19 Aug 2008
Note: This article is meant for intellectuals only
The five parts (Pancha Koshas) are to be analyzed carefully to understand that Awareness is neither the unimaginable God (Mayee) nor His unimaginable power (Maya). The straight reason is that the awareness is an imaginable item. The pure awareness can be easily understood in the state of meditation. When all the thoughts are dissolved, the awareness alone remains and this state is called as self-meditation. In this state, the self or the awareness alone remains. Shankara filtered all the five parts or sheaths (Koshas) and the final filtrate is this pure awareness or self of human beings. In this state, the awareness is aware of itself. The subject (Jnata) and object (Jneya) disappear and the link between these two, which is the process of knowing or Knowledge (Jnana) remains. In this state, the nervous system functions and hence, the special and specific work form of inert energy generated by this special and specific machine (nervous system) exists. The nervous system functions in the awakening and dream state (Jagrat and Swapna). But, in deep sleep (Sushupti), this awareness disappears since nervous system does not function. In deep sleep, other systems function and therefore, the generation of inert energy continues and the inert energy exists. The inert energy is constant and the common item in all the three states. In the state of meditation also, awareness exists and we should say precisely that awareness exists in the states of awakening, dream and meditation (three states). In the fourth state of deep sleep, awareness disappears and only the inert energy remains. Now, we can say that the inert energy is constant and common in all the four states. The state of meditation can be taken as a special state of awakening in which the pure awareness remains.
In the state of awakening, in general (other than meditation) and in dream, the awareness exists in modified forms as Knower, Knowledge and the impression of the known object. One should be careful here to distinguish the impression of the known object and the actual object. The actual object like pot, house, etc., is not a modification of the awareness. These objects are modifications of inert energy because matter is a modified form of inert energy. The pot is a modification of the inert energy, where as the impression of the pot in the brain, is a modification of awareness. You must clearly distinguish between the basic inert energy and its modification. Awareness is a modification of the basic inert energy and matter is another modification of the same inert energy. Chain and ring are modifications of gold. The same gold is present in chain and ring but chain and ring are not one and the same. Similarly, the same basic inert energy exists in the pot as well as in the awareness (impression of the pot). The pot is condensed form of inert energy because energy on condensation becomes matter. The image of the pot on a screen is the form of the pot made of inert energy directly. The impression of the pot on the brain (screen) is also the form of the pot made of very mild inert energy. Thus, both the pot and impression of the pot are made of the same inert energy but differ in the intensities of the energy. By this analysis, we can clearly understand that the impression of the pot in the brain, which is considered as the knowledge of the pot, is also inert energy only. Hence, there is no non-inert item in the knowledge. This does not mean that impression of the pot and the pot are one and the same because there is difference in the intensities of the energy. When the chain is converted into a ring, the gold present in the chain is converted into ring. Here, the chain is not converted into ring. Chain is a specific form and ring is another specific form. Chain is linear form and ring is a circular form. Both the forms are always separate and exist always separately. Therefore, one specific form can never be converted into another specific form. Only the material present in a specific form is converted into another specific form.
Inert Energy Conversion to Different Forms
Therefore, the basic inert energy present in the awareness can be converted into pot but never is the awareness converted into pot. When the food is converted into awareness, the same principle takes place. The inert energy present in the food is converted into awareness. Similarly, when you imagine an object, the inert energy present in your awareness is converted into the impression of the object. Such conversion is in the hands of your capability and control. But, the inert energy present in your awareness cannot be converted into a real object in the world because such conversion is not in your control. This means that you can imagine a pot but not create a pot. A superman is creating a pot by his will. Here also, the inert energy present in his awareness is converted into the pot (matter). An ordinary man is unable to do this. What is the reason? An ordinary man can create the impression of pot because very little inert energy is required in this conversion. The awareness in the ordinary human being is a modification of little and limited inert energy generated from the oxidation of food in his digestive system. There is a limitation for the generation of inert energy and there is a limitation for his nervous system containing tender nerves, which are capable of withstanding very little inert energy only. Actually, about 1/5th of the inert energy generated in the digestive system goes to the brain and the nervous system. For the generation of a pot, a huge amount of inert energy is required in the conversion of energy to matter. The human being cannot withstand to contain so much inert energy and hence, the practical conversion becomes impossible. But, the case of superman is unimaginable. The tender finger of Lord Krishna withstood unimaginable huge inert energy to lift a huge mountain and bear it for seven days!!! The principles of Science and logic fail here because the finger of an ordinary human is capable of maintaining little inert energy that can lift an imaginary mountain or a small stone in reality. Therefore, the unimaginable power and the source of it, which is the unimaginable God, are involved here. In any case, the conversion of the inert energy is the basic principle for both real and imaginary worlds. The inert energy is the basic material of conversion in the real and imaginary worlds. Awareness is one of the forms of modification of such inert energy. Hence, awareness cannot be the material of conversion.
Different Koshas
Food is matter and is called as Annamaya Kosha. The next part is Pranamaya Kosha, which consists of transportation of Oxygen into the lungs. This Oxygen is transported to the digestive system, which oxidizes the food. This process generates inert energy. Both these parts (Anna and Prana) are inert only. The food consists of matter in solid and liquid states. The Prana also is matter in gaseous state, which is Oxygen. Both these generate inert energy. This inert energy enters the nervous system and the specific work of the nervous system, which is a specific modification of inert energy is called as general awareness. This awareness is in the form of a thought (Sankalpa). When you see a pot and feel that it is a pot, the awareness is in the form of Sankalpa. When the same awareness is in the form of variable thoughts e.g. when thinking whether it is a golden pot or a brass pot, it is called as Vikalpa. Both Sankalpa and Vikalpa constitute Manomaya Kosha. When you decide it as a golden pot through logical and scientific analysis, it is intelligence or Buddhi and is called as Vijnanamaya Kosha. When you feel happy about the benefit of the golden pot, it is called as Anandamaya Kosha. This happiness is limited because the happiness may end due to the possible loss of the pot. All these three parts (Manomaya, Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya) involve awareness. The common item between all the five Koshas is inert energy. The matter and awareness are specific forms of inert energy.
When you see a pot, the light rays falling on the pot create an impression of the pot on the retina of your eye. The neuron cells in the nervous system transport this image to the brain. Here, the pot, the light rays, the image, the brain, the nervous cells, the transportation of the image to the brain and the chemicals in the brain are entirely inert items. Now tell Me, which part of this entire process is called awareness? Awareness is only a specific inert work. On careful analysis, there is nothing, which is not inert. This entire process takes place under the systematic control of God. There is a little freedom in selecting the object for seeing. But, once the object is selected, the entire process is under a specific set up and has no freedom or variation. Awareness is only a specific name of a specific inert process. Hence, the entire human being is inert and is controlled by God completely. Even the little limited freedom of the human being is due to sanction of God only. Hence, the human beings are completely controlled by God and this is mentioned in the Veda (Aatmeshwaram…). The Atman or Self is inert because God is the controller of the self of any human being. This Awareness or Self or Atman is an imaginable inert item, which is a specific form of inert energy only. Thus, the self is an imaginable item and is totally different from the unimaginable God, who is its controller.
Freedom Given to the Human Being
Absolutely there is no difference between the robot and a human being. The robot can be compared to the electrical train in which energy is directly supplied as electricity. The human being can be compared to the steam engine train in which the coal burns and generates steam from the boiler. In this steam engine, the generation of energy is an extra item. In the robot, current is supplied directly as energy. In the human being, the digestive system and the respiratory system (Anna and Prana) are the two extra parts to generate the inert energy. The human being was differentiated from the computer in the past because the computer worked with a single micro-processor whereas the brain worked with several micro processors working at a time. Eg: A computer concludes a visual as cow after some gradual steps and the brain identifies the cow spontaneously since these gradual steps are simultaneously built up. Due to the invention of this clue, the difference between a computer and a human being disappeared. The generation of various thoughts in a human being is from the information chip (brain), which stores various thoughts received from outside. Creativity is also nothing but a new combination of the existing thoughts as parts. If you have created an animal with eight legs and two tails by creativity, the leg and tail are already existing parts of the information chip. Today, the computer composes poetry like a human being! Since the information chip is controlling the imagination or mental behavior completely, the freedom of thought in the case of the human being becomes absolutely meaningless on analysis. In the absence of this analysis, freedom of thought, creativity etc. are only misunderstood concepts.
God alone has the complete freedom and hence, the human being, completely controlled by its chip, has no trace of freedom. Therefore, the entire creation including human beings is totally inert and the Creator alone has total freedom. The human being tries to jump to the side of the creator due to the misinterpreted freedom. Therefore, God alone should be called as awareness. Immediately, you should not say that the human being having awareness is God because it is already proven that everything in the human being is inert. If you fix the meaning of awareness as freedom, you tell that the awareness is in the human being since you have misunderstood the inert process as freedom. With this analysis, the human being does not have even a trace of awareness. You should not say that God is understood because He is awareness or freedom. Freedom is a quality of the power of God and not the source of the freedom. You should not say that the unimaginable power of God (Maya) is now understood since its quality (freedom) is known. This quality is not the inherent characteristic of the power. If you say that something is freely doing any work, it does not mean that you have understood that something. Therefore, God as well as His power is unimaginable. If you realize this analysis always, you will totally surrender to God. Realization of this analysis is penance. If you realize that you are totally a play doll in the hands of God, you will develop spontaneous and natural surrender to God. The ego disappears completely.
God is pleased by this and from that moment onwards, God starts giving you the real freedom as said by the Veda (Aaapnoti Swaaraajyam…). You will start controlling the inert creation. You will become God step by step. As long as you feel that awareness or freedom exists in you, the ego prevents the grace of God. The concept of Shankara that God alone is awareness is correct. But, that awareness is not in the human being. The underlying substratum of the human being, which is beyond imagination, is God. The same God is the substratum of the entire creation. In a human being, the three parts (Manas, Vijnana and Ananda) are extra. Therefore, the human being is greater than the external creation. The inert energy is common material everywhere. In the human being, certain specific designs of matter and energy exist as the three extra Koshas. This does not mean that the non-inert item exists. The specific design of inert matter and inert energy is also inert. If you wear a shirt with special design, it does not mean that the material of the shirt is changed. All the shirts are made of same material i.e., cotton and silk only. Therefore, the existence of extra designs of inert matter and inert energy in the human being does not establish that something other than inert matter and inert energy exists.
Awareness is a Work-Form of Inert Energy
Even happiness (Anandamaya Kosha) is a stimulation created in the nerves by certain chemicals and chemical reactions. Drugs, alcohol etc., generate such stimulus in the nervous system. Hence, even this final part is also based on inert matter and inert energy generating inert vibration work. The awareness in the form of mind, intelligence and happiness is only a special design of inert matter, inert energy and inert work form. The special design is not a special material. If you are presented with a mud pot having a special design, it does not mean that your special mud pot is a golden pot. The material is mud only, whatever may be the specialty of the design. Such special design is awareness, which is in the human being and is not found anywhere in the external world. This does not mean that the material of the awareness is non-inert. You might have named the special mud pot as golden pot because for you the special design, which is not available anywhere, is gold. Similarly, the special work is named as awareness, which is different from the inert item. This difference is in theory and assumption only but not in practical truth. The special mud pot is golden pot in theory and assumption but practically the truth is that everything in the special pot is only mud and there is no trace of gold. You assume the awareness to have freedom but practically there is no freedom. All your actions are controlled by your thoughts, which are the different bits of information received from the external world and previous lives. The switchover of one thought to the next thought recorded in the brain is considered as freedom by you. This switch over is purely mechanical. The information chip in the brain controls your actions. This information is controlled by the external world or nature (Prakruti) since the external world is its source. This external world is created by God and thus, you are finally controlled by God.
God alone has freedom and genuine creativity. The creativity of the human being is based on the new combination of existing parts only. But, God has the real creativity because before creating this world, there was no information of any part already existing. Real creativity is a measure of freedom. If you want real and complete freedom, you must become God (Advaita). This is possible only when God enters and charges you like electricity entering a metallic wire. Such state depends on the will and grace of God and it does not exist originally as inherited item. Even Shankara, who is the preacher of the Advaita Philosophy, mentioned this point very clearly by saying that Advaita is possible only by the grace of God (Ishwaraanugrahaadeva…). I wonder and do not know the reason behind Advaita philosophers, who say that they are already God!!
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