Scope of Vedic Approach : Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma Acharya;s Kripa :

Deciphering Consciousness Limitations of Modern Science & Scope of Vedic Approach 

( Akhand Jyoti, Jan-Feb.2006)

            The sequencing of human genome, gene cloning, synthesis of biomolecules - Molecular Biotechnology - seems to be heading for creation of "life"! But is it really possible to generate consciousness in inanimate matter by laboratory techniques using inanimate matter alone? Whatever be the hype of modern gene technology, it should not be forgotten that all this has been possible using the naturally living cells only. 

            Moreover the biotechnological developments and promised applications are also confined only to the peripheries of the material world, having no reach in domains of consciousness force. The greatest scientific brains, the founders of scientific revolution had grasped this fact and the limitations of the material-based approaches of modern sciences in understanding consciousness. Ervin Schrodinger, the founder of the energy equations in quantum physics talks a great deal of the "Physical Aspects of a Living Cell" in his celebrity book " What is Life? ". He argues that the space-time events in the body of a living being, which correspond to the activity of its mind, to its self conscious, cannot be explained deterministically, nor by statistical physics alone. 

            He discusses that even at the level of bio-molecular activities the quantum indeterminacy plays no biologically relevant role. It is simply impossible for quantum mechanics alone to regulate the activities driven by the mental system. Because a being is not a pure mechanism or physico-chemical process. In this context he cites an interesting comparison, that our (modern science's) quantum physics is like a machine made standard design whereas God's"quantum mechanics" is like a handmade embroidery , with unlimited variety, creativity and infinite expressions of beauty.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Promise : Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt.ShriRam Sharma’s Kripa

Promise Yourself 

(Akhand Jyoti, Jan.-Feb.2005)

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of best, to work only for best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but in great deeds. To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side as long as you are true to the best in yourself.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Human Mind : Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma’s Kripa

The Amazing Potentials of Human Mind 

(Akhand Jyoti,Jan.-feb.2004)

Parapsychology does not regard the supernatural powers of human mind as miracles. Rather, it affirms such potentials as natural outcomes of the stimulation of otherwise dormant centers in the brain. Extrovert attitude appears to be a normal tendency of an agile mind. As we all might have experienced, the inquisitiveness and interest of our mind mostly revolve around the external world. If we could divert our mind inward to some extent and think a little deep about our inner self, we would find immense troves of power and unalloyed happiness within us. 

The hidden potentials of our mind are more startling than the wonders of Nature and the marvelous achievements of human talents and the intellectual and physical powers found in the world outside. 

The world around us has its own importance in our life. It offers us opportunities of progress and prosperity in a number of ways. But that does not mean that we are sions are only like ornaments that help outwardly adorn our life. Indeed, the nectar of ultimate evolution, enlightenment, peace and beatitude lies in the depths of our inner self. However, it requires persistent single pointed effort to cultivate a self-contemplative nature and realize the miraculous dimensions of our inner selves. 

As practiced, experienced and taught by the sages of yore and the enlightened ones of the later ages, gradual training (with firm determination and will) of self-restraint and self-observation help in controlling and transforming the extrovert tendencies of the mind. Swadhyaya and Satsang1 are found to be most effective methods of disciplining and refinement of the mental tendencies. School education and training for higher learning and development of talents is no doubt necessary in civilized growth of human society. Its contribution towards the evolution of consciousness is however minimal like that of the leaves in circulating carbon dioxide in the plants. Nurturing the roots of the mind is essential for spiritual growth. Activation of the hidden centers of subliminal power of praa (life energy) is essential in this endeavor. 

The yoga-sadhanas devised by the Indian rishis enable gradual awakening and activation of the extrasensory centers in the brain and in rest of the body. In the modern age, dedicated investigations in the fields of neurology, psychology, parapsychology, and metaphysics have brought forth a partial understanding of the neuro-physiological, biochemical, and hormonal functions associated with manifestation of some hidden faculties of the human mind. Prof. Delgado of France had speculated that as the flow of blood in the arteries could be controlled by specific treatment of the heart, it should also be possible to vary the orientation of mental tendencies by operating certain regions and locations of the brain. He believed that such a method, if devised, would be useful in inducing ethical values in place of wild play of passions. Although his hypothesis has yet to be tested, the neurologists of the 20th century have succeeded in finding the location of memory centers in human brain.
Dr. W. G. Penfield of Canada has also developed special electrodes, which, while connected with specific neuronal regions of a person help awakening his remote memory  including that of the earlier lives. 

This activation retrieves the memory of distant past so effectively as if the subject were experiencing the sequence of corresponding events in the present moment. This type of experimental research has guided advanced investigations on the human brain. According to noted neuro-chemist Dr. Cameron, the nucleic acid of the neurons governs the neuro-electrical momentum. 

The stimulation regulated by this acid activates neuro-hormonal secretions of the important hormones like encephaline, endorphins, cystinine, and gaba. Electrical stimulation regulated by the synaptic activity helps in controlling several kinds of mental disorders. Scientists believe that deeper understanding of the reticular formations that connect the spinal chord to the brain would some day help in creating artificial emotions. This could offer effective remedies against psychological disorders including those of split or dual personality.
The experiments conducted by Dr. Hedger Hoyden in Sweden on some animals have shown that variation in the concentration of neural RNA affects the clinical consciousness and some mental activities. 

During the first half of the 20th century, biologist, Dr. James Oldschue, had successfully shown the change in natural mental characteristics of some mice by brain stimulation techniques. After stimulation, the mice were found playing fearlessly on the back of a cat. Dr. D. Albert had also demonstrated significant difference between the behaviors of the mice that underwent brain-stimulation and those from the same biological family and age group, who did not. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Purpose of Culture : Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma’s Kripa

The Meaning and Purpose of Culture 

(Akhand Jyoti,Jan-Feb.2003)

The word "culture" nowadays is used in so many peripheral contexts that its original meaning has been submerged. For example, we have a "popular culture", by which is meant the collective human intellectual achievements. There is a "consumerist culture", which is taken by some as a determinant of the status of a person along with his educational success and/or financial strength. To be an integral part of this culture, one has to have a higher spending power, which yields a greater availability of materialistic pleasures and facilities. We also hear of an "emerging culture", which reflects the attitudes and the behavioral characteristics of a particular social group. An emerging drug or pub culture among the youngsters of today is an example. Modern colleges and universities take pride in their "competitive culture" that helps to bring out the best in students and aid their intellectual development. However, none of these descriptions highlight the essential features of the true meaning of "culture". 

The concept of culture: Intellectuals and thinkers of the world have defined and analysed "culture" in their own way. Prof. Edward Burnett Tylor, a famous 19th century English anthropologist, gave one of the first clear definitions of culture in the West. He defined culture as a complex collection of "knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society".1 According to Matthew Arnold, a poet of the Victorian era, culture means "contact with the best which has been thought and said in the world".2 He considered culture as a "study of perfection". Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, described culture as the outcome and basis of training, establishment and development of physical and mental potentials. Sri Rajgopalacharya, the first Governor General of British India, defined it as the collective expression of the thoughts, speeches and deeds of the learned, talented or creative members of a society or a nation. In the 1950s, A. L. Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn collected over a hundred definitions of culture. A modern definition of culture is given by anthropologist William A. Haviland in Cultural Anthropology as follows: "Culture is a set of rules or standards that, when acted upon by the members of a society, produce behaviour that falls within a range of variance the members consider proper and acceptable."3 In other words, culture does not refer to the behaviour that is observed but to values and beliefs which generate behaviour.

 Some modern definitions of culture tend to be inclusive of the "emerging culture" of society. For instance, in Culture and Modernity, Roop Rekha Verma defines culture as "a system of the patterns and the modes of expectations, expressions, values, institutionalisation and enjoyment habits of people in general."4 Note the inclusion of the term "enjoyment habits"...

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Two ways of Living : Pujya Gurudev

Materialism and Spirituality: Two ways of Living

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

There are two aspects of human life: one that relates to the physical body materialism; and the other that relates to the inner self (the soul) spirituality. Materialism means an inclination towards acquiring material possessions and comforts; in short, it is a tendency to lead a life in which pleasures of the body are given preference above anything else. Spirituality means, centred and established on the soul, that is, activities in life are decided keeping in mind the awakening of the soul. Normally a persons needs are fulfilled with limited materials such as food to satisfy hunger, few clothes to cover the body, a bed for rest, a house for shelter, etc.; anything over and above the basic needs either remains unused or is misused. 

For example, if a person who can eat four chapattis for lunch were given eight chapattis, it would be beyond his capacity to eat the extra four chapattis. A single bed is enough for a person to sleep on; any more bed space would remain unused. Considering this, a few hours work is sufficient to satisfy bodys requirements. The same is true for senses also. There are five physical senses: touch, smell, taste, hearing and vision. No matter how beautiful a view may be, the eyes will tire of seeing it after a few minutes. The ears will not be able to listen to melodious music indefinitely. 

A person will be able to eat only a certain quantity of food of his liking. Thus the senses have limited requirements, beyond which they become saturated. But senses are never satisfied they always crave for more. The mind is considered to be the sixth sense. Its attributes are greed, attachment (moha) towards worldly objects and people, and egoism. The mind experiences joy when these three attributes are attended to. Man generally engages his time and effort in satisfying the requirements of the body and the mind. The mind propels him to fulfill the three attributes and also employs the body in its schemes. This is not surprising, since satisfaction of the senses is a bodily requirement, and the mind is one of the senses. 

The mind is different from the rest of the senses in that it is always unsatisfied and ambitious. New hopes and ambitions arise once the old ones are fulfilled. Suppose a person desires to buy a house. He would remain preoccupied with that thought because there is an attraction in it. Once a house is bought, the attraction fades. If a person does not have children, he would yearn for them; once he has children, they appear burdensome. A similar principle applies to other things, such as household items, clothes, etc and to attachment towards people. Therefore greed and attachment are attractive only until they are fulfilled. Egoism also follows a similar principle. 

A secretary in a company feels his job status is low and aims for a higher status so that he can elevate his standing in the society. It is possible that several persons within the company may be trying for the same position. Therefore he becomes an enemy for them, since now he is an extra competitor in the race. In case he does succeed in fulfilling his egoistic desire in progressing towards his dream position, mental peace would elude him because there would be several people scheming to dislodge him. His ego thus becomes his own dangerous adversary. The worth and importance of a well-mannered, disciplined person is obviously more than that of an egoistic person. 

No circumstances or individuals can challenge a gentleman, whereas examples of egoistic people suffering ruin can be seen all around us. A gentleman is respected while an egoistic person is ignored....

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

The social values : Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma’s Kripa

The social values indwelling our Cellular Self -2

(Akhand Jyoti,Nov.-Dec.2003)

The prompt vigil and valor of the Lymphocytes and the antibodies in fighting against toxins, germs and infections (micro-organisms and foreign antigens) enable the healthy survival of the body. Any deficiency or fault in this immune mechanism results in vicious cycle of diseases, some of which could even be lethal. The role of consciousness-force pervading in the bio-molecular and cellular units is vital though invisible in the duty-bound intelligence and efficacy of the uncountable, complex biochemical interactions and physiological processes taking place in an adaptive manner from millisecond to millisecond and even in tinier fractions of time. In a volume on �Principles of Immunology�, Drs. Rose, Milgram, and Vanoze observe that in spite of a physical contact, there is no material transfer or communicative interaction between the immuno-competent and the invader cells even if they happen to be chemically compatible with each other. This indicates that the functioning of the immune cells is also governed by some inherent intelligent and crucial process, which is regulating the known (and also yet unknown) laws of (biochemical) reactions in a living system. Similar kinds of views are further supported by the recent findings of some biomedical research laboratories, which demonstrate rise in the defensive strength, and efficiency of the immune system with the vital energy and willpower of the patients. Complete cure of severe stages of dreaded diseases like cancer by patient�s self-will have been reported in some cases, despite the failure of advanced medical treatment.

 Experiments on modern therapies along with psychological training by auto-suggestive and biofeedback control have paved the way for systematic investigations for wider applications in this direction. The complementary or supportive organs in case of emergency further evince the remarkable endurance, sense of responsibility and unity in the cellular and organ level components driven by the infinite capacity of the consciousness force.

Functioning of a single kidney or lung in case of damage or removal of its partner, regulation of the RBC/WBC concentration in the blood through bone marrow within a short span of blood-loss in an accident or after blood donation, etc are well known examples in this regard. Existence of germs like flora, which are allowed by the skin tissues to eat the rubbish of dead cells, the presence of �friendly� germs in the intestines for production of vitamin B_12, etc mark the tolerance, compromise and prudent adjustment of the associated molecular and cellular units for the good of our overall health. At organ levels, the flexibility of the respiratory tubes, expansion and contraction of the pleural cavity and lungs to effectuate periodic purification of the blood through inspiration and expiration, flexibility of the muscles and joints as per the requirements of the body�s actions, etc are familiar experiences of the marvelous dynamic adjustments in every unit of our physical existence. The ability to embrace the coexistence of other creatures and adaptability to positive changes and compromise for maintaining its healthy growth in a randomly changing environment illustrate the farsighted vision of the biological (macro and micro) systems. May the human society learn something from the tiny world of its biological counterpart to adopt the social values naturally embedded there for peaceful co-existence and harmonious progress?

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

The social values : Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma’s Kripa

The social values indwelling our Cellular Self 

(Akhand Jyoti,Nov.-Dec.2003)

The automatic and intelligent regulation of enormous amount of complex interactive biochemical and physiological processes in the living system involves, even at the cellular and molecular levels, some basic principles which, through their manifestations, reflect the subtle role of consciousness-force existing in the smallest unit of life. Look at the process of our bodys growth. Why a unicellular embryo grows into a specific multi-cellular organism? While the living foetus is cozily protected inside its mothers womb, why should it come out? The answers to "how" of the above questions are well deciphered by the biomedical sciences. But, the "why" (i.e., "for what purpose") of these and related events in the process of the birth and development of the living system still remains a mystery. 
These cannot be explained by the existing theories and experimental findings of the modern sciences. 

However, we may fathom the nature and purpose of each facet of the molecular, cellular and grosser manifestations of the psyche in the light of the Vedic Philosophy, which affirms the eternal existence and continuous evolution  towards the ultimate, boundless perfection  of the consciousness-force in every expression of life. Every living cell is a conscious system that contains a subtle world in itself. The individual and collective behaviors of the cellular systems are reflected in various biochemical and physiological processes. It appears to be most intelligent and refined in the human organism that enjoys the status of being the most evolved and privileged of all the species ever born on Earth. In terms of social values, the principles involved in the perfect behavior of the molecular and cellular systems demonstrate cooperation, service, struggle, endurance, adjustment, valor, discipline and unity. 

Human body is made up of trillions of cells and has almost equal number of neurons (nerve cells) in the information-processing network of the brain. 
 It is the mutual cooperation of the individual cells that leads to the formation and efficient functioning of the different tissues, organs, and the body-system as a whole. In-vitro experiments on cell culturing show that a single cell is itself capable of surviving independently in a proper medium. Sacrificing their �freedom�, the cells in our living system choose to share their earnings (inputs) and belongings with the other cells via inter-cellular interactions and live in healthy cooperation and organized unity; thereby setting a shining example for the human society. All the constituents at molecular level, including the enzymes and proteins also follow this ideal principle of mutual association and make the large number of complex in-vivo reactions possible.

At the macro multi-cellular levels, the internal organs obey this social discipline of mutual adjustment and collective efforts and consistently teach us the values of amity and cooperation. Altruistic service is superbly adopted at every stage of organization and functioning of a living system. The non-stop intracellular and intercellular activities, continuous pumping of the heart, the distributive flow of blood, the burden-bearing arrangements of the bones, etc stand as best illustrations of this vital principle of social harmony and progress. Defense against the harmful invasions or disorders of any kind is another fundamental property of a living system and its components. At the cellular level, the cell membrane regulates the inflow and outflow of desired molecules and prevents the invalid entries. Lysozomes also aid in the protection of the cells. Excess of water in the blood is instantly thrown out (via the kidneys) by the activation of diuretic hormones. Vomiting, shivering, allergy, etc are outcomes of the acts of struggle of specific subsystems against any imbalance or untoward reactions.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru

Shiv Sharma