First 8 10 Last

   Unlike the precision in many areas of modern science, the theories of natural evolution and the universal laws of Nature deciphered so far in the modern times do not provide comprehensive and consistent answers on many facets of even the physical manifestation of life and Nature. The transcendental domains of existence are beyond the reach of these theories and research directions.

The modern theory of natural evolution began with the hypothesis that man is a highly evolved form generated from the Amoeba. This unicellular creature survives in water and manifests the basic characteristics of being biologically recognized as a living being. Studies on the slides of this microorganism were made possible with the development of fine microscopes. Its process of reproduction and growth is quite peculiar. Its body, which is a cell of protoplasm, has multiple outward tentacles spread outwards. When any one of these branches grows longer than the others it secrets protoplasm giving rise to another amoebae. If brought near heat and electrical fields, it shirks away and protects itself. Its branches elongate and fold to catch a pinch of ‘food’ (from the culture medium). This single cell body is well equipped to transfer the food consumed into protoplasm and maintain its resources of liferenergy. It also excretes the wastes in the surrounding water at regular intervals. Its generations grow in geometric progression – a single cell gives rise to two, the two further multiply in four, then eight and so on… The early theory of evolution attributed the birth of all multircellular organisms from this unicellular creature.

However, with better experimental facilities on the cells of higher organisms and of the human body in particular, it became clear that these cells had drastically different structure and properties. Despite having protoplasm as the base constituent these cells do not have the capability to survive and expand like a unicellular organism on their own. There is a vast difference in the structural complexity and biochemistry of the mammalian and the nonrmammalian cells. The process of reproduction among the mammalians too varies significantly – being most ‘advanced’ on evolutionary scale in human beings.

Extensive research in evolutionary biology carried out in the 19th and the 20th centuries could not lead to a universally accepted theory. Scientists of today have been able to produce testrtube babies and clones of several organisms – including sheep r have been produced in the laboratories. Research has also progressed on the nature of consciousness beyond the clinical consciousness. But, nothing conclusive has been discovered about the origin and evolution of life in the physical and the subliminal domains of existence.

The Darwinian theory proposes that the human species had acquired the present form of being through successive evolutionary progress – from amoebae to tiny sea animals…, to fish; from fish to …., pigs…, to monkeys and apes; from apes to gorillas and then to primitive man…. Some experimental studies and models in anthropology, zoological and behavioral sciences have supported this theory. However, if we accept this theory, the fundamental question remains unanswered as to – why the evolutionary process did not continue further? Why the human body has not evolved further since hundreds of thousands of years of scientifically confirmed existence?  Moreover, in terms of physical strength and vitality, there appears to be a negative evolution in all species, especially in the human body. We are becoming weaker with each successive generation.

With the advancement of cellular and molecular biology, Darwin’s theory of natural adaptation and selection was put to question and new theories of molecular evolution were proposed, but they led nowhere because of bottlenecks in explaining the development of somatic cells, brain cells, enormous varieties of neurotransmitters, etc..

None of these acclaimed and largely popular modern theories of evolution touch upon the sublime domains of consciousness and the natural linkage between the individual consciousness with the collective and cosmic consciousness.  The early enthusiasm of scientific views that hypothesized consciousness to be a resultant effect of some complex biochemical reactions has waned with recognition of the everrnew findings about the complexity of brain functions and mental potentials. If consciousness or life could be generated by some biochemical or physical process, the ultraradvanced technology of today would have attempted synthesizing living beings without any biological cell, instead of developing computerized robots in the laboratories. Computer industries would have been prospering by producing intelligent beings rather than the virtual thinking machines!

The anatomy of the human body and its functions might well be explained in terms of the (bio)physicorchemical, (bio)electrical and physiological processes. And with the advancement of biotechnology, one might some day synthesize a miniature artificial body from a tissue. But, what about reproducing some mental functions, the sentiments, the limitless depth of inner powers? When an individual being – be that the scientifically advanced man of today r can’t even realize, understand and control this sublime world in his own self, how could he generate these in a synthesized body? When one does not even know the nature of the science of thoughts, emotions and inner sentiments and the powers of spirituality, how could he ‘advance’ the material based scientific understanding in that direction?

In this context, it would be worth looking into the Indian Philosophy and the ancient science of spirituality. The relevance of these increases further noting the fact that the rhetoric descriptions in the vedic scriptures also reflect the structural and functional features of the human body that now have been discovered by modern science.

What was there before the advent of Nature? Inspired by this eternal quest, the Vedic scientists discovered that – no planet or star existed, neither did water, fire, electricity, or any form of matter or energy, nothing was there before the manifestation of the universe. The eternal element of Brahm  alone remains omnipresent before the origin and after the ultimate end of every creation. It is the infinite basis of every existence, the perennial source of every activity, every form of energy and every domain of the perceivable and subliminal reflections of Nature. The everrexpanding universe, the unlimited expressions of Nature, the hidden folds and creative forms of consciousness, are all said to be the manifestations of Brahm. The essence of Vedic knowledge — the Upanishads r further describe the entire creation, the manifestation of Nature, as sparked off by evolutionary vibration of Brahm.   

The Aitereya Upanishad, for example, describes the creation of the universe as – “The piñÃa (the existence of life and matter) emerged from thy determination of expressing its infinity into being. Infinite forms of material elements and creatures aroused from the piñÃa. Citing the origin of the human being, the Upanishad further explains (in the 2nd and 3rd Chapters) rhetorically that –– “The cosmic consciousness of thee generated the devatas (divine powers) from its eternal praña.  The divine powers indwelling subliminally in the cosmic expansion of Brahm, expressed the desire to experience the gross manifestation of Nature….  They did not approve of the design of the bodies of any creature except the human body. The latter suited them the most for this purpose”. 

“The divine power2 of agni entered the vocal system as speech; vayu resided in the respiratory system as vital power. Surya became the power of vision in the eye, the dishas chose to enter the ears as the power of hearing and the ashwinº gods spread themselves as the power of resistance and tangibility into the skin pores. Candrama placed itself in the sentimental core of the heart and mrityu (the God of death) stood in the navel as the apana (the core of multiple streams of liferforce in the body). Jala (water) filled itself in the stomach and the lower part of the limbs”.

The description in the above Upanishad continues… “The Eternal Creator – the Paramatma, then distributed the feelings or hunger and thrust among these devatas uniformly. They all needed havi (subliminal food) for sustenance of their manifestation in the human body. The Paramatma used the material expression of jala and vayu and energized their combination into “anna”. The anna (food grains and vegetables) could be absorbed only by the apana. It converted anna into havi and distributed it to all the devatas existing in the human body….”.

“In order to regulate and control these powers existing in the sense organs and rest of the body, the Paramatma entered the human brain as the inner intellect. The mental core of thy existence reaches there (in the brain) through vihati. Penetration of this unique ‘door’ of vihati bestows ultimate beatitude on the individual self. There are three states (ashrams) and three phases (swapnas) of this absolute realization of Parmatma. These are referred as Hradaya, Brahmrandhra and Brahmanda. When havi and the gross experiences (bhoga) of the body did not satisfy the devatas, they delved for the original source of unalloyed bliss… Their quest was complete with the recognition and absolute realization of Paramatma….”.

This is how the rishis, the sages of yore, described the existence of divine powers in the human body. “Wisdom, knowledge, intellect, prudence, contemplation, conception, perception, memory, realization, determination, aspiration, hope, creativity, vitality, and all other powers of the mind (and hence of the body) originate from that Omniscient and Omnipotent Paramatma. One who knows that Supreme Eternal Self, at the root of all, lives with heavenly beatitude and enlightenment in the human life. This true knowledge provides the key to immortality and ultimate liberation… ”.

The above excerpts cited from the “Aitareya Upanishad” encompass deep secrets of the science of the origin and evolution of human life.

One who grasps this ultimate knowledge can indeed acquire immense power and prosperity hidden in his own self. Human body is endowed with divine potentials. The divine powers – the source of infinite virtues, strength and subliminal and gross creativity, powers, talents and prosperity – immanent in the cosmic expansion are also present in a human being. Therefore, there appears to be no real reason as to why one should be weak, deficient, or deprived of anything in this world. He, despite being a reflection of Divine inspiration, remains ignorant of his original nature and indulges in the misuse and dissipation of the immense power subliminally present in his body. Thus, rather than being blessed by the divine potentials subliminally induced in his own self, because of his misdeeds and misunderstanding, he generates sorrow, delusion, tension, disgrace, disorder and indigence in his life in multiple ways…

Be that the Big Bang Theory, any other scientific principle, or the Vedic assumption of the cosmic spurt of the infinite force, all express an ‘instantaneous’ manifestation of immense energy.  This is what is referred in the Upanishad as the cosmic expression of Divine will in the physical (gross) and subliminal forms of Nature. The presence of divine powers in the human being imply the immense potentials of the latter and the ultimate evolution of his conscious (mental) faculties up to the high realms of divinity. Such descriptions of the Upanishads also reflect the fact that the origin of human self is divine and that the soul, the inner self, is an expression and fraction of the Brahm. 

“Natural creation, evolution or destruction – of every element, every being, every form of existence r work simultaneously at the gross physical as well as the subtler domains of existence. The paranormal powers of God – the Supreme Creator, the action form of Brah® – enabled collective materialization of these in totality at the cosmic level” – such implications of the Indian Philosophy are being interpreted and reaffirmed by the eminent researchers of the modern times in several respects.

(To be concluded in next issue)
Notes: 
1.    Brahm – the selfrexistent omnipresent consciousness force. The eternal light (knowledge), truth and ultimate bliss.

2.    The transcendental source of fire and energy is referred as manifestation of Goddess Agni, that of air and fluids as God Maruta, that of natural medicines as twin Gods Ashwina, that of directions and space as Dishas, the God of brilliance and vitality as Surya (the Sun God), the God of beauty and soothing feelings as the candrama (the Moon God).

First 8 10 Last