Satyam Gyanam Anandam Society UK E-Magazine December 2005

* SGAS UK * December 2005 * ISSUE NO: 2 *

Editorial

Dear Readers,

We have great pleasure to present you the second issue of the SGAS UK E-Magazine. Once again, we would like to remind you that this E-mag is not an online meditation course. It is simply a means for Swami Paramananda, our Spiritual Master, to help you to take cognizance of the immense potential of expanding your consciousness, which at present is only at about 4.5% of its normal capacity as a best estimate. You can imagine the vast treasure that is dormant within you and that you have been carrying within you since eternity. It holds the key to the door that can lead you to eternal bliss and ineffable peace.

The year 2005 was very fruitful for SGAS UK. We held up many events amongst which are: - the visit of our Spiritual Master, books sales exhibition and most importantly, the registration of SGAS UK as a charitable organisation. This is only the beginning of our mission. As stated in our previous edition, SGAS UK is in only an extension of H H Swami Paramananda’s aspiration to give the light of pure knowledge to the world.

2005 was also marked by grievous occurrences on a global scale such as natural calamities in the USA and various parts of the world, terrorist attack in London (7/7), famine in some African countries, the emergence of bird flu, political instability in many countries and so on. We have to accept that the world is only a mirror that reflects our inner state. Each of us needs to transform ourselves individually to see a better world. This is what Swamiji calls Global Mind Transformation. Our most common mistakes are that we always find someone else responsible for all the situations we face and that we hold a simplistic view about meditation considering it only as a technique to combat stress.

Discovering ourselves through the practice of meditation will open the door to a wonderful world. We do not need to forsake our material well-being and comforts to attain it, but instead use them to facilitate our search. No amount of vigorous law enforcement can transform the world. People have to be taught how to transcend their weaknesses and only enlightened souls can guide seekers in that process.

All that we can wish is that people quickly realise the golden opportunity that Swamiji is offering to them and take advantage without much delay. So, dear readers, it is time for action: the sooner, the better. Although it is believed that it is never too late, we should also realise that sometimes it is quite late.

On behalf of Swamiji and SGAS UK, we wish you a happy New Year 2006 with prosperity, peace, love and much advancement in your spiritual journey.

You are welcome to contact us and our Spiritual Master. Please check our contact list.

Editing Team

Transcending the Primitive Brain

We, people of the third millennium, are supposed to be highly civilised and educated. We have moved from the caves to the city and have now succeeded in achieving what we call a global village. We are even planning to colonise other planets. But so far as our behaviour is concerned, what have we achieved? One part of our brain has developed to a very high extent, but what part is it? Have we achieved anything more than just new and easier means of obtaining food, clothing and shelter? We seem to have performed miracles in the technological field, but where have these led us? Have all these changed our attitude or our fundamental behaviour? Do we differ from tribal people? Let us see the ways in which tribal people behave and compare them with ours to have an idea of how much we have progressed..

During its long evolution the human brain has acquired three parts that have developed into what it is today. Of these three parts, the inferior one being the most primitive corresponds to a reptilian brain. It consists of structures such as the brainstem that is responsible for the control of involuntary functions such as respiration, blood circulation and digestion, which are essential for the preservation of life. There is the intermediary part corresponding to the brain of older mammals and is formed by structures that control our emotions and the limbic system. Lastly is the outermost or highest part that is formed mainly by what is called the neo-cortex and some other sub-cortical structures. This is the dominant part of the brain in higher mammals, including all primates and man. This part also constitutes what is called the rational brain responsible for learning, voluntary actions, perceptions, conscience and language.

Scientists say that our mind is the integrated functioning of all these parts. It is in the primitive section of the brain that most basic behaviours and actions for the survival of the individual and preservation of species are generated. These include the mechanism of aggressive defence, sex, social hierarchy and defending one’s territories. Despite the remarkable dominance of the neo-cortex, so-called civilised men are still driven by the functions of the primitive brain. Man still has the habit of predatory killing, ritualistic and territorial behaviour and so on. It is also observed that we have a strong tendency towards tribalism, that is, hostility towards people who do not belong to our immediate social groups, family, village, race and so on. Today if you tell a person that he is still primitive or uncivilised, he will prove it by pouncing on you. He will not pause for a moment to ask why you are saying so.

In primitive societies, there was much struggle over ‘mine and thine’ as there were many barriers such as culture, language, tradition and ways of living. The advent of technology has eliminated many barriers and today we are talking of global village, universal language and so on. However, our tribal or primitive nature is still here and this has been the main cause of many conflicts. Biologically speaking, it is said that since the last hundred thousand years our brain has remained practically the same. Almost no evolution by means of natural selection has taken place. Cultural evolution has been the dominant force. It is believed that the only hope to improve our brain in any significant way is through the science of biotechnology. Though there are ethical, political and moral problems to solve and other implications, it seems that this artificial evolution or revolution of the human brain will nevertheless be attempted. Who knows it may already be here!

Many people are not ignorant of the fact that our behaviours are primitive or tribal, but they fear to admit and face it because they cannot do anything about it. They are ignorant of the cause of such a situation. Even if it is known to some extent, no one is daring enough to attempt a study towards a change. But there have always been some brave individuals like the Buddha, Ramakrishna, Krishnamurthi and many others who have taken up the challenge of exploring the human nature and analysing its behaviour. They discovered that the brain is only an instrument, the real propeller being the mind. Understanding it opens up the possibility of its transformation.

The evolution of the mind is the evolution of the brain. Of course, there is a limit to the evolution of the brain especially as it cannot evolve or grow indefinitely, whereas the mind can and its aim is to return to the Infinite Mind. Once the brain has attained a reasonable size and characteristic, it ceases to grow further. At this juncture of human civilisation, the brain is a fit instrument of the mind in the pursuance of its highest goal. Leaving the primitive brain to care for the basic functions, man has to evolve in such a way so as to use the neo-cortex.

However, it seems that evolution is stuck at a halting point - man has not yet switched to the neo-cortex and being under the influence of animal tendencies, he is still revolving around the tribal mind. The animal behaviour of tribal people is understood in as much as the mind has just left the animal kingdom and is hardly in the human world. But how to explain the fact that in the third millennium, after a long evolutionary journey we are still in the sway of tribalism? We are solely responsible for this state of affairs and we alone can get out of it by our efforts and learning.

Meditation : An Insight

Sight means the faculty of seeing with the eyes. If we add ‘in’ to sight, it becomes insight. Literally, this means having vision or to see inside something. The eyes are only the instruments of vision, while seeing is the virtue of the mind. Can the mind see itself? Normally, the mind sees the external world via the eyes, but what happens to those who are blind? What do they see? To see even darkness, is it not necessary to have eyes? Does a blind person see darkness? A very difficult question indeed! Matter, as we see it, is not the only reality - it has many subtle dimensions. Seeing inside an atom, one has an ‘insight,’ that is, one beholds what is there in the atom. Said in another way, the real nature of an atom is revealed by looking deeply into it. Meditation means to have an insight into the mind or the mind has an insight into itself. The light that was focused on the external world is turned upon itself. The Upanishads rightly say, “During meditation, the mind is turned upon itself.” This is symbolised by Ouroubos, the serpent biting its tail. The serpent is the symbol for mind.
When the mind directs its own light on itself, the greatest revolution of all takes place. The photoelectric effect theory may give a faint glimpse of what happens. When light is directed on a metal, the electrons jump from one level to another. But in meditation where much mental energy is required, the impressions, desires and repressions at first start dancing hither and thither. During this moment, the brain may be overpowered by the upsurge of mental waves. However, through proper practice, these waves can be transformed into silence, bliss and power. It is a scientific fact that when something is observed, it changes its behaviour. By having an insight into itself, the mind can be completely transformed from its fixed conditioned state to a free, subtle and all-pervading state. This is why I insist that meditation, religion and spirituality are scientific. Looking with our eyes is not really insight, rather the mind seeing itself is true insight. In fact, when the mind is totally focused on itself, all sight vanishes just like when someone awakens from a sleep, all dreams vanish. The world is but a dream of the mind. As the mind becomes more and more conscious of itself, a point will be reached when the dream will be broken. This is called enlightenment and is the apex of meditation. We are always looking at things other than ourselves. Are we not interested or at least curious to see or to know ourselves? The body is also part of the world, it is external too. As the atoms have an internal nature, the body too has one and it is the mind. We have developed so much skill to observe and know the particles. Have we invented any apparatus to study the mind? Psychology has to some extent an insight into what is called mind. But if one is limited to the belief that the brain itself is the mind, then we are still looking at something external. The brain forms part of the body. The mystic knows that the mind can exist independently of the body, though to evolve, the body is of paramount importance.
	Much patience and energy are needed so that the mind can observe itself. The energy that is needed for that purpose is tapped from the mind itself; it is the energy normally used to feed the senses. This is the reason why religion lays emphasis on sense and mind control. Therefore, we see that the disciplines in religion have a scientific basis and should be presented as such instead of imposing them on people. The greater the amount of energy, the better will be the insight of the mind into itself. Much energy is wasted by the mind via the senses. For example, too much concentration on films, video games and so on drains the mind of its energy. The same energy can be collected to create a pool within the mind. This facilitates insight or meditation.
In the past, religion could not be presented in a scientific perspective, but today with the help of science, this can be done. One need not believe in any god or religion to attain to meditation. One simply needs to have the curiosity and wish to know about the mind. People are seeking eternal joy and power in the wrong way. By simply turning the gaze inwards, one can merge into the infinite ocean of love, freedom, power and bliss. Start by looking into the nature of your thoughts and the thinking process. Be ready to study the mind earnestly. This is the greatest revolution of all times.