365betÓéÀÖ

EDITORIAL

I. V. Chalapati Rao

The human brain with its many billions of cells is the most complex and almost mysterious object in the known universe. It is a thing of three pounds of flesh which makes us essentially human. Each of its hemispheres, right and left, has its own well­-defined functions to perform. According to specialists, the motor cartex controls conscious movement; Hippocampus helps memory; Neurons are network communicators which transmit and receive electro-chemical signals in a split second (a thousandth second). Frontal lobe controls, reasoning, planning, speech and emotions. Temporal lobe processes sound and controls learning, language skills and emotions like anger, greed, jealousy etc. Planum temporale is concerned with understanding speech. Parietal lobe integrates information and interprets the code of sensory signals. Thus every part of the brain does its allotted duties with clock-work precision. It is only the human brain that has discovered these intricacies and inner-workings of the human brain!

We cannot measure the degree of human intelligence by the size of the brain. There is no relationship between intelligence and size of the human brain. No body can say in which part of the human brain intelligence is contained. Scientists conducted post-mortem examination of Einstein’s brain and found no clue! We take our car to a garage mechanic for engine tune-up but we cannot go to a hospital for brain tune-up.

All the billions of brain cells are inter­connected like the tubes of high-powered radar apparatus to make it the most powerful and wonderful mechanism in the world. Activity is going on every minute in each one of these innumerable cells. Doubtless, the brain is the world’s most sensitive radar, receiving and sending apparatus and a far more powerful power plant than anyone ever built by human beings.

This veritable super dynamo is waiting for us to start and use in our daily lives to get success and happiness. But it is under-­utilised. What a sad thing! This brain gives us mind power to tap and utilise for the satisfaction of our desires and fulfillment of our aspirations. We, may call it Supreme Intelligence or Divine Power - GOD or Nature. What is there in the name? This super mechanism is within us. Stupidly we seek it without. Let us seek and strive to find that inner power lying untapped. This is what Jesus Christ meant when he said:

“Seek ye: first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you�. There is nothing hocus pocus, about it. Christ added: “The things that I do, ye also shall do and greater things than these shall ye do�. A careful consideration of this statement reveals that heaven must be a state of consciousness. By soaring to the outer space men cannot discover this so-called heaven as a geographical locality. We must look at ourselves in new ways and explore new ideas. Acceptance of new ideas is a painful experience to closed minds. As one purifies one’s mind or consciousness at envy, jealousy, greed, dishonesty etc., one attains heaven. Then heaven comes to earth. This is what the long line of our ancient sages affirmed and the modern yogis like Sri. Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramana Maharshi et al have confirmed.

Modern studies in science and psychology have lent support to this view, ROBERT MOORE and MAXWELL SCHULTZ say in their book ‘Turn on the Green Lights in your Life�: “We do not learn how to control the mind and direct it towards the attainment of our goals in life, how to rid ourselves of the negative thoughts (red lights) and cultivate positive thoughts (green lights)�. Loneliness, depression, disease and lack are the results of fear and other negative states of thought. We do not need to die to achieve realisation. We do not look into darkness for light. We lead narrow, little restricted lives instead of exploring and utilising the immense but unfathomed inner resources of the mind. They can be experienced but not defined. When Thomas Alva Edison was asked to define electricity, he said “It exists. Use it�. No one has ever been able to define electricity and none can define the immensity and limitless power of the human mind. One has to wage a war against negative thinking - fears, misgivings, forebodings, complexes, suspicions and pessimism. In Bhagavadgitha Arjuna had to wage this inner battle against these “red lights� and forces of darkness but succeeded in the end under the guidance of Sri Krishna. Similarly, Vasistha preached Gita to Sri Rama. When Sri Rama had to wage war against the mighty Ravana, Agastya preached Aditya Hrudayam to Sri Rama. Our epics are tonics. Their pages often contain wisdom of the ages in capsules. They raise our drooping spirits and boost up our morale.

With the practice of meditation and exercise of will we can control our mind and develop magnetic power which attracts success. LAO-TZU, the great Chinese philosopher, said: “He who knows others is clever, but he who knows himself is enlightened. He who overcomes otters is strong but he who over comes himself is mightier still�. This is self management.

In his book, ‘The Silva Mind Control Method�, JOSE SILVA says: “Mind control does miracles. If you go into a deep meditative level, you can train your mind to take charge, using its own language of images reinforced with words, bringing results that are more and more amazing with no end in sight for a person who keeps in practice�.

When we meditate more frequently and at deeper levels we will have a firm grasp of the inner peace which is the highest enjoyment. No problem and stress in life can disturb it. It accelerates the built-in healing mechanisms in the body and the mind. It brings psycho-somatic changes for personal health and happiness (‘Psyche� means mind. �Soma� means body). Body and the mind interact and influence each other. Many of the diseases are cured by mind control. Dr. CUE recommended a technique of self-­mastery through auto-suggestion. For example, we should repeat many times “Day to day in every way I am getting better and better�. It has been tested as a powerful technique of self-healing.

Switch off the red lights and turn on the green lights. Negative thoughts should be banished from the mind. Thoughts should be expressed in words. Words perform. They do not merely express reality but create reality. Anyone can learn E.S.P. (Extra Sensory Perceptions) through practice. Vital and valuable information can be obtained by us through something other than the five senses. Some people call it “sixth sense�. Some call it “a hunch�. It can be obtained by means of mind control through meditation ­self-management.

As we know, meditation can be done in many ways. It can be according to the age-­old method prescribed by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It can be the simplified technique of Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental ‘Meditation (Bhavateeta Dhyana). It can be Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University’s Raja Yoga. It can be the raising of Kundalini (Serpentine Power). There are umpteen other methods. Whatever method we follow, we are tapping the infinite energy and the inexhaustible batteries of the high-powered mind which is a Super Dynamo.

What happens is this: There are three known major states of human consciousness - SUSHUPTA (Wakefulness), NIDRA (Sleep), and SWAPNA (Dream). In the wakeful state the mind is active and alert but has no rest. In sleep the mind is restful and tranquil but has no activity. In dream, it is active but has no rest. When a person meditates, the mind goes into the fourth state called Turiyavastha which is physiologically and psychologically different from the other states. In this state of super consciousness the mind possesses not only the activity and alertness of the wakeful state but also the rest and tranquility of the state of sleep. In other words it is at once alert and tranquil. This is the right condition of mind for taking decisions in vital matters. Besides frictionless flow of energy and intelligence, the mind produces perennial current of ‘Creativity� which is associated with originality, discovery and scientific invention. Of course, thosewho strive harder, dive deeper and soar higher may achieve self-realisation. This is called spirituality. Religion has nothing to do with it. Where religion ends, spirituality begins.