How To Understand Consciousness

Have you ever watched how animals are being slaughtered? I have the occasion to witness of slaughtering of sheep during the ritualistic slaughter during the Islamic festival of 'Idil Adha' - the Festival of Sacrifice. It is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Prophet Ishmael as an act of obedience to God.

The sacrificial animals are all arranged in a wooden barricade and each one of them are slaughtered. I watched the sheep giving minimal resistance when the 'subjugators' pull them to the nearby drain and laid them sideways and slaughtered the sheep. Do the sheep know what is actually going on with them? Are they conscious of their surroundings and what was happening to them? After that incident, I registered a 'painful' experience and wanted to go a vegetarian diet. But I did not long as I felt very lethargic after two weeks. I had no choice and had to revert to a more 'balanced' diet.

What is consciousness? It is a sensation of how awaken are you with your thoughts, feelings and the environment or surroundings. For illustration, if we encounter such 'life and death' matter we would have given a 'big' fight to the entire scene. It is because we are conscious. Our consciousness and animal 'consciousness' is very different.

What is consciousness?

If our lives are a recorded movie, can we rewind backwards in time to test how conscious are we? Move 10 years back and can we remember the things that happen to us. I think I can. It was a time when my third child came to this world and I moved in to my current home. I was lighter in body and mass as I had enrolled in gym. I had a nice mustache and a little younger. My children were very young and they were not so rebellious. My wife is still as beautiful. My profession was consistently with property management. 20 years back in time, I had my first marriage anniversary. I was living in a 4 room apartment many kilometres away from where I am staying now. My job was still in property management. It was a period I had experience my first born- a son.

The animals are dreaming while living

When I was 18 years old, I was studying in a private college worrying about my 'pimple' face. I did not want to engage in any kind of dating activity as I thought it was not genuine thing to do. I was more concern with spiritual matters.

When I was eight years old I can fairly remember the games I played and my favourite play toys. I can fairly remember my childhood friends. I can still remember my spiritual teacher who likes to wear white attires. When I was a year old, I cannot remember anything. The picture is blank. Consciousness is how awaken are you with your thoughts, feelings and surroundings. I find this interesting site about consciousness

Consciousness is when the knowledge about what is happening around is crystal clear and we are able to sense the outcome of the stimuli of the environment. You can be able to sense the good and bad about your thoughts and feelings. You are so called AWARE of your living.

Baby Brain

The brain size of a baby human is a little more than one quarter of its adult. Can you remember any incident when you were a year old and below? We hardly can because during that period only the lower portions of the nervous system (the spinal cord and brain stem) are very well developed, whereas the higher regions (the limbic system and cerebral cortex) are still rather primitive.

Our brain has evolved from a primitive stage to the existing one. Human brain was once similar in size and limited to the lower portion of the nervous system. The spinal cord and brain stem. This is the reptilian brain. It is the oldest which controls the body's vital functions such as the heart rate, breathing, body temperature and balance. It only consists of the brainstem and the cerebellum. The reptilian brain is reliable but tends to be somewhat rigid and compulsive.

Size of brain

It has been found that drinking alcohol can have adverse effect in brain size. It is intoxicating because consciousness is affected by the decrease in size. Pregnant mother also report of forgetfulness as the mother experience changes in size of brain. If a very minute decrease in size of brain can affect our consciousness what happens if the neo cortex is not developed or not there? If you can compare any animal brain to that of human we can see the difference. The size of brain matters. It is at the neo cortex that sensory and motor regions are located. Predatory mammals have larger neo cortex area than herbivorous animals. When a tiger attacks and kill its prey is all by 'non conscious' display of survival. But when we survive we do it with consciousness taking its good and bad, and fully aware its result. When we attack we have to have a reason to that. We do not live in forgetfulness unlike the animals. To say simply the animals truly living in a fantasy world - life is like dreaming to them. -but it is not for us. We live consciously.

Folds of the brain

The increase in the folds of the cortex has been a major factor in the evolution of the brain. These folds, by enabling a larger surface area to fit inside the cranial chamber, allow for a better organization of complex behaviours. This is another vital difference between a human brain to that of animal.

Conclusion

In my opinion, animals are living but they are living as how a dreamer will live. The consciousness in any animal is not consciousness to human standard. When we think and observe that the pain inflicted to the animal is registered by some measure it is not what they are experiencing. They are all dreaming while living.

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Vedanta As I Understand - Self Realization

Session three continues...

Upanishads presents a profound Truth that is universal, limitless, immutable, incorporeal, all pervading consciousness called Brahman or the Self in each of us. This Self has no name, form, shape or color, no description whatsoever i.e. without attributes. The names and forms that we use are for our own understanding. This Self is beyond senses. The Self is Existence- Knowledge-Bliss. Self knowledge is the central theme of Upanishads, essence of liberation. The Upanishads make it incumbent on the guru to teach spiritual wisdom to a worthy or qualified disciple and the disciple practices reflection with meditation resulting in realization. At this point he is able to see all beings in himself and himself in all beings.

By realizing the 'deathless Self' in each of us one can overcome death and attain moksha. Those who leave this world without realizing this Self knowledge go from death to death, over and over again until they experience it. The heart in each of us is the temple where the Lord shines. Self knowledge expresses itself when we serve with the spirit of selfless service to all living beings. Love is the outcome of Oneness of existence. When not used for Self knowledge, wealth and prosperity breeds delusion. Intellectual knowledge alone when does not pursue towards Self knowledge creates egotism. When science and technology is not used for Self knowledge, we are deeper into destruction.

We say so much about Self knowledge? What is Self knowledge?

I heard in Wayne Dyer's presentation that in one of the philosophy class, the teacher gave an exam to his students. He had only one question on the test paper for 100 points which was 'Who are you?'
What is the catch? He had caveats in the next page. He knew the students would flip the page to see more...The second page said 'you cannot include your name or your parents name, your city, your qualification, your possessions, your relatives. None of these labels are valid answers. These are mere labels. Now write the answer to the question. You can write as many pages as you want'. The answer to this question is what Upanishad leads us to discover..

Can you try answering this question?

'Who am I? Who am I?' Take a notebook and write this question in the entire page. See if you can answer the question. Meditate upon it. Stay focused and do not let other thoughts disturb you. Get the answer to 'Who am I?'

Remember this BMI - Body, Mind and Intellect. You are not this body. When you say, 'my hand' 'my mind' who is that says 'my'. You are not this mind. Can you observe your thoughts? If yes, then you are separate from the mind. Then who are you? You are not the intellect. Who makes the decisions in situations that you encounter? The more you question on these terms you will notice that you are the witness watching this body act. The 'Self' in you called Atman gives the power for the body to animate. This Atman is the same in the microcosmic level as Brahman at the macro cosmic level. They are not different from each other. Therefore focus on the 'Self' in you, everything else outside of you is temporary. Sri Ramakrishna says, 'enter into your inner chamber'

This Atman in encased and bound in this corporeal frame and is called jivatman or jiva. It can be said that there is only one Atman or Brahman and many jivas all inclusive from single celled amoeba to human.
Brahman or the Atman is nirguna Brahman is without attributes, and nirakara, without forms and is therefore incapable of description except by the process of elimination. 'Nay -iti' Baja Govindam explains it in detail.

Brahman, associated with maya, also the cause is saguna Brahman, also called Isvara. This Isvara is responsible for creation, preservation and dissolution. Isvara is GOD (Generator, Operator, Destroyer), has a form and describable. The effect is the jagat, entire world, all inclusive.

Though Brahman is the permanent substratum of this universe and Atman is our nature, we cannot ignore this world in which we live. For all practical purposes it is very real to us. Even struggles to gain moksha have to take place only here. Therefore let us find out how the world came into being.

In the beginning, Brahman alone existed, also called Atman and 'sat'. 'Sat' means something that exists in all periods of time, past, present and future.

Brahman then created the five elements out of himself- Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These are the panca mahaboothas. A permutation combination of these five elements has resulted in this world. The best text that explains this concept is Atma Bodha, published by Chinmaya mission.

Even after emerging out of Brahman, the world continues to be in him and will merge in Him at the time pralaya, dissolution. Dissolution is different from destruction, because dissolution leads to recreation...

Silence until next session..

Awesome Power is an organization committed to encourage, motivate, inspire, coach and support individuals to believe in themselves and reach their fullest potentially in all areas of their life.

The author of this article is a Life Coach, Changing Agent, Motivational Speaker, Professional Writer, dedicated to make a difference in other's lives. All my writings are from my direct experiences in my life.

The author is also deeply interested in spiritual studies with focus on Advaita and believes our life is the consequences of our own actions and that the spiritual study is the way for inner peace. We are on this earth to realize that all is ONE and that ONE is in all.

Your feedback is welcome, appreciated and considered valuable on the topics written.

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Vedanta As I Understand - Upanishads

Upanishads are not old in the sense that they are outdated, ineffective and stale. On the contrary, they are ageless and ever green. Niagara Falls has been there ever since but can we say it is old? It is ever renewed. The Sun and the moon are there forever. Can we say they are old? Does that limit their power to remove the darkness? That's how the Upanishads are for any generation. Evergreen, applicable to all ages, periods, locations. It is beyond the time and space. Once we understand the meaning, we'll be convinced that they are the jewels for humanity as a whole but not everyone is ready to understand it. You cannot teach Algebra before you learn basic Math. It is a step by step process, evolution of man from manhood to godhood.

However much a man accomplishes in the material world, his happiness cannot replace the happiness he can get by knowing the Self in him. Upanishads advocate strength and fearlessness. Strength comes from that which is permanent and fearlessness comes from knowing the indestructible nature of us. Strength and fearlessness are the two big takeaways from the study of Upanishads. Upanishads do not talk about salvation but of freedom.

There are two ideals of truth in scriptures one is the eternal and other is authoritative. The eternal is the Upanishads also called 'Srutis' or gist of Vedas (knowledge of reality) does not reveal the life of any teacher, they simply teach the principles. Upanishads are for universal application, relevant to any time and do not prescribe the Do's and Do not's.

The authoritative is the Smrti (knowledge depending on the person, as embodied by Manu, Yajnavalkya and other writers. Smrti (can be modified) that sustained one age may be completely broken for a different age. Smrti is considered subordinate to Sruti. The philosophy and the religion developed in India according to Sruti is called 'Sanathana Dharma' 'Eternal Religion'. The Sruti, Upanishads, Vedanta (all three are same) explains the relationship between the soul and the God.

Upanishad is Brahma Vidya and the general meaning for the word Upanishad is derived from upa + ni+ shad

Upa meaning - very close
Ni - truth (for sure, definite)
Shad - destroys (the problems of life, samsara, cycle of birth & death)

Each text in Upanishad gives a different meaning to the word Upanishad pertaining to the contents of that text. That is why it is important to learn under the guidance of a guru than studying on one's own to avoid any misinterpretation and misunderstanding...

There are six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy. Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisesika, Nyaya, Mimasa and Vedanta. Here we are focusing on Vedanta philosophy.

Each of the four Vedas has different Upanishads with examples emphasizing that atman and Brahman are one and the same. Each Upanishad starts with a shanti patha (mantra). By knowing the shanti mantra, we can identify that Veda of that particular Upanishad.

Shanti mantra is seeking the grace of lord and guru to avoid the three-pronged obstacles in our pursuit of the study of Upanishad. There could be obstacles from unknown forces beyond our control (earthquake, famine, and flood), obstacles from situations and people (someone visiting you when you just plan to study) which are within our control and obstacles from within us (physical sickness or mood that does not interest you to study at that time). Shanti here does not refer to peace. It is 'nvriti' in Sanskrit i.e. freedom from obstacles, release me from these three nvritis.

Shukla Yajur Veda has 19 Upanishads - shanti mantra starts with 'puurnamada'
Krishna Yajur Veda has 32 Upanishads - shanti mantra starts with 'sahanavavatu'
Sama Veda has 16 Upanishads - shanti mantra starts with 'aapyaayantu'
Atharva Veda has 31 Upanishads - shanti mantra starts with 'bhadram karnebhih'
Rig Yajur Veda has 10 Upanishads - shanti mantra starts with 'vanme manasi'

Upanishads are for everyone on this earth. Everyone has the privilege be read, studied by everyone. No one is barred from studying them. There is a misconception that women are not allowed to study Vedas. Hindu scriptures are full of references to women being both students and teachers. Sage Yajnavalkya taught his wife Maithreyi, Kapila Muni taught his mother Devahuti and many more. Women are not physically strong as men but scriptural studies are for the brain and the physical strength has no significance. Manhood simply means mental strength, a constancy to pursue with determination and the strong will to achieve in the spiritual path. A woman is essentially a mother, a symbol of attachments, sentiments, softness and anxiety but that does not prohibit her from studying the scriptures.

Advaita literally means non-duality. It deals with the non-dual nature of the Brahman and the Atman. The Advaita School is said to have been consolidated by Sankara. He was a pupil of Gaudapada's pupil.

The Dvaita School was founded by Madhvacharya and regards god as independent, separate from the self.

The third school of Vedanta is the Visistadvaita, which was founded by Ramanuja.

Silence until session three....

Awesome Power is an organization committed to encourage, motivate, inspire, coach and support individuals to believe in themselves and reach their fullest potentially in all areas of their life.

The author of this article is a Life Coach, Changing Agent, Motivational Speaker, Professional Writer, dedicated to make a difference in other's lives. All my writings are from my direct experiences in my life.

The author is also deeply interested in spiritual studies and believes our life is the consequences of our own actions and that the spiritual study is the way for inner peace. We are on this earth to realize that all is ONE and that ONE is in all.

Your feedback is welcome, appreciated and considered valuable on the topics written.

View the original article here

Vedanta As I Understand - The Five Elements, Pancabhutas

To understand Brahman, the ONE without second, we first need to understand its changeless existence throughout the universe. Unless a theoretic and logical understanding takes place in the intellect, one cannot experience the Brahman.

The objects of the world are no other than the combination of the five elements. The elements exist both as themselves (called as tanmantras in Upanishads) and as objects. We therefore see either the objects or the elements all around us. I try to remember them as EWFAS.

These elements differ greatly in nature, qualities and powers which enable them to co-exist, combine to become objects and beings. Let us now see how these elements differ from each other in their pervasiveness. (vyapakta as in Upanishads). Pervasiveness is the inherent capacity of an object to permeate the space when left unrestricted. Each object occupies a certain space for existence in the space depending on the nature of the element or the gross vs. subtlety of the element.

A gross object will require less space than the subtler object. On this basis, earth is the grossest element with a solid form. The earth cannot spread into space any more than its actual size. This quality of earth distinguishes the earth from other elements.

The water is the next element. Being subtler than the earth, we can see that its pervasiveness is higher than the earth. It can spread in all four directions. It also has the power to penetrate earth. This pervasiveness of water into the earth reveals that the subtler an object is more the pervasiveness is, thus resulting in their co-existence. The difference in their pervading nature is due to their nature earth being solid (ghanatva) and water being liquid (dravatva)

The third element is the fire. The pervading capacity of fire is much greater than the previous two elements. It can also spread upwards. Water and earth, when treated with fire becomes hot thus proving that the fire can penetrate through these two elements. The presence of fire in water enables it to exist as liquid. It is 'bright' different from the other two.

You can conclude that the fourth element air will be much more pervasive. Air has the supremacy over the first three elements. It is in gaseous form, different from the three elements. Fire exists because of oxygen. A combination of two gases hydrogen and oxygen generates water. Air, earth, water and fire can interpenetrate and co-exist.

The fifth element is space. This element is superior to all the four elements in a way that it is beyond sense perception due to its most subtle. This therefore has the highest pervasiveness. (sarvavyapaka).

All these five elements have their qualities (gunas or properties), not to confuse with their nature. The quality of the earth is smell, water is taste, fire is brightness, air is touch and sound for the space. The first four elements are limited due to being perceptible by senses (vyakta) which limits their pervasiveness. On the other hand space is non-perceptible (avyakta) and therefore is all pervasive.

The Katha Upanishad compares the physical body of a person to a chariot, the senses to the horses, the mind to reins, the intellect to the charioteer and the Atman to the owner of the chariot. (3.3,4). If you can observe the picture of 'Geethopadesam' where Lord Krishna advises Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra, is a symbolic representation of the concept of the four horses representing the four elements and the fifth element is all pervading the space, which is not visible to the eye. (Non-perceivable).

Silence until next session...

Awesome Power is an organization committed to encourage, motivate, inspire, coach and support individuals to believe in themselves and reach their fullest potentially in all areas of their life.

The author of this article is a Life Coach, Changing Agent, Motivational Speaker, Professional Writer, dedicated to make a difference in other's lives. All my writings are from my direct experiences in my life.

The author is also deeply interested in spiritual studies and believes our life is the consequences of our own actions and that the spiritual study is the way for inner peace. We are on this earth to realize that all is ONE and that ONE is in all.

Your feedback is appreciated and considered valuable on the topics written.

View the original article here

Vedanta As I Understand - Introduction

From my personal experience, I am convinced with Advaita (non-dual) philosophy that there is only ONE God. The entire universe is ONE and all are inter-connected. What qualifies me to write on this topic? I am in no way superior to any of you, readers. I am a companion to you in life - a seeker of 'existence' in the present body.

My writings are based on what I learned, understood, experienced and convinced about. The benefits of Upanishads are enormous. Lectures on Upanishads must be attended on a regular basis with a guru consistently in a group discussion often called satsang. Soon you begin to observe that your attitude toward life and your priorities changes resulting in less stressful life. Your mind becomes calm, fearless, thoughts reduced, negative thoughts eliminated, you are able to see a bigger picture of life and thereby you enjoy the bliss continuously for the rest of your life.

'Upanishads are a mine of strength' said swami Vivekananda. I started studying Sanathana Dharma philosophy in 1997. I come from a simple, middle class family. My father passed away when I was 13 and his demise led me to question the existence of me, my mother and my siblings at that age. Though this thought was constantly in mind I was too young to discuss, share or ask questions. I did not really meet anyone who would talk on such topics. I studied in Bombay, married and lived in Bangalore, Madras and migrated to the USA. I was neither ritualistic nor spiritualistic but performed the regular prayer at home because that is what my mother did. It was nothing but a routine tradition that I inherited, though I believed there is some supernatural power governing us. The question of 'existence' and thoughts like 'Who am I, Why am I here?" persisted continuously at the back of my mind. I, very often feel like a visitor on this universe performing my duties.

In the past twenty-two years, I took world religion class, traveled far and wide, met several people, and visited many missions including Hare Rama Hare Krishna camps, Self Realization Fellowship, Sankara Matt, and Vedantic Society of California. I attended their weekly lectures and pursued the lectures and satsang with Chinmaya Mission, Los Angeles, closer to my home.

When my uncles and aunts passed away, my enquiry on life was kindled again and again. When my husband and mother passed away, I focused on deeper study of Upanishads which answered all my questions on life. The study of Upanishads has given me tremendous mental strength, physical strength, fearlessness, objectivity towards life and positive attitude. I feel totally free, cheerful, relaxed and peaceful.

The credit goes to Upanishadic studies, understanding and reflection of it and I decided to share what I learned in simple understandable language as requested by readers.

Upanishads cannot be understood academically, nor can they be completely studied in one life period. Tkke your time to fully comprehend and do not rush into completing the book on hand. The language, the interpretations, the intentions of what is said cannot be understood by literal meaning. Also some words in Sanskrit are interpreted differently in each Upanishad. Often times, literal meaning may appear contradictory within the same sentence or paragraph. These can be learned only when the meaning is understood with reference to that context, in that particular text under the direction of a guru.

One such word is renounce. Renounce or sacrifice (not a literal meaning) does not mean to physically leave everything and live alone in the forest. It simply means renounce the idea of you are the owner of something or anything. Realize that you may lose anything, any time and be prepared to let go. This mental attitude is renouncing. You can still be in the family, own a house, have possessions but be prepared to let go. Realize your body might not be alive to enjoy them or you might lose them for whatever reason.

Vedas came into existence directly from the Lord as revelations more than 5000 years ago. No one knows the exact period. These were passed along by word of mouth for many centuries to many generations. There is no one author but they are interpreted in different ways. Often the idea is repeated to reiterate the theme for a common man to understand.

Vedas are of two parts. Karma Kanda and Jnana Kanda. Karma kanda has three sections. Veda Samhitas, Brahamana and Upanishads. Upanishads are also called Vedanta (Veda anta, the end of the Vedas). Vedas are divided into four sections - Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Rg is in poetic form, Yajur is in prose form, Sama is a mixture of both, while Atharva is primarily Rg and yajur, named after a rishi by name Atharva.

There are a total of 108 upanishads. Adi Sankaracharya commented on ten of them. He opened up the treasures to the general public between 788-820 A.D. Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad are very large and profound. Some Upanishads are smaller with few verses.

We use Science and Technology and focus on the world outside of us living in an urbanized world, surrounded by violence, deforestation, pollution, and endangered species while the rishis of ancient India lived peacefully in hermitages, more like retreats. They closed their eyes and entered into a world and got answers to all their questions on life.

With full confidence in what they learned, the statement 'There is No Other Way' often appears in Upanishads. NOW is the time to learn about the Upanishads!!

Silence until next....

Awesome Power is an organization committed to encourage, motivate, inspire, coach and support individuals to believe in themselves and reach their fullest potentially in all areas of their life.

The author of this article is a Life Coach, Changing Agent, Motivational Speaker, Professional Writer, dedicated to make a difference in other's lives. All my writings are from my direct experiences in my life.

The author is also deeply interested in spiritual studies and believes our life is the consequences of our own actions and that the spiritual study is the way for inner peace. We are on this earth to realize that all is ONE and that ONE is in all.

Your feedback is welcome, appreciated and considered valuable on the topics written.

View the original article here