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: Re: Evolution of knowledge: : Charles Darwin Campfire : If ye would like to moderate the Charles Darwin Campfire, please drop becket@jollyroger.com a line. : The World's Largest Literary Cafe : [Jollyroger.com][Carolinanavy.com][Nantuckets.com][BusinessPhilosophy.com][Classicals.com][Quarterdeck][xmlclassics.com] : [ Jolly Roger Live Chat][The Jolly Roger][Kill Devil Hill][Western Canon University] : [Federalistnavy.com][Starbuck.com][Linux Poetry] : [ussconstitutions.com] [Free jollyrogermail][William Shakespeare] [JR Greetings] : [nantucketnavy.com][hatteraslight.com][Clicgreetings.com] : [MASTHEAD SEARCHTM] : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : [ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Charles Darwin Campfire ] [ The Jolly Roger ] : [The World's Largest Literary Cafe] : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Posted by Muzzy on June 18, 19101 at 16:28:59: : In Reply to: Evolution of knowledge posted by mark1 on June 18, 19101 at 13:38:06: : Statistically, there are over 700 million Hindus, mainly in Bharat (India), and Nepal. Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. A detailed explanation of Hindu texts are found in Veda page and the links pointed to from there. Since Hinduism has no founder, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu. He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine. The following article is based on my limited understanding. : While religion means to bind, Dharma means to hold. What man holds on to is his inner law, which leads from ignorance to Truth. Though reading of the scriptures (shastras) would not directly lead you to self-realization, the teachings of the seers provide a basis and a path for spirituality. Despite being the oldest religion, the truth realized by the seers prove that the Truth and path provided by Hinduism is beyond time. : Hindu Scriptures are broadly clified into Shruti (meaning 'heard'), Smriti (meaning 'remembered') and nyaya (meaning 'logic') based on its origin not on the mode of transmission. Therefore, shruti means something which were heard (directly from the Gods) by the sages while smriti refers to what was written down and remembered. shruti is considered more authoritative than smriti because the former is believed to have been obtained directly from God by the spiritual experiences of vedic seers and has no interpretations. Vedas constitute the shruti while the rest including Itihaasa-s (epics), PuraaNa-s (moral stories), and Agamas (emanated scriptures) are known as smriti while Vedanta-sutras (vedanta aphorisms) are clified as Nyaya. smriti and Nyaya always agrees with shruti. : The oldest and foremost among them are the Vedas. The vedas are called shruti and stems from the inner spiritual experience of the ancient seers. Hindus believe that Vedas are timeless and eternal. There are four vedas, namely Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva veda. Each veda consists of sections namely Samhita (containing the hymns) and Brahmana ( significance of the hymns), Aranyakas (interpretations), and Vedanta (upanishhads, which are metaphysical dialogs). A good write-up on vedas is the Veda intro. : The vedangas and upavedas are texts which augment the Vedas. There are six vedangas namely Siksa, Jyotisha, Kalpa, Nirukti, Candas, and Vyakarana. Jyotisha (astrology) is the most famous among them. Kalpa explains the rituals and explain a path based on the other five. There are five upavedas namely Artha, Dhanur, Sthapatya, Gandharva, and Ayur-veda. Ayurveda which deals with health, medicine is probably the most popular of the upavedas. : Agamas are rules for the ritual, rites and the worship of Gods. There are five of them based for the worship of Ganesha, Shakti, Surya, Shiva, and Vishnu. : One can argue that the vedas show three clear paths. Karma-kanda is the path using the vedangas, Upasana-kanda is the path using Aagamas while Jnana-kanda involves the path of Upanishads to realize the Brahman. : Upanishads are called Vedanta, because they expound on the spiritual essence of Vedas and they are found at the end of the vedas. However, one should note that Upanishads are texts, while Vedanta is a philosophy. While there are numerous upanishhads (1180 to be exact), 108 of them are considered genuine (given by the list in Muktika upanishhad). Eleven of them namely Isha, kena, kaTha, prashna, muNDaka, mANDUkya, taittirIya, aitareya, chAndogya, shvetAshvatara, bR^ihad-AraNyaka, are considered the most significant or "major" upanishhads since they have been commented upon by the major acharyas (teachers) of various traditions. Upanishhads means 'to sit down near' because they were explained to the students sitting near the feet of their teacher. Sri Aurobindo's introduction to Upanishhads can be found in Upanishhad intro. There is also a detailed introduction at Upanishhads introduction. There are some upanishhads on the net, and the ones I have found on the net (translated in English) are mundaka, katha, kena, Isha. The transliterations of various upanishads including the above ones in ITRANS format are available at UPANISHADS. A number of minor upanishads including the translation can be found at Minor Upanishads. : Vedanta, the basis of Hinduism, erts that Brahman, the 'impersonal' God and the universal soul, is the Absolute Truth. Brahman has multiple roles to play: the creator, the maintainer, and the destroyer all in one. (This can be viewed as the origin of the trinity Gods namely Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, respectively). Vedanta states that the individual human soul(jiva-atman) originates and merges with the Brahman. There are three different philosophies on this concept. Advaita (non-duality) implies that there is an identity of Brahman and Jivaatman while Dvaita (duality) differs from Advaita and maintains an ultimate diversity between Brahman and Jiva-atman. Visistadvaita (qualified non-duality) maintains a crucial differentiation as well as a fundamental identity. The advaita, viSishTAdvaita, dvaita, philosophies were expounded by Sri Adi SHANKARA, Sri Ramanuja and Sri Madhva, respectively. Other systems which aren't quite popular as the above ones are dvaitadvaita (dual-non-dual doctrine), suddhadvaita (pure non-dualism), and acinntyaa bhedabheda (oneness and difference) were expounded by Nimbarka, Vallabha and Vidyabhusana. All the above philosophers have written commentaries on the prasthana-traya (triple canon) of the vedanta, which are the upanishads, brahma sutra and bhagvad gita. : A small write-up on the practice of vedanta in daily life can be found HERE. An excellent treatise on the practice of Advaita Vedanta can be found here. : There are six systems of Indian philosophy (ShhaDarshana). They are Jaimini's Purva Mimansa, Patanjali's yoga, Gautama's Nyaya, Kanada's Vaisheshika, Vyasa's Uttar Mimansa, and Kapila's Sankhya. All the six systems are written in aphorisms (sutras). Though each sutra is just a few lines, huge commentaries have been written on each of them. : Besides all the philosophy which expound on the cosmic attributes of the Divine, there are epics (Itihaasa-s) and stories (Puranas) written which bring into light the human attributes of the Divine. : Itihaasa-s comprises of the two epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are the stories of two incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Rama and Krishna, respectively. These are by far the well read and most popular among the Hindus. Ramayana was first written by Valmiki while Mahabharata was written by Sage Vyasa. The Bhagvad-gita is the epitome of hindu philosophy and is found in the Mahabharata. Due to its content, Bhagvad-gita is sometimes considered to be a Gito-Upanishhad. Vyasa also wrote the eighteen puraaNa-s and eighteen sub-puranas. All puranas emphasize on morals and is usually a story about a hindu deity fighting for upholding these morals. There are also Kaavyas which are based on stories derived from the Itihaasa-s/puraaNas. Among them, Raghuvamsa, Meghaduta and Shakuntala are very famous. : There are also Prakarana Granthas which are considered to be primers or an introduction for spiritual studies. Among them are Atma Bodha, and my favorite, Bhaja Govindam [also known as Moha Mudhgara]. Besides the scriptures, there are stotra-s and bhajans (devotional songs and hymns) Among the numerous stotras, Sahasranamams (1008 names of each diety) are very famous. : Many hindu scriptures including Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvad-Gita, yoga sutras of patanjali, and a multitude of bhajans and slokas in both sanskrit text and english transliteration can be found in Hindu scriptures and slokas and the ITRANS song book at Songs and Bhajans. Tantric texts and shiva sutras can be found in Tantras. : There are a number of verses available in both transliterated and devangari script (postscript format). Kindly refer to Extensive Doent list. In addition, BHAJA GOVINDAM, ASTAVAKRA GITA and LALITA are available on this site. Besides this, one may find detailed explanations for OM and Gayatri Mantra in the Meditation-Mantras section of the home page. : : More Hinduism Links : A good collection of links (with many links pointing back to this site) on Hinduism and other Indian religions is by Indiatime : The UseNet newsgroup soc.religion.hindu, also on the gopher. The archive for this newsgroup. FTP site for Sanskrit doents, Indology home page, Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies, Ousia Indologist -- Indological links, Veda, Hindu, Mahabharata, Brahman, Resource List. : : There is a good introduction to Hinduism with FAQ's at introduction. An excellent Intro provides not only a preview of Hinduism, but what Hinduism preaches as to a life one should lead. One of my other home pages contains Thoughts on Hinduism and Biographies of various saints. : : Gods in Hinduism : Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic ? This is among the nine frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Hinduism and has been answered in Nine FAQs on Hinduism. Further information can be found in Gods and Goddesses. : There are numerous temples in India. The rich cultural heritage and the art of symbolism in Hinduism is presented in this article : As seen in the hinduism section, the trinity gods are Lord Brahma (not to be confused with Brahman), Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is not worshipped and there are very few temples in his honor due to 'mythological' reasons. Vishnu (and the incarnations of Him, Rama and Krishna), Shiva (and his various forms), their wives, are the most popular with numerous temples and followers. The wives of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are Saraswati, Laxmi, and Parvati, respectively. Collectively, they are sometimes referred to as Divine mother (or Shakti). Two of Parvati's fierce but very powerful forms are Durga and Kali. Gods and Goddesses is a site that provides more details of all these gods and goddesses. THIS is a speech by Satya Sai Baba {paraphrased} on the Divine mother. The 'sons' of Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya (or Muruga) are also widely worshipped. : Read about the significance and legends of GANESHA. One can view the cosmic dance of Shiva, and also a movie on Him at Shiva1 and View some good pictures of Ganesha, Nataraja, Krishna1, and a good collection of various pictures in Pictures, More Pictures, Excellent collection of Images. Finally, don't forget to view some excellent pictures of the Divine Mother Meenakshi and NATARAJA, to whose feet this page is dedicated. : One worships all the above dieties. This is referred to as Puja. It is conducted to an idol made of gold, silver, bronze or even clay. Those who can not even afford these worship the Gods in paintings/pictures. Unfortunately, many people don't understand the significance of the puja, whether conducted daily at home or at a temple. It is true that stones are worshipped, and the elephant-God, Lord Ganesha, and the monkey-God, Hanuman are worshipped. But what is the significance ? Since God is omnipresent, then He should be present in stones, animals i.e everywhere. Isn't it beautiful that a person sees divinity in every aspect of creation whether it is animate or inanimate ? Worshippers would commit a grave error by seeing an essential distinction between the idol and the Supreme Lord, for they are one and the same. : Before the puja, one bathes to signify the outer purification. Mantras and stotras are recited for inner purification. Even a very simple puja employs flowers. What is the inner significance ? Flowers smell. This is called vaasaana. Vaasaana is also an another name for the imprints in the jiva, which constitute the flavor/smell of our personality, habits etc. Flowers are picked up with the right hand and then, the fingers are pointed downward so that the flowers fall at the feet of the idol. The five fingers signify the five senses. The senses which are normally directed outward for pleasure and now pointed downward showing that they are surrendered at His/Her Feet. Usually, the flower is placed after uttering 'namaH.' While namaH means salutation, it is also a corrupt form of 'na mama' i.e not mine. Thus, when offering flowers, one says, 'I am offering to you my senses, attributes, character but none of them are really mine. Everything is yours.' Thus, even a simple puja has a great spiritual meaning which escapes a casual observer. : : Learning Sanskrit : There comes a stage in one's life when one is no longer interested in the translation of Sanskrit texts and wants to read the original texts and interpret it him/herself. Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages and the vibrations emanted by reciting Sanskrit are said to be unique. Sanskrit is probably the most accurate language phonetically (one pronounces words exactly as it is written), and the grammar is very old, extremely extensive and well written. : There are some good BOOKS and Courses from which you can learn Sanskrit. Additional information on Sanskrit texts on the web and the mailing list can be found in Sanskrit Doent list. : : Free gita lessons and guidance : The American Gita Society provides translations of the verses of Gita and also lessons based on the philosophy of Gita. The complete set of translation is available at Gita Translation. AGS (511 Lowell Place, Fremont, CA 94536) charges no fee for its services and solicits no donation from the students of this course in keeping with the beautiful Vedic tradition. Please call (510-791-6953 on Mondays between 6 and 8 PM, California time) or write to them for help or guidance. Please enclose a self addressed-stamped envelope for any reply via US mail. : You can learn more about gita {based on Swami Chinmayananda's teaching} from Gita Guidance. The translation of gita by Srila Prabhupada is Gita1. Another site which contains Gita in inline sanskrit and ascii format is Gita2. : : Hinduism Journal : A Hinduism journal Hinduism Today is available for free. Look under the Links page for a review of their site. Also please read the excellent book Dancing with Siva published by them. The book is a clear exposition on Hinduism. The Dutch version of the same journal is available at Dutch HT. : : Books on Hinduism : There are thousands of books written on the various philosophies, which all form a part of Hinduism. Among them, the following are the among the best BOOKS written (in my humble opinion and limited experience) on Hinduism and Vedanta philosophy. (This is in addition to the books in the 'yoga book section.' Also read the comment on spiritual practice and reading books in the same section). Please note that these are from the books that I have read. Many hindu scriptures including Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvad-Gita, yoga sutras of patanjali, and a multitude of bhajans and slokas in both sanskrit text and english transliteration can be found in Doent list. The ITRANS song book is at Song book and the following site has some nice Bhajans. Tantric texts can be found in Tantras. Kindly refer to the extensive which lists all the slokas/bhajans which are available on the web, and those which are being transliterated. :
: HINDUISM : The world's third largest religion :
: Overview: : Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality, or a central religious organization. It consists of "thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE." 8 : Hinduism has grown to become the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam. It claims about 762 million followers - 13% of the world's population. It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. There are about 1.1 million Hindus in the U.S., 3 and about 157,015 in Canada. 4 : Religions which recognize the existence of multiple deities have traditionally been among the world's most religiously tolerant. Hinduism remains arguably the most tolerant of such religions. However, during the past few years, a Hindu nationalistic political party has controlled the government of India. The linkage of religion, the federal government and nationalism has led to a recent degeneration in the level of religious tolerance in that country. The escalation of anti-Christian violence is one manifestation of this linkage. :
: Name of the religion: : This religion is called: :
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: Early history of Hinduism: : Beliefs about the early development of Hinduism are currently in a state of flux: :
: During the first few centuries CE, many sects were created, each dedicated to a specific deity. Typical among these were the Goddesses Shakti and Lakshmi, and the Gods Skanda and Surya. :
: Sacred texts: : The most important of all Hindu texts is the Bhagavad Gita which is a poem describing a conversation between a warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna. It is an ancient text that has become central to Hinduism and other belief systems. Vedism survives in the Rigveda, (a.k.a. Rig Veda) a collection of over 1,000 hymns. Other texts include the Brahmanas, the Sutras, and the Aranyakas. :
: Hindu beliefs and practices: : Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing: :
: Most Hindus follow one of two major divisions within Hinduism: :
: Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara. Karma is the aculated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives. : Hindus organize their lives around certain activities or "purusharthas." These are called the "four aims of Hinduism," or "the doctrine of the fourfold end of life." They are: :
: Meditation is often practiced, with Yoga being the most common. Other activities include daily devotions, public rituals, and puja, a ceremonial dinner for a God. : Hinduism has a deserved reputation of being highly tolerant of other religions. Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti," which may be translated: "The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names" :
: The caste system: : Although the caste system was abolished by law in 1949, it remains a significant force throughout India. : Each follower of Hinduism belonged to one of the thousands of Jats (communities) that existed in India. The Jats were grouped into four Varna (social castes), plus a fifth group called the "untouchables." A person's Jat determined the range of s or professions from which they could choose. Marriages normally took place within the same Jat. There were rules that prohibited persons of different groups from eating, drinking or even smoking with each other. People were once able to move from one Varna to another. However, at some time in the past (estimates range from about 500 BCE to 500 CE), the system became rigid, so that a person was generally born into the Jat and Varna of their parents, and died in the same group. 1 "The caste system splits up society into a multitude of little communities, for every caste, and almost every local unit of a caste, has its own peculiar customs and internal regulations." 2 The Rigveda defined four castes. In decreasing status, they are normally: :
: The Dalit were outcasts who did not belong to one of the castes. Until the late 1980's they were called Harijan (children of God). They worked in what are considered polluting s. They were untouchable by the four castes; in some areas of the country, even a contact with their shadow by a member of the Varnas was considered polluting. : Practicing untouchability or discriminating against a person because of their caste is now . The caste system has lost much of its power in urban areas; however it is essentially unchanged in some rural districts. The government has instituted positive discrimination in order to help the Dalit and lower castes. :
: Hindu sects and denominations: : About 80% of Hindus are Vaishnavites, who worship Lord Vishnu. Others follow various reform movements or neo-Hindu sects. : Various sects of Hinduism have evolved into separate religious movements, including Hare Krishna, Sikhism and Theosophy. Transcendental Meditation was derived from a Hindu technique of meditation. The New Age movement has taken many of its concepts from Hinduism. :
: Recent news items: :
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: Hindu sites on the Internet: :
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: References: : 1. "The Caste system," at: http://members.tripod.com/adaniel/castes.htm : 2. "India's social customs and systems: The caste system," at: http://www.investindia.com/newsite/social/castes.htm : 3. Estimate from the 1999 edition of the "Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches," National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. : 4. 1991 census by Statistics Canada. : 5. "Origin of 'Hindu'," at: http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_7/msg00387.html : 6. David Frawley, "The myth of the invasion of India," at: http://www.hindunet.org/alt_hindu_home/ : 7. David Frawley, "Gods, Sages and Kings," Morson Publ, (1991). Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store : 8. David Levinson, "Religion: A cross-cultural dictionary," Oxford University Press, (1998). Read reviews or order this book : HitBOX.com monitors traffic to this essay. :
: Copyright © 1995, 1997, 1999 to 2001 incl., by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance : Latest update: 2001-FEB-27 : Author: B.A. Robinson :
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TOP ======UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM======== : Hinduism & Quantum Physics : Click on a Bookmarked topic to open paragraph : BELL'S THEOREM - VEDANTA AND QUANTUM PHYSICS : TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION LOWERS CHOLESTEROL : HURRY SICKNESS : Vedanta as the synthesis of Science and Religion : Modern Physics and Philosophical Reason : The basic oneness of the universe is not only the central : characteristic of the mystical experience, but is also one : of the most important revelations of modern physics. : : "THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE"-Prof.Henry Stapp, Quantum physicist. : BELL'S THEOREM - VEDANTA AND QUANTUM PHYSICS : HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE PHYSICAL WORLD : 'Om Isha vasyam idam sarvam, yat kincha jagatyam jagat' : "All this- whatever exists in this changing : universe, is pervaded by God" : -Isa Upanishad : "Om purnamadah purnamidam purnaat purnamudachyate, : purnasya purnamadaya purnamevaavashishyate" : "That (pure consciousness) is full(perfect); this(the manifest universe of matter; of names and forms being maya) is full. This fullness has been projected from that fullness. When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness." : -Peace invocation- Isa Upanishad : "The Supreme Brahman(God) is the only Reality. The idea of the phenomenal universe is falsely superimposed upon it." : Swami Nikhilananda of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Centre, New York. : THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS THEOREM ARE STAGGERING : In recent years physicists have had to address the interplay of consciousness and the physical world. In Quantum Physics much has been made over Bell's Theorem. The implications of this theorem and the experimental findings that flow from it are staggering. They force us to consider that the entire notion of a purely objective world is in conflict not only with the theory of quantum mechanics, but with the facts drawn from actual experiments. These findings point insistently to a profound interaction between conscious mental activity and the physical world itself. : THE RISHI'S VISION : The Rishi's vision of a world in which man participates in a seamless existence, indivisibly united with the universe around him, resonates through a discovery called "BELL'S THEOREM". This discovery, first proposed in 1964 by the physicist John S. Bell was first confirmed by experiment in 1972 by Professor John Clauser at Berkley. It is an almost unbelievable result - unbelievable because the logical mind has great difficulty in comprehending how it can be true. Its impact on the physics community has been enormous. Professor Henry Stapp, a physicist at Berkley and an authority on the implications of Bell's Theorem, has called it THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE. : A description of the proof of Bell's theory, as given by Stapp reads: : "If the statistical predictions of quantum theory are true, an objective universe is incompatible with the law of local causes." : Although formidable at first glance, Bell's Theorem seems simpler once key terms are understood. : First, an "objective universe" is simply one that exists apart from our consciousness. : Secondly, the "law of local causes" refers to the fact that events in the universe happen at a speed that does not exceed the speed of light. Things happen, in other words, always at the speed of light or less.This limitation is imposed by Einstein's special theory of relativity, and is a mainstay of modern physical theory. To be accurate, in actual experimental situations, it is not Bell's Theorem that is tested, but the predictions of Quantum Mechanics. : In 1935, Albert Einstein, together with Nathan Rosen and Boris Podolsky proposed through flawless mathematical reasoning that if the quantum theory were correct, then 'A change in the spin of one particle in a two particle system would affect its twin simultaneously, even if the two had been widely separated in the meantime'. And 'simultaneous' is a dirty word in the theory of special relativity, which forbids the transmission of any signal faster than the speed of light. Obviously, a signal telling the particle 'what to do' would have to travel faster than the speed of light if instantaneous changes were to occur between the two particles. : The dilemma into which Einstein, Rosen and Podolsky dragged the quantum theory was a profound one, coming to be known as THE ERP EFFECT. : In 1964 Bell's Theorem emerged as a proof that Einstein's impossible proposition did in fact hold true: instantaneous changes in widely separated systems did occur. : In 1972, Clauser confirmed the statistical predictions of quantum mechanics, working with an elaborate system involving photons, calcite crystals, and photo multiplier tubes The experiment has since been run several times with the same consistent results; Bell's Theorem stands solid. : THE IMPLICATIONS OF BELL'S THEOREM ARE : PRACTICALLY UNTHINKABLE : Even for the physicists involved, the implications of Bell's Theorem are practically unthinkable. Mathematics and experimentation have taken us where our logical mind cannot go. Imagine, two particles once in contact, separated even to the ends of the universe, change instantaneously when a change in one of them occurs! : Slowly, new ideas are emerging to explain these unthinkable occurrences. One view is that, in some unexplainable way, the separated particles are still in contact although separated in space. This is the suggestion of the French physicist Bernard D'Espagnat. In 1979, writing about quantum reality, he said that "the entire notion of an external, fixed, objective world now lies in conflict not only with quantum theory, but in facts drawn from actual experiments.... in some sense all these objects constitute an indivisible whole." : Physicist Jack Sarfatti of the Physics/Consciousness Research Group proposes that no actual energy-requiring signal is transmitted between the distant objects, but 'information' is transmitted instead. Thus no violation of Einstein's special theory of relativity occurs. Exactly what this information is is unclear, and it a strange thing which might travel instantly and require no energy to do so. : Nic Herbert, a physicist who heads the C-Life Institute, suggests that we have merely discovered an elemental oneness of the world. This oneness cannot be diminished by spatial separation. An invisible wholeness unites the objects that are given birth in the universe, and it is this wholeness that we have stumbled into through modern experimental methods. Herbert alludes to the words of the poet Charles Williams: "Separation without separateness, reality without rift." : It would be a mistake to suppose that these effects operate only with relevance to the invisible world of the atom. Professor Henry Stapp states that the real importance of these findings is that they translate directly to our microcosmic existence, implying that the oneness that is implicit in Bell's Theorem envelopes human beings and atoms alike. : The interrelation of human consciousness and the observed world is obvious in Bell's Theorem. Human consciousness and the physical world cannot be regarded as distinct, separate entities. What we call physical reality, the external world, is shaped - to some extent - by human thought. The lesson is clear; we cannot separate our own existence from that of the world outside. We are intimately ociated not only with the earth we inhabit, but with the farthest reaches of the cosmos. : Certain quantum physicists now say that each part of the universe contains all the information present in the entire cosmos itself (similar to a giant oak tree producing an acorn that contains all the information to replicate itself). : This ertion is so audacious that it would be dismissed out of hand were it not for the scientific stature of its chief proponent David Bohm, a former ociate of Einstein, professor of theoretical physics at Birbeck College of University of London. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent theoretical physicists of our day. : TOP Index Alphabetical THE HOLOGRAM : Bohm maintains that the information of the entire universe is contained in each of its parts. There is, he says, a stunning example of this principle in photography: the hologram (literally whole message). : Hologram is a specially constructed image which, when illuminated by a laser beam, seems eerily suspended in three dimensional space. The most incredible feature of holograms is that any piece of it, if illuminated with coherent light, provides an image of the entire hologram. The information of the whole is contained in each part. The entire representation of the original object is contained in each portion of the hologram. This principle, says Bohm, extends to the universe at large, that the universe is constructed on the same principles as the hologram. His theory rests on concepts that flow from modern physics. The world is an indivisible whole. : For Bohm, order and unity are spread throughout the universe in a way which escapes our senses. In the same way that order and organisation are spread throughout the hologram. Each part of the universe contains enough information to reconstitute the whole. The form and structure of the entire universe is enfolded within each part. : For many working physicists, these concepts are inescapable conclusions that flow from quantum mechanics and relativity. It is crucial to appreciate the scope of these implications. We frequently ume that quantum physics applies only to the diminutive realm of nature - electrons, protons etc., and that relativity has only to do with mive objects of cosmic proportions -stars, galaxies, nebulae etc. But Bohm's contention is that we are squarely in the middle of these phenomena. Ultimately the entire universe (with all its 'particles' including those constituting human beings, their laboratories, observing instruments etc). has to be understood as a single undivided whole, in which ysis into separately and independently existent parts has no fundamental status. : What are the implications of a holographic universe? As part of the universe, do we have holographic features ourselves that allow us to comprehend a holographic universe? This question has been answered affirmatively by Stanford neurophysiologist Karl Pribram. In an attempt to account for key observations about brain function which for decades have puzzled brain physiologists, Pribram arrived at a radical proposal: the hologram is a model brain function. In essence, the brain is the 'photographic plate' on which information in the universe is encoded. : When the proposals of Bohm and Pribram are conceptually joined, a new model of man emerges: we use a brain that encodes information holographically; and it is a hologram that is a part of an even larger hologram - the universe itself. : Pribram's radical suggestions are founded on work that originated in the laboratory of one of the pioneers of modern neurophysiology, Karl Lashley. At a time when it was popularly believed that there were specific centres in the brain for practically every human function - such as speech, vision, appetite, sleep etc.,- Lashley demonstrated that this was apparently not true for memory. Working with animals, he found that even when bulk of the cerebral cortex was surgically removed, leaving only a remnant intact, the memory of how to perform specific tasks remained. The rapidity and accuracy of the performance was frequently attenuated, but the knowledge was retained. : These findings fit poorly with existing theories about how information is stored in the brain. It was as if memory was spread everywhere in the cortex - but how? Pribram reasoned that the brain contained the memory in each of its parts. The ogy to a hologram was obvious. The entire memory pattern could be found throughout the cerebral cortex if the information had originally been encoded holographically. : In most right handed persons, the left side of the brain is presumed to control the movements of the right side of the body. In instances where the left side of the brain is injured - for example through a stroke or with a trauma -paralysis or profound weakness of the right side of the body is the predictable result. A physician, Richard Restak, has reported a case, in a twenty one year old female in which the entire left side of the brain was removed surgically in order to control epileptic seizures that were unmanageable with any other known form of therapy. The results of the therapy were astonishing. : Although the seizures were stopped, within a few weeks the woman began to regain control of the right side of her body. She was able to return to work and to lead an active social life. Where did the right side of her body receive its motor information with the left side of the brain in the surgeon's pail? : In 1975 a similar case was reported by Smith & Sugar. A six year old male underwent total removal of the left cerebral hemisphere because of intractable epileptic seizures. Conventional neurophysiological wisdom erts that the left side of the cerebral cortex is responsible for our speech, mathematical reasoning and logical thought in general, and that the right cerebral hemisphere controls our intuitive, non-rational, non-verbal forms of thought. Yet this young man grew up to become a gifted student, proficient in verbal reasoning and language abilities, testing even into the gifted range of on standard intelligence tests. : SPACE AND TIME - THE HOLOVERSE : This indivisibility also applied fundamentally to space and time. Relativity has shown that they are inextricably linked, and cannot be teased apart. : Recall one of the possibilities embodied in Bell's theorem involving non-local features of the universe: objects once in contact, though separated spatially, even if placed at distant ends of the universe, are somehow in inseparable contact. Since any change in one immediately and unmitigatedly causes change in the other, this is a nonlocal occurance, meaning that any information ping between the two objects would have to travel faster than the speed of light to cause such instantaneous change. Since it is impossible for the speed of light to be exceeded, according to the special theory of relativity, this event is said to be noncausal-i.e. not caused by the transfer of any conceivable kind of energy ping between the distant objects. : Although these nonlocal and noncausal descriptions are worked out for objects separated in space, Bohm states that the implications of quantum theory also apply to moments in 'TIME'. : What is crucial is that, according to the theory of relativity, a sharp distinction between space and time cannot be maintained. : We all have roots in the universe. Conscious mental activity exerts measurable effects on the physical world - a world that includes human bodies, organs, tissues, and cells. Mind becomes a legitimate factor in the unfolding of health and disease. The inter-penetration of all matter is the rule. The dividing line between life and non-life is illusory and arbitrary. There is only one valid way, thus, to partake of the universe and that way is characterised by reverence - a reverence born of a felt sense of participation in the universe, of a kinship with all others and with all matter. A reverential attitude that bespeaks a oneness with the universe can transform the commonest act. : Bhagavad Gita, Ch.13,Verses 15 : : "Without and within all beings the unmoving and also the moving; because of Its subtlety, unknowable; and near and far away is That(God)". : Bhagavad Gita, Ch.13, Verse 16: : "And undivided, yet He exists as if divided in beings; He is to be known as the supporter of beings; He devours and He generates." : No division in Consciousness is admissible at any time as it is always one and the same. Even the individuality of the Jiva must be known as false, like the delusion of a snake in a rope. Shankaracharya (Aparokshanubhuti.43) : TOP Index Alphabetical TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION LOWERS CHOLESTEROL : By Larry Dossey , M.D. : "In 1980, subjects with elevated blood cholesterol levels were taught the technique of transcendental meditation. Serial determinations of the blood cholesterol level were made. It was found that in subjects who practiced this technique the cholesterol level fell on the average of 20 percent. While this fall may seem modest, it should be noted that there are no drugs that are consistently more effective, safe, and inexpensive as this method of voluntary relaxation and mental quieting. Moreover, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate, as well as the blood levels of insulin, hydrocortisone, adrenaline, and norepinephrine are modified to more desirable levels." : - Cooper and Aygen "The effect of Meditation." : The significance of these observations is inestimable: by taking thought in ways which 'elongate' the time sense, time-sick individuals can alter many of the devastating effects of the time syndrome. : HURRY SICKNESS : Our sense of time affects our health by influencing the development and course of specific diseases. This is nowhere more obvious than in persons who have been called Type A individuals by Friedman and Rosenman. Type A persons have "hurry sickness." Their lives are oriented around goals, deadlines, and objectives, which they seem to react to in a driven fashion. They are unable to approach a task in a healthy, balanced way, but in extreme cases seem almost consumed by a need to accomplish and achieve. : Not only do they have an inward sense of urgency, their outward behaviour suggests the same quality. When sitting they may be in constant motion, not only with thoughts, but with body parts- hands, fingers, legs, feet. They are usually vocal, verbally expressing the products of a mind that cannot rest. This behaviour frequently generates discomfort and tension in those around them. : It is as if Type A persons are "time sick." Type A persons are usually ambitious and frequently are highly successsful, having succeeded in harnessing their high motivation and sense of purpose.Yet for all the qualities for which they are admired- their vision, energy, and dedication- they possess, as a group, a characteristic that nobody envies: they have a high mortality rate from heart disease.Type A individuals as a group, die earlier. Their behaviour puts them at risk for the most frequent cause of death in our society, coronary artery disease. : The importance of the exaggerated response to time , the sense of urgency displayed by Type A individuals, is that it is translated into physiologic effects. These effects are pervasive and are seen long before heart disease supervenes. These physiological events are so characteristic of time-sick persons, they could be called the time syndrome. Among them are increased heart rate and blood pressure at rest; elevation of certain blood hormones such as adrenaline, norepinephrine, insulin, growth hormone, and hydrocortisone, all of which are ordinarily secreted in an exaggerated way during times of urgency or stress; increased gastric acid secretion; increased blood cholesterol; an increased respiratory rate; increased secretory activity of sweat glands; an increased muscle tension throughout the body. The time syndrome is a body-mind process with effects on all major systems. : As we learn to meditate, or when we become familiar with the states of consciousness through techniques employing deep relaxation, we develop a familiarity with a new sense of time. We begin to experience time in new ways. We begin to feel at home with time as it expands. Phrases such as "the ever-present now" and "the eternal moment" become full with meaning. Above all, we develop a friendliness with time. : The health-sustaining role of social support systems : We affect the health of those about us. Human events such as caring, loving,touching and confiding exert profound consequences on health. : In Alameda County, California, 4700 men and women were followed over a nine year period, and mortality rates from all causes were examined. Mortality rates in men were significantly higher among the unmarried. Those men who chose fewer social contacts with friends and relatives, and those who were not church members,demonstrated a higher death rate. : A striking result was found in an experiment at Ohio State University. A group of investigators were studying the effects of a diet high in fat and cholesterol in rabbits. At the end of a certain period the rabbits were sacrificed, and certain arteries in their bodies were examined for evidence of atherosclerosis. This process of cholesterol deposition forms obstructions and ulcerations in arteries, and in humans results in vascular disease of various types, such as heart attacks and stroke. : The results of the study should have been rather predictable. But when a certain group of the test rabbits demonstrated atherosclerotic changes which were 60 percent less than that of the overall group, the investigators were astonished! The rabbits who were affected less severely were those who were fed and cared for by one of the investigators who, during the course of the experiment, regularly took them from their cages and petted, stroked, and talked to them. : In order to test this 'coincidence', systematic controlled studies were designed in which two groups of rabbits were again fed the same diet and were treated identically except that one group was removed from their cages several times a day for petting, and were talked to each time by the same person. The results? The petted and talked to group once again demonstrated a 60 percent lower incidence of atherosclerosis. : Not content with the possibility of two coincidences, the Ohio State investigators repeated the study. The results were the same. Touching, petting, handling, and gentle talking emerged as a crucial determinant in the disease process. : A task force in Machusetts reported to the Secretary of H.E.W. their findings on the likelihood of survival from atherosclerotic heart disease. They found the most reliable factor in determining survival was not smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, or high blood cholesterol levels, but satisfaction. And the second overall predictor was what the task force termed "overall happiness." : Angina pectoris is the term applied to the pain experienced by patients with atherosclerotic heart disease. Medalie and Goldbourt followed 10,000 Israeli males aged forty years and older to determine the impact of risk factors on the frequency of angina.Most of the commonly known risk factors were correlated with angina, but so too were anxiety and severe psychosocial problems. Most surprising of all was the finding that, among men with severe anxiety, those who perceived their wives to be loving and supportive had half the rate of angina of those who felt unloved and unsupported. : Brown and his colleagues have conducted a series of studies in the United Kingdom, investigating the incidence and prevalence of psychiatric disorders. In a variety of settings (urban and rural) and among different social cles (working and middle cl). : The most potent protective factor against psychiatric illness was the presence or absence of an intimate and confiding relationship with a husband or boyfriend; that is, one in which feelings could be shared, whether or not ual intimacy occurred. : One of the most stressful events in life is the death of a husband or wife. Holmes and Rahe, in essing the relative stress imposed by various events rated the death of a spouse as the single most stressful occurrence in life. : Krause and Lilienfeld found that age-specific mortality ratios for widowed men and women were two to fourfold higher than for those who were married. : Schleifer found that bereavement, a profoundly stressful event, produce changes in the body's immune system, compromising the defense against infection and cancer. : How do such human experiences as satisfaction, happiness, and meditation get into the cells? There is a physiology of loving and caring, ranging from embarring blush to palpitations, sweating and stammering. Feelings of love generate physical events.It may seem a distant transition from being in love in one's teens to being a confidant or a supportive spouse later in life, but physiologic changes are involved on both ends of the spectrum. These changes are not trivial. They can make the difference between life and death. : Social support systems are important for survival : Loving, caring and confiding are crucial matters; matters of life and death. : "A solitary individual wholly independent of others is largely a fiction. In reality, most or even all living beings exist in more or less integrated communities, and the ability to maintain these ociations entails some co-operations, or at least, 'proto-co-operation."- T.Dobzhansky, New York. : Our urge toward ociating with those of our own kind is rooted in our earliest beginnings. : "Dependency and interdependency are the indispensable conditions of life." - A.Montague, "On Being Human." : Separated from their companions, individual amoebae begin immediately to find their way back to the group. : Wilhelm Roux shook apart the cells in a frog's eggs early in the course of its development and separated the cells at some distance in water. The cells slowly began to approach each other, eventually making contact. There are endless examples in the plant and animal world that social systems are important in the reproductive cycles and survival of living organisms. : If our health is coupled with the perpetuation of our genes, it is also tied to our ociation with members of our species. As G.G.Simpson has said in 'Life of the Past': : "No animal or plant lives alone or is self-sustaining. All live in communities including other members of their own species and also a number, usually a large variety, of other sorts of animals and plants. The quest to be alone is indeed a futile one, never successfully followed in the history of life." : The psychological effects of urgency - stress, anxiety, tension- do not stay in the psyche. They are translated into the body where they eventuate in physical ailments. The sense of urgency generates infirmity, disease and death. : In contrast, the psychological sense that accompanies the perception of time as static and nonflowing is one of tranquility, serenity and peace. It is the sense of oneness of unity, the feeling of calm and release. Mind and body are intrinsically united, and consciousness is the fulcrum of health. : ________________________________________

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