Magazine - Year 2004 - Version 1
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Language: ENGLISH
Language: ENGLISH
The Arcane World of the Inner Layers of Mind
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Deep and wide-ranging insights of scholars, writers, scientists, philosophers and other intellectuals and the extraordinary talents of artists, successful businessmen, industrialists, politicians, etc reflect the multiple dimensions of creativity of the conscious mind. The above-mentioned extraordinary faculties of the conscious mind are well known. However, few people realize the existence of the unconscious, subconscious and super-conscious levels of human mind. These subtle layers of mind are full of mysteries and paradoxes. Thorough research in deeper aspects of psychology also indicates that the micro levels of mind are extremely powerful. However, owing to their subtle nature their existence remains latent and unknown to most people. Because of this the experimental analysis of these faculties of the mind has not been possible by external means and the attempts of arousing the latent potential of the mind remain confined to spiritual practices only.
The researchers in Gnostic Psychology have analyzed only about 7% of the active domain of the unconscious mind. It is argued on the basis of these research findings that the natural tendencies, hobbies, inherited habits and adaptability to acquired nature all originate from the unconscious mind. Parapsychologists consider the latter as the most wonderful, powerful and sophisticated creation; they state that if its immense potentials were discovered, sublimated and used like those of the conscious mind the human race would make thousand times greater progress than the most advanced developments of today. They believe that by awakening the latent energies of the inner layers of mind, we can naturally perform all the wondrous tasks, which at present are carried out only with the help of sophisticated instruments and advanced technology.
The scientific area of research in these aspects of the human mind is known as "Psychocybernetics".
The experts of the spiritual science of supernatural faculties have mentioned that the agility of the conscious mind prevents the expression and realization of the unconscious and subtler levels of the human mind. The ever-active tides of an ocean can be seen by anybody. However, the vision and acquisition of the riches lying at bottoms becomes possible only for those adventurous divers who plunge deep beneath the surface and search for this hidden treasure. The same is the case with the gigantic ocean of consciousness enclosed in the human brain. Whatever has been elucidated about the activities of the human brain with the help of modern techniques like EEG pertains only to the bio- electrical impulses of its conscious part. This, at the most, corresponds to about 13 % of the total bioelectrical activity of the brain in a normal human being.
Routine functions of hearing and vision are normally performed by our conscious mind. However, there are instances when the conscious mind is not able to perceive any sound or light. The perception of sound and visual cognition then take place in the domain of unconscious mind. Such situations often arise when the type of sound or scene produced encountered is beyond the audible or visible range of the conscious faculties of mind. The instances of this kind also occur in the state of deep sleep when the conscious mind is not available to recognize and process the signals received from the sense organs. The unconscious mind is never asleep. The sonic or visual signals perceived by the unconscious mind create intense impressions on the inner self. The assimilated effects are sometimes manifested in drastic changes in ones behavior and attitude.
The examples stated below illustrate the impact of the subconscious and the unconscious levels of mind, which could be potentially used in psychotherapies.
In the summer of 1997, a team of researchers had arranged for transmission of a vague message "Eat parched rice and drink Coca-Cola...." after every five minutes during a film show for customers arranged in Photoplay, New Jersey.
The message was of no importance to the conscious mind but its repeated reflections induced in the unconscious mind were seen in surprising outcomes of the experiment. The records in that market soon after showed an increase of about 5.75 % in the sales of parched rice and over 38 % in that of Coca-Cola. Dr. Hall Bracker of the Medical Electronics Department of the Louisiana University has developed a tacistoscopic projection device for experimenting on the unconscious mind. In one such experiment he repeatedly conveyed the recorded message "I am honest, I will not steal. It is wrong to steal. If I steal, I will be caught..." to a group of his patients. As a result, significant positive effects were recorded in terms of the change in the patients behavior; even those who had criminal mentality were found to have become sincere and sober... Whether it is hypnotism or some kind of conditioning of the unconscious mind by audiovisual signals, the experiments of this kind resemble, to some extent, the elementary training phase of spiritual practices.
Dr. Harvard Chevron of Michigan University has analyzed (with the help of EEGs) the signals received in the unconscious state of body, on the brain waves. Matthew Irdaily, expert psychologist of the Brooklyn College has also experimented on repeated reflections of such signals/messages on many human subjects during conversational and (day) dreaming states. Both kinds of experiments have illustrated significant potential of the unconscious mind. Newer kinds of experiments involve inducing positive effects or advice by biofeedback techniques adjusted according to the on-line EEG records of the DC potentials.
The success of such experiments on unconscious mind also shows that the yoga-sadhanas, aimed at awakening and controlling the unconscious mind, are derived from logical and scientifically verifiable grounds. During his experimental studies in psychology, Lloyd Silverman of the New York University had conducted a specific experiment several times on some chronic cases of mental instability and addictions. In each daily sitting, the teenager patients were sent a motto "Mummy (mother) and I are one...", vocally for five minutes. The message was repeated at such a rapid pace that the conscious mind was hardly able to concentrate on it.
The results of this experiment conducted for 10 successive years were quite remarkable; many of the subjects were able to get rid of their mental perversities and addictions; many others, who were averse to studies and hard work, started making progress in their schools and colleges. In a similar experiment on autosuggestions to inspire the unconscious mind conducted in 1975, mental tensions and obesity of over 30 women patients were alleviated in record times. Some counselors (psychologists) in the Montana University had also used Silvermans technique; in a single year 1979 itself, they had helped many people in getting relief from the addiction of smoking.
In view of the creative effects of his auto-suggestive and biofeedback methods, Silverman had challenged those who considered Freuds Principle of the influence of unconscious mind on ones personality as being an imaginary hypothesis only. Dr. Nathan of Washington University had presented an independent but supporting opinion in the 1980 issue of the Annual Reviews of Psychology.He considers unconscious mind as a major factor to be focused upon for thorough psychological analysis of human beings. He argues that "Freuds theory emphasized only a narrow domain of the impact of the unconscious mind, namely, that related with sexual desires. This is an incomplete and erroneous conclusion, which has created misconceptions about the real potentials of the unconscious mind. Deeper research in this field should focus on the analysis and use of the power of unconscious mind to help development of positive and creative faculties and elevation of personality rather than the negative aspects which trigger animal instincts and suppressive complexes".
In the ancient Indian healing systems, music was developed as a powerful medium for psychotherapy. The Samveda emphasizes the majestic role of divine music in conditioning and sublimating the mental potentials. The rishis had composed and compiled classical music through afflatus. They had sincerely used this music for controlling their mind and rousing its immense qualities at the subtler levels of consciousness. They had attained supernatural talents and knowledge by such experiments on adept use of music in their disciplined and ascetic life.
As long ago as 600 BC, the renowned geometrician and philosopher, Pythagoras had also propagated the importance of music in psychotherapy. Lambolycus of Syria too had supported the use of music as a remedy against complications caused by mental tensions and stresses of over-ambitious life style. Positive effects of calm music on mental health have received substantial recognition in the modern age as well. Experimental studies of the impact of music on unconscious mind add to the series of the above-mentioned observations on the assimilation of audio-signals in the unconscious mind.
Effects of visual perception are also considered important in inspiring the unconscious mind. Intensive research of a reputed psychologist Professor Kampbell, has shown that the visual reflections create significant impressions on the unconscious mind. He says that the unconscious mind stimulates specific bio-electrochemical reactions according to the type of the visuals perceived by it. These reactions affect the entire body.
Kampbell had studied the reflections in the subjects mind when the latter is engrossed in watching the glow of a flame. His analysis suggests that waves of immense bliss are generated and the person feels deep peace in this state of meditation. Experimental research of Dr. Lasslie M Lecron of America has also proved that the flame of a lamp or a candle has significant applications in psychological and psychiatric healing.
The practice of tratak in the bindu yoga sadhana is a refined experiment of this sort. The practice of trataka significantly helps restraining the agility of mind, streamlining the thoughts and helps in mental concentration which is a great achievement in view of the immense power of the controlled mind. The traditions of igniting lamps in the temples, candles in the churches and worshipping fire in the agyarasis (place of worship of the Parsis) at the time of prayers are indicative of the above-mentioned psychological effects. Eminent experts of the Indian yoga sadhana have been, since the time of yore, successful in awakening the unconscious, subconscious and the super-conscious layers of mind with the help of dedicated practices of pratyahar, dhyan, dharna etc.
This is how the great yogis attain supernatural faculties of hearing or seeing beyond the limits of space and time. Telepathy, clairvoyance, prophecy, knowledge of latent objects, thoughts or emotions, etc, are usual offshoots of such attainments. The rishis were regarded as superbly evolved beings because of their astonishing mastery in the external, physical, as well as internal pertaining to thoughts, emotions and spirituality domains of life.
Todays man has lost his inner strength and is living in a pathetic state of mental and emotional weakness, disorder and stupor.
The situation will certainly improve if the yoga practices as devised by our ancestors are experimented in modern scientific light and brought back in the mainstream of human life. Everybody would then be able to realize and make the best use of the internal potentials of his own mind to live with self-confidence and self-mastery.
The researchers in Gnostic Psychology have analyzed only about 7% of the active domain of the unconscious mind. It is argued on the basis of these research findings that the natural tendencies, hobbies, inherited habits and adaptability to acquired nature all originate from the unconscious mind. Parapsychologists consider the latter as the most wonderful, powerful and sophisticated creation; they state that if its immense potentials were discovered, sublimated and used like those of the conscious mind the human race would make thousand times greater progress than the most advanced developments of today. They believe that by awakening the latent energies of the inner layers of mind, we can naturally perform all the wondrous tasks, which at present are carried out only with the help of sophisticated instruments and advanced technology.
The scientific area of research in these aspects of the human mind is known as "Psychocybernetics".
The experts of the spiritual science of supernatural faculties have mentioned that the agility of the conscious mind prevents the expression and realization of the unconscious and subtler levels of the human mind. The ever-active tides of an ocean can be seen by anybody. However, the vision and acquisition of the riches lying at bottoms becomes possible only for those adventurous divers who plunge deep beneath the surface and search for this hidden treasure. The same is the case with the gigantic ocean of consciousness enclosed in the human brain. Whatever has been elucidated about the activities of the human brain with the help of modern techniques like EEG pertains only to the bio- electrical impulses of its conscious part. This, at the most, corresponds to about 13 % of the total bioelectrical activity of the brain in a normal human being.
Routine functions of hearing and vision are normally performed by our conscious mind. However, there are instances when the conscious mind is not able to perceive any sound or light. The perception of sound and visual cognition then take place in the domain of unconscious mind. Such situations often arise when the type of sound or scene produced encountered is beyond the audible or visible range of the conscious faculties of mind. The instances of this kind also occur in the state of deep sleep when the conscious mind is not available to recognize and process the signals received from the sense organs. The unconscious mind is never asleep. The sonic or visual signals perceived by the unconscious mind create intense impressions on the inner self. The assimilated effects are sometimes manifested in drastic changes in ones behavior and attitude.
The examples stated below illustrate the impact of the subconscious and the unconscious levels of mind, which could be potentially used in psychotherapies.
In the summer of 1997, a team of researchers had arranged for transmission of a vague message "Eat parched rice and drink Coca-Cola...." after every five minutes during a film show for customers arranged in Photoplay, New Jersey.
The message was of no importance to the conscious mind but its repeated reflections induced in the unconscious mind were seen in surprising outcomes of the experiment. The records in that market soon after showed an increase of about 5.75 % in the sales of parched rice and over 38 % in that of Coca-Cola. Dr. Hall Bracker of the Medical Electronics Department of the Louisiana University has developed a tacistoscopic projection device for experimenting on the unconscious mind. In one such experiment he repeatedly conveyed the recorded message "I am honest, I will not steal. It is wrong to steal. If I steal, I will be caught..." to a group of his patients. As a result, significant positive effects were recorded in terms of the change in the patients behavior; even those who had criminal mentality were found to have become sincere and sober... Whether it is hypnotism or some kind of conditioning of the unconscious mind by audiovisual signals, the experiments of this kind resemble, to some extent, the elementary training phase of spiritual practices.
Dr. Harvard Chevron of Michigan University has analyzed (with the help of EEGs) the signals received in the unconscious state of body, on the brain waves. Matthew Irdaily, expert psychologist of the Brooklyn College has also experimented on repeated reflections of such signals/messages on many human subjects during conversational and (day) dreaming states. Both kinds of experiments have illustrated significant potential of the unconscious mind. Newer kinds of experiments involve inducing positive effects or advice by biofeedback techniques adjusted according to the on-line EEG records of the DC potentials.
The success of such experiments on unconscious mind also shows that the yoga-sadhanas, aimed at awakening and controlling the unconscious mind, are derived from logical and scientifically verifiable grounds. During his experimental studies in psychology, Lloyd Silverman of the New York University had conducted a specific experiment several times on some chronic cases of mental instability and addictions. In each daily sitting, the teenager patients were sent a motto "Mummy (mother) and I are one...", vocally for five minutes. The message was repeated at such a rapid pace that the conscious mind was hardly able to concentrate on it.
The results of this experiment conducted for 10 successive years were quite remarkable; many of the subjects were able to get rid of their mental perversities and addictions; many others, who were averse to studies and hard work, started making progress in their schools and colleges. In a similar experiment on autosuggestions to inspire the unconscious mind conducted in 1975, mental tensions and obesity of over 30 women patients were alleviated in record times. Some counselors (psychologists) in the Montana University had also used Silvermans technique; in a single year 1979 itself, they had helped many people in getting relief from the addiction of smoking.
In view of the creative effects of his auto-suggestive and biofeedback methods, Silverman had challenged those who considered Freuds Principle of the influence of unconscious mind on ones personality as being an imaginary hypothesis only. Dr. Nathan of Washington University had presented an independent but supporting opinion in the 1980 issue of the Annual Reviews of Psychology.He considers unconscious mind as a major factor to be focused upon for thorough psychological analysis of human beings. He argues that "Freuds theory emphasized only a narrow domain of the impact of the unconscious mind, namely, that related with sexual desires. This is an incomplete and erroneous conclusion, which has created misconceptions about the real potentials of the unconscious mind. Deeper research in this field should focus on the analysis and use of the power of unconscious mind to help development of positive and creative faculties and elevation of personality rather than the negative aspects which trigger animal instincts and suppressive complexes".
In the ancient Indian healing systems, music was developed as a powerful medium for psychotherapy. The Samveda emphasizes the majestic role of divine music in conditioning and sublimating the mental potentials. The rishis had composed and compiled classical music through afflatus. They had sincerely used this music for controlling their mind and rousing its immense qualities at the subtler levels of consciousness. They had attained supernatural talents and knowledge by such experiments on adept use of music in their disciplined and ascetic life.
As long ago as 600 BC, the renowned geometrician and philosopher, Pythagoras had also propagated the importance of music in psychotherapy. Lambolycus of Syria too had supported the use of music as a remedy against complications caused by mental tensions and stresses of over-ambitious life style. Positive effects of calm music on mental health have received substantial recognition in the modern age as well. Experimental studies of the impact of music on unconscious mind add to the series of the above-mentioned observations on the assimilation of audio-signals in the unconscious mind.
Effects of visual perception are also considered important in inspiring the unconscious mind. Intensive research of a reputed psychologist Professor Kampbell, has shown that the visual reflections create significant impressions on the unconscious mind. He says that the unconscious mind stimulates specific bio-electrochemical reactions according to the type of the visuals perceived by it. These reactions affect the entire body.
Kampbell had studied the reflections in the subjects mind when the latter is engrossed in watching the glow of a flame. His analysis suggests that waves of immense bliss are generated and the person feels deep peace in this state of meditation. Experimental research of Dr. Lasslie M Lecron of America has also proved that the flame of a lamp or a candle has significant applications in psychological and psychiatric healing.
The practice of tratak in the bindu yoga sadhana is a refined experiment of this sort. The practice of trataka significantly helps restraining the agility of mind, streamlining the thoughts and helps in mental concentration which is a great achievement in view of the immense power of the controlled mind. The traditions of igniting lamps in the temples, candles in the churches and worshipping fire in the agyarasis (place of worship of the Parsis) at the time of prayers are indicative of the above-mentioned psychological effects. Eminent experts of the Indian yoga sadhana have been, since the time of yore, successful in awakening the unconscious, subconscious and the super-conscious layers of mind with the help of dedicated practices of pratyahar, dhyan, dharna etc.
This is how the great yogis attain supernatural faculties of hearing or seeing beyond the limits of space and time. Telepathy, clairvoyance, prophecy, knowledge of latent objects, thoughts or emotions, etc, are usual offshoots of such attainments. The rishis were regarded as superbly evolved beings because of their astonishing mastery in the external, physical, as well as internal pertaining to thoughts, emotions and spirituality domains of life.
Todays man has lost his inner strength and is living in a pathetic state of mental and emotional weakness, disorder and stupor.
The situation will certainly improve if the yoga practices as devised by our ancestors are experimented in modern scientific light and brought back in the mainstream of human life. Everybody would then be able to realize and make the best use of the internal potentials of his own mind to live with self-confidence and self-mastery.
