

    ‘Energy’ inherent in matter is at the base of all vibrations! The vibrations at different wavelengths, intensity and frequencies create sounds, and the consequent paraphernalia of the physical world including the water and soil and all that are found on earth. Hence, there is not much difference between the Samkhya’s and the Scientists’ explanation of the origin of the universe and its constituents. However, the Vedantins treat these elements as of divine origin and Rk Veda calls them the ‘Shakti Devi devata’ the ‘Elemental Gods’. Hence everything is divine, devata shakti in Vedanta. But, they are treated as just fire, air, force, gravity, el electromagnetic forces, physical, chemical, or biological phenomena, and energy from thermal, hydel, thermodynamic or nuclear sources by the scientists. Everything is ‘Agni’ (soma, anala and surya) in Veda, whereas, it is just ‘Energy’ in science!   

    Thus, it is very clear as to how the visible universe has come into existence from almost a state of invisible gaseous entity, almost ‘nothingness’, to ‘everything’, rather, manifest from ‘nowhere’ to ‘now’ (time) and ‘here’ (space)! What we see or experience as the real world is, indeed, a movie of forms of vibration of energy, like the picture on a screen depicting a story. The form is created by energy as stated in the Vedic statement, Form (rupa) is the essence (tanmatra) of Fire, Agni. 

The Universe

The Universe

   The Universe so far known consists of millions of galaxies and, trillions and trillions of stars in them spread out in a vast dark space that is constantly expanding and ever-changing with lots of activity within. It is in a state of flux. Hence, it is somewhat difficult to present any accurate picture of the present-day universe in simpler words to make the layman understand the intricacies involved in it! This is also the case of the life on earth, its true nature, the humans and their faith and belief systems, simply called ‘Vedanta’!  Today we get latest reports from the astronomers and scientists in different branches like physics, chemistry, biology about the origin of the stars like our Sun and its planets, as well as life on earth, the nature of the galaxy, the Milky Way. This has been made possible by the powerful telescopes that can detect infrared light (invisible to our eyes).Stars, including the way our Sun grow up within clusters and groups. There are huge masses of clouds of matter moving out from areas where ‘baby stars’ are forming, as if disengaging from the densely populated nurseries where dozens or even hundreds of stars are born. It is believed that our Sun was a binary (accompanied by another star that might have exploded releasing lots of heavy metals like iron, nickel, magnesium, gold, silver, and platinum. It is explicitly stated that the cold rotating gaseous mass of stellar dust or clouds in space get pulled together by gravity. These become flattened discs spinning faster and get shrunk and finally slow down to form a star. This process may be accompanied by out-flowing jets that may span over ten trillion miles! The planets are formed in their discs as we see in ours. Since intense ultraviolet radiation cover the entire region. And destroy the atmosphere surrounding them, it is difficult to know whether massive stars develop the discs and the planets. Another version is that the stars belch out solar flares into space and these 

masses of solar material condense into planets in course of time by cooling. Also, it is stated that the outer rings of solar matter separate from the main body and cool down and condense into planets. There are the nebular hypothesis, the tidal hypothesis, planetismal hypothesis, the ‘Binary Star’ theory, or the supernova theory (where one of the twins exploded), and the like, to explain the origin of the solar system and the planets like earth, mars, venus, saturn , Jupiter, etc. in it. According to the supernova theory the solar system is born due to low mass. Our solar system was triggered by low mass supernova 4.56 billion years ago. A cloud of stellar gas and dust gradually formed into planets. However, it is difficult to believe such an eventuality where the supernova bursts and will have enough energy to compress clouds to produce planets. This assumption is based on the study of meteorites, as the debris around our planet.   

  At best, we can get a picture of the universe in our mind from the visuals about the galaxies, stars, and planets and their satellites, etc as presented mostly by the NASA. We get some facts and figures about the stars and planets from studies by astronomers, the space research studies and their publications. But, all these will in no way help us to get a comprehensive idea about the true nature of either the universe or our existence. Much of the knowledge we possess about space will ever remain just an idea, an illusion, due to lack of personal experience. We can never ever have a true idea of what a galaxy or a star is despite we see them on through powerful telescopes. We have a number of pictures taken from electronic telescopic cameras and nice descriptions of them, too. When we take up a study of these stellar materials our ability to comprehend the true nature of these fails!

    We cannot see or understand the processes involved in the formation of the stellar dust or clouds of gas taking shape in the space. We can never see the sub-atomic particles like the pions, quarks, electrons, positrons, gravitons, and other miniscule invisible objects we discuss here! The electrons move, en masse, at such enormous speed that they are never seen! Let us take the ‘energy’ aspect of these particles, for instance. It remains a mystery where it(energy) emerges and how it gets transformed in course of the hypothetical time because both time and space merge at the end of light, radiation emitted by it?

     At the root of all creation is atomic energy, its instability and vibration, friction, fission and fusion, heat generated from friction, fire or agni. ‘Agni’ is formed out of vayu (air) in Akasha (space). Air is created by the mass of gaseous elements like nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, etc. Hydrogen is the main constituent of the Sun. Heat expands and the cold contracts is the principle. In a given volume of space a certain fixed quantity of  objects can be accommodated.; say, for example, 10 grains of air in one cubic millimeter of space.  However, water vapor can enter in and come out of this space. When temperature decreases air is cooled and the capacity to hold moisture decreases, and vice versa. Thus, any given given space can hold either air or water vapour 100 per cent of space, or half (50%) or quarter (25%), or go on varying along with the varying temperatures. Thus, when moist air is cooled, the the water vapor condense into water drops and precipaitate. This is how thethe universe is expanding due to the particles compressed releasing heat. The space is thus full of massive clouds of stellar gases getting compressed, heated and expanded. This is again cooled and condensed to form the stars and their planets  and satellites. Life is also, in this sense, a form of expanding or contracting energy! This is exemplified in Rk veda where a number of suktas are devoted to agni, God of Fire.

 At best, we can get a picture of the universe in our mind from the visuals about the galaxies, stars, and planets and their satellites, etc as presemted mostly by the NASA. We get some facts and figures about the stars and planets from studies by astronomers, the space research studies and their publications. But, all these will in no way help us to get a comprehensive idea about the true nature of either the universe or our existence. Much of the knowledge we possess about space will ever remain just an idea, an illusion, due to lack of personal experience. We can never ever have a true idea of what a galaxy or a star is despite we see them on through powerful telescopes. We have a number of pictures taken from electronic telescopic cameras and nice descriptions of them, too. When we take up a study of these stellar materials our ability to comprehend the true nature of these fails!

     At the root of all creation is atomic energy, its instability and vibration, friction, fission and fusion, heat generated from friction, fire or agni. ‘Agni’ is formed out of vayu (air) in Akasha (space). Air is created by the mass of gaseous elements like nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, etc. Hydrogen is the main constituent of the Sun. Heat expands and the cold contracts is the principle. In a given volume of space a certain fixed quantity of  objects can be accommodated.; say, for example, 10 grains of air in

one cubic millimeter of space.  However, water vapor can enter in and come out of this space. When temperature decreases air is cooled and the capacity to hold moisture decreases, and vice versa. Thus, any given given space can hold either air or water vapour 100 per cent of space, or half (50%) or quarter (25%), or go on varying along with the varying temperatures. Thus, when moist air is cooled, the the water vapor condense into water drops and precipitate. This is how the universe is expanding due to the particles compressed releasing heat. The space is thus full of massive clouds of stellar gases getting compressed, heated and expanded. This is again cooled and condensed to form the stars and their planets  and satellites. Life is also, in this sense, a form of expanding or contracting energy! This is exemplified in Rk veda where a number of suktas are devoted to agni, God of Fire.

     At best, one can get a picture of the universe in our mind from the visuals about the galaxies, stars, and planets and their satellites, etc as presented mostly by the NASA.  Some facts and figures about the stars and planets are obtained from studies by astronomers, the space research studies and their publications. But, all these will in no way help us to get a comprehensive idea about the true nature of either the universe or our existence. Much of the knowledge we possess about space will ever remain just an idea, an illusion, due to lack of personal experience. We can never ever have a true idea of what a galaxy or a star is despite we see them on through powerful telescopes. We have a number of pictures taken from electronic telescopic cameras and nice descriptions of them, too. When we take up a study of these stellar materials our ability to comprehend the true nature of these fails!

    We cannot see, know, or understand the intricate processes involved in the formation of the mass of stellar dust or clouds of gas taking shape in space. We can never see the sub-atomic particles like the pions, quarks, electrons, positrons, gravitons, chiral and nucleons and other miniscule invisible objects we discuss here! The electrons move, en masse, at such enormous speed that they are never seen! Let us take the ‘energy’ aspect of these particles, for instance, it remains a mystery where it (energy) emerges and how it gets transformed in course of the hypothetical time because both time and space merge at the end of light, radiation emitted by it?

"Consciousness is Everything"

“Consciousness is everything”. prajnyanam brahma | sarvam khaluvidam brahmaa|

     The Upanishads explicitly stated, “It is not that, not that” (neti, neti). What all we see are mere qualities, attributes, not the real! All that we see are objects that come within the grip of vibration, maya, and limitations of time, space, and causality. Light travels and creates Time and Space and objects fill it. Since ‘Time” itself an illusion, ‘the space created by it as it moves’, and ‘the objects that fills it’ are also illusions.  The true nature, ‘Reality’, is different! It never changes, it is immutable.  Now, the modern scientists, too, have started talking in this very same tone. The latest research findings have confirmed the observations of the great sages on the principle of ‘oneness’ (Ekatvam) and ‘immutability’ (acyutam) - “the sub-atomic particles at the one end and the cosmos at the other as one continuum- anoraniyan mahato mahiyan | The fundamental principle is that the brahmanda (macro) and the andanda (micro) exist in a continuity as the two ends of an invisible thread- thick at the one end tapering off at the other, continuum, as explained in the Lagrangian String (L) theory. The scientists now say, “solid is not solid” and, “what we see as the phenomenal objective world as real, is not truly real”! Beyond the visible, there is an invisible, subtler, vibrant state, that is almost virtual,  a state of- ‘is there’ and ‘is there not’, rather, ‘exists’ (sada) and ‘exists not’ (asada/ non-existence), rather, an abstract state of almost ‘nothingness’, a dormant state of matter, manifesting as something!

    The Nasadiya sukta, of Rk Veda, Mandala X, has made this amply clear. Even the Purusha Sukta of the same Mandala has been confirmed by the scientists! The latest visuals from powerful telescopic cameras have revealed a large cloud of stellar gas spread out in the shape of a human! It is the massive cloud of stellar dust (‘Fermions’) that later condensed (Einstein-Bose Condensate) as ‘Bosons’ and Quarks. The primordial matter, called the ‘God particle’, majorana fermions (-ve) - is the crux of the problem. The fusion or fission (coalescence or clash) of matter and anti-matter that releases energy is at the root of all this secret of birth and death of stars and their planets. 

      Thus, it is very clear as to how the visible universe has come into existence from almost a state of ‘nothingness’ to ‘everything’- manifest from ‘nowhere’ to ‘now and here’! What we see or experience as the real world is, indeed, a movie of forms of vibration of energy, like the picture on a screen depicting a story. The form is created by Light, Fire, as stated in the Vedic statement- Rupa is the tanmatra of agni. The following study brings out these aspects of creation in detail. Modern research studies in ‘Matter’ cover the entire field of particle physics, quantum mechanics, wave theory, energy concept, gravitation theory, and the structure of the atom (ions) down to the fermions and bosons, as ‘God Particle’! Is this the ‘I’ principle based ‘on’ (foundation of awareness) or existence! It is the ‘ahanta’, a thought, an idea, feeling that “I am the body’. It is the avidya, a gross aspect (‘chit’- a particle of energy) of the Mind? 

     The most surprising fact is that the latest research findings in the fields of astronomy, physics, biology, and chemistry confirm the statements of our ancient sages. What the modern scientists have found out with the help of the electronic gadgets such as the telescopes, spectroscopes, microscopes has been actually visualized by these Sages of lore, these saints have actually realized the ‘truth’ in their yogic trance, ‘savikalpa-samadhi’, or Transcendental meditative state visualizing saguna brahmn. They have stated their experience in brief aphorisms like the mathematical formulae or the scientist’s equations! There is no contradiction, whatsoever, with the modern findings. In fact, what these sages (drushtara) have visualized are true for all times to come, whereas, the modern theories, hypotheses, postulations, and assumptions are subject to change! It is not the intention of the author here to make the text highly technical and difficult for common man to understand; however, making some of the doctrines that are depicted in highly esoteric symbolism cannot be made easy to understand in ordinary common language, for it will fail to convey the essence, ‘truth’. The ‘truth’ has to be realized by oneself in a ‘transcendental meditative state’, savikalpa samadhi, through yoga. The sadhaka can experience it. Whatever is experienced remains the individual’s own, inexplicable and cannot be put in words for the benefit of the others! Whatever one experiences as a ‘vision’ (darshan) by his/her own yogic effort cannot be questioned, too. Those who want similar experience will have to undertake similar practical yogic steps (ashtanga yoga). There are innumerable methods of experiencing the truth. Once a person experiences ‘sat’, ‘the truth’, there remains nothing to be proved.

TIME

    Everything in this universe comes within the grip of Time. Time is an illusion since it varies from situation, Latitude to Latitude and space, and is variable. In fact, Time only creates space (as it travels over distance); space is the hidden aspect of time. There exists nothing when time and space are united as ’nowhere’. When time moves, it creates space and, objects occupy the space! Time begins with the radiation of the electromagnetic waves, solar radiation (with relation to earth), light and onset of day-we have the days and nights. Since ‘light travels at 186000 mps, space, time and intelligence are inherent in Light. If anything moves at the speed of light it ceases to exist in time! Even if one travel at the speed of light that person are reduced to ‘nothing’! This ‘nothingness’, unity in time and space, is brahmn. In fact, that which is measurable, or that which comes within the grip of limitation (niyati) of time and space is ‘Ma-ya’. Hence, everything, including Time and Space, is ‘maya’. Illusion, maya, is the manifest form of the unmanifest ‘brahmn’. 

   As already stated, for all practical purposes, for us here on the earth, ‘time’ and ‘space’ are virtually created by the sun rays (radiation /electromagnetic waves). The sun rays inheres within the electromagnetic waves a number of other qualities such as light, heat, life-force (actinic rays), qualities dictated by colors (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red), as well as, many an invisible powerful rays such as the infra-red and ultra-violet, the alpha, beta, gamma, x rays. The three prominent ones that represent the qualities of nature are the tamas (dark), the rajas (red), and the sattva (white). All life-forms are supported by subtler waves of life-force (actinic rays), and energy (like Vitamin D), sound and syllables (alphabets), words and their meaning producing the phenomenal gross objects are all hidden in the electro-magnetic waves of solar radiation.

    Thus, the factor of ‘Time’ (kaal) holds everything within itself! Both electricity and magnetism are involved in Time. Time is energy. Time creates and destroys objects. Thus, the ‘time-space continuum’ is the basic tenet of science. Time is indeed illusory since it does not exist outside the forces of rotation of the earth! Hence, time is illusory, and, so also, the space that is created by it! If both time and space are illusory, the physical objects that occupy the space and endure in time are also illusory! This is the concept of maya. Thus, everything in this universe is governed by this maya- the limiting factor (time, space and causality).

Vedanta and Science

Vedanta and Science

    It is in the nature of the jiva to search for the ‘truth’. All knowledge is one and ‘Truth’ is one only. The path to search are many and the ultimate goal is the same, the ‘Truth’. What is this ‘truth’? It is not something, an ‘other’ that is outside of one’s self, but the ’Self’ itself! This is the crux of the problem. This ‘Self’ is the ‘truth’ and the search is of ‘the Self’. It is the ‘vid’, knowledge, ‘sat’ and ‘truth’. What one discovers at the end is one’s ‘Self’ only! The observer and the observed become one. Whoever is established in this ‘Self’ is the attained one! This attainment to the ‘Self’ is the end of the journey. 

     Scientists take recourse to different methods analyzing the objects of perception, vision, and arrive at their own conclusion according to their ability to understand and the subjects they opt for search range from astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics to zoology (A to Z). On the other hand there are the thinkers who take to contemplation (dhyana) and yoga become visionaries, the Seers (drushtaras or darshanikas). These Seers or darshanikas are the path-breakers like Kapila, Patanjali, Kanada, Gautama, Jaimini, and Badarayana, who have presented us the six darshana shastras- Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, and Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta Sutra). These six classical texts cover the entire knowledge concerning Creation, sustenance, development and dissolution covering the wide range of fundamental principles of creation (srushti tattvas), eight-fold path to enlightenment, reasoning and logic, time space. Matter, mind and soul paving way for the knowledge of the self and the ultimate reality (of existence). In fact, the Sankhya forms the foundation of the Temple of Knowledge, whereas, the Vedanta constitutes the towering peak (Seven levels of Consciousness as shown in seven Gopuram) of all knowledge, with the culmination of knowledge as viveka, vairagya, and mokshagati.

    “From the standpoint of ‘Vedantin’ there is no science separate from Vedanta. There is just one single urge, the seeker’s curiosity to find out the true nature of existence and to experience it. There may occur unique events that come as turning point in our lives, which can sometimes change our view of what is important and, even drive us to know how we should live our lives! Words, too, only make sense when they are linked to experience… Just reading about truth or hearing about truth are not enough; it has to be experienced….Vedanta at the intellectual level makes it clear that the great challenge is to understand the self and consciousness. The Self and consciousness could perhaps be emergent qualities of the complex brain that helps to maintain continuity in our understanding and experience, according to scientists. But, Vedantin views the ‘Self’ (Atma) and ‘Consciousness’ (prajnya) not as emergent elements of a complex system, but as the inherent unchanging universal elements that underpin all existence and represent ‘Reality’ which is untouched by the laws of change and causality”. (Siddhartha Sen).  It is also important to note: “What we perceive as our physical objective material world, is really not physical or material, at all! In fact, it is far from it.” This has been proven time and time again by multiple Nobel Laureates (among many other scientists around the world). Niels Bohr, a Danish Physicist, who made significant contributions to our understanding atomic structure and quantum theory says,

   “If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet. Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.”

– Niels Bohr. 

    At the turn of the nineteenth century, physicists started to explore the relationship between energy and the structure of matter. In doing so, the belief that a physical, Newtonian material universe that was at the very heart of scientific knowing was dropped, and the realization that matter is nothing but an illusion replaced it.  Scientists began to recognize that everything in the Universe is made out of energy. [Arjun Walia, Collective Evolution: Nothing is Solid and everything is ‘Energy’–Scientists explain the world of quantum physics, SEP., 27, 2014].    For all practical purposes, the universe is just a vast mass of vibrant energy particles and all that we see is forms created by different wavelengths, frequency and amplitude of this vibrant energy waves! The scientists have detected the signal of the first star. Crucially enough it sheds some light on dark matter- an invisible mysterious substance thought to make up a large share of the Universe. “Finding this miniscule signal has opened a new window on the early universe” says the Project Head at Arizona State University, USA. It is estimated that almost 180 million years after the Big Bang, say, about 13.60 billion years ago the universe began pulsating! This has been recorded by The Great Australian Desert Lab Spectrometer. Accordingly, the universe was, initially, cold and dark (-270 Deg. Celsius / -454 Deg. F), may be due to dark matter losing energy? Now, in 2013, it is assumed that (based on the Plank satellite) everything we see is just 4.9 per cent of the Universe and dark matter accounts for 26.8 per cent. And the rest 68.3 per cent is dark energy! Scientists believe that the Universe was cold and dark filled with Hydrogen almost for 400 000 years at the dawn of the Universe (birth of the first Star?). But, let’s remember that all these pertains to our Solar System and not the beginningless and the endless multiverse system. 

   Although it is now common knowledge that the Sun is a moderate-size star consisting of Hydrogen (H) that split by fission and created Helium (He4) due to fusion and the earth is formed out of condensation of the solar flares, the scientists could not find either Hydrogen or Helium in the earth! It is found only in the Exosphere, on the outer-most level of atmosphere 10 km. above the earth’s surface since it is the lightest gaseous element. It is only 100 years ago that the scientists inferred the existence of Helium and 250 years ago the presence of Hydrogen! The yellow line in the chromosphere is said to be the Helium waves and it is twice heavier than Hydrogen, the lightest element. Helium is the coolant in cryogenics and Hadron Collider vacuum chamber. It occurs in natural gas. It liquefies at 4 Deg. K and a super-fluid at 2 Deg. K. But, surprisingly, it was detected only in 2018.

The Ultimate Goal of Life

     The ultimate goal here is for jiva to attain to the state of ‘oneness’, realize the ‘Truth’ that ‘I am not this body, Mind, intellect, or the ego’; but, it is not easy to drop the curtain of avidya and to realize the ‘truth’- that “I Am That”, the Unborn, Eternal, Immortal Self. One must ultimately realize the principle of So’ham asmi |

   The human brain is a wonder-machine that is closely associated with the Mind and has immense capacity to think, imagine, dream, create and destroy, discover and discern, dissect, disseminate, organize and reorganize, produce and reproduce, edit and re-edit what all that has been understood, assimilated, and then present that in a holistic synchronized picture! It all starts as a desire (ichha), though-wave, an imagination and create images and gradually with sankalpa, determination, consolidate and create a world by itself! Different parts of the brain have trillions of cells, each cell performing almost sixty thousand jobs at a time, instantly, and many of them do specialized functions, too! Along with the ageing process of the jiva these cells develop their ability to perform more and more specialized functions and they too die out! In fact, the very ageing process is attributed to the cells. Cells constantly divide and multiply, retrieve the information stored in the DNA and RNA, transfer all memory intact to new cells before they burnout. In fact, it is so mysterious that we grow from childhood to ripe old age and perform specialized functions as per the genes and memories of the past lives. It is estimated that a normal person hardly ever 

uses one per cent of his mental potentiality.   

        While the right side of the brain is normally used, the left part is left almost unused by most of us! In fact, the left part of the brain has unique capacity of perform the jiva’s karma. This is the most significant aspect that determines the destiny of the jiva. The entire life and activity of the jiva such as intelligence, creativity, art, music, mathematics, etc depends on the carryover of the past.

     We know a lot about the brain and its function. As an organ of the body it performs a specialized function with the help of almost a trillion cells, numerous nerves, and neurons. It is still a mystery as to how the brain operates under the control of some extraneous factors such as buddhi, ahankara, manas and chitta, karmaphala and vasana, etc. In fact man is known as the embodied mind with its memories and karma!

     The ‘Mind’ (manas) is at the root of all that is human (‘manava’). This is the third level of evolution, the first two being that of plants and animals, the latter evolving from the aquatics, amphibian, the quadrupeds, and the bipeds. The animals that evolved from the primates to the Homo sapiens have developed the brain and the mind operates it. However, it is difficult to know what this ‘Mind’ (manas) is, where and how, when and why it enters the jiva! Once the mind takes over the human being it operates till the end of its life-span. It is governed by two other factors- Intellect (buddhi) and the ego (ahankara). Together these three control the life of the jiva. The Gita exemplifies the five elements and manas, buddhi, and ahankara as prakruti ashthada (manas and chitta are considered one here since the active mind is vikshipta manah). These are the manifest aspects of the Lord.

   It is a mystery how mind works as chitta and thoughts occur, desires start, and imagination and dreams work! Except in deep sleep, the mind is working continuously. It is a winder how new ideas come and materialize in daily life! It is said that geniuses, wizards, path-breakers, and inventors use the left part of the brain, and none ever masters the use of all parts of the brain in their life time. Hardly even a  It is the constant endeavor of all thinkers, whether they are Vedantins, or the scientists ‘to know’ and ‘understand’ the reality, the ‘truth’ about the world we live  and work, as also, find out who we are, wherefrom we arrive here, and wherefore do we go from here? The scientists think in a limited way, in a narrow perspective, and feel that answers are eluding!  However, the ancient sages have found the answer to all these questions by taking recourse to yoga and their intuitive thoughts and vision have revealed the ‘truth’. They have experienced, realized, envisioned ‘truth’ in a transcendental or extra sensorial sate, i.e., the turiya or atindriya sthiti of savikalpa samadhi. It is also the state of sakara brahmn.

   Almost a hundred and odd Upanishads explain in different ways what the sages experienced in their yogic trance. The nature of ‘reality of existence’ is explained by Bhagavan Shree Krishna in the Gita. There are many other scriptures like the eighteen epics, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita, besides the brahmasutras. Bhagavan Shree Krishna, the supreme Lord, as an avatara of Vishnu, helps us to find out the true nature of both the ‘purusha’ and ‘prakruti’- ‘the self’ and ‘the nature’. 

   The ultimate answer is very simple: “The perceiver and the perceived are one”. Conscious awareness of the seeker will bring out this truth! Consciousness is not only conscious of itself, but also of the ‘other’. Almost all of us are interested in the external world and dwell in it from birth to death! It is rarely possible for anybody to take respite, pause for a while to think about the self, unless ordained by the divine, as if by the carryover of the past lives! The entire life is spent in earning a livelihood and running the family. Scarcely any time is left after the days toil. However, a time will come for taking stock of the situation, look where one is moving, and turn away from the sensuous world toward the higher spiritual aspects! Wisdom dawns and renunciation begins. This is consciousness being conscious of itself!

    Ultimately, what is it we want? We are all like children crying not knowing what for they are crying! No one is ever happy even when one gets what is desired! Every jiva is born with desires, dreams and aspirations, and is bound to die with total disillusionment. The reason for this is ‘time’; time wears out the fervor, the charm of getting is worn out by the time the desired wish is fulfilled since time, space or distance and causality eats away the charm. This is the inherent nature of this phenomenal objective world! None is ever happy in this transient world of insatiable desires. Eternal happiness, joy and peace will never ever be attained by worldly attainments. There is an anonymous saying: “Lo! The entire world knows him. He is so well known that his name and photograph are the part of text books in schools. Alas! He knows not who he is, and it is the greatest tragedy of his life! This should not happen to us. The real joy, peace and happiness, is within us all. Whatever we experience is just sensorial perceptions and not due to the ‘true nature of our self’- that is ‘sat-chit-ananda’.

    The goal of life, purushartha sadhanam, is to attain to this state of sat-chit-ananda by withdrawing our senses, mind, intellect, and ego from their constant engagement seeking joy and happiness in the external transient sensuous world, and make them turn them inward toward the soul, the Self. This needs yogic practices to open the third eye or develop the inner intuitive insight. This inward journey takes more rigorous exercises and the journey is much longer and more tortuous, difficult to traverse without the help of a guru. negligible percentage of the brain is ever used in a lifetime of a person. Only a ‘Vedantin’, a man of higher knowledge(para vidya), yogi or spiritually enlightened person can develop his/her full potentialities through practice of yoga. In yogic trance, samadhi, a yogin can reduce the vibration of a trillion cells that cause thought waves. All the heated cells are cooled down and condensed into a molecule! Thus, the visionaries have given us a brilliant presentation of the holistic view of this universe!

The Gist of Vedanta

Vedanta is the gist of all knowledge. It is translated as philosophy in English and this term is inappropriate.  English language is derived from Latin. Philo sophia means love of words and as such the philosophers are just engaged in discussion (exchange of knowledge) and argument (fight due to ignorance). Thus, it is not 'philosophy', but 'darshana shastra'. Visualization (darshan) is involved in this. A true yogi who practices transcendental meditation can contemplate on any issue and have darshan, and get intutional knowledge. Thus both theory (Veda) and practice (yoga) are involved in our dashan shastra. However, it is unfortunate that people specialize only in Vedanta, Yoga, Sankhya and do not show much interest in nyaya , vaisheshika, and purva mimamsa. Complete knowledge is Vedanta. This holistic, totality will take us to pure state, highest level of prajnya where there is nothing- either 'existence' (sada) or 'non-existence' (asada). This is the param padam, seat of highest peace and bliss.

Arrival and Departure of the Jiva

   A 'jivatman' is a pure spiritual invisible energy particle with enormous Intelligence. However, it becomes a material particle by virtue (or vice?) due to its association of the gross body (the earth), thereby becomes a dirt-covered entity (jiva). The jiva is associated with a number of invisible forces such as manas,buddhi, ahankara, and chitta (called anthah-karana/inner instruments). Thus, what was a free unborn, eternal, immortal pure soul freely roaming in space riding the radiant waves of energy from distant stars (like the sun rays) enters the earth and becomes an embodied, entrapped soul- jivatman. Once it enters the earth and gets entrapped in the soil, water, and food, it finds very difficult to extricate itself. It can get extricated, liberated, emancipated, liberated only when it seeks divine interference and prays for liberation, mukti or moksha. 

    The process of embodiment is very simple. It is explained in the Gita (Verse Bhumiraapoanalo...). The moment the energy particles from a distant star (as indicated in our horoscope as the birth star/janma nakshatra) it enters the sky (space), air, fire, water and earth (soil) and acquires all their qualities in essence. Thus the jivatman is a body of the five elements (pancha mahabhuta). In fact, the major elements are Hydrogen and Oxygen (water) and, to some extent carbon, calcium, sodium, iron, and compounds like the chlorides, sulfides, nitrates, hydrates, and other elements in small proportion. The basic unit called the 'living cell' (jiva kosha) that goes to make the tissues, organs and the body consists of amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, ribose and di ribo nucleic acids, coupled with genes, chromosomes, harmones, etc. in mostly invisible waves and vibrant energy forms. But for these, where is the body called the 'humans'?   

Sage Vashsishtha says,

Think it over:
  "The spontaneously arising idea- 'The person who is endowed with the aggregate of body, senses, etc am I'- is the dirt-covered self (jiva)" [Yoga Vashsishtha, Verse IX. 1].

   The pure and pristine soul has got itself trapped by a number of sheaths (koshas) and it groans, suffers to extricate itself since the ignorant jiva does not hear its (anaratma) voice. This entrapped, embedded soul in an earthen body (like a spider or a silkworm weaving a net around itself and struggling to extricate itself) is the predicament of the soul.

   In fact, the soul (Atman) is pure only, but it is shrouded, enveloped by a number of sheaths like the anna, prana, manas, buddhi (vijnyana) and the ananda koshas. Also, a number of qualities such as mada, matsarya, lobha, krodha, irshya, etc have also covered due to the food eaten to support the ignorant body.

 The moment the jiva realizes its predicament and looks for guidance, it will be lost in wilderness. Even God will not help it if there is no awareness of its predicament. After all, pigs are happy in the mire!

Role of a Guru

About the role of a Guru, Sage Vashishtha says,

  "O noble minded one (Rama), the teaching that the guru gives to his disciple is spiritual knowledge. The teaching is the gist of the scriptures (Vedantasara)." The preliminary requisite for this spiritual knowledge is total 'faith' and 'subordination', earnestness of the disciple to learn at the feet of the guru. Unless the disciple has reached the stage of mature thinking and gets 'vairagya', renunciation, the guru's teachings will not be effective. One cannot indulge in the sensuous world, as also, look for emancipation from worldly bondage.

   The Sage also says, "Studying the scriptures or just having a guru does not enable one to see (get the vision/darshan), or experience (svanubhava/anubhuti) divine presence, Ishvara (in oneself)." 

Sage Vashishtha says,

   "O Rama, just as one can get a sea-worthy vessel only from a sailor, so also, the means of crossing the ocean of this world, sansar, can only be known from an illumined teacher."

   Further, "Until one has God's grace it is not possible for one to get the help of a sadguru, enlightened teacher, or to have the correct understanding of the right scriptures." (Yoga Vashsishtha I 4, 3).

  The verses quoted above clearly states that the jivas (living beings) need  God's grace and a proper guide to cross the sansara sagara.

  Let's be clear about what we are speaking here. Neither we know who, what, where and all that of God, nor do we know who is an illumined, attained, enlightened guru/teacher. There is skeptic's prayer: "Oh my God, if there is God, save my soul, if there is one!". The present day youth are totally ignorant about the spiritual aspects of life and are worried about only material welfare. They do not understand the fact that all that we see as gross objects are made of subtler and subtler elements, compounds, waves, sounds and, in fact, electromagnetic and energy aspects! The spiritual aspects described in the scriptures are no different from what is explained in the general science text books- physics, chemistry, biology, Genetics, etc (mathematics incl.) The Veda is in samskruta bhasha and  we need a good teacher with scientific background! Pundits do not help us here. Now, these aspects of: 1. the true nature of the jiva (a hydro carbon and carbohydrate entity, compeletely dominated by H2O and other element that go to make soil, food, and give support to jiva should be properly understood. This is a new line of thought expounded here. This will make the entire picture of the galaxies, stars, the sun and the off-springs of the solar flares in the form of planets and the life-forms that appear here on earth clear.

    Now God is also a force, power, shakti, capable of creation, sustenance,dissolution, in the form of the Sun, parents giving birth to,  and teachers imparting knowledge! God is translated as 'deva' or 'devata' literally meaning that which helps to raise/rise- da i va where 'da' is 'to lift up'. So what ever force, shakti, that has produced material objects, paraphernalia of the phenomenal world is the daiva only.

Atma Jnyan as Revealed in Yoga Vashishtha

    It is very interesting to know the inner meaning (goodartha) of narratives in the great epics like Ramayana, Bhagavata, Mahabharata, etc. The Bhagavad-Gita is supposed to be the Upadesha/Upanishad ukta, imparted the first manu Vivasvan, the sun God! Thus, the real meaning is different from the one attributed to by our scholars. Only a person of Realization of the Self,Atmaskahatkara, can really understand and it remains his understanding; it cannot be revealed to all and sundry. Here Rama is not actually, the son of King of Ayodhya Dasharatha. He is the blessed mantrasya putra. He is actually the re-incarnation of Vishnu, Ra means the Sun and Ma means the Earth. Rama means the sun and the earth and we are all the children, living beings (prani) breathing air (oxygen), rather, the children of Vayu deva like- vatatmaja, anjanisuta, Anjaneya, or Hanuman. Hence the Yogavashishtha narrates the Atmajnyan.
 After the completion of his studies at Gurukula, Ramachandra takes permission from King Dasharatha and goes for a visit to various places and study the life of the people. He returns with a heavy heart seeing the plight of the poor old and sick and thinks how can he ever help these poor ignorant people and what is the use of becoming a king if he cannot help them. Deeply contemplating, he loses all interest in life. Sage Vashsishtha visits the King Dasharatha at this time. The King narrates the plight of Ramachandra and seeks the Sage Vashishtha's help. The Sage meets Rama and wants to know the reason for his worries. At this time, Sage Vishvamitra comes to the Court of King Dasharatha and requests the help of Rama to fight the demons. Sage Vashsishtha fearing the consequences, requests the King to send Ram with him so that he can continue his education. Thus, the Sage takes Ram with him and instructs 'Atma-jnyan', i.e., 'Knowledge of the Self'. This is now in print in abridged forms and helps us to have a happy, peaceful life, amidst all the humdrum of life.

  In brief, what is stated in this 'yogavashishtha' is the same principles enunciated in the Bhagavad-Gita. All the great learned sages like Ashtavakra, Raikva, Avadhuta repeat the same. The secret of life is revealed here. Even the Vedic doctrines of the Veda or the principles enunciated in the Upanishads or the great epics cannot be properly understood unless one gets the 'knowledge of the Self. Atma jnyan only will reveal the inner secret meaning of the words of the scriptures.
   What all the scriptures tell us is just one simple truth: "This material world is not true, not 'what appears to be'! These are what is grasped by the five senses,manas, buddhi, ahankara, and the limited awareness (alpa prajnya). There is subtler and subtler-most invisible world of vibrations, sounds, desires, and thoughts and these only become manifest gross physical world! Hence, give up the notion of i, me, mine, and the indulgences in the sensuous world and revert to one's inner world. Realize the true self. This realization will give absolute joy, happiness, and eternality to the suffering jivas.
 Thus, it is essential for one to stop meddling with worldly matter and return to Self. The Pathway to God, the guide to Self-Knowledge is now before us. Let's take a few verses and try to understand them in the next few blogs.

Jiva

What is Life?  

   Partly, this question has been ansered in the earlier paragraphs; however, in the larger context, it is interesting to know about the nature of the living beings vested with prana, the life-force.

    As far as the living cells and bodies are concerned we know about the structure and composition of the ‘cells’ (jiva kosha). Any object that is called ‘prani’ or life-form is characterised by movement, growth, and reproduction or multiplication. Virus is supposed to be the protozoa- the earliest and simple form of life. But the philosophical and the spiritual aspect of life remains a big question. Given a little moisture, a little soil, and heat, there appears a small jiva (life) that stirs in innumerable forms of worms, insects, germs, and many invisible forms, too. There are the life-forms consisting of a single cell like the paramecium, amoeba. Life is attributed by biologists to cell and its division into numerous forms of tissues, organs and body. The chemists say it is all chemical changes and varying chemical properties. The Physicists say, it is all vibration of Energy and nothing else. The Psychiatrists say it is just Mind and its Mind Waves and Vibrations creating thoughts, ideas, images, dreams, and a make-believe world, nothing else.

    Jiva is a living being and the jivatman is the core and the sustainer, the root of its existence. But what makes the Jiva is not known. A little soil, heat and water, there appears a jiva. The inorganic becomes organic and a biotic by mere combination of elements and compounds. When does the life-force (prana) enters the jiva (body) is a very miracle! The way a sperm enters an egg and get fertilized to be developed into a body of the like and what happens as cell-division and multiplication during the gestation period and finally get ejected as an offspring is a great marvel of creation.

   Hence, Life is remains a mystery. The jiva that takes a form and shape of a plant, bird, or an animal vibrates in different frequencies and operate at different wave-lengths giving us an idea of diversity, but basically it is just an energy particle, the soul (Atman). This unity has to be understood. This unity is one of body, mind, pranic energy, and the Soul (Atman) operating as one entity. Hence, it is just a vibration of energy for a short duration in some form and function that we call ‘Life’. It is a biological entity as long as it functions in a cell and it is a physical entity when it operates in a non-living entity. Enormous energy is found in radio-active minerals, so also mental energy that is immense and powerful.  

     Hence, LIFE is not just a four letter word. It has much more than what it spells. At first, it looks as if it contains only L for Light, I for Intelligence, F for Force, and E for Energy. When we look deeper, the word ‘LIFE’ contains a big IF in between L (light) and E (Energy); again, ‘Intelligence’ contains in tell I genes (gence); then again, Force contains an ‘or’ in it; and Energy contains ‘erg’ (meaning silicon particles). Thus, Life is everything from a small grain of sand to enormous creative intelligence, of course with a big ‘If’ (uncertainties and doubts) and an ‘or’ (alternatives) at every step. This calls for a closer understanding of Life, just not live it. An intelligent guy makes the best use of all that LIFE offers him/her. Life is more than what it appears to be. It is that unbounded Self, the Bahmn. When the supreme Lord para Brahmn created the living beings, including the plants, they were not functioning. He decided to enter it and the pulsation, vibration of jiva started. This is stated as – “tat srushtva tat evan anupravishat”. When the supreme Lord occupied His seat in the cavity of the heart, all the devas and devatas as Shakti took strategic position in the body to serve the Lord. This is stated in the Gayatree mantra where the twenty-four letters are the seed-syllables (Bijakshara) of the mantra-devata- Gayatree. Thus, the learned jnyanis treat the human body as a temple, whereas, the ignorant people misuse and abuse their body for their sensual enjoyments, unaware of the consequences. Ignorance is the cause of misery and bondage.

      Let’s first know the fundamentals of life. These fundamentals are very important for a happy and successful life. These principles are called the ‘tattva’. Actually, tat - tva(m) means ‘thou’ (art)’ that’, none else. But, it is very difficult to really understand this concept of the ‘Self’ because we do not have the requisite capacity to understand that. Hence, what all we understand is much limited and mostly wrong! What is seen, heard or what we believe may not always be true. There is an adage that “Truth is stranger than fiction”. Moreover, there is always a gap between what things appear to be and what things really are. Ultimately, we are led to disillusionment.

   The connotation of the very term ‘understanding’ is so deep and vast that “Understanding takes us as far as brahmn” (Yajurveda). The highest level of understanding is Brahmn. It is the level of ‘Pure Consciousness’, Shuddha vidya. Brahmn is pure consciousness, “Prajnyanan Brahmna” where “Consciousness is just aware, consciously aware, of itself, it’s ‘Self’, but nothing else! Self, the core of all that exists, is Brahmn.”

   Anybody can reach this highest level of understanding subject to certain conditions. The humans have certain limitations. Their intelligence is clouded by desires, wants and attachment. Moreover, fear and anger spoil their chance of enjoying a better life. Man can understand only certain things at certain levels only. Not everything read, heard, seen, or spoken is properly understood because the ability to understand depends on age and experience. It is age-specific. It is said that one has to become the Buddha only, not even the next level that of Paramartha Samudgata, who was next only to Gautama Buddha in all respects. In fact, Paramartha Samudgata was equally enlightened and a Buddha, too! It is said that there were five enlightened Buddhas/ jnyanis of the highest order, at the same time in that small village of Bihar! This Understanding, at different levels of consciousness, is just similar to what a student can understand about the Universe and the Solar System at different school levels such as the Primary, Higher Secondary, or College and University levels- Graduate, Post Graduate and Post-Doctoral levels. Further, it also requires a much greater effort and capacity to comprehend the inner meanings, and there is need for greater contemplation to understand the extra-sensorial and the metaphysical or higher spiritual aspects of life at higher and higher levels. It is difficult to reach the highest level of the Brahmn even by the Sages.

   There is no end to this spiritual exercise. But, many seekers, sadhakas, think they have reached the end and stop somewhere in the middle. The vijnyanamaya and the anandamaya koshas covering the Atman create this illusion. The spiritual seeaker aiming at the Brahmn should remove the avidya, the sheaths of ignorance that covers the Atman and cleanse all the mental acquisitions. Actually, the jiva is a jnyani, vedavidu at birth, and is called a jataveda, at birth; but, it has forgotten, rather it is covered by rajaoguna, tamoguna, desires, moha and other qualities.

   The most important thing to remember in life is that the embodied jivas are psychological / mental or psychosomatic (body-mind complex) in nature. The mind and body should normally work as one single entity, in unity consciousness. But, it will not work always in unity. This creates the problems.

    So, let us start from the beginning of Life and go to the end of it, till death or beyond, step-by step and understand what Life or death is, and how the jivas live and operate on this earth. Also, let us know the limitations of a jiva. Since the jiva is controlled by Mind (manas) it works at different levels. These different levels are known as the Vyahrutis (Realms or spheres of activity). Mind can act at any level at any time. Some of the expressions given to these levels of existence are Kailasa, Vaikuntha, Svarga, etc. however, these are to be taken in their proper perspectives.

     Nothing exists outside of one’s mind since Mind is the creator and the mind is the host of all creation. Everything exists within the sphere of the Mind. Mind operates differently at different levels. At certain lower levels, its main purpose is to sustain the body with the help of food and all its energy is towards getting food; at a slightly higher level its concentration is on protecting the jiva and providing some entertainment so that it may kill time joyfully. In this process, it forgets its main purpose of higher living and emancipation. Thus, it gets stuck in repeated births and deaths.

    Sri Aurobindo has given a classification of mind ranging from Supermind (ajnya chakra level) to Supramental state akin to sahasrar prajnya. The sub-conscious, the superconscious, the unconscious, and the conscious awareness are also enumerated under this classification. Yet another classification is that of the seven levels ranging from muladhara prajnya to sahasrar (See Appendix I)). All these sources of our knowledge remain an academic exercise as long as we use them for acquiring some knowledge only and do not take steps to adopt these principles in our day-to-day life with the help of spiritual practice (yogabhyasa) with the result we are denied the access to the ultimate goal of life. The cause of repeated births and deaths is now clear. The jiva that starts with journey on the earth with simple things like getting some food and shelter look to gratify the desires of the senses and search for greater and greater acquisitions of wealth. The simple desires give place to greater ambitions and the jiva get embroiled in worldly affairs forgetting its true nature and ultimate goal.

Origin of Life

    Ever since Man appeared on the earth, he is bewildered and wondering how all thie multitude of creation is taking shape. Many scientists have devoted their life to find out the secret of life. It seems time has come to decode the secrets and find out the truth. 

   Creation of life on earth is a marvelous work of an unseen divine hand. Unless there is such a divine force, nothing can be said about the creation of the multifarious forms of dazzling beauty in forms and functions. Even small insects, flies, and flowers exhibit intelligence, colour, and mesmerizing beautiful forms. Where do these come from? When exactly an inert gross material turns into a vibrant living organism is a mystery. When exactly a subatomic (energy)particle fermion turns into a boson and gives it a mass is a mystery! When exactly a child in the mother’s womb gets its thinking power (chit-shakti), consciousness (prajnya), intellect (buddhi), and ego (ahankar) is a mystery. How a seven pound mass of flesh and bone becomes a crying child and grows into a 6 ft. tall and 80Kg. person is a mystery. These cannot be explained by science. It is a matter of divine will.

  The Vedanta texts emphatically say, “There was nothing in the beginning and there will be nothing at the end. Everything appear and disappear.”! It is all an illusion, maya. We all know about the life history of a Butterfly. Whatever appears in this objective world is phenomenal, objective, materials that occupy space, and endure over time giving an impression of reality, but actually it is our ignorance that projects these as real. For instance, there is nothing either inside or outside of an electron, protozoa, a paramecium, or a phyto-plankton. However, there is enormous energy that makes the objects vibrant and dazzling. This is chaitanya, energy. 

    As the radiation of energy from the Sun spreads out from the solar disc space is created and Time starts ticking. This ‘beginningless beginning’, ‘nowhere’, suddenly becomes a ‘now’ and ‘here’. However, nothing is visible at this point of time here. Then, Sound emanate first here in space. The ancient sages realized the importance of Sound (Shabda) and its eternality and inseparability. They derived the meaning of the Sound, artha. The sound is expressed in alphabets and word (pada) and its meaning (artha) also means the object referred to (created by?) it. Thus, the Sound is the primordial matter here. Normally, Sound comes from movement. The first sounds are created by movement of air (wind), water, and such other matter. This is one version of creation from the ancient texts of Srividya.

     The scientists’ version is almost similar, but may vary here and there to some extent in language and expression. Virus is a mineral compound and not a living thing. But the moment it gets a host it begins to operate as an organic entity. It is an exceptional creation. It is a chemical compound, or crystals. It begins to feed on cells of a host body, and thus, depends on an external environment to survive and reproduce. This is the first principle. Bacterium, one millionth of a metre in size, is also a simple life form that depends on a host as well as atmosphere for its survival. A bacterium is large enough to hold fifty viruses. These crystal-like viruses entered into bacteria and multiplied much faster than the bacteria and thus the first simple reproducing life-form is created.

   The simple elements that transformed into compounds as physical entity turned into biological entities by this simple way. The first batch of viruses marked the transition from elements to compounds and then to living creatures. Viruses and bacteria needed energy to sustain and multiply. These derived their energy from atmosphere and other existing chemical and physical source. A new type of living cell, like a chromosome with genetic codes and genes evolved from chemicals (almost 500). The chemicals like the amino acids, proteins, vitamins and enzymes formed the basis of DNA and the RNA. A significant development here is that the DNA made a thin membrane of protein to cover the cell in order to preserve the chromosomes, NA and protein molecules from falling apart. Also, this created a barrier to unsolicited entry into the covered cell, called Eukaryota. This marked a significant change in the evolutionary process paving way for higher and higher life forms that ended up with the homo sapiens.

   At first, everything appears, as though, inert, lifeless, and unmoving but gradually life unfolds itself when prana, life-force, manifests itself. In many cases it has been found that life does not manifest and the matter turns out just a tumor. Even invasion of a foreign body is ruled out without divine will. This leads to doubts whether a sperm impregnated takes to form a jiva and prana is already there in the embryo or it is yet to come and join the fleshy substance full of cells- dead or alive, for cells often die quickly. Nothing is certain. There are many a childless couple despite the doctor’s certificate that there is nothing wrong and both couple are healthy and chances of getting children is not ruled out.  

   There are also diverse opinions regarding the manifestation of Mind and ego in the embryo stage. Even after the delivery of the child, the child may not show signs of life and water is splashed and tapped to make the child cry in many cases!

    Nobody, for sure, knows when the mind, intellect, ego and the inner instruments (antahkarana) manifest during its nine- month gestation period. Garbhopanishad gives some idea. The Sushruta samhita, Chakrapani samhita and the Charaka samhita give some more details in this regard. In no other animal the process of walking and talking takes as much time as in the humans. It is all quite a mystery how life originates. Life is just ‘vibrant energy’; the vibration is ‘chit-shakti’’ an aspect of brahmn comes in the form of chaitanya, prana. All that we see is consciousness (chit-shakti) only.