Articles by

Dr. Deepak Ranade

Speaking Tree Articles by Dr. Deepak Ranade

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Bose-Einstein condensate and state of samadhi
Matter and energy are interconvertible. Matter is present in various energy states These
energy states were found to be temperature-dependent The higher the temperature, the
greater the energy For example, water boils when it is heated to higher temperatures.
This increases the disorder in the molecules as they are energised This disorder is
referred to as entropy It represents the excitability and chaos of the molecules that
constitute matter Satyendra Bose proposed to Einstein that if matter was cooled to very
low temperatures to Absolute Kelvin or minus 273 degrees, then the entropy of that
matter should decrease and matter should come down to a zero-energy state.

This remained only in the realms of hypothetical speculation until it was proved much
later on This zero-energy state is now known in physics as the Bose-Einstein
condensate This state of matter is also called a super atom as the entire mass behaves
as if it were a single atom It loses all its characteristics of shape, charge and
polarisation It probably reverts to a shapeless, attributeless phenomenon in a de-
evolution of matter, reverting back to just the potential to manifest as anything and
everything.

The human brain is an aggregate of nearly 100 billion neurons Various thoughts that
constantly crowd our minds are the sum total of simultaneous activity of different
neurons No wonder there is chaos in our waking state The thoughts translate into
various biological changes mediated by the hormonal apparatus at the pituitary
interfacing system The complex interconnections that abound in the nervous system
ensure that even a small impulse rapidly spreads seismically via the dense network.
Some individuals have innate higher entropy levels and so find it harder to concentrate.

They are `distracted' easily They have fleeting thoughts and are very restless The
sensory organs serve as an important pathway to increase the entropy as they stimulate
various neuronal circuits adding to the entropy Therefore, closing the eyes helps in the
process of concentration Continuous stimulation of the neural networks is what happens
in the waking state Hence sleep is necessary for minimising these constant excitatory
inputs Sleep deprivation leads to fatigue of the neural networks When you concentrate,
there is a resultant decrease in the disorder of the neural system.

As concentration increases, the tendency of the mind to waver and scatter decreases
The mind is more sharply focused We all have experienced the need to concentrate
when we are studying or performing some important activity So when we concentrate,
we are increasing the synchronicity of a specific group of neurons and silencing
unrelated neuronal activity In scientific parlance, concentration decreases the entropy of
the neuronal apparatus Just as the entropy of matter drops to near-zero levels. when
we approach Absolute Kelvin, similarly, the neuronal disorder keeps waning as we
concentrate.

The neuronal firing decreases in amplitude as well as frequency So would the
propagation across various networks In the waking state, when you consciously attempt
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to decrease the entropy of the nervous system, it is referred to as meditation. As the
entropy of the neurons keeps decreasing, a state of calmness is perceived. As this
progresses further, the neurons start becoming synchronous. That is, they neither
modulate nor amplify any incoming signal They just resonate in harmony. As this
orchestra gets more in sync, you experience varying states of bliss and happiness.


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No-thing Exists
Deepak M Ranade states nothing is not, really, a negative word; it only means
formless consciousness without subject and object

The first line of Dnaneshwari a commentary on the Bhagwad Gita by Sage
Dnaneshwara has the word swasamvedyaa and aatmaroopa. The words are
eloquent, they profoundly express the ultimate truth about creation and its purpose.
Swasamvedyaa has two parts swa and samvedyaa. Swa means the Self. However,
swa does not treat the Self as a subject. It stands for the attributeless tattva, the
unmanifest, formless essence. It is a state of being beyond any spatio-temporal grid; a
singularity with the potential to manifest a quantum superposition.

Unmanifest Essence
Samvedyaa has shades of awareness, sensitivity and compassion. Our understanding
of this manifest world is based on a Cartesian duality, that is, the immaterial mind and
the material body are two completely different types of substances. It is based on a
subject-object duality, and so our understanding of the word consciousness links a
subject to the object. I (the subject) am conscious of something (the object). This term
expresses consciousness as a qualia, between the subject and object. It wouldnt make
any sense if we say I am conscious without a reference to an object.

Swasamvedyaa is the unmanifest essence becoming conscious of itself. The quantum
superposition collapses as an observer emerges. The Big Bang becomes a
manifestation rather than creation. So the universe emerges as a witness, with the
consciousness realising itself.

The unmanifest manifests to become aware of itself; it is not a chronological event in
space-time because space and time are co-ordinates of manifestation of the formless
essence. The words, eternal and immortal are relevant only in the construct of this
spatio-temporal frame of reference that is necessary for manifestation of a form.

That could perhaps explain why scholars like Einstein considered time as a fourth
dimension. In a state of formless awareness, eternity has as much meaning as
thickness has to a two-dimensional shadow.

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Spacetime Dimension
Nothingness or shoonyavaad refers to this unmanifest state because when there is no
subject-object dichotomy, who is going to be aware of what? It literally means no-thing,
or devoid of subject and object. For our understanding in a Cartesian space-time frame,
nothing denotes the absence of content in a containing entity.

Nothing becomes a subject containing the object. This state of nothingness has no
negative connotation but merely dissolution of subject-object in formless consciousness.
The perceiver of nothingness remains, with nothing to perceive. Realisation is a state
wherein consciousness becomes aware of its own self. Aatmaroopa the elimination
of this spatio-temporal parallax, induced by itself to experience itself.

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Flower Lessons
Appreciation from others feeds the ego, but it should not steer our actions, writes
Deepak M Ranade

As we trudged along the steep mountain path and reached a clearing, the landscape
evolved into a picturesque panorama. The tall pines stood erect in attention as if in a
military drill.

A solitary wild flower caught my attention, as it swayed merrily in the breeze. It seemed
oblivious to my presence and appeared to be in some sort of a private celebration its
bright yellow colour eloquently reflecting its vibrant mood. It appeared strangely
assertive of its uniqueness, and yet blended harmoniously into the orchestra of colours
that surrounded it. I dont know if it was blissful indifference or whether it was some
intrinsic, stoic, self-assurance that never mandated any cognisance.

It seemed to have no questions or doubts about its existence; neither did it seem to care
whether it was appreciated or even noticed. Scarcely intimidated by the riot of colours
around, it seemed sure of its own little place on the vast landscape. As it swayed
gracefully, its suppleness made its movements seem more like a dance than like any
form of submission to the whims of the unpredictable breeze. It did not seem anxious
about the overcast conditions that could stamp out its very existence. Rather, it seemed
to be making the most of the given moment as its petals fluttered noiselessly.

Quantum theory would deny its very existence in the absence of an observer. I
wondered, then, whether it would be considered to have existed at all, had I not seen it,
and whether it would behave differently had it been aware of it being noticed. The
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casual disdain with which it basked in the meadow did not suggest that it cared for
recognition.

Appreciation and approval is vital to every one of us. Response from the environment is
what generates and maintains our identity. Our joy and happiness is most often based
on recognition and it tends to direct our actions, making our existence relative.

The relentless interactive behaviour constantly generates varying coefficients of self-
esteem. Fluctuation in self-esteem impacts our confidence, happiness and the sense of
well-being. The need for approval and appreciation increases our vulnerability.
Equanimity and being at peace with oneself warrants being unflinching and unaffected
by the inconsistencies of responses.

Such an attitude was aptly illustrated by the protagonist of the novel Fountainhead,
Howard Roark. When Peter Keating asks Howard what he thinks about him, his terse
reply, I dont think about you reveals a personality that does away with the need for
any struts of approval to stay upright. This can, at times, be interpreted as being
insensitive but it reflects more of a conviction in ones own persona and script of
existence. It portrays a casual self-assurance without a trace of self-doubt; an assertive
awareness of the surroundings, that is neither submissive nor dominating an
awareness that merely observes and is not spectator-sensitive. The awareness that
remains unruffled, metamorphoses into a state of bliss. Happiness is more an intrinsic
phenomenon than being an outcome of any subject-object interaction.

Does the equation of happiness always need to factor in external response? The
manifestation of that original, undivided, universal consciousness into myriad forms was
for that consciousness to become aware of its own self. It was not programmed for the
various forms to depend on one another for acceptance or acknowledgement.
Appreciation feeds the ego, but it should not steer our actions. The image of that petite
yellow flower remained imprinted in my mind probably against its wishes long
after it unobtrusively dropped out of my field of vision.
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The Binary Code Of Creation
All manifestation is an encoded expression of being and nonbeing, writes
DEEPAK M RANADE

Binary numbers were first described in Chandashutram written by Pingala in 100 BC.
George Boole, a mathematician and philosopher, published a paper in 1847 called The
Mathematical Analysis of Logic now known as Boolean Algebra. Booles system was
based on binary, a yes-no, on-off approach. Claude Shannon, a graduate student in
MIT, noticed that Boolean Algebra was similar to an electric circuit and his thesis on this
triggered the use of the binary code in practical applications such as in computers and
electric circuits.

In simple terms, the binary code converts all information into a code, a bit, that either
can be a on or off - a 1 or a 0. All the complex data that is transferred via the
information technology revolution is actually transmitted as a series of ons and offs.

The on and off or 1 and 0 represent two states, presence and absence - a duality of
being and not being. The transmitting computer codes the data into this simplified binary
signal, a machine language that is incomprehensible to our conventional sense organs.
It transmits this signal as a coded off and on signal. The receiving computer then
decodes this data, reconverts it into information comprehensible to our gross senses.

Brain Language
This binary system reduces all information to an either/or paradigm, and then
disseminates this information at speeds that depend on the bandwidth of the
communication pathways.

The brain, all its intricate networks notwithstanding, is also a data processing application
that not only codes and decodes, but also simultaneously generates, stores and
processes data. All that we experience, understand, and comprehend may also be
transmitted and stored as a code that has being and nonbeing as a bit of information
in brain language.

Presence and absence are the units of manifestation. Consciousness supersedes both
these states, as nothing also needs to be perceived.

The tangible is being expressed as a probability of being existent or nonexistent,
entirely relying on cognition - like the paradoxical Schrodingers cat simultaneously dead
and alive.

For cognition of something existing, a state of nonexistence has to exist simultaneously.
These two states are not mere opposites, but rather are complementary to one another.
Each depends on the other for its comprehension.

To be or not to be are units of expression and comprehension of this manifestation.
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The standard model in physics also predicts the existence of an equal and oppositely
charged particle for every subatomic particle. Antimatter is the predicted complementary
opposite of matter.

Quantum physics becomes incomprehensible because it is attempting to look at the
conventional either/or paradigm of binary with a holistic simultaneity; the wave particle
binary is reinterpreted as a perceptive delusion of singularity.

The brain can comprehend, store and communicate only in a binary code pleasure-
pain, light-dark, black-white, and so on for all complementary opposites.

As information gets more complex, this binary code gets further intricate, reigning in
shades of subtleties, but the basic on-off remains as the fundamental unit.

Time And Space
Time and space are units of a matrix, necessary to separate being from nonbeing.
These two parameters are necessary to generate an illusion of separateness.

The perceiving entity or consciousness has the discriminatory ability to comprehend
both states, being and nonbeing. This state has to be supra existential, and would
comprehend nonexistence, as complementary to existence - to comprehend
nonexistence as a state rather than merely an absence or void.

All manifestation is a binary encoded expression of being and nonbeing and
realisation is a state of holistic nonpolarised awareness that the ultimate Truth is beyond
being and nonbeing, beyond time and space, from eternity to eternity in eternity.

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Terms of engagement
Pune-based neurosurgeon Deepak M Ranade draws similarities between Quantum
Theory and Advaita

Reductionism, as a means of solving the mysteries of creation has for long been the
quest of physics.

Molecules gave way to atoms, which paved the way for quarks, and then bosons, and
the search continues. String Theory hypotheses state that all different types of particles
are merely differing frequencies of the same elementary building block, the string. It is
the string that weaves together all of creation.

Holy Grail Of Physicists
Einstein proved the inter-convertibility of matter and energy. His equation, E=mc2,
revealed the interconversion of matter and energy states. He did not include integration
of consciousness in the equation.
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Consciousness not only spawns energy and matter; along with the cognising entity, it
makes possible cognition itself. An equation that factors in consciousness might just be
the Theory of Everything (TOE) that has been the holy grail of physicists. God does not
play dice, remarked Einstein who relentlessly proposed various hypotheses that
questioned the integrity of Quantum Physics.

One such attempt was the EPR paradox that he proposed along with Rosen and
Podolsky. Heisenbergs Uncertainty Principle precluded the possibility of accurately
predicting both the position and velocity of a particle. The EPR paradox suggested that
if one knew the position of one of the two entangled particles, and the velocity of the
other, then it would be possible to know exactly both the variables of the two particles.

Interacting Particles
Since the two particles were entangled as suggested by Schroedinger, they travelled at
the same velocity but in opposing directions. The information about the other particle
would be got instantly, faster than the speed of light. Einstein called this effect spooky
as it defied existing laws of Physics. This non-locality was scientific heresy, not just a
paradox. It violated Heisenbergs theory and questioned the very foundations of
Quantum Physics. This thought experiment subsequently got verified in the laboratory.

In 1997, Nicholas Gisin and colleagues at the University of Geneva used entangled
photons to enable simple but instantaneous communication over a distance of seven
miles. Quantum entanglement allows particles that are separated by incredible
distances to interact with each other instantaneously, at a speed faster than that of light.
The mechanism behind it cannot be fully explained by any theory. One theory suggests
that all matter was once compacted together in a unified state, and hence the
connectedness. The oneness was apparent in the primordial, non-dual state.

The Trinity And Its Value
Entanglement may be the greatest testimony to Advaita or non-duality. Instant relay of
information over a large distance presupposes a separation that may well be just
illusory. Time and space could just be deceptive programmes of the perceptive
apparatus, the apparent duality being a distortion of the observer. As Saint
Dnyaneshwar had suggested the trinity of the observer, observed and observation is
in reality a unity. A more astonishing aspect of entanglement is that the spin of the
particle when not being observed is just one of many possibilities. It actually takes up a
value only when it is measured. At that very instant, this information is relayed to the
entangled particle that instantaneously acquires the appropriate reciprocal value. Here,
the observer, the observed and the process of observation are all mutually dependant
and affect one another. The particle taking on a value when it realises it is being
observed, makes it as much conscious as the observer preposterous though it might
seem to imagine consciousness being an attribute of the sub-atomic world.

Aham Brahmasmi
The instantaneous transmission of this information to the entangled particle might seem
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inexplicable in the realm of duality mediated by our perceptive senses. This apparent
separateness may after all be the illusion that our scriptures allude to. Entanglement
may eventually qualify the statement Aham Brahmasmi I am Brahmn, or Tatvamasi
I am that. There exists no separation or difference in the myriad forms of
consciousness. The state of realisation could very well be seeing the entire gamut of
creation in another dimension. In other words, a state of quantum super- entanglement.

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Mind-Matter Connection At The World Cup
The World Cup in Brazil in June 2014 will begin with a simple scientific demonstration. A
paralysed teenager will make the ceremonial first kick accomplished through an
exoskeleton directly controlled by the teenagers Thoughts through a helmet-mounted
EEG machine. Thoughts can be transduced into electrical impulses that can activate
mechanical devices to simulate paralysed or lost appendages. That kick will forge an
unprecedented synergy between the intangible and the tangible, between mind and
matter.

Where and how do thoughts arise in the brain? Are they merely micro-electric impulses
initiated and perpetuated within the densely intricate neuronal networks? Are thoughts
just neurochemical alchemy?

In the early 1990s, Candice Pert, chief molecular biologist for the National Institute
of Health, discovered that thoughts are real, physical things. Your thoughts become
molecules the instant you think. The hypothalamus -- a control centre near the base of
your brain -- transforms that thought into millions of neuropeptides.

These are amino acids which are generated and which mediate the dominant emotion
associated with that thought and are released into the blood. Thought triggers molecular
messengers that combine with a specific receptor on cell membranes. Over time, Dr
Pert found that cells develop more and more special receptors for the neuropeptides to
which they are most exposed. .

The body redefines its homeostatic protocols and gets addicted to certain thought
patterns and emotional states irrespective of feeling good or bad. This explains the
psychosomatic axis that is implicated in many illnesses such as hypertension, coronary
insufficiency and malignancy which are leading causes of mortality.

Our thoughts, despite being intangible and subtle, have tangible effects that impact the
gross body. Thoughts are energy waves with a domino effect which eventually cascade
into measurable physical effects.

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Masaru Emoto, also in the 90s, showed that the shape and physical structure of water
crystals changed under the influence of positive emotions and thoughts like love,
concern and prayers, but the crystals were disfigured in the presence of negative
emotions and thoughts.

Thoughts consume energy. The brain has the highest metabolic rate of all organs and
has the highest blood supply in terms of cc per gram. Thoughts fall in both voluntary as
well as involuntary domains -- somewhat akin to our breathing which continues even
when we are not aware of it but we can control its rate, depth and even hold our breath
for varying periods of time.

Fleeting thoughts may have their origins in the subconscious mind. They seem to
appear on the horizon of consciousness like clouds in a clear sky and they stream
through. Conscious thought processes are more proactive and entirely in our control.
Anxiety and apprehension are a pattern of negative thought processes. Despite
knowing the futility of such unproductive endeavours, these patterns are prevalent in
anxiety-prone individuals. Such thoughts might be altering the molecular structure at the
cellular level and may even impact the genetic structure as the emerging field of
epigenetics indicates.

Our genetic code may no longer be as rigid and impervious as was believed. The
genotype was the blueprint of the phenotype but now research reveals that they are
both in a dynamic equilibrium and the phenotype is empowered as well to alter the
genotype.

Every great achievement and task begins as a thought and this very subtle, intangible
force might be found to be mediated by 'thoughtons, a type of massless Boson like the
predicted gravitons and might mediate the ceremonial Kick-Off at the popular World
Football event.

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Don't Take It Personally
Interaction with people is an inevitable part of life. It's the natural as we are social
animals. Interaction becomes a complex interplay of emotions and ego, establishing
heirarchal patterns that social structure mandates.

Unpleasant interactions result from the view that "the perceived identity that we have
about others does not connect with the perceived identity the others have of us."
Interaction is of perceptions, arguments, misunderstandings, and humiliation that are
unavoidable outcomes of this.

Our identity / ego is entirely perceptive and imaginary. The very fact that these could be
slighted or elated implies that ego is a variable, modifiable and mutable construct; it is
not fixed. The identity / ego is speculative and dynamic. Invariably, we generate a daily
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report of self-esteem much like a weather update. A variable parameter can't
be absolute. While we are quick to conclude that the other person cannot understand
us, do we really understand ourselves?

The self that we commonly assume ourselves to be is a database of memories with
conviction of a unique, discrete identity -- a composite of the impression we have of
ourselves and the impression we feel others have about us. The former is a complex of
id and ego while the latter represents the super ego. Interaction with others nurtures the
super ego, and lends meaning to the script of life. It simultaneously generates a
hierarchal co-efficient, but is starved for recognition and desires to dominate. Its
assertiveness becomes exacting and demanding in an attempt to establish its position
in social hierarchy. It looks for meaning in ones own existence in relation to others.

Using relationships as an emotional mirror to assess and evaluate ones own identity
only generates a chaotic plurality of identities. Stress and anxiety arise out of our
efforts to build and maintain the image we want others to have of us.

Reaction-based self-esteem is susceptible to wild vacillations. It triggers approval-
seeking behaviour that is directed towards appreciation and recognition. This sort of
behaviour is a form of self-abuse for it puts others evaluation ahead of what we truly
want for ourselves. One need not be contemptuous or completely disregard others
opinions, but they should not become the driving force of our life. Such an approach
forces one to interpret all events from a personal, biased viewpoint. This prevents
having an unbiased view of ground reality.

Stoic self-assessment that is stable lends a great degree of security and reassurance in
any interaction or relationship. A steady interaction between two stable individuals
supports the beautiful edifice of a meaningful relationship. Leaning on one another
only up to a point can never support the superstructure of a sustainable relationship. A
fluid and tentative self-assessment is the substrate for a sense of persecution that can
destroy not only the relationship but the person as well. It is incompatible for a
sustainable, rewarding relationship. There has been a lot of talk regarding out-of-body
experience, but in a more practical setting, taking an impersonal, third person view of
the situation is more useful and realistic than making a personal, restrictive, assessment
that distorts reality.

Misunderstandings become commonplace and can be expensive. Relationships
pursued solely with expectation or ego-gratification are doomed from the start. Every
relationship has rights and responsibilities; asserting only the former works to detriment
of any interaction. Relationships are meant to aid the search for our true self. They
must help us evolve rather than serve self-assertion.





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Ups And Downs

If human life is expressed as a function of the sine wave, perhaps we could
superimpose the four ashrams into the format, writes DEEPAK RANADE
What goes up must come down and what goes down must come up. This is a
philosophical truth that doubles up as a mnemonic aid to memorise the sine curve. The
sine wave or sinusoid is a mathematical function that describes a smooth, repetitive
oscillation. It is a universal wave function that is applicable in pure mathematics,
physics, signal processing and many other fields. The sine wave typically has a positive
excursion followed by a reversal and negative excursion on the y axis when time is
plotted on the x axis. It effectively defines the movement of a particle on a circular path
when seen from the centre of the circle.
Definition Of Sine Wave: A geometric waveform that oscillates moves up, down or
side-to-side periodically, and is defined by the function y = sin x. In other words, it is
an s-shaped, smooth wave that oscillates above and below zero.
The Wave Motion
Waves can be viewed as a disturbance in the medium around an equilibrium state,
which is generally at rest. The energy of this disturbance is what causes the wave
motion. A pool of water is at equilibrium when there are no waves, but as soon as a
stone is thrown in it, the equilibrium of the particles is disturbed and the wave motion
begins. Personal consciousness (mind-body organism) or manifest form could well be a
mere disturbance in the impersonal consciousness (unmanifest).
Schrodingers equation demonstrates all wave-like properties of matter and was one of
the biggest achievements of 20th century science. It is used in physics and chemistry to
deal with problems concerning the atomic structure of matter. It is a powerful
mathematical tool that rebuilds the basis of wave mechanics.
The human form is with consciousness. It is the union of the intangible consciousness,
with the tangible form. Consciousness generates an identity for the form and of the
form.
If the (0,0) co-ordinates of an x-y axis were the starting point of this life form, and a
graph were to be plotted, with identity on the y axis and time on the x axis, it would
make an intriguing sine curve. The value of this identity that is generated with relation to
the outer world, a relative identity, or objective identity, is given a positive value, and the
identity that is generated from within, or subjective identity, is given a negative value.

Form And Identity
The first half of the upper half of the wave represents the gradual development of the
identity of this form: Brahmacharyashram. It is in the positive deflection as it is in
relation to the outer world. A clear cut demarcation of the self crystallises along with the
trappings of insecurity, self-indulgence and selfishness. All these attributes are
necessary for self-preservation of the form. At this stage, identity of the form is critical
to ensure its survival, for without this positive identity, the form would hardly be able to
ensure its own survival. Self-importance of form, peaks to the point of compulsion, to
replicate itself. This ensures transmission of the blueprint and also the handing over of
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the baton of this identity to the next runner. To ensure the survival of this nascent form,
the restrictive identification of the self itself decreases.
The downward trend indicates a shift toward self-effacement. However, this self-
effacement is contextual to ensuring survival of progeny: Grahasthashram. Parents
selfless love is actually a modified nurturing for part of the self. But it does shift focus of
identity from self to beyond.
As this line intersects the x axis, it modulates awareness of identity of self yet again. It
unleashes a sense of worthlessness in this contextual frame of relevance once the
needs of offspring and family have been settled. It marks the beginning of an inward
journey that looks for meaning within. Hence, it marks a negative deflection on the y
axis of identity Vanaprasthashram.


Beyond Relative Identity
The first half of the downward wave shows a gradual tendency to being disillusioned
with the relative identity. The identity looks for self-actualisation, the apex of Maslows
motivational pyramid. The last upward surge of this curve represents a quest for an
absolute identity. In other words, a search for the Absolute Sanyasashram. The
absolute dispenses the outer and focuses on the inner. It does not require any extrinsic
cognising entity to be aware of itself. Cognisance, after all, is required for sense of
identity. Its final intersection and merger with the x axis represents the stripping of all
identities and a realisation that what remains is merely a sense of am-ness; the same
am-ness that life began as a newborn.
The peeling off of all acquired identities after the outward former journey and the inner
latter journey marks the end of all excursions of identity. The end of form as well as its
identity is in reality, a merger with the infinite formless from where the form undertook
this kaleidoscopic journey of assumed, imaginary identities.

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Blissful Heights
Facing Mt Everest for the first time, Deepak Ranade discovers that his ego had simply
vanished at the sight of the magnificent canvas before him.

The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla in a Dornier aircraft was nerve-racking. As it made
the final descent, it seemed we were headed directly for the mountains. Suddenly, the
runway appeared at the edge of the valley and we all heaved a sigh of relief after a
bumpy touchdown. We had a hurried meal and set off from Lukla on one of the most
challenging, but exhilarating treks of our lives.

One cant help a feeling of awe that creeps in as one treads the same path that legends
like Tenzing, Hillary, and Reinhold Meissner walked on. Our first destination is Namchi
Bazaar. We cross the Hillary bridge that spans the Dudhkosi river. Walking on the three
feet-wide steel structure that undulates and occasionally swings certainly makes one
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appreciate the stable ground we walk on. As level ground makes way for the inclines,
every step becomes an exercise in self-motivation and determination. The mind starts
questioning the sanity of this whole masochist exercise. As the climb continues
relentlessly, even the Everest Base Camp appears distant and unreachable.

Only One Way: Forward
I reason to myself that we all go through such moments in life, too. In such moments,
the only option left is to keep moving ahead, taking the next step. Besides, fatigue and
exhaustion strike everyone with equal intensity, but you cant let them get the better of
you. This philosophical approach surely makes the rest of the climb more bearable. In
fact, it made me notice the tall pines and the lush green carpet draping the hills. After
about an hour of toil, we catch the first glimpse of Everest from a small clearing a
morale-boosting sight that proved as therapeutic as a shot of steroids for our tired
bodies.

Namchi is a quaint little settlement in the hills, replete with all modern facilities, without,
however, severing its umbilical cord with tradition.

It serves as a major logistic head for all expeditions to the Everest. It is surrounded by
some picturesque peaks like Ama-Dablam, Thamserku and Kusumkangru.

The next day saw us on our way to Tengboche, a small village that houses the famous
Tenboche monastery. Legend says that on summit day, Tenzing got a glimpse of this
monastery from his tent and interpreted it as a good omen for his summit bid. The
Buddha idol in this monastery looks on serenely, in harmony with the ambience. The
surrounding peaks and the distant but clearly visible Everest range is the perfect setting
to induce a meditative state.

Majestic Mountains
We continue our trek to Pangboche, where after a night halt, we move to Dingboche. In
line with our acclimatisation protocol, we ascend nearly 1,000 feet from where we catch
a glimpse of Makalu, Island peak, and Peak No. 38. We also see Choufula, a sacred
peak that is worshipped by the locals. As part of ritual, the entire village abstains from
any form of fire for three months every year, an unimaginable fact at such heights and
temperatures, and testimony to the fact that humankind spares no ordeal in its eternal
quest to access Divinity.

Our next stop is Lobuche, which claims our first casualty of altitude sickness a
teammate suffers from continuous throbbing headaches, nausea and occasional
shortness of breath. Suddenly, we realise our own fragility and vulnerability and how
unforgiving these mountains can be. Treatment comprises of one main modality
descend and quickly at that! We bid an emotional farewell to our colleague as he
leaves with a porter.

Golden Crest
The terrain is now becoming more hostile. Morraine and rocks make climbing all the
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more difficult. As we make our way to the tea-house lodge at Gorakshep, the highest
village on the Everest trek, we look forward to our final destination, Kala Patthar, at
more than 18,000 feet.

This is a mountain made up mostly of black rock, which gives it its name. After crossing
a stretch of sandy level ground the remains of Tethys the ocean that existed prior
to the collision of the continental plates we ascend another 1,000 feet to a plateau.
The sight was too awesome for words. We were surrounded by snow-clad magnificence
Pumorie, Cho-latse, the west shoulder of Everest and Lhotse. We were spellbound,
and all the pain that had preceded the moment vanished.

As the sun began to set, the majestic peaks were gradually devoured by shadows, and
very soon, only the tips of the tallest, Mt Everest and Lhotse, managed to stay afloat in
the fading sunlight. Those golden apices and the surreal mountainscape made us want
to freeze the moment for eternity. I said a silent prayer for being able to experience this
sublime masterpiece. When you see a canvas of this magnitude and splendour, you
realise that all ego sublimates, and what remains is a desire to become one with this
manifestation of divinity.


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Romantic Interplay Of Cosmic Energy

Creation might just be the kinetic flirting with the potential. In other words, its the
romance of Shiva and Shakti -- a romance within -- that is, the Self suffused with love.

The intimate courtship of the one potential or Shiva and kinetic energy or Shakti
transcends all form to achieve ultimate union, writes Deepak Ranade

All is one, all is Brahmn. There is no duality. Unity has a concentric disposition. The
centre is the absolute potential and as one moves outwards, this potential transforms to
the kinetic. The myriad forms of creation are the kinetic expression of this central toti-
potent potential.

The kinetic manifests as Shakti; the potential is Shiva. Duality begins with this illusory
distinction. They are totally interchangeable because, in effect, they are one. The gunas
or characteristics of form -- rajas, satva and tamas -- reflect the varying proportions of
kinetic and potential energies. Satva is closer to the central, unmanifest potential, while
tamas is peripheral and manifests as energy in various forms.

Energy is potential coupled with entropy or disorder, from the formless zero entropy to
the manifest form with varying degrees of entropy. The kinetic manifests itself in various
forms while the potential remains niraakaar or formless. This abundance of
manifestation is indeed spectacular and breathtaking.
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The kinetic fields preoccupy attachment to material objects and indulgent behaviour;
theres nothing wrong with that. But being preoccupied within the confines of merely
form is half knowledge. It is called vipareet jnana -- to believe that form is all that there
is.

The true nature of Self is formless potential. Self-realisation is the journey towards the
centre. All worship or devotion any form of bhakti is from where the inward journey
begins. Worship or meditation is activity that decreases disorder or entropy, moving
from the kinetic to the potential. The plurality of forms of worship reflects the fact that
there are innumerable paths to get to the final destination, the centre. The tatva, the
unmanifest formless, attributeless nirgun niraakaar, or pure potentiality.

The laws of physics conclude that any event can be claimed to have occurred only if
observed by an observer. This implies that the observer is ab initio or at the centre and
the object of observation is a function of the observer. The object is the subject plus
entropy. And the subject is the object minus the entropy. The entire gamut of creation
exists only until the observer is present.

The entire spectrum of all that is visualised could well be merely a holographic algorithm
of perception by the brain. The brain might be a processor that assigns values to the
entropy and converts them to sensory data. A transducer. It's a simple holographic
projection of a multitude of entropy on the screen of pure potential-consciousness.
Consciousness assumes the persona of an individual, also presents itself as creation
and interconnects the two by becoming the act of observation. That is the trichotomy.
And the show goes on. This purposeless show of manifestation is called as chidvilas,
the joy of manifesting.

The brain has several ganglia or group of neurons that serve as destinations for various
sensory data. The different sensory perceptions may lie in merely the different address
to which the data is delivered. This delivery system is pre-programmed. For example,
visual data is directed to the occipital cortex, located at the back of our heads. The brain
processes the terabytes of data and creates the illusion of duality by sending the
incoming data to different loci. Its a processor that integrates varying kinetic energy
patterns into data .

The fidelity of our sensory organs is also a subject of speculation. I call a rose a rose
because I see it just as all others do. Probably proof is in the numbers. But actually, its
a programmes of perceptive software. If my visual cortex were to be stimulated at the
appropriate place whilst simultaneously, the centre for smell recognition were also
triggered, I would perceive a rose with equal conviction despite no such entity being
present. The transient or fleeting nature of all creation lends credibility to the hypothesis
that it is illusory. Creation might just be the kinetic flirting with the potential. In other
words, its the romance of Shiva and Shakti -- a romance within -- that is, the Self
suffused with love.
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Ananda And Multicellular Organisms

Science and Spirituality
DEEPAK M RANADE likens the Shiva-Shakti conjugal union of ananda or bliss to that
of quantum coherence or zero entropy
All Creation Is Energy
All creation is energy, manifesting in different forms. As postulated by Albert Einstein in
his famous E=mc2 equation, and later verified under rather tragic circumstances, mass
and energy are inter-convertible. Energy and matter, however, display a
conjugal relationship. Energy excites matter, and increases its disorder or entropy.

Measuring Chaos
Entropy is the measure of the disorder, randomness or chaos in a given system. As we
heat water, the molecules get agitated and after a point, the water begins to boil. Heat
or thermal energy increases the entropy of water, and further heating causes the water
to change its state and evaporate. The tendency to disseminate and equilibrate matter
and energy across the entire universe is the basis of entropy.
From Order To Disorder And Back

The entropy of the universe is ever increasing with time. Thats a universally
accepted and proven law. Time is a programme that travels uni-directionally, from order
to disorder. Logic, however, demands that the reverse journey, namely from disorder to
order, must also exist. When we tidy up our room that was in disarray, we are taking this
very path. Information systems are another example of decreasing entropy. The greater
the information about a system, there is likely to be less chaos and disorder. DNA
represents a highly complex code of information. It precisely determines the structure
and function of the organism in a very orderly and structured manner.

Lowering And Raising Forces
Nobel laureate Szent-Gyorgyi, who won the award for his work on negative
entropy, postulates that there exists what
he calls the principle of syntropy or negative entropy. Since entropy is a
universal force which causes organised systems to gradually disintegrate into lower
and lower states of organisation, there has to be an opposite force, a force which
causes living things to reach higher and higher levels of organisation, order and
dynamic harmony.

A Cell: The Great Wonder
Inanimate nature stops at the low level organisation of simple molecules. But living
systems go on and combine molecules to form macromolecules, and
macromolecules to form organelles - such as nuclei, mitochondria, chloroplasts,
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ribosomes, and membranes - and eventually put these all together to form the
greatest wonder of creation, a cell, with its astounding inner regulations.

Dynamic Harmony
The multicellular organism is a miracle of sorts. It is all organs working
independently, yet cohesively and synergistically. The billions of cells in a multicellular
organism, each a unit by itself, working congruently and synchronously in a
dynamic harmony.

A Conflict
This complex, structured organisation of cells has become more and more
complex since evolution. This is in conflict with the law that says the entropy of the
universe is always increasing.

Who Is The Conductor Of This Perfect Symphony?
Who is the conductor of this symphony of billions, of multicellular life forms? It is a force
that is conscious, intelligent, pulsating and simultaneously blissful. The scriptures
describe it as satchitananda. This life force orchestrates the plurality of cells with
a syntropic baton.

The Shiva State
The highest state of this dynamic harmony, a state of zero entropy or total
syntropy, is what may be called the Shiva state.

When Shakti Blends With Shiva
Shakti is this entropy, that combines with Shiva in varying proportions, to manifest as
creation. Matter is condensation of energy and energy is sublimation of matter. Matter
and energy are inter-convertible, but its only when they are sanctified by syntropy or
Shiva, that they manifest as life forms, to eventually evolve as the epitome of creation,
as Self-realised beings.

State Of Consciousness
Consciousness may, therefore, not be an emergent phenomenon, as believed by most
neuroscientists, but could be quantum coherence, a state of zero
entropy, a Shiva state.

The Cosmic Waltz
Manifest creation is synergy of syntropy and entropy, a cosmic waltz of Shiva and
Shakti - conjugal bliss of the apparent and the immanent. And, Brahmn is the stage on
which the dance is performed.
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Zero Entropy As The Shiva State

The entropy of the universe increases with time; that's a universally accepted and
proven law. Time is a programme that travels uni-directionally, from order to disorder.
Logic however demands, that the reverse journey, namely disorder to order, must also
exist. Information systems are examples of decreasing entropy. The greater the
information about a system, the less there is of chaos and disorder.

Illusion of Separateness

"What I am, total knowledge or syntropy, induces varying degrees of "what I am not --
ignorance, illusion or entropy -- to manifest itself as this manifold creation.
The concept of entanglement reaffirms this hypothesis. Knowledge or information is
non-dual. It is the inherent property of all manifestation.
Instantaneous transmission of information between entangled particles presupposes a
separation that never exists. Transmission of information in reality merely is lifting the
ignorance of separateness.
Inanimate nature stops at the low level organisation of simple molecules. But living
systems go on and combine molecules to form macromolecules that form organelles --
such as nuclei, mitochondria, chloroplasts, ribosomes, and membranes -- and
eventually put these all together to form the greatest wonder of creation, a cell, with its
astounding inner regulations.
Dynamic Harmony

The multi-cellular organism is a miracle of sorts -- all the organs working independently,
yet cohesively and in synergy; billions of cells, each a unit by itself, working in
congruence, synchronously in dynamic harmony. The complex, structured organization
of cells has become more and more complex since evolution. This is in conflict with the
law that says the entropy of the universe is always increasing.

Supreme Conductor

Who is the conductor of this symphony of billions, of multi-cellular life forms?
It is a force that is conscious, intelligent, pulsating and simultaneously blissful. This life
force orchestrates the plurality of cells with a syntropic baton.
The highest state of this dynamic harmony, a state of zero entropy or total syntropy may
be the Shiva state.
Shakti is entropy, or ignorance that generates a conviction of separateness. Shakti
combines with Shiva or total absolute knowledge in varying proportions to manifest as
creation. Matter is condensation of energy and energy is sublimation of matter. Matter
and energy are inter-convertible, but it's only when they are sanctified by syntropy or
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Shiva, that life force is generated to eventually evolve as the epitome of creation, Self-
realised beings.

Consciousness may therefore not be an emergent phenomenon, as believed by most
neuroscientists, but can be viewed as a quantum coherence, a state of zero entropy, a
Shiva state, a state of knowledge unadulterated by any ignorance, created by its own
self.
It is the pinnacle of intelligence, to be able to cast a spell of ignorance on its own self
and simultaneously become the observer, observed and observation.
Manifest creation is a synergy of syntropy and entropy, a cosmic waltz of Shiva and
Shakti, a duet of intelligence and its self-conceived ignorance.

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Infinite Nature Of Consciousness

For neuroscientists, consciousness has always been an enigma. Is consciousness
restricted to neuronal alchemy? Can consciousness exist in different planes and could it
be non-local?
There have been many recorded instances of out-of-body experience (OBE) that
question our understanding of consciousness.Historically, the transcendental nature of
consciousness prompted attempts to circumvent conformist scientific probity.

Physical To Metaphysical

In his Critique of Pure Reason, Kant distinguished between phenomena, objects as
interpreted by human sensibility and understanding and noumena, objects as things in
themselves, which we humans cannot directly experience. Kant introduced the analytic
synthetic distinction. Analytic was an organic progression of reasoning whilst synthetic
involved an inorganic coupling of diverse thought processes.

According to Kant, a priori knowledge is transcendental, based on the form of
experience, while a posteriori knowledge is empirical, based on the content of the
experience. Consciousness fell in the a priori domain.A paradigm shift from the
physical to the metaphysical was required to cognise cognition.

Another investigative approach, phenomenology, was introduced in the early years of
the 20th century by Edmund Husserl. Phenomenology, from the Greek phainmenon--
that which appears -- and logos, study, is the philosophical study of subjective
experience and consciousnes



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Intuitive Grasp

Phenomenology was a method of philosophical inquiry that rejected the rationalist bias
which dominated Western thought since Plato. Husserls method avoids any judgement,
with more emphasis on the intuitive grasp of knowledge independent of any bias or
logical analysis.

Though phenomenological methods involve various reductions, phenomenology is, in
essence, anti-reductionistic; the reductions being mere tools to better understand
consciousness.

No Reductionism

Consciousness can never be studied by a reductionist approach.The ability to reduce
everything to simple fundamental laws, does not imply the ability to start from those
laws and reconstruct the universe. Consciousness is more an emergent phenomenon
wherein, the whole is not merely more, but very different from the sum of its parts.

Cognition presupposes duality, that is, a subject becoming conscious of an object or its
own self. Self-awareness, we would presume, mandates a form, a discrete entity.
However, consciousness as a state of awareness, an "am-ness" can exist in the
absence of any form, or attribute.

Vedic hermeneutics refer to this formless, attribute-less state as niraakaar, nirgun.
When consciousness transcends the cognitive process,the whole experiencing its
unfragmented wholeness, but beyond the experiencer- experience duality.

About Wholeness

The Ishavasya Upanishad alludes to this wholeness:

That Supreme Brahmn is infinite,
and this conditioned Brahmn is infinite.
The infinite proceeds from infinite.
Then through knowledge,
realising the infinitude of infinite,
it remains as the Infinite alone

In other words, This is complete, that is complete. From that completeness comes this
completeness. Even if the complete is taken away from the complete, what remains is
completeness.
The vedas allude to a plane of consciousness that exists without being conscious of
itself. This state is referred to as neneev, the complementary opposite of consciousness
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-- a state that dispenses with am-ness. It is blissful unawareness that is not
unconscious, but trans-conscious.

The exalted nonduality that spawns consciousness and its complementary neneev or
trans-consciousness is Brahmn.

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The Illusion Of Incompleteness

The Illusion Of Incompleteness remains because we are trapped in a self-referential
paradox, writes DEEPAK RANADE.
Om Poornamadah, Poornamidam
Poornaad Poornamudachyate;
Poornasya Poornamaadaaya
Poornamevaavashisyate
The invisible (Brahmn) is full;
The visible (the world), too, is full.
From the full, the full having come;
The full (Brahmn) remains the same.
This shloka from the Ishavasya Upanishad defines completeness as an intrinsic, a priori
state. All manifestation is tangible expression of the intangible, unmanifest singularity or
Brahmn. This singularity is a completeness that is simultaneously conscious and
blissful. Creation is merely, pleomorphism the occurrence of more than one distinct
form of a natural object of that fundamental singularity.
Creation in all its manifold splendour was embedded with a delusion of incompleteness.
The karmic cycle is pedalled by desire. Desire is based on the assumption that if this
incomplete I gets a certain that, then I will be complete. Desire of any kind stems from
an incompleteness of the subject with a conviction of gratification by getting the object
that is desired.

An intrinsically complete subject imagines it will become complete by acquiring an
extrinsic object. Ancient Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu, an early articulator of
Taoism, sums completeness in a different light: All things good, bad, beautiful, ugly
exist together in a complex totality, or Way, that unfolds of its own accord,
impervious to human desires or interventions.... The real is originally there in things, and
the sufficient is originally there in things. Theres nothing that is not real and nothing
that is not sufficient.... Hence, the blade of grass and the pillar, the leper and the
ravishing beauty, the noble, the snivelling, the disingenuous, the strange in Way,
they all move as one and the same.
Chuang Tzu has used the word sufficient, which, in the upanishads, is referred to as
poornam. Both terms mean whole, integral, complete. Chuang has explained the term
by referring to integration of opposite-pairs to form the whole. True nature of reality can
never be apperceived by a fractured perception.
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The symbolic systems we use to describe and comprehend the universe are not
separate from the universe, they are part of the universe. Since we are within the
system, our comprehension is incomplete. Completion of the model can never happen
because of the basic self-referential paradox: the model is within the universe, so in
effect, the universe would have to be larger than itself.
Completeness can never want anything. Its only the illusion of being incomplete that
wants to seek. Completeness is in being. Incompleteness is in becoming or wanting to
become. Completeness is in silence, incompleteness is in words. Incompleteness is the
reductionism of scientific thought. Completeness is the wisdom of assimilation. Ego is
incompleteness casting a spell on consciousness. Ego generates an identity, a sense of
discreteness. This separateness haunts the internally complete Self to look outward.
Completeness is within. Incompleteness is without. Effacement of this separateness is
completeness.

Knowledge is incomplete. Experience is completeness. The incompleteness of
knowledge has been stated by Ramana Maharshi in Upadesa Saram: Gnyaana varjitaa
agnyaana-heena chith understanding God with the logical mind filled with
knowledge is impossible and such a desire is itself an obstacle to realisation. The
conclusion of this shloka is Poornamevaavashisyate. With the insight of Self-knowledge,
one realises there is no sorrow, since the Self is ever-full, the Self is eternal Bliss.
The gist of Poornamadah, Poornamidam has to be experienced like Ramana Maharshi
has said, and not merely understood. Otherwise, our completeness will continue to be
gripped by the spell of incompleteness wanting to seek what we already are.
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The David Within
Michelangelos masterpiece, David, symbolises the potential in us that can emerge by
finely chiselling out all that is irrelevant, writes DEEPAK M RANADE
Michelangelos sculpture David, a classic, is a Renaissance interpretation of a common
ancient Greek theme of the standing heroic male nude when contrapposto poses were
considered to be a distinctive feature of antique sculptures. The Italian word
contrapposto (counterpose) is used to describe a human figure standing with its weight
on one foot so that his shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs, giving
the figure a more dynamic appearance.
All of Michelangelos contemporaries have envisioned David in various postvictory
stances with the slain head of Goliath alongside as a testimonial of sorts. Sculptors
Donatello and Verrocchio have depicted the hero standing victorious over the head of
Goliath, and Andrea del Castagno has shown the boy with Goliaths head resting
between his feet.
All of Michelangelos contemporaries have envisioned David in various postvictory
stances with the slain head of Goliath alongside as a testimonial of sorts. Sculptors
Donatello and Verrocchio have depicted the hero standing victorious over the head of
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Goliath, and Andrea del Castagno has shown the boy with Goliaths head resting
between his feet.

Michelangelos depiction is a dynamic, charged version, just prior to action. It attempts
to capture the confidence, resolve and conviction prior to engaging with an adversary of
epic proportions the magic moment when one makes a conscious choice between
fight and flight. The expression symbolises angst, coupled with confidence, a blend of
both, equally necessary in perfect measure to ensure victory. The anatomical details
effectively convey a musculature that is taut, tense and charged; a psychosomatic
symphony of sorts. Michelangelo worked on the statue of the biblical hero for more than
two years.
David was sculpted out of a ruined block of marble rejected by all of Michelangelos
contemporaries. He said that he instantly envisaged the image he was seeking to create
when he saw the stone monolith. In that moment, he had a very clear, unambiguous
image of David in his mind. He then needed only to chip away at all that did not look
David to reveal the masterpiece.

Losing Extra Baggage
We all have hidden within us a David that eagerly waits to be uncovered. It requires
tools like honesty, pragmatism, determination, discipline, clarity and effort to sculpt the
obvious and reveal the magic. It also requires a great deal of motivation to chisel away
all that is not David gradually, but definitively. For those who cannot see the concealed
David within, its a process of trial and error that at times unveils distorted images.

There are a fortunate few, who have a very clear image of their own David. Such
fortunate souls get on with their task with amazing clarity. They deploy appropriate
tools, measures, efforts, and work on themselves steadfastly. Their demeanour is a
picture of conviction, self-assurance and confidence. They are not affected by any trials
or tribulations they might encounter on their chosen path. The call of the David within is
very strong and serves to guide every blow that lands on the chisel. There is no
remorse at losing what is non-David.
Each piece that is shaved off falls effortlessly leaving behind no scar or injury. These
shaved off bits are temptations, distractions, doubts, imperfections, indulgences,
limitations, emotional baggage and diffidence. Their removal not only adds more
meaning, shape, aesthetic beauty to the figure, but also makes it much lighter.

Giving a blow requires courage, strength and a very clear image of ones own David.
Patience is a mandatory virtue, as oftentimes the monolith is unyielding and stubborn.
Excessive force when imparting the blow can disfigure it. The chisel at times needs to
be moved as it is struck to get those subtle curves and the finer nuances. The dynamics
of the blow also have a philosophy. They are not mere aggression but rather a blend of
assertive, controlled passion and tenderness. The process of sculpting ones own
David is a very gentle metamorphosis that doesnt leave any residual rough edges of
pain and grief or remorse. A certain ease and effortlessness were the hallmark of this
Michelangelo method.

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Masters Method
Michelangelo was not merely a very talented artist but a great thinker of his times. His
thoughts also reflected the Renaissance era he belonged to, and each sculpture of his
was a reflection of The Michelangelo Method. The gist of this method as mentioned in
historical references:
To find your personal masterpiece, direct your mind, which is divinely inspired, to your
inner self your values, your passions and your strengths. Once youve uncovered
your vision, commit to your goals with confidence. To be successful, you will need to
plan carefully, creatively using your unique experience, obtain necessary support, and
battle to overcome obstacles. In doing so, be sure to live with integrity, remaining true to
yourself.
The human being, evolved as he is, has the sharpest tool available to chisel his own
David, the intelligence and capability of Self-realisation. This enables him to
comprehend and discriminate between David and the non-David. When all that is
non-David is removed painstakingly, what remains as David is pure, unadulterated,
blissful consciousness, the Self.
Exalted Awareness
In vedic philosophy, the sculpting process is one of negation, that is, neti, neti, meaning,
not this, not this. The seeker negates identification with all tangible, sensory
interpretation of the world which is not the Atman, or realising it as Anatman. Through
this gradual process, he transcends all worldly experiences till nothing remains but the
Self.
The true Self is an exalted awareness, a blissful state of simply being rather than
becoming.

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Illusions and 'beyond' help in self-realisation
The original undivided pluri-potent being had the option of remaining unmanifest
Manifestation was one of the limitless options available to this source For awareness to
experience itself, a state of duality had to be induced It needed to cleave itself and
induce a pseudo-dichotomy of perceiver and perceived This process is similar to the
process of a developing embryo The single cell replicates itself rapidly and
metamorphoses into this complex and differentiated multi-organ form In reality, we.all
are just one cell that has differentiated itself into specified functional units.

When I touch my hair it actually is the manifestation of a single cell touching another
expression of itself and the same cell also has the capability to comprehend this "touch"
phenomenon All creation is an induced illusion of duality to enable the source to
experience itself The process of creation is in itself a gratifying experience All artists,
when they create a work of art, experience ecstasy on giving birth to a new idea, new
thought The sheer joy of manifesting in such diversity may be.the objective of this
exercise by the source.

He not only created multiple loci of consciousness but also ensured that His creation
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was made oblivious to the source of its origins Time and space were introduced as
illusory media to ensure the delusion of separateness of creation This being was
programmed with the ability to discover his origins, and provided the means to enjoy the
rest of creation as well Since the being was just a manifestation of the source, he also
had all the attributes of the source The resolve and ability to achieve anything he
desires, the capacity to experience total bliss, and above all the freedom to exercise
choice.

Selfless creation mandated that the being was given an illusion of being the 'doer'. The
self-effacement of the source could be a precondition for nourishing the identity of His
creation. This illusion of being the doer and the centre of the universe manifests as
ego. Ego served initially as a tool for self-preservation but as it crystallises further it
totally envelops the consciousness and impedes realisation of its true nature. The ego
constantly reaffirms this illusionary duality. The more the.ego hardens the farther it
moves the being away from the knowledge of his true identity.

It then embarks on a game wherein the being gets an illusion of having control and the
ability to manipulate the environment for its own happiness Awareness when focus-ed
outward gets entangled in a web of duality Then there is no limit to its indulgence This
kaleidoscopic creation has a potent arsenal to engage this awareness into its diverse
forms Indulgence is addictive and it keeps drawing this awareness into its throes,
distancing itself from its true identity Obsession with the materialistic world is actually as
ludicrous as my hand being obsessed with my nose.

The ultimate objective is for consciousness to be able to perceive itself This could be
attained by various means and paths. This knowledge is already there within. The
illusion is to look for it 'without'. All other knowledge is duality-based and may at best
help in providing analogies. However, analogy is a cheap substitute for experience. The
purpose of creation was for the source to experience itself. Creation is like democracy
Made of the source, by the source and for the source. Self-awareness or unperceiving
is self-realisation.

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Reaching the point of no return
It seemed an impossible task, trying to jump across the barbed fence that was a little
more than half of his own height. Retracing his steps, he took a run up to the fence once
again, but only to abort his attempt as he approached the fence. These attempts were
leading to nowhere and were now beginning to make him increasingly frustrated and
despondent. Eventually, he took out his wallet and threw it over the fence. He
deliberately forced himself to a point of no return, as he severed options that might lead
to his not jumping over the fence.

Often, our anxiety and sense of insecurity forces us to keep alternatives. We usually
have a plan B, C and D to every plan A, as a kind of insurance against possible failure
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of plan A. But this very insurance may sometimes blunt the efforts to make plan A
successful. We read about the 'rags to riches' stories of people who overcame
tremendous odds to rise from the brink of total destruction. The desire to succeed gets
amplified in inverse proportion to available options. The 'no-other-option' mindset now
becomes a matter of survival.

''Action and reaction are equal and opposite,'' states a fundamental law of motion. When
the forces against are perceived as potential threat to one's survival, the reaction
generated is also one that matches these forces. Do we really strive to do our best in
every endeavour of ours? Is it necessary for circumstances to push us to a point of no
return to get the best out of us? In the Gita, Krishna spoke of doing one's best with no
regard to the outcome. Pushed to the limits, one is scarcely obsessed with the outcome
as what remains is merely the instinct to survive.

Then the success of all endeavours is relegated to becoming just a by-product of one's
efforts. The strength of one's efforts lies in one's conviction in self-capacity. Self-
confidence ought to, ideally, surpass one's faith in any other, be it a deity or person.
Embarking on anything new involves exiting one's comfort zone for this zone becomes
bondage. It raises imaginary fears of failure that stymie the will to rise and go forward.
Most success stories have an element of acting on strong impulse (sometimes labelled
foolhardiness).

Yet, these very stories are also coupled with a strong self-belief and a never-say-die
attitude. Problems are part perception, largely self-doubt and a bit of reality. That is why
a problem to one person manifests itself as opportunity to another. Necessity is the
mother of invention. This obsession spots the obvious where conformism and comfort
blind conventional vision. Leaving oneself no escape route requires immense courage
and conviction. Having a plan B is what wisdom would suggest, but wisdom is the luxury
afforded to the comfort zone.

Security eliminates the thrill of going all out and blunts the cutting edge of effort. The
paradox of a no-alternative mindset is that it opens up alternatives within us. We
become aware of facets within that we never knew existed. This helps develop a lateral
thinking ability and raises the bar of our own abilities. Hence adversity often stimulates
growth. And there is the contribution by the limitless universe as we tread on this path of
no return. Serendipity and help from unexpected quarters are nature's way of rewarding
courage and conviction to the traveller who chooses to take the plunge.
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Neurological basis of samadhi

The Neurological correlates of Samadhi, or Self-realization

The thalamus is a paired structure joined at the midline and sitting very near the centre
of the brain. In humans, each half is roughly the size and shape of a walnut. Essentially,
all information reaching the brain, and thus consciousness is relayed through the
thalamus.
All the objective information that is generated from the sense organs is essentially
coupled or tagged, with a subjective coordinate by the thalamus. This tagged data is
then stored appropriately for future reference.
A computer stores data too, but impersonally. This data storage is totally a function of
operating system, common to all the machines using it. There is no preferential, or
biased data storage, that is unique to each computer.
The same visual image viewed by two different individuals is perceived, interpreted and
stored differently. This emotional indexing is mediated by the complex
interconnections of the thalamus with different centres of the brain.
On reaching the thalamus, the signal percolates like a drop of ink on blotting paper
(thalamo-cortical radiation) to adjacent processing areas such as-
The hippocampus: This has a crucial function in the creation of memory. It has
specialized adjustable synaptic receptors called NMDA receptors that can assign a
constellation of properties linking an object and its context.
The amygdala: The amygdala is largely responsible for generating and regulating major
emotions such as anger, happiness, joy, sadness, and mainly fright.
Orbitofrontal cortex: If, driving to work on a Monday morning, you have had a narrow
escape at a particular intersection on the road, it is very likely that for a long time
thereafter, there will be a knot in the stomach when approaching that intersection,
specifically on Mondays around the same time. The orbitofrontal cortex has stored the
spatio temporal coordinates, and the amygdala has stored the fear.
The anterior cingulate cortex: The anterior cingulate cortex monitors the direction of
activity, and progress toward a set goal. It has the ability to rework the strategy if the
existing one does not seem to work.
The above mentioned centres are part of the limbic' system, which is an important
constituent of even the very primitive reptilian brain.
These emotional coordinates weave a pleasure - pain, attachment -avoidance grid. Our
identity is pure Consciousness trapped in this matrix of likes, dislikes , preferences and
aversions,
an identity that we generate of ourselves for ourselves, by ourselves.
Based on this matrix of emotional coordinates, the various synaptic connections
respond to subsequent inputs by an effulgence of neurotransmitters that generate a
myriad of motor responses.
The human brain has an evolutionary upgrade. An intelligence that can discern,
discriminate and transcend this program of emotional tagging. This intelligence is called
'vivek'.
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This program could be transcended by inhibiting the spread of thalamo-cortical
radiations. Practices such as meditation or chanting may facilitate this inhibition to a
point of 'Vairaagya' or a state of detachment.
This is a state or a discipline that results in control of the spread of the sensory inputs
from the thalamus and subsequent emotional tagging.
Using vivek, the potent power of discrimination, vairagya is effected, more as a
consequence. Renunciation as a beginning of all spiritual endeavour, might be putting
the cart before the horse- the effect preceding the cause.
Vairagya is the ability to restrict all data to the objective domain, eliminating the
subject totally. In neurological terms, it would be described as an elimination of
neuronal segregation, reducing the hierarchy of neurotransmssion to a monarchal
singularity ;
an ability that progresses to sharp focus and localise perception to mere awareness .
Transcending personal consciousness to a state of total objective impersonal
awareness, a point of cognitive bliss that expands to become the manifest universe, a
state of Samadhi.

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The importance of distancing oneself
The life size painting looked spectacular from a distance. The figure on the canvas
seemed life like and felt as if she would walk straight out of the picture and sit next to
you any moment. The canvas seemed to have frozen her in time, but it could not
restrain the vitality in her eyes as also her vivacious expression. As I moved closer to
appreciate the work of art, my optical zoom started picking up subtle imperfections. The
strokes of the brush had left their footprints at various spots. The different shades that
were amorphously merging into a continuum now showed some individuality. As I got
closer ,the nuances seemed to look coarse and when only a couple of feet separated
me from the canvas, i seemed to realise that my intense appreciation of this art relied
on a sort of visual distortion that the distance generated. The picture (the object) and
me (the subject) remained the same. What changed the equation was the distance
which manipulated my perception. The greater distance afforded a birds eye view of the
picture. It permitted a more holistic assessment. From a distance, the strokes merged
effortlessly into one another self effacingly . They collectively created an optical illusion
of reality. Stepping closer made the individual strokes far more egoistic and assert
their uniqueness. Jostling for attention. Focusing on smaller and smaller portions
distorted the picture .The apparent perfection from a distance was paradoxically a
symphony of imperfections. Distance forgave these imperfections and blessed my
perception with a wholesome benevolence. The beauty of the picture seemed to rely on
a certain minimum distance, a threshold of sorts ,which ,when transgressed revealed a
distortion. " The law of diminishing beauty" , in the economics of appreciation.
Proximity comes at the cost of scrutiny which throws up imperfections, that are
innate or inevitable. Distance conceals imperfections subtlely without intent to
deceive. Distance, between subject and object has wider connotations. Maintaining
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distance impacted relationships, appraisal of our lives, dealing with a problems, and
maybe for a host of perceptive phenomenon. Being close to a person requires an
acceptance of his imperfections which will eventually become obvious. Continuous
proximity over time highlights the imperfections and "love " may be developing a
conditioned ability to blur the incongruence in the person. A holistic "distanced"
appraisal of life is the cornerstone for happiness. Life is a mosaic, a collage, and its
beauty lies in perceiving it in totality. The human body is the greatest testimony to this
truth. The body an inveritable mosaic of cells working synchronously and selflessly.
Each cell as alive as the entire form. And yet, working silently, and unobtrusively. The
beauty of the entire form lies in a continuity , and harmony of its individual constituents.
A "pixelated " view of existence is the harbinger of unhappiness and frustration. Such
a mindset distorts the beauty of life by a futile attention to detail. Ability to look at the
larger picture, helps maintain balance and equanimity. The larger picture is visible only
if one takes those crucial few steps to distance oneself . The distance that is so crucial
to obscure the imperfections into an integrated assessment of reality. For those who
look at life close upfront, the aberrations predominate and become a source of misery
and bitterness .They lack the ability to see an underlying holistic beauty in the casual
disarray of life. Extremes of this mindset manifest as ailments , such as OCD,
hypertension ,depression to name a few. Reality is a blend of perfection and
imperfection. What can be changed is perception.. I walked away from the picture to the
exit, with a deep sense of respect for "distance " that was as crucial for the beauty of the
painting as the genius of the artist. Dr. Deepak Ranade. (the author is a consultant
neurosurgeon)

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Learning to Unlearn

Learning is as much a process of deprogramming as much as acquiring or acquainting
with something new.
Learning something new, must be preceded by a process of deprogramming that
eliminates pre-existing paradigms and misconceptions. Learning physiologically is a
process of conditioning. It involves recruitment of neural networks or pathways, which
after sufficient time and repetitions get established. Thereafter, conditioning works at a
quasi involuntary level. A classic example is that of driving. Initially as a novice, every
action is deliberate, premeditated and one has to very consciously focus on the activity.
Later on as the reflexes get strengthened, the same activity becomes very effortless
and gradually moves to a sub-conscious level. And soon we can engage in a
conversation or even grab a bite whilst driving. Many of our belief systems and thought
processes post conditioning work below the consciousness horizon. Once the template
is set, these anagrams become an integral part of the individuals perceptive and
thought processes. We scarcely realize that these deeply etched programs serve as
major deterrents from learning anything new. That partly explains why adults need a
longer while to learn a new skill like computers or a new language whereas kids seem
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to take to this new skill like a fish takes to water. That is because the kids hard disc is
unformatted and can imbibe a new concept faster and better than an adult who first has
to undo some hardwired programs. These established neural networks increase the
resistance to accepting fresh thoughts and ideas. On deeper introspection we would
realize, that most of our belief systems are just a legacy of our environment and
upbringing. Religion, culture, behavioral patterns are a few such examples. This
indoctrination happens subconsciously but has far reaching consequences.
Along with the passage of time, all such recorded programs spin a cocoon around the
individual. Impermeable to newer thought process. All intolerance to new ideas is
consequential to this rigid unyielding cocoon.
All revolutionary inventions have become possible only when the concerned person
broke open this cocoon of conformist thought process. The person had to delearn
conventional wisdom to make way for newer wisdom. Religion has always beckoned
mankind along the ages. It still remains one of the most profound influences on our
lives. Religion programs the thought processes and sooner than we realize, we align
ourselves to one of the many isms. But the basis of all religion is to attain Godhood, or
self-realisation or swaroop saakshaatkar Various sects and religions have over the
years programmed their followers along different lines. These regulatory protocols are
ideally the means to the end but unfortunately have become the end themselves. The
extreme obsession with form precludes any tryst with the formless. All spiritual pursuits
are adulterated with preformed notions and are the scourge of liberation. It would be
paradoxical to confine the omniscient omnipresent being to the narrow bandwidth of our
perceptive focus . As a learned sage said, Liberation is not of the individual but from the
individual. From the shackles of our thought processes. Self-realisation as a concept, is
again a construct of our thought. But self-realisation transcends thought. Till there is
thought, there is an entity that is thinking, and this separate entity that asserts its
separateness is bondage. The finite can never perceive the infinite. It can only become
infinite. And once that happens, who or what remains to perceive ?. It cannot be
engineered, because all attempts made by the doer only underlines his separateness,
which defeats the very purpose. Somewhat akin to the monkey, with its hand trapped in
a cookie jar. Trying to get its hand out of the narrow neck of a bottle whilst holding the
cookie. All efforts are in vain until the monkey releases the cookie and extricates its
hand. This cookie of our belief systems and conditioning that we all hold on for dear life
surely has to be relinquished. This delearning of all pre-existing programs and concepts
is a precondition to self awareness.

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The metaphysics of love.
Love -a ubiquitously used word that unleashes so many emotions and feelings. Is it a
romance that has inspired poets, a virtue preached by religion, or merely , chemical
pandemonium in the neuronal circuits? Is it a sense of possession, ownership or
control? Is it an acceptance or a dependence? Is it subjugation or submission? Is it
desire or an overwhelming need to be desired? Is it a surreal emotional high, or just,
an euphemism for rudimentary biological behaviour?
Love conventionally encompasses a multitude of emotions; from the selfless and
unconditional, to a pathological, paranoid obsession ; from empathy and compassion to
an insane ,inexplicable passion. From attachment and dependence, to a very liberating
and inspiring experience. A spectrum that extends from divinity to despair; from a
benediction to transcend to a curse of lustful, beastly regression.
Nomenclatures abound, - filial love, maternal indulgence, platonic love, conjugal love,
compassion, empathy, the sobriquets just go on endlessly.
Prima facie, Love is a bond that binds, a virtue that connects, giving a sense of purpose
in this otherwise meaningless hedonistic existence.
It paradoxically also harbours the potential to hurt, cause pain, create
misunderstandings and grief. Why does an emotion that can potentially liberate
mutate into a tool of torment?
Love based on acquisition comes with a shelf life. Valid till the object of affection
remains captive on the shelf of possession. A possession that is available for
indulgence any time , to gloat over with a pride of ownership. This joy, however, is a
package that comes with a subtle fine print, 'terms and conditions apply' implicitly and
unobtrusively.
These terms and conditions restrict the validity of the emotion to circumstances frozen
in time and place. Any thawing of the same with the passage of time effects
disintegration of this conditioned emotion.
This conditional love is divisive , a love that discriminates the subject as separate from
the object and depends on the equation between the two for its survival. Love that is
subject to specifications is transient, and volatile ,changes shades as the specifications
change, inevitably.
A radioactive isotope , with variable half lives, but irreversibly decaying with time. A
love that comes packaged with fear, and an insecurity of change. A change, either in
the subject, object or their equation, and this ecstasy morphs into agony.
Can love ever be eternal? Can this emotional transience, evolve, beyond mere
gratification of the ego and the senses into a state of unending bliss?
This fleeting duality based high is merely a glimpse of the eternal bliss of Nonduality. A
state of bliss and compassion experienced in oneness, without any anxiety of
separation. A fearless unconditional state.
A state that does not seek recourse from insecurity but rather dispels any need for
it.Love, experienced as the need to merge, has the ability to liberate when a state of
unison is achieved. 'Selfless' love is the exalted state of bliss when this emotion is
experienced by transcending the form. Using the form as an instrument to pitchfork the
consciousness of the 'self' into the abyss of selflessness.
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This love liberates, sets free. It is no longer a bondage, between the subject and the
object . It does not become a phenomenon linking the two. It becomes the noumenon, a
source that manifests as subject and object, to experience itself through its own
manifestations. Like Radha's realisation that Krishna was not merely a personification,
but an instrument to merge her own Identity into. Krishna, was a transformation of her
own self, into a state of
formless, eternal bliss, beyond subject and object, beyond nomenclatures.

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The true god particle
The discovery of the Higgs Boson , bearing the misnomer "The God Particle" has
stirred up the the passions of the scientific as well as the spiritual communities.
Censored to God from goddamned, the act of eliminating profanity from the original
expression of exasperation by Lederman deified this elusive particle, the perpetrator of
mass in the sub atomic realm. The standard model of physics broadly predicts two
categories of sub atomic particles ,viz fermions and bosons. Bosons, are particles with
an integer spin, with the same energy can occupy the same place in space. They are
the force carrier particles. While most bosons are composite particles, in the Standard
Model, there are five bosons which are elementary: the four gauge bosons ( g Z
W) and the Higgs boson (H0)n contrast, Fermions , particles with a half integer
spin,(leptons and quarks) are the building blocks of matter. Forces are mediated by
massless particles operating at the quantum level. The tangible at the mercy of the
intangible. The Higgs Boson lends tangibility to the intangible (massless) subatomic
world. The standard model however fails to provide answers at the macro level. It
cannot explain gravity, an extremely weak force, that gets amplified by humongous
sizes of the objects that seem to generate this attraction over equally massive
distances. The graviton (G), a hypothetical elementary particle not incorporated in the
Standard Model, if it exists, must be a boson, and could conceivably be a gauge boson.
The micro and the macro appear to have a schizophrenic dichotomy of underlying
scientific explanations. The Theory of everything still a far cry aims to reconcile this
existential aberration. Consciousness as is conventionally understood is an attribute of
the "life force" at the macro level. An extrapolation of the standard model hypothesis
should predict a massless particle to mediate this emergent phenomenon of the
"animate" world. Could consciousness be merely a function of neurotransmitters, an
alchemy in this neuronal laboratory ? Could there be a field that mediates this subtle
yet powerful phenomenon just as the Higgs field that is necessary to explain the
genesis of mass from the massless? The double slit experiment and it's subsequent
modifications throw up possibilities of intelligence and consciousness at the "micro
"level. The photon behaves differently when it realises it is being observed. The entire
quantum world behaves quaintly, as if it has a mind of its own. Just as there seem to
be two sets of rules governing the macro and the quantum worlds, there may just be a
different form of conscious intelligence operating differently in both these worlds. There
may just be another form of intelligence - " Quantum intelligence", having its own
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domain and jurisprudence. Consciousness and intelligence may not be just an
"emergent " phenomenon of the macro world, but the fundamental constituent of the
subatomic quantum world. As the observer becomes vital to the existence of creation,
the observed may just be observing as well, with a consciousness of its own. Like
finding an eye at the other end when prying through a key-hole. The trinity of observer,
observed and observation may just be an illusion created by a grand unified all
pervading conscious intelligence. The true "God Particle " will therefore be a particle
that assigns consciousness to the subatomic quantum world. Or possibl y , this entire
universe may just be a particle of consciousness - "The God Particle".

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Free will v/s determinism , the eternal dilemma

Life is all about making choices. Right from the trivial, what to eat, what clothes to
wear,to larger and more far reaching issues like career and marriage.
Making a choice implies that we do indeed have free will.
There are however moments when we confront the irrational , unexpected and
inexplicable. Situations when, despite all efforts, the tantalisingly close objective
eludes, almost as if part of some grand conspiracy .
In such moments our intelligence flirts with the possibility of a deterministic destiny.
Anxiety about the future coupled with a helplessness of being totally at the mercy of
factors beyond our control pushes us to look for a pattern or program. Some order in
this chaotic irrationality called life. Is there any master coordinating this symphony of
existence with every member playing prefixed cords and notes or is it mere free willed
jamming? Sounds a bit unbelievable that the creator would leave his "piece de
resistance "on an auto mode.
Do we really have free will at all ?
Dr Libet in the 80s performed a simple experiment where a subject was wired up to an
EEG (device to record electrical brain activity ) and simultaneously, an EMG recorded
muscular activity, associated with a motor act, like moving the hand . Conscious
decision to move the hand resulted in electrical activity from the cortex of the brain and
actual movement caused a spike in the EMG.
There was a delay of 200 millisecs between the decision to move the hand and actual
motor act of moving the hand. That was on expected lines.
Surprisingly,the EEG revealed a buzz of electrical discharges that preceded the
subjects conscious decision to move the hand by about 300 milliseconds. This famous
experiment demonstrated the unconscious electrical processes in the brain called
"Bereitschaftspotential "(readiness potential) that precede conscious decisions to
perform volitional or spontaneous acts.
The trigger to these electrical discharges remains in the realm of the subconscious or
then, perhaps, just testimony to determinism, or destiny.
Where do thoughts arise? What makes us think in a particular way ?
This "readiness potential " recorded by Libets experiment does seem to lend a fatalistic
hue to all our thoughts and actions hitherto believed to be the suzerainty of our free will.
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The free will vs determinism conflict looks unresolvable. Simply because we might
have to bifurcate reality into two parallel universes, to verify this hypothesis. In one, the
subject behaves deliberately in a particular manner,(free will) and in the other there is
no such proactive contribution (deterministic).
We then merge the two universes again and evaluate which path unfolds, the free will or
the deterministic. This is a thought experiment , and is incredulous.
Verification of determinism or free will is seemingly impossible to investigate.
If the future of all of us is inexorably interlinked it would seem very egoistic to believe in
having the wherewithal to change the destiny of all those connected with us, along with
our own.
It could well be , that the freely chosen option was precisely what was predetermined if
viewed impersonally and dispassionately. This is aptly expressed in this mythological
anecdote.
Garuda, the celestial eagle, who transported Vishnu once took his master to a meeting
of all the Gods. He noticed a small bird at the entrance and as Yamaraj, The Lord of
Death strode in, he glanced at the small bird sympathetically and continued for the
meeting. Garuda surmised that the time was up and the fate of the small bird was
sealed.
Out of compassion for that weak helpless bird, he carried the bird along and flew at the
speed of light for a few hours placing it secure in a deep ravine, far from any predators
or danger. He returned back in time when the meeting was over and asked Yamaraj,
why did he look so sceptically at the small bird prior to the meeting. Yamaraj replied, " I
was wondering what the bird was doing here when it ought to be light years away in a
deep ravine."

Subjective and objective consciousness

Consciousness if identified with "I" , as the doer is left with no alternative but to
subscribe to a conviction in free will. The "I" or ego becomes meaningless without the
free will. Free will is the proactive force that fuels the doership. This "I" consciousness
is totally subjective, personal, and restrictive.
Free will from the perspective of this i is a freedom of choice from a superset of
possibilities coupled with a conviction that the future is a totally unchartered territory.
If consciousness transcends the "i" and expands beyond the subjective restriction, it
becomes objective.
Consciousness dematerialised into an impersonal awareness, that just observes
without assessing the situation as a cause effect paradigm.
An undifferentiated primal state of conscious awareness that transcends the personal
"I" consciousness. An omnijective state, that is subjective and objective simultaneously.
An awareness of the consciousness , by the consciousness, for the consciousness,
prior to the subject object differentiation. The deterministic view then becomes objective
with no personal or subjective bias.
To this consciousness, it does not matter if any event is predetermined or not because
it is an awareness from which springs this entire manifestation as also this quest to
know.
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Terrorism- A form of cancer
Pyrrhic Victory
The frail and debilitated body was a tragic caricature of its pre-morbid healthy and
strong disposition .Surgical excision of the malignancy ridden parts had taken further toll
of the dwindling vitality. Cancer had totally ravaged major portions of the body and
rendered it impossible to perform even basic activities of day to day living. The irony of
the situation was that the body itself had manufactured this lethal cell producing factory,
that gradually destroyed itself.
Modalities like chemo-therapy, or surgery are available, but effect a sort of Pyrrhic
victory. Using toxic drugs, or surgical excision are extreme measures, and can never
be remedial by any stretch of imagination.
When malignancy strikes, and spreads to different sites, how many extensions can be
excised? Delivering toxic drugs does impact the normal tissues as well. How long will
the body bear such insults?
Terrorism is like a malignancy. Once a few cells escape the sovereignty of the organism
and become autonomous, they continue to multiply, at the cost of the host and wreak
havoc till finally the host succumbs. Paradoxical that these cells end up killing the very
host that nourished them.
One of the etiological factors that triggers this metamorphosis from normal to malignant
cells is chronic irritation. Repeated abuse of the tissues destroys them. The
regenerative apparatus ensures periodic repair and replacement of the damaged cells.
When a threshold is crossed, the repair mechanism gets deregulated and then goes in
a frenzy of producing new cells, which eventually overwhelm the host. Every organism
is in essence, a conglomerate of cells functioning with extreme synchronicity and order.
The body is a symphony, produced by the orchestra of different systems and organs
working in tandem and in an orderly manner. Entropy or disorder is introduced due to
repeated abuse and irritation. The body has a great amount of tolerance and innate
ability to deal with insult, but when this limit is also transgressed, it is left with no option
but to destroy itself. Destroying terrorist organisations or terrorists is like merely
excising part of a rapidly spreading cancer. Using force or weapons is analogous to
using cyto-toxic drugs. Such measures destroy normal cells also which are in the
functional vicinity of the malignant cells. It is a very temporary respite and does nothing
in terms of effecting a cure. Ideologies (religious or otherwise) take the form of
instruments of irritation and abuse. They spread insidiously and propagate with an
absolute conviction of their own virtue. They have scarce regard to the diversity of the
host factors. The success of an ideology in one micro-environment does not ratify its
universality. Other environs deal with this foreign ideology as an antigen and react
violently. This response is not the fault of the host. Its the fault of the antigenic
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stimulation. The body works on an all or none program. It will either not react at all or
then react with full throttle. This response transcends all logic and cannot be reversed
once put into motion. Not initiating it is far more prudent than attempts to negotiate after
triggering it. The transformation of orderly functional cells into an autonomous mass with
the potential to destroy the host has to be stopped rather than focussing on means of
containing these transformed cells. Once they are transformed, they evolve
and become refractory to all modalities deployed to reign them in. The microcosm
provides us insights to deal with the macrocosm. Just that we have to be smart enough
to observe and learn from these time-tested cues.
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Realisation- the infinitesimal distance between "I" and "Me"
"I" is an "amness " , pure awareness. A first person singular, how I address myself.
It's existence is never questioned, or doubted . It is an a priori state.
"Me" is a personal pronoun I use when a second person perspective enters . It helps
distinguish "I" and the non "I",a notional connect between "I " and the universe. It
defines a locus, a distinct margin that culls "I" from the world around .
Are "I" and "me" interchangeable ? Are they synonyms , metaphors to depict the same
locus of "self -consciousness " ? Are these merely syntax, personal pronouns to
facilitate interaction.?

"Me" is an impression "I " construct of myself. "Me " is the cloth that drapes the
nakedness of "I". "Me "is the spatio-temporal construct, that "I" needs to cognise itself.
Me brings along a duality, of subject and object. "I" rested in singularity, but now
becomes restive in this duality that springs with "me, my ,mine" the ego that further
crystallises and defines this "I".
This "me" also becomes a nidus for a spectrum of emotions, that are an inevitable
consequence of subject object interaction.
"I" is self sufficient, but "me"infects "I" with dependence . The pure existentialism of "I"
adulterated with the angst of "me, mine"
Life is the gradual transition from "I" to "me", in the initial half, which should undergo a
quantum perceptive shift, that eliminates the parallax between "I" and "me". Without
this shift, Life remains a journey of " I "want to become ........., a seemingly endless
journey with no destination. A purposefully purposeless indulgence ,an emotional roller
coaster ride of this apparition "I" call "Me".
The "me" keeps convincing the "I" , that "I " will be happy when I become "Me"
"I" then embarks on a never ending endeavour to become a "Me" , an apparition that "I"
know "I" can never become. This "Me" can never be satisfied by just being. The illusory
"Me" has no end point that can be ever be reached. It has to engage in a meaningful
deception of "becoming" .
But this "I" enjoys this deception despite subconsciously knowing that "I" is not equal
to "Me" . The nakedness of "I" is a faceless formless abstraction. Like looking into a
mirror and having an emptiness staring back. The apparel of "me" makes looking into
this mirror of consciousness worth it's while.
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All "my" achievements, accomplishments are efforts at cosmetic enhancement to
appear more aesthetically appealing when "me" preens itself in this mirror that exults
on basis of appearances. "Mirror mirror on the wall , who is the fairest of them all ? "
"Me" is the narcissism of "I"
I is all about being, whilst "Me" is about becoming.
Becoming is merely a manifestation of "being". The "being" that marvels at its
multifarious spellbinding reflections by "becoming" various apparitions it has conjured
up of itself, by itself ,for itself.
"I " relentlessly keep asking "Me" for reasons, for answers, for explanations. But "I" fail
to understand that an apparition can never provide answers to its creator. It should
ideally be the other way round. The "Me" should be asking "I" why "I" created "me". "I"
am not only the the producer, director, script writer of me, but also the sole spectator of
"me" .
The realisation that "I" am not me, is what spiritual evolution is all about. Disrobing the
apparel of " me". This divesting process can be difficult and painful. Realisation is the
knife that slices the tangibility of "me " to leave behind an intangibility called "I".
It is a process of reduction, that reduces becoming to being. It is about travelling that
infinitesimally small distance between "I" and "Me".
Paradoxically, " I" keep trying to search for myself in "me", when "me" is just a virtual
image of "I". "Me" is virtual and "I" am the reality, and life is an eternally endless virtual
reality.

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Relationships as mirrors in which we see our emotional selve
Mirror mirror on the wall.......who's the fairest of them all ?

My mother was a simplistic person who believed in austerity. She despised any
cosmetic enhancements, and never wasted time, preening before a mirror when getting
ready. My elder sister who spent hours before the mirror in narcissistic indulgence once
quizzed my mother about her casual indifference with her own reflection. My mother's
terse reply -" Your father is my most authentic ,hi fidelity mirror. He reflects the
beauty of both my outer as well as my inner being too" - redefined my paradigm of
aesthetics.
As time passed, my relationship with my father evolved into a profound
camaraderie. He would often encourage me, and motivate me, revealing the latent
qualities, capabilities and strengths lurking within me. He would also , on occasion
highlight a few idiosyncrasies that escaped my own self assessment. He indeed was a
high fidelity mirror reflecting my true nature congruently , no matter how inaccessible it
seemed to anyone else including me. He was in fact , part of me, cleaved from
myself, observing me from without.
Close relationships are high fidelity mirrors. They reveal not just the beauty but also
the subtle imperfections and nuances of ones total personality. The persons we are
close to and comfortable with are often people who reflect the positive ,pleasant and
Speaking Tree Articles by Dr. Deepak Ranade

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desirable traits within us. The darker shades of our personality are also revealed albeit
gently, in a manner that doesn't make us self despicable. Mirrors that have not just high
fidelity but high sensitivity. A sensitivity, that doesn't miss the subtleties but also, a
greater sensitivity in the art of revealing them.
Then there are some delinquent mirrors , like ones in funfairs, that only reveal
caricatures of our personality. They are masters in the art of magnifying the unpleasant,
distorting our image, to the point of raising serious doubts " is this really me"?
A mirror that reflects the radiance and beauty of ones soul is a soulmate. A mirror that
highlights the strengths and camouflages the weaknesses very subtly till eventually ,
revealing the beauty of the inner being, that obfuscates any cosmetic correction. A
relationship that helps transcend the form, redeeming it from any subservience to its
image.
Interactions with people are a window to catch a glimpse of ourselves.
Our own image keeps changing kaleidoscopically during the course of multiple
interactions. This diverse imagery effects a waxing and waning self esteem , which is,
a function of the reflection. A plurality of identities , a multipolar personality, however
raises doubts about our true self. Is there any immutable part in me ? Is my impression
of myself, so fluid, so subjective?
Am "i" merely different reflections in different mirrors ? Do i need a reflection,
constantly, to assert myself ?
Is a reflection, the only testimony to my existence?
A reflection is just visual cognition, but so is a mirage. Both are perceptions by the
same visual apparatus. The former, presumed to be a testimony of the real, the latter,
confirmed as a concoction of the unreal. The crux lies in fidelity of perception, rather
than fidelity of cognition.
The "true "self is the screen of consciousness on which the various images keep getting
projected. The screen , that remains unaffected and unchanged, irrespective of
whether any image is projected or not. The true "self " is an awareness, that needs no
testimony of its existence. It is simultaneously, the image, its creator, its observer and
the phenomenon of observation .

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