BEING FEARLESS
Rabindranath Tagore dreamt a dream for humanity when he wrote his famous poem, “Where the mind is without fear ……”. When we read these words, they fill our hearts with pride at the fearlessness of the poet and we are inspired to hold our heads high, and yet, we are all AFRAID!
We are afraid to break our shackles – however painful or stressful they may be; because we have got used to them and breaking them would mean plunging into unknown territory and we are fearful of that change – of the unknown. We have no confidence in our thoughts, so we are afraid to acknowledge even in our thoughts that we are capable of having an independent thinking and counsel – forget about telling the world what we really believe in! We fear ridicule from others, so either we keep our thoughts closely guarded or train our mind not to think differently – or – out of the box! But do we ever stop to think that by negating our beliefs or thoughts (so that we present a picture that looks good, or is politically correct) we are really afraid of ourselves, our very own identity! We want an identity, but are so afraid of showing or expressing it that we end up hiding it. So we are happy to be part of the herd and are ready to pay any price so that our identity is merged with the group identity. Our identity is completely dependent on the identity and ideology of the group to which we belong – whether that is of a religion, or a community or just a group of college students! We are afraid to act different, voice a different opinion, and so we murder our personality, just to be part of the majority. We are afraid to chalk out our own path, afraid that we will be laughed at if we have no one to walk along with us – we are afraid of being lonely – and yet are we not all really lonely – lonely even in a group. Since we lack the courage of our conviction, we hide our real selves from others by being a part of a group. Is it not funny that though we are human beings, we are proud to imitate like monkeys, but are afraid to lead - though God has given each one of us a unique mind and intelligence. We are afraid of our own complexes and so we hide behind masks. We fear to let our weaknesses be seen – because then we would be seen in a poor light. Yet we are even afraid to let our goodness be seen, lest someone takes advantage of it. We are afraid not only to give but even to take freely even if others are ready to give!
We are afraid to acknowledge the greatness of our rich heritage, since then we will be considered as backward looking or orthodox. Yet we are afraid to break the traditions of the group, since then we will be considered disrespectful, in disciplined and – that is not what our tradition and heritage teaches us. But we have to be in tune with modern thought. So we dress up in a modern way, go to the most hep college, attend the grooviest parties and yet the modern male still expects complete obedience to his whims and fancies from his wife. The ultra-modern parents still impose their choices on their children when the question of career or marriage comes up. We are afraid to question society or its norms. We are afraid to speak up against the injustices that society, government or an individual may heap on us – WHY – because we are afraid of the consequences that may follow – and thus injustice becomes the norm!
We are afraid to carry out research in a scientific manner, lest it be taken as questioning or denying the validity of what has already been. But then if we do not research, how will we know that what knowledge has been passed on to us is really correct or is there a discrepancy in it, or has it been misinterpreted or quoted out of context through the ages, or the knowledge which was valid at some point in time, may have outgrown its validity in today’s time! We are afraid of being termed atheists, yet we are afraid of being termed as religious-minded – we are just about afraid of everything. We are such a confused lot that today we are afraid even to dream!
But till we are fearful, we will never achieve anything – we will always be slaves. The modern world prides in thinking that it has created an independent society – but are we really as independent as we pride in thinking ourselves to be? Are we not really just putting a garb of independent thinking and decision making - but in actuality are not are fears that still rule? We try to blend so that we may have friends and then – having company, we are afraid to lose it for fear of ridicule or being left alone! We forget that being really independent means having the courage to stand up alone (if necessary), fearlessly in the face of much hostility. Being independent means having the faith to walk one’s own path – with or without the majority for company. Being independent means having the conviction that once an example has been set by you, people will follow you – and not the other way round. But we lack real independence! Obviously then the decisions we make in our lives are also seldom made fearlessly. We constantly live and act under the shadow of our fears – so much so that we are not only afraid of death, BUT WE ARE EVEN AFRAID OF LIFE! This fear causes anxiety, doubt, restlessness (Ashanti), confusion – it causes further fear – it weakens us – yet we are afraid to leave the company of fear.
Real independence comes as we go on conquering each fear – one at a time. A child is afraid of the darkness, but as he grows up he realizes that there is nothing to fear in darkness and he feels exhilarated that how he can fearlessly walk in the dark. So also in the conquest of each fear is experienced Bliss, Happiness, Truth and a sense of Liberation – and – when we are free from all our fears, that is the state of complete Liberation – that perhaps is Moksha – the state that the yogis and rishis call as “SAT-CHIT-ANANDA” – AND THE JOURNEY TOWARDS ACHIEVING THIS STATE OF FEARLESSNESS IS WHAT IS TERMED AS THE PATH OF “SPIRITUALITY”.
DR. POONAM MEHRA
Friday, June 29, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
IS GOD A VIBRATION?
Science tells us that electrons revolve around the nucleus of an atom, i.e., the electrons are moving around the nucleus with a particular frequency, or we can say that they are vibrating. Similarly, the atoms are also vibrating; the higher the frequency of the vibrations, the hotter is the temperature of the body. This is how we get preliminary information about the temperature of the Sun and other stars in the Universe. Everything in this world – including human beings are made up of a combination of atoms of different elements. This naturally implies that in essence, we are all vibrating. We perceive a particular form or colour because that body is vibrating or emitting light at that particular frequency. If the frequency of vibration of that object changes, the same object will be perceived differently. Let me explain. We all know that the average ceiling fan has three distinct blades – and that is how we perceive it when it is stationary (though the atoms in it are vibrating). As it starts to rotate, at a lower speed we can distinguish the three blades, but as the speed or frequency of the rotation of the fan increases, the outlines of the fan-blades start blurring, till a point when beyond a particular speed, the distinction totally vanishes. Then logically should we not see just a circular plate of aluminum rotating? But we see instead is that the area occupied by the circulating blades is transparent; we can directly see the ceiling as if there was no solid matter in the intermediate space! Science explains the blurring of the outlines of the fan blades (at higher speeds of rotation) to be due to the phenomenon called “Persistence of vision”. But why should that cause a totally opaque body to become as if invisible when vibrating at higher frequencies. This is because our eyes can perceive vibrations only within certain limits. Although the blades of the fan are still of the same material, size etc., but we cannot see them due to the limitations of our eyes. Since our eyes are sensitive to only a particular range of frequencies of energy being emitted by the Sun, we see only those colours of light and in that range of frequencies. We are blind to frequencies of light –energy below and above that range. We see the red rose because it emits out that particular frequency of light. If the rose was to emit light in the blue frequency range, we would say the rose was blue in colour. Similarly if the rose emitted some frequency which our eyes are not sensitive to, we would not be able to see the rose. However that does not mean that the rose does not exist – it is only because of the limitations of our equipment of observation that it is unseen. Our eyes cannot see in the infra-red wavelength region of light, but the owl can see in those wavelengths. Thus the owl distinguishes colours in the wavelength region to which its eyes are sensitive. The owl’s eyes are not sensitive to (what humans call) visible region of the Sun’s light – so probably it does not see the Sun; (or maybe it sees it in some other form) but does that mean that the Sun does not exist? It is the same thing with what and how we hear with our ears. We perceive sound according to the frequency of energy hitting our eardrums and whether our ears are sensitive to that particular frequency or not. Animals hear sounds which are non-existent to the human ear (e.g. sounds hours before a natural calamity) – but that does not mean that those sounds do not exist. All around us there is energy (in fact we are ourselves energy in a gross form) and this energy vibrates, only each object vibrates at a different frequency and we perceive the world according the sensitivity and limitations of our sense-organs. Thus, what we perceive through the instrument of our eyes we name as light energy, the energy that we perceive through our ears is termed sound energy, what we perceive as taste is energy vibrating at a different level and so on and so forth. To extend this line of thought, we can say that the mind and what it conceives i.e. thoughts is energy at a still different level. Thus, the energy we perceive with our eyes and ears is grosser than the energy we perceive with nose, tongue and touch (all sense organs). The energy we perceive through our sense-organs is grosser as compared to the energy levels which we perceive with our mind (which is very high frequencies or very fine) and what we perceive through ‘atman’ is probably energy which is even finer or subtler. Why do I say this? It is because according to one of the principles of quantum physics, to see, observe or perceive sub-atomic particles, the light energy (or frequency) used for the observation should be comparable to the size of the particle under observation. Astronomers and scientists studying the origin of the Universe say that their theories fall flat unless there is much more matter (or energy) in the Universe than is visible to us with the help of even radio telescopes. All that matter (or energy – energy and matter can be transformed but never destroyed according to Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc2) is invisible to us because we do not have the equipments capable of making it visible to us.
Thus we can say that we are energy, surrounded by an ocean of energy, what we perceive with our sense organs is energy, what we think, feel etc. – all is energy – the difference being only in the level (or frequency) at which the energy is vibrating. We observe and understand and analyze only that level of energy to which the instrument used (to observe it) is tuned to. Hence we cannot understand God using either our sense-organs or mind or intellect. We can understand God only through our ‘atman’ because that is the only instrument we have whose energy level is compatible to God. Thus if the instrument of ‘atman’ is to be used to understand God, we have to look through it, just as we look through a microscope to observe microorganisms or through a telescope while observing the vast skies. So also to observe and understand God we have to look through our ‘atman’. But the ‘atman’ is shrouded by the body and hence to start perceiving God we have to start looking inwards. Till we look outwards, we will observe, perceive and understand only the outer world. But when we train and learn to turn our gaze inwards (through meditation) we will start to see, perceive and understand our Self. Once we understand our Self which according to the scriptures is “Tat tvam asi”, meaning, “Thou art thee”, we will understand All Knowledge, we will have the vision of God. THEN WE WILL UNDERSTAND GOD!!!!!!!
Science tells us that electrons revolve around the nucleus of an atom, i.e., the electrons are moving around the nucleus with a particular frequency, or we can say that they are vibrating. Similarly, the atoms are also vibrating; the higher the frequency of the vibrations, the hotter is the temperature of the body. This is how we get preliminary information about the temperature of the Sun and other stars in the Universe. Everything in this world – including human beings are made up of a combination of atoms of different elements. This naturally implies that in essence, we are all vibrating. We perceive a particular form or colour because that body is vibrating or emitting light at that particular frequency. If the frequency of vibration of that object changes, the same object will be perceived differently. Let me explain. We all know that the average ceiling fan has three distinct blades – and that is how we perceive it when it is stationary (though the atoms in it are vibrating). As it starts to rotate, at a lower speed we can distinguish the three blades, but as the speed or frequency of the rotation of the fan increases, the outlines of the fan-blades start blurring, till a point when beyond a particular speed, the distinction totally vanishes. Then logically should we not see just a circular plate of aluminum rotating? But we see instead is that the area occupied by the circulating blades is transparent; we can directly see the ceiling as if there was no solid matter in the intermediate space! Science explains the blurring of the outlines of the fan blades (at higher speeds of rotation) to be due to the phenomenon called “Persistence of vision”. But why should that cause a totally opaque body to become as if invisible when vibrating at higher frequencies. This is because our eyes can perceive vibrations only within certain limits. Although the blades of the fan are still of the same material, size etc., but we cannot see them due to the limitations of our eyes. Since our eyes are sensitive to only a particular range of frequencies of energy being emitted by the Sun, we see only those colours of light and in that range of frequencies. We are blind to frequencies of light –energy below and above that range. We see the red rose because it emits out that particular frequency of light. If the rose was to emit light in the blue frequency range, we would say the rose was blue in colour. Similarly if the rose emitted some frequency which our eyes are not sensitive to, we would not be able to see the rose. However that does not mean that the rose does not exist – it is only because of the limitations of our equipment of observation that it is unseen. Our eyes cannot see in the infra-red wavelength region of light, but the owl can see in those wavelengths. Thus the owl distinguishes colours in the wavelength region to which its eyes are sensitive. The owl’s eyes are not sensitive to (what humans call) visible region of the Sun’s light – so probably it does not see the Sun; (or maybe it sees it in some other form) but does that mean that the Sun does not exist? It is the same thing with what and how we hear with our ears. We perceive sound according to the frequency of energy hitting our eardrums and whether our ears are sensitive to that particular frequency or not. Animals hear sounds which are non-existent to the human ear (e.g. sounds hours before a natural calamity) – but that does not mean that those sounds do not exist. All around us there is energy (in fact we are ourselves energy in a gross form) and this energy vibrates, only each object vibrates at a different frequency and we perceive the world according the sensitivity and limitations of our sense-organs. Thus, what we perceive through the instrument of our eyes we name as light energy, the energy that we perceive through our ears is termed sound energy, what we perceive as taste is energy vibrating at a different level and so on and so forth. To extend this line of thought, we can say that the mind and what it conceives i.e. thoughts is energy at a still different level. Thus, the energy we perceive with our eyes and ears is grosser than the energy we perceive with nose, tongue and touch (all sense organs). The energy we perceive through our sense-organs is grosser as compared to the energy levels which we perceive with our mind (which is very high frequencies or very fine) and what we perceive through ‘atman’ is probably energy which is even finer or subtler. Why do I say this? It is because according to one of the principles of quantum physics, to see, observe or perceive sub-atomic particles, the light energy (or frequency) used for the observation should be comparable to the size of the particle under observation. Astronomers and scientists studying the origin of the Universe say that their theories fall flat unless there is much more matter (or energy) in the Universe than is visible to us with the help of even radio telescopes. All that matter (or energy – energy and matter can be transformed but never destroyed according to Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc2) is invisible to us because we do not have the equipments capable of making it visible to us.
Thus we can say that we are energy, surrounded by an ocean of energy, what we perceive with our sense organs is energy, what we think, feel etc. – all is energy – the difference being only in the level (or frequency) at which the energy is vibrating. We observe and understand and analyze only that level of energy to which the instrument used (to observe it) is tuned to. Hence we cannot understand God using either our sense-organs or mind or intellect. We can understand God only through our ‘atman’ because that is the only instrument we have whose energy level is compatible to God. Thus if the instrument of ‘atman’ is to be used to understand God, we have to look through it, just as we look through a microscope to observe microorganisms or through a telescope while observing the vast skies. So also to observe and understand God we have to look through our ‘atman’. But the ‘atman’ is shrouded by the body and hence to start perceiving God we have to start looking inwards. Till we look outwards, we will observe, perceive and understand only the outer world. But when we train and learn to turn our gaze inwards (through meditation) we will start to see, perceive and understand our Self. Once we understand our Self which according to the scriptures is “Tat tvam asi”, meaning, “Thou art thee”, we will understand All Knowledge, we will have the vision of God. THEN WE WILL UNDERSTAND GOD!!!!!!!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
ME AND MY SOLITUDE
My dear friends, I beg your pardon, because what I am going to state now is going to offend and hurt you – one and all! You are justified about what you may feel, but after giving me a patient hearing, I assure that you will be compelled – albeit grudgingly – to agree with what I have to say. Well, let me end this suspense. What I have to say is this – for all the friends that one may have, the greatest and most steadfast friend that anyone can have is one’s SOLITUDE. Shocked are you? But I implore you to be a bit patient and hear me out. Friends, though I love you all, immensely value our friendship and would not give it up for anything in this world, yet I have to concede that me and my solitude are the best of friends. My solitude has been the one friend who has never, ever deserted me – even in the darkest of hours when even my shadow deserts me! I can completely rely on her for company when I am alone. Yet when I am enjoying, laughing, talking, dancing and prancing around with all other friends, she never feels ignored or rejected, nor is she envious of them. On the contrary, at such times she quietly retreats into the ante-room of my heart – waiting patiently – to again hold my hand if need be, when I am alone once again and need company. The best part is that she does this ungrudgingly, again and again and again! Whenever I am in need of a companion I take refuge in her, and she on her part greets me with open arms and lets me do the talking without interrupting, arguing or fighting with me. She eagerly lends me a ear and a solid shoulder to cry on if the need be, without once being judgmental about me. She provides me a perfect haven in times of trials, tribulations or jubilations and with assured confidentiality. Tell me, can any other friend be so perfect. I never have to go seek her, she is just always there. She is never, ever constrained by the paucity of time. All her time is at my disposal. There is nobody else, no other job, competing for her attention. She is an extremely patient listener – and after I have had my say, and if I allow, she very subtly, gently and in her own silent way guides me on to a quiet introspection. But if I am not in the mood for it, she just let’s me be, without ever making me feel as to how selfish or egocentric I am being on that particular occasion. She acknowledges my moods and is game to whatever I want to do. She allows me to stay in the doldrums to wallow in self pity, or to praise myself to the skies (blow my trumpet), for as long as I want without nudging me to do otherwise, or trying to tell me that I should not be losing my balance so easily. I can throw my worst tantrums in her presence and yet she never gets upset with me. Instead, in some unique way, she quietly makes me aware of my moods and most importantly, without offending me! She is the only friend who can take me on a journey of self-discovery without consciously asking or pushing me towards it. In her soothing presence I am ready to drop all pretence, all masks - and get in touch with my true self – and that meeting makes me feel so REAL, so LIBERATED! Though she never opens her mouth, but chatting with her I have come to know so much about myself. Now, it is not always that I am talking to her. There are times when I sit absolutely silently with her, just enjoying each other’s presence. Together we watch the beautiful play of nature. Those are the times when we both understand each other so completely that a dialogue would really be meaningless – so out of place. Whatever be the situation, the time which we spend with each other in silence, invariably rejuvenates me. Tell me, which other friend would sit with you - without some semblance of a smooth flowing conversation – in fact silence would appear jarring. She never intrudes into my space or my thoughts, and yet in her silent, special way she helps me unearth my hidden potentials or points out my weaknesses. Her quietude nurtures me – in fact it helps me grow. In those tranquil moments, I feel completely at peace with myself. In that tranquility and stillness, sometimes, I become aware of a very soft voice – the voice of my solitude, gently helping me untangle the web of my thoughts, providing me insights – to find solutions to some of the myriad of complex situations that I get tangled into in life. She helps me put my thoughts in proper perspective, helping me to rise above my ego and other mundane things, to take a dispassionate view of the situation. Thus she helps me to make descions without allowing my ego to get into the way, or making me feel that I am being forced into making them. Without ever asking, she is privy to my innermost thought – their goodness, their wickedness because I know she will understand me and let me be, without making any demands on my behavior. In fact, I find that her loving, understanding attitude has helped me to get over a lot of my hang-ups and moods. I find myself remaining cheerful, serene and balanced more often, whatever be the situation. Of course, off and on there are still those bursts of anger, that deluge of tears or that uncontrollable ecstasy in happiness. I still go on my ego trips, but at every turn, I find her holding my hand firmly, and being there just for me – till – with her aid I get back into some semblance of sanity. Yet she never grumbles, never gets frustrated that I am not doing enough to improve myself. She is just there, beside me, a silent, non-interfering persona always ready to be of whatever help she can provide. She has never let me down, nor has she ever let go of her gentle, warm, comforting, yet firm grasp of my hand. Her warm presence creates a cocoon around me, into which I can retreat for as long as I wish – to nurse my wounds or celebrate without envy around me or just relax. Her presence acts like a balm and in her care I come out stronger than before. She just has that influence on me. With her I sometimes feel like a child in a mother’s womb – completely insulated and safe. Like a mother, she keeps me protected from harm and hurt, yet she coaxes me to face the harsh realities of life and never to become a weakling. She has that knack of providing me shade from the sweltering heat, yet her shade somehow never stunts my growth – in fact it stimulates it! Honestly, me and my solitude – we make the most compatible pair – with all the nurturing of the friendship being done by my friend – my solitude! Really she has given me all that I have or will ever dream of wanting from a friend. In my happiness she is happy, in my sorrow she is my strength, flourishing in my growth. As she helps me get in touch with my self and turn my life around, the bond between her and me grows stronger. At the end of it let me share a secret about my relationship with my solitude. Sometimes it happens that even in the midst of a group of friends or a hustling, bustling crowd, I start feeling lost and absolutely lonely – well even there my solitude comes to my rescue – I know I can depend on her company even in the midst of friends – she just will not let me be ALONE OR LONELY whatever - wherever! Well, tell me, can there be a TRUER FRIEND! SHE MOULDS INTO ME AND MOULDS ME! So friends, befriend your solitude at the earliest and enjoy along as she takes you on a life-changing journey.
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