Namaskar / Greetings The below continues with the topics of biopsychology, neo-humanism and human movement and life as an ideological and enhancing flow (drawing on the teachings of Buddha). Regards Dharma --- Intuition Outgrows the Test-Tube As intuition entices science to leave its test-tube, humanity prepares for an evolutionary leap ... Prem Sagar of Manchester went to India to learn about the promise of Biopsychology from Dr J. Singh, who recently lectured in Manchester. His report appeared in the Manchester Student Union newspaper. Brilliant sunshine pierces the haze of a West Bengal sky. Wind whips dusty village roads and papaya trees. I wait at the Ananda Marga Charitable Hospital while Dr Jitendra Singh finishes examining a local boy who is feverish and nervous. This is no average doctor. A respected General Practitioner in Australia, who integrates yoga therapy into conventional medical practice, he has published numerous papers in international journals and a book on the subject. His head is full of ideas on science, society and spirituality. These merge in his specialised field, the new science of biopsychology. Prem: What is biopsychology? Dr J. Singh: It is the science of bio-psycho-spiritual evolution. P: [I laugh]. And what is that? JS: The science that explains inter-relationships within the mind-body system and how they interact with behaviour. Its understanding allows us to better utilise our body and mind. What we eat, the way we think, what we read... all these [activities] could be enhanced and channelled to advance our evolution. P: What do you mean by 'advance our evolution'? JS: You see, early humans were like animals, driven by instincts for survival and pleasure. Gradually, some kind of attachment, feelings and emotions developed. With further evolution, people started asking questions. As intellect grew, they started solving their physical needs, with fire, the wheel and bread... So, instinct evolved into emotions, emotions evolved into intellect, or cognition. Now we have landed on other planets, developed science and art. We have so much information, so much knowledge, but that's where we have stagnated. For further evolution,... we need processes where something subtler than intellect develops. This is intuition. We need intuitional practices, psycho-spiritual practices, of which meditation is a part. P: What about yoga postures? JS: Yes. They develop the body's nerves and glands, which are intrinsically connected with the mind. P: How does biopsychology fit in with disciplines like biology & psychology? JS: Modern biology and psychology are very useful, but incomplete. Age-old intuitional practices can also inform us. P: Can you give me a practical example? JS: You see in modern science and medicine this concept of balanced diet. Doctors advise you eat a lot of meat - protein comes from meat and iron comes from meat. Now, "protein is good for the body" - yes, this science agrees. But, "this protein must come from meat" - it doesn't agree with that. This concept of balanced diet in biopsychology is not what is just good for body, but what is good for mind as well. I felt he was assuming that meat is not good for the mind, so I asked him how biopsychology arrives at this conclusion. He compared the behaviour and anatomy of herbivores and carnivores with those of humans. Then he spoke of experiments by yogis [practitioners of Yoga] focusing the mind inward through practices like meditation. JS: For centuries they have done experiments on what kinds of food stimulates, provokes certain mental tendencies. This is synthetic research. Biological research is more analytical. [Yogi's have shown] that for higher propensities of mind to manifest, you need to not eat meat. P: Can we talk some more about this intuitive research? JS: Yes ... Most people who think they are scientists are nothing but laboratory technicians. Genuine scientists are very few. You could count them on your hands. And those who are real scientists, they also get their ideas from intuition. I recalled that both Einstein's and Darwin's famous theories came as sudden intuitional flashes. They only constructed the logical proofs later. Mendelev's Periodic Table appeared to him in a dream. JS: Einstein said that "religion without science is blind, and science without religion is lame". It's a very profound statement. Religions were very illogical, very irrational. Modern science developed in reaction to that. And science did a wonderful job, really... but science has reached a stage now that it doesn't know where to go. I don't think either religions have the answer, or science. And this is where I can say that the answer is within. Dr Singh thought that by 'religion', Einstein meant 'spirituality'. JS: [Spirituality is] where the mind is directed inward and the feeling of duality [or separation from the world] merges into a feeling of unity. But true spirituality is not without science... a rational and logical methodology of thinking. I don't mean [just] experimenting with test-tubes and laboratories - science is a means rather than a goal. P: So, our science is 'lame'... is that reflected elsewhere? JS: We produce so many defective theories because we don't know the goal, we don't know the direction. At the moment, we are creating more problems than we are solving: deforestation, or greed, or Capitalism, or Communism. They are just a sign of stagnation in our psychological evolution. Many of these patch-up job processes - say the anti-deforestation lobby within the Green Movement - have very good motives, but they are limited. Is that going to solve the problem? Certainly not. Isn't what we need a complete overhaul, a complete renovation of every aspect of human life? P: What is required on an individual level? JS: Transformation of the human being. Because the basic urge to exploit, to destroy, to hurt or harm, that negative force should be transformed, re-channelled. It is still psychic energy, but psychic energy that has taken a negative direction. The real solution is to change that negative flow of psychic energy into a positive flow - to channel those destructive forces ... that should be our goal. P: But is that really possible? People have always abused power by doing what they want against society's own wishes... JS: True human society hasn't evolved yet, but evolution is not just biological. Biological evolution is prevalent in the lower species, but in higher species, psychological change occurs. And whatever the black part of our past is, it is [just] the process of evolution. So, a social philosophy parallel to the psychological evolution of humanity is required. We must organise the society to correspond with the inner growth of the human being. A keen charity worker, Dr. Singh directs all proceeds from his publications and tours towards medical development projects in rural India. He also volunteers his professional expertise for these and other works. His book "Biopsychology" is available from the Ananda Marga Publications. --------- The spiritual quest is not dry, mechanical or technical. One is willing to face all obstacles, defiant in spirit and unperturbed because of love for the Supreme. There is a simple story: A lioness gave birth to a baby lion. It was a boy. But during the birth she died. The cub was hanging around her body when a pack of jackals came to feed on the corpse. Out of compassion they adopted the lion cub as one of their own. He grew up not knowing anything except the life of a jackal. He thought he was one of them, and behaved just like a jackal too! One day a fully-grown male lion came across the pack, and was surprised to see the young lion amongst them. He ran into the pack - of course they all scattered - caught the young male by the scruff of the neck, dragged him to a nearby pond, and put his face over the still water so he could see his reflection. The young lion was scared at first to see "another" lion staring back at him, but he soon realized that it was only his own reflection. He realized that he wasn't a jackal after all - he was a lion, the king of the jungle! What happened? Ignorance was removed. "Guru" is a very loosely-used word these days, but its proper meaning is: "the one that removes the darkness from one's life". The real Guru is, essentially, the Cosmic Consciousness. Just as the adult lion showed the young lion who he really was, the Guru is the one that shows us who we really are, because we have also forgotten our true nature. We identify ourselves with our name, our family, our body; but we are more than that - even more than our mind, because the mind also changes. Your body and mind are not the same as they were ten years ago, even one year ago, or one second ago! The essence of matter is mind. The essence of mind is the feeling "I am" - whether done I, doer I or pure I feeling. And the essence of that "I am" feeling is Consciousness. "Cosmic Consciousness abides in the very sense of existence, in one's very heart's desire." When the body and senses are stilled, we can look into the calm waters of our existence (just as the lion cub did) and discover our true Self. The realization "I am the Cosmic Consciousness" is called self-realization in yoga, and its essence is the same infinite happiness; perfect peace and contentment - bliss, that we wanted in the first place. The more we feel it, the more our inner peace increases, until we realize that infinite love and peace pervading the whole universe. "If you want to know all, know One, and that One is your own inner 'I' feeling." (Shrii Shrii Anandamurti) There is a part of Yoga called Bhakti Yoga. In Bhakti Yoga, where devotion is predominant, the yogis realise that a Supreme Entity transcends their lives, and they feel moved to connect or completely merge with that Supreme Infinite Consciousness through their spiritual practices. In Bhakti Yoga there will be found such practices as mentally making flower offerings to the Infinite Consciousness, singing songs with devotional sentiment, and contemplating the Divine. It is said that Brahma (God - the Infinite) alone is the Guru. The Infinite Consciousness in this sense is one and the same as the realised being who can teach others the path of spirituality. There is no duplicate in spiritual realization. The Sanskrit word 'guru' has 2 syllables: 'gu' signifies spiritual darkness; and 'ru' signifies the act of removing. Thus a guru is a teacher who leads the student from darkness to light. The spiritual essence knows no boundaries. So, also the practitioners of Yoga/meditation act according to the zeal with which they wish to realise the Supreme Consciousness. In action, the ideation is the One Singular Entity doing all actions and being all expressions. Accordingly, the cycle of action and reaction --- karma [action] -> samskara [potential reaction to action] -> karmaphala [expressed reaction to action] --- is no longer perpetuated, so that the mind and existence no longer becomes prone to this cycle. So, in the Karma Yoga one seeks to not only prevent reactions to actions, but every action of body, speech, and mind - be it black or white - bad or good - is transcended. This transcendence of mind means the transcendence of potential reactions to past actions having to be expressed as reactions. Why? Because the sense of ego is diminished. Ego is only one aspect of mind and with meditation one operates from a higher consciousness where ego is not seen as the goal or doer. Colloquially people then say that the karma does not bind them (be it good or bad karma or the degrees therein). In terms of desire, it is not that one ignores the world, but that the expressions are of the Infinite Consciousness - including one's own. The transcendence of desire is through channellisation, which is an ideation of that Infinite Consciousness. All is One - rather than seeing all as relative, transitory, ego-oriented. This is not done through repression, suppression or denial. A person is neither free of nor blind to their destiny as a consequence of past actions. All reactions need to burnt in the fire of spiritual practices - this has been the classic approach of the great mystics. So, keep going with all the practices to be able to experience that devotion in your life. ------ Video 1: The Mystic Journey Progressive Women's Spiritual Association (Suva Sector) The Mystic Journey is an inspiring 25-minute video presentation using beautiful images, uplifting music and the words of saints and mystics of all cultures and eras to weave a mesmerizing spiritual tapestry. The video uses the words of great saints (and Anandamurti) to explain the commonalities in the spiritual search, such as love, surrender, positivity and spiritual practice. It leaves everyone in a sentient mood with kiirtan (spiritual music and chant) echoing in their ears. Video 2: Creating Prosperous Communities: Examples of Small-Scale Cooperative Enterprise in Maleny (by the Prout Community Settlement Cooperative, Maleny, Australia) "The co-operative system is the best representation of the sweet nectar of humanity." - P R Sarkar "In the modern world the co-operative system is the best system of agricultural and industrial production." - P R Sarkar This new video gives a dynamic look at a the vibrant cooperative culture in Maleny, Queensland, Australia. In a town of just 4,500 people, there are 21 major cooperatives affecting every aspect of community life: a credit union, coop health food store, coop kindergarten, coop art gallery, radio station, film society, and settlement communities (one of which, Ananda Kamala, is founded as a Prout settlement co-op). PROUT is the PROgressive Utilization Theory. Jayanta Kumar wrote the script for this fast-moving and inspiring video which shows how effective cooperation can be, and also gives practical ideas and warnings for those interesting in starting cooperatives. Video 3: Economics of Prout This is an introduction to Prout’s economic system. Prout is an acronym for Progressive Utilisation Theory and is an alternative to Capitalism and Communism. It is a socio-economic system based around cooperatives as a key element in economic democracy. This video covers the following key aspects of Prout economics: • Guaranteed minimum necessities of life • Increased purchasing capacity • Decentralised planning and balanced economy • Three tier industrial system • Cooperatives • Self-sufficient economic areas • Economic democracy and non materialistic emphasis. Interviews with leading Proutists, activists and international writers, including Sohail Inayatullah and Johan Galtung. Produced by Proutist Universal Videos can be sent in whichever format. We don't mind a limited number of copies being made from the original you order from us, so they can be used for public relations in your area. Contact: inrsong@ozemail.com.au ----- Alternative Economics PROUTIST ECONOMICS - DEVELOPMENTAL PLANNING According to PROUT, human society is one and indivisible. Human society is like a garland which is made of different types of flowers, linked by one common thread. The overall beauty of the garland is dependent upon the beauty of each flower. Similarly, every facet of society is linked together. To maintain the unity and solidarity of the social structure, all spheres of social life must be strengthened and developed. - P R Sarkar The multi-coloured garland of humanity will be enriched to the extent diverse human groups blend together from a position of strength and independence out of a genuine love for each other, and are not forced together through fear or compulsion. The flame of a light lights up countless lamps. The touch of a great personality wakes up innumerable sleeping hearts. In the same way, the eternal glow of boundless elan vital of Cosmic Consciousness has been illuminating the life-lamp of universal humanism since time immemorial, is illuminating and will do so in the future even more intensely. That is why I say, the future of the human race is not dark, rather it is strikingly resplendent. So proceed, ignoring the frown of darkness. P.R. Sarkar ---