WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE DECLARATION

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Bhavanajagat

WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE DECLARATION:

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Thomas Jefferson(b. April 13, 1743 – d. July 04, 1826), 3rd President of the United States(1801-1809), the principal author of The Declaration of Independence adopted July 04, 1776. It was a declaration of the principles to support the demand for Independence. His personal commitment to its principles was profound and intense. He became a symbol of the ideals expressed in the Declaration.

DECLARATION FOR FREEDOM FROM TYRANNY AND UNJUST RULE:

The Declaration of Independence is the most important of all American historical documents. It is one of the great political documents of the West. The Declaration was drafted at the Second Continental Congress while the delegates of the thirteen colonies convened in Philadelphia had decided to proclaim freedom from British rule and wanted to make a formal pronouncement of their rights as people to form a government by choice. The Declaration affirmed the natural rights of man and the doctrine of government by contract. The Declaration gives a detailed enumeration of specific grievances and injustices and contended that the colonies had the right and duty to revolt.

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. Jefferson stated that the Declaration was intended to be an expression of the American mind. He intended to translate its principles into practice and to create in America a society in which the gap between aspiration and achievement would be narrowed. The US had erected the Memorial and has yet to reduce the gap between ideals and the reality of Independence where man’s natural rights are defended by a representative government.

DECLARATION OF NATURAL RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT:

Jefferson rarely made speeches, disliked oral disputes, and he preferred pen as the natural means of his expression. He wrote a political pamphlet, “A Summary View of the Rights of British America” (1774), arguing on the basis of natural-rights theory, he claimed: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time: The hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.” It was the fact of his commitment to the principles of the Declaration and not the mere fact of literary authorship that makes Jefferson a unique symbol of Independence. Jefferson was clearly inspired by John Locke(1632 – 1704), English philosopher and founder of British School of thought known as ‘Empiricism’. Locke was a leading philosopher of freedom and in his political theory , he maintained that the original state of nature is happy and is characterized by reason and tolerance; all human beings are equal, and free to pursue “life, health, liberty, and possessions.” The state formed by the Social Contract is guided by the natural law which guarantees those natural inalienable rights.

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: John Locke developed a ‘Social Contract’ theory which helped to formulate the liberal, social, economic, and ethical theory of the 18th century. Locke epitomized the Enlightenment’s faith in the middle class, in the new science and in human goodness.

DECLARATION OF FIRM RELIANCE UPON DIVINE PROVIDENCE:

While Jefferson drew upon the English and French Enlightenment as sources for his ideas, and used language to structure his argument to closely parallel the natural rights theories of Locke, he made a great exception. Jefferson substituted the “pursuit of happiness” for “possessions” in the trinity of inalienable natural rights. In this one key aspect, Jefferson used ‘Natural Law’ instead of natural rights theory. Jefferson showed acute awareness of the problem of corruption caused by concentration of wealth, and property in the hands of a few individuals. He emphasized public duty rather than personal choice. He thought that happiness is attainable only by diligent cultivation of civic virtue. The Declaration reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…… And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honour.” Jefferson suggested that man’s pursuit of Happiness and other rights demands a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence. If man finds satisfaction under the protection of Divine Providence, he would not claim the right to disproportionate wealth, income, possessions, and property.

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence seeking natural inalienable rights was made seeking support with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence. The operation of Divine Providence is the central requirement if man has the natural, inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

DECLARATION OF FREEDOM FROM UNEMPLOYMENT:

Jefferson had correctly predicted that the Rulers would become corrupt and abuse their power, and the people “will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights.” Jefferson stated that a representative government would operate successfully only under certain conditions: 1. a wide distribution of property or the availability of a substitute that provided men with decent subsistence honestly earned, 2. an educated and informed population, and 3. laws and institutions designed to compensate for the diminution of public virtue that was sure to come when the crises of the revolution were over. While he was the Secretary of State( from September 1789), Jefferson came to distrust the proposals and the motives of the Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson thought Hamilton’s financial programs were both unwise and unconstitutional and felt that the financial policy was flowing “from principles adverse to liberty.” He had openly expressed his disagreement in opposing Hamilton’s policies for they exceeded the powers delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution, they were contrary to the interests of the majority of the people, and that they represent a threat to public institutions. Eventually, Jefferson resigned on December 31, 1793 for he was dissatisfied with issues like the bill incorporating a “Bank of the United States.” Jefferson’s plan for comprehensive reform of the laws and institutions of Virginia included an effort to secure abolition of the laws in order to discourage concentration of property in the hands of a few great landowners. He believed that property was among the natural rights to which man was born and that it meant the right to a decent means of subsistence. “Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on.” Jefferson held that a representative government cannot flourish in conditions of extreme poverty or complete economic dependence. Jefferson as the US President reduced internal taxes, the military budget was cut, and made plans to extinguish the public debt. Simplicity, and frugality became the hallmarks of Jefferson’s administration.

DECLARATION OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM:

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Jefferson was passionate in his commitment to intellectual freedom. He had authored the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. He stated, “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”

Jefferson authored the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom which had initially faced very stiff opposition. The Statute constituted a complete break with the traditional relationship between Church and State. Freedom of Mind and Freedom of Conscience to let people form their own opinions without favor or fear is a great accomplishment of his life. Jefferson’s bill on religious liberty reads: “that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions on matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” The Bill got passed in 1786 by James Madison and Jefferson thanked him and sent him a letter which reads: “The reason of man may be trusted with the formation of his own opinions.”

DECLARATION OF FREEDOM FROM IGNORANCE:

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Jefferson recognized the importance of Education for an informed public opinion. His major accomplishment was the founding(1819) of The University of Virginia at Charlottesville.

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Jefferson believed in Freedom maintained through Education. Educators at this University of Virginia and other places of higher education must continue to investigate the reasons for inequalities among men. Men are born equal, but live their entire lives coping with unjust inequalities.

Jefferson’s comprehensive plan for a representative government had included a plan for the educational system. Ignorant people could not make rational, and responsible decisions about public affairs. Education provides an opportunity to the development of talents and capabilities suited for public office. However, he had cautioned that educational opportunity must not be identified with economic privileges. I want to know as to what our students and educators think about the extreme concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people in this country.

DECLARATION OF FREEDOM FROM VANITY:

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Jefferson authored the epitaph that was inscribed on his tombstone. “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious freedom, and father of the University of Virginia.” He was a great author who declared his Freedom from Vanity.

Jefferson died on July 04, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence. He had directed us to remember only three achievements in his public life that symbolize his quest for true human freedom. Unfortunately his predictions about people who govern and people who get governed have come true.

DECLARATION OF FREEDOM FROM INEQUALITY:

Whole Dude – Whole Declaration: Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence could not bring the Freedom from Inequality in personal income and wealth.

Whole Dude- Whole Declaration: The ideals and principles contained in the historical document known as ‘The Declaration of Independence’ could not be translated into reality. In the United States, rulers have become corrupt, they pursued economic, trade, and commerce policies that caused a huge chasm between aspirations and accomplishments of this independent nation. National, and personal indebtedness has grown to unimaginable levels while very few individuals have amassed immense personal wealth. Employment opportunities are lost as the country depends upon products and services that are entirely imported from foreign countries like People’s Republic of China where people have no representative government. United States lacks an informed population while people use education as a tool for economic privilege. There are no laws and institutions to compensate for the diminution of public virtue.

This should not come as a big surprise to read about gross inequalities in the distribution of wealth within the United States. The suspicions of Thomas Jefferson have come true. The rulers have become corrupt, and the people are only concerned about increasing their personal wealth. Education is not a tool for informed public opinion, and it simply serves the greed to satisfy the desire for economic privilege. There are no laws and there are no institutions to compensate for the diminution of public virtue. The government no longer represents an institution created by social contract. The government is following financial policies that eroded the liberty, freedom, and equality of the people. The clearest evidence for the loss of Freedom is the phenomenal increase of national and private indebtedness and the dependence upon foreign capital to run the daily operations of the government. Freedom is at peril in the United States and I am afraid that ‘The Declaration of Independence’ would be a mere historical document worthy of its being exhibited in a museum.

Rudra N. Rebbapragada, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,

Organization: The Spirits of Special Frontier Force.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of independence (1776) were all of British descent. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Pursuit of Happiness Under Natural Law (theroadtoconcord.wordpress.com)
Ensuring freedom from oppression (porcupinedreams.wordpress.com)
Obama Tells Thomas Jefferson to Go to Hell (johngaltfla.com)
10 facts about Thomas Jefferson for his 270th birthday (constitutioncenter.org)

SPIRITUALISM – THE NEW ADVAITA THEORY OF NON-DUALISM

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Bhavanajagat

English: Srila Prabhupada- the Founder-Acarya ...

Spiritualism – The New Advaita Theory of Non-Dualism responds to the view stated in the Science of Self-Realization by Srila Prabhupada- the Founder-Acharya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPIRITUALISM – THE NEW ADVAITA THEORY OF NON-DUALISM:

SPIRITUALISM – THE NEW ADVAITA THEORY OF NON-DUALISM: THE LORD’S SONG-THE BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER VII, PARAMAHAMSA VIJNANA YOGA(KNOWLEDGE OF THE ULTIMATE TRUTH), VERSE # 9: “I AM THE LIFE( THE “JEEVANAM”) OF ALL THAT LIVES.” It is the LORD GOD who lives and hence there is no separation of Body, Mind, Soul, Spirit, and God who is Living.

I am sharing my view in response to a view shared by Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness in his book, Science of Self-Realization. Firstly, I must state that Srila Prabhupada has not taken into consideration “The Totality of Things.” To describe “The Totality of Things”, the ‘Three Fundamental Distinctions’, or the Three Fundamental Dualisms must be recognized. The Three Fundamental Distinctions are, 1. the distinction between the natural and the supernatural, 2. the distinction between the material and the spiritual, and 3. the distinction between the living and the non-living(animate/inanimate). Substance, material, or matter is a fundamental requirement to establish man’s existence in the physical world. But, this existence becomes a reality if, and only if there is separation of living, and non-living matter or material. A living thing exists by separating itself from its external environment. This separation is supported by implantation of “KNOWLEDGE” in the substance of the matter that gets transformed into living matter. The evidence of the “KNOWLEDGE” that is implanted is detected in two fundamental characteristics of living things; 1. the ‘Consciousness’ or ‘Awareness’ of the fact/state/condition of its own energy-dependent existence by which the living thing knows that it needs energy-yielding molecules found in the matter present in its external environment, and 2. ‘Intelligence’ that involves the cognitive ability to acquire information, process information, store information, and use information to recognize the presence of other ‘Things’ present in the external environment and use them to gain energy and to make structures and perform functions to maintain its own living condition. Consciousness, and Intelligence are the two basic ‘spiritual’ functions of all living things. These are not physical, or chemical functions that are entirely determined by the Laws of Physical Sciences. These are not functions that are dependent upon man’s physical, or mental work. If soul or spirit is defined as the vital, animating principle common to all living things, its presence can be known if the matter is conscious and is intelligent. The separation of man into material body, thinking substance or matter called mind, and an immaterial part or principle called spirit or soul is not correct. The biological existence of man demands Unity. There is no Mind-Body dichotomy as the complete human organism is derived from a single fertilized Egg Cell. The human person will not come into existence if there is no functional, and structural unity between mind, body, and the various tissues, organs, and organ systems. The entity named spirit or soul does not belong to the transcendental, or metaphysical realm or domain. Spirit and Soul belong to the corporeal substance or matter. Man is not an embodied soul and in reality man is a living soul. The purpose of Self-Discovery is not that of God-Discovery. The concern is not about the existence of God, or the verification of God’s existence. Man has to discover his own true or real nature. For this, man has to understand as to what it is to be a substance and as to what it is to be in a condition, or state called existence.

Spiritualism, the new ‘ADVAITA’ Theory of Non-Dualism seeks the Unity of man in body, mind, spirit, and soul. Such unity establishes the dependent condition called existence while man desires freedom in his thoughts, actions, and behavior.

SPIRITUALISM – THE NEW ADVAITA THEORY OF NON-DUALISM: THE LORD’S SONG – THE BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER X – VIBHUTI -VISTARA YOGA – THE INFINITE GLORIES OF THE ULTIMATE TRUTH, VERSE# 22, LORD KRISHNA STATES, “BHUTANAM ASMI CHETANA” – ” AND IN LIVING BEINGS, I AM CONSCIOUSNESS.” IF THE LORD IS THE SOURCE OF THE FUNCTION, THE FUNCTION IS A SPIRITUAL FUNCTION.

http://bhavanajagat.com/2012/03/18/Spiritualism-Spiritual-Being-and-Self-Realization/

Rudra N Rebbapragada/R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162, USA.

Organization: The Spirits of Special Frontier Force.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spirits-of-Special-Frontier-Force/362056613878227

SERVICE INFORMATION:

R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Personal Numbers:MS-8466/MR-03277K. Rank:Lieutenant/Captain/Major.
Branch:Army Medical Corps/Short Service Regular Commission(1969-1972); Direct Permanent Commission(1973-1984).
Designation:Medical Officer.
Unit:Establishment No.22(1971-1974)/South Column,Operation Eagle(1971-1972).
Organization: Special Frontier Force.

The following is an article based upon the view shared by Srila Prabhupada in his book, The Science of Self-Realization.

Discovering the Self:

Who are you? Are you your body? Or your mind? Or are you something higher? Do you know who you are, or do you merely think you know? And does it really matter? Our materialistic society, with its unenlightened leadership, has made it virtually taboo to inquire into our real, higher self. Instead we use our valuable time maintaining, decorating, and pampering the body for its own sake. Might there be an alternative?

This very important Krishna consciousness movement is meant to save human society from spiritual death. At present human society is being misled by leaders who are blind, for they do not know the aim and objective of human life, which is self-realization and the reestablishment of our lost relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the missing point. The Krishna consciousness movement is trying to enlighten human society in this important matter.

According to Vedic civilization, the perfection of life is to realize one’s relationship with Krishna, or God. In the Bhagavad-Gita, which is accepted by all authorities in transcendental science as the basis of all Vedic knowledge, we understand that not only human beings but all living entities are parts and parcels of God. The parts are meant for serving the whole, just as the legs, hands, fingers, and ears are meant for serving the total body. We living entities, being parts and parcels of God, are duty-bound to serve Him.

Actually our position is that we are always rendering service to someone, either to our family, country, or society. If we have no one to serve, sometimes we keep a pet cat or dog and render service to it. All these factors prove that we are constitutionally meant to render service, yet in spite of serving to the best of our ability, we are not satisfied. Nor is the person to whom we are rendering that service satisfied. On the material platform, everyone is frustrated. The reason for this is that the service being rendered is not properly directed. For example, if we want to render service to a tree, we must water the root. If we pour water on the leaves, branches, and twigs, there is little benefit. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is served, all other parts and parcels will be automatically satisfied. Consequently all welfare activities as well as service to society, family, and nation are realized by serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

It is the duty of every human being to understand his constitutional position with God and to act accordingly. If this is possible, then our lives become successful. Sometimes, however, we feel challenging and say, “There is no God,” or “I am God,” or even, “I don’t care for God.” But in actuality this challenging spirit will not save us. God is there, and we can see Him at every moment. If we refuse to see God in our life, then He will be present before us as cruel death. If we do not choose to see Him in one feature, we will see Him in another. There are different features of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is the original root of the entire cosmic manifestation. In one sense, it is not possible for us to escape Him.

This Krishna consciousness movement is not blind religious fanaticism, nor is it a revolt by some recent upstart; rather, it is an authorized, scientific approach to the matter of our eternal necessity in relation with the Absolute Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Enjoyer. Krishna consciousness simply deals with our eternal relationship with Him and the process of discharging our relative duties to Him. Thus, Krishna consciousness enables us to achieve the highest perfection of life attainable in the present human form of existence.

Ref: Science of Self Realization authored by Srila Prabhupada (Founder – Acharya, ISKCON)

SPIRITUALISM – A COPERNICAN REVOLUTION

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – A COPERNICAN REVOLUTION:

I am happy to extend my greetings to all of my readers on this festive occasion called ‘SANKRANTI’. In Indian tradition, Sun is represented as personification of the Divine Energy that sustains the life of all that lives on planet Earth. Apart from being the source of primary Energy, Sun is viewed as the Source of Knowledge and Indians seek Lord Surya, the Sun God’s blessings to illuminate their inner, mental world to banish darkness called ignorance. This would lead me to reflect about the theory of knowledge and the revolutionary change caused by Immanuel Kant in understanding our philosophic problems and procedures. In the context of our celebration of the Indian festival of ‘SANKRANTI’, I would like to pay a special tribute to Nicholas Copernicus(1457-1543) who laid the foundation for modern astronomy with his heliocentric theory of planetary motion which replaced the geocentric cosmological theory established by Ptolemy(Claudius Ptolemaeus) of 2nd century A.D. Ptolemy’s theory placed Earth motionless at the center of the universe with all celestial bodies revolving around it. Copernican system places the Sun motionless at the center of the solar system with all the planets, including Earth, revolving around it.

THE THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE – A COPERNICAN REVOLUTION:

Nicholas Copernicus, Polish astronomer caused a revolutionary change in Astronomy for he had reversed the way scientists think about the relationship of the Earth and the Sun.

Copernicus caused a revolution when he discerned reflections of the Earth’s own motion in the apparent motions of the planets, and stars. To the same extent, German philosopher Immanuel Kant(1724-1804) had inaugurated a new era in the development of philosophical thought. He did comprehensive, and systematic work in Theory of Knowledge, Ethics, and Aesthetics.

Immanuel Kant had reversed the way philosophers think about the relationship of the world of experience and the mind. As per Kant, the mind is not shaped by the world of experience; rather, the world of experience is shaped by the patterns set by the mind.

Kant had altered the nature of philosophic inquiry. He had recognized the limits of the philosophical traditions of both Empiricism that stresses Experience, and Rationalism that stresses Reason. He had analyzed the tradition of Rene Descartes(Rationalism) and had clarified the tradition of Francis Bacon(Empiricism). Kant attempted to incorporate both Experience and Reason, without falling into the Skepticism of the empirical school and without embracing the unverifiable metaphysical structure of the rationalist school. He had criticized Leibniz rationalism in his book, “Critique of Pure Reason”(1781). In Kant’s view, objective reality is known only insofar as it conforms to the essential structure of the knowing mind. Only objects of experience or phenomena may be known. Things lying beyond experience or noumena are unknowable. Kant stated that the human mind provides the forms and the categories that can be used to describe experience. He held the view that the problems like the existence of God, freedom, and immortality are insoluble by scientific thought. Kant had proudly asserted that he had accomplished a Copernican Revolution in philosophy. He claimed that the subject doing the knowing constitutes, to a considerable extent, the object of knowing; i.e., that knowledge is in part constituted by the mind itself which imposes its influence upon the data of experience. Hence, knowledge is the product of the knowing subject and not a simple description of an external reality. Kant had accounted for the application of the mind’s principles to objects by showing that the objects conform to the mind; in knowing, it is not mind that confirms to things but things confirm to the mind. I have to examine this issue for its relevance to the fundamental concern about human existence.

SPIRITUALISM – A COPERNICAN REVOLUTION:

SUN – SPIRITUALISM – COPERNICAN REVOLUTION: In a moving world and universe called “JAGAT”, the entity called Soul and Spirit, or “BHAVANA” provides the unchanging operating system to make the human existence a reality.

Sun’s Celestial Journey – Spiritualism – Copernican Revolution : Spiritualism is the potency that brings man’s essence and existence to come together to provide man the subjective and objective reality of his own existence in the physical, or material world.

Man’s earthly existence is conditioned by constant change under the influence of Space and Time. To make Life happen, the existence has to be synchronized with the external events on which man has no control. While Earth is spinning at an amazing speed, man perceives Earth as a motionless object, and experiences the apparent motions of planets and stars. The speed of Earth’s motion is not compatible with human existence. The reality of Sun shining brightly in the sky all the time is not also helpful for human existence. Man needs alternating periods of light and darkness called day, and night. Human existence demands alternating periods of wakefulness and sleep. To experience the physical reality called existence, man needs the influence of a powerful illusion that changes the perception of reality of this world, and universe that is constantly changing, and moving. Man exists for he cannot alter the nature of this sensory experience that generates the Celestial Journey of Sun across the heavenly dome. In Indian tradition, it is stated that the Creative Energy called “MAYA” clouds man’s sense of perception of the world experience and man has no ability to overcome the Power/Force/Energy that causes ‘ILLUSION’. The phenomena called ‘ILLUSION’ is not generated by the mind. This world experience caused by ‘ILLUSION’ has a survival value as it intends to protect man from the harsher reality of Truth. To a discerning mind it appears that man needs the guiding and regulative mechanism called Soul and Spirit to perform his living functions in a moving, and changing world. Soul establishes man’s dependence upon an external source of energy and hence Soul is always associated with the living body. The unity of man’s body and Soul could be named as the ‘God-Connection’ as this ‘Connection’ is not formulated by man’s mental, or physical work. This ‘God-Connection’ helps the Spirit to express its desire for Freedom which includes a desire to seek Freedom from the world experience called ‘Death’. If Soul and Spirit are present in the living body that exists in the earthly, material realm, it points towards the operation of the Divine Providence in this terrestrial realm. If God by the nature of His existence is present in the immanent realm, the problems of metaphysics such as Freedom, Immortality, and God’s existence do not belong to unknowable, transcendental realm. I may have to suggest that Kant could be wrong in his view about the relationship between human mind, and the world of experience. Man is fortunate for things of world experience do not always confirm to the knowing mind.

Rudra N. Rebbapragada/R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.,

Organization: The Spirits of Special Frontier Force.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spirits-of-Special-Frontier-Force/362056613878227

Related articles:

1. Are we living in a Designer Universe – Article by Astronomer John Gribbin. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2010/09/05/Are-We-Living-in-a-Designer-Universe-article-by-John-Gribbin/

2. The Grand Design By Stephen Hawking – God Did Not Create the Universe. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2010/09/09/The-Grand-Design-By-Stephen-Hawking-God-Did-Not-Create-The-Universe/

3. The Creation of Day and Night – A Synchronized Existence. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2010/04/22/The-Creation-of-Day-and-Night-A-Synchronized-Existence/

4. Earthly Existence – The Cosmic Connection. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2010/04/06/Earthly-Existence-The-Cosmic-Connection/

SOUL AND SPIRIT-UNCHANGING PRINCIPLE IN A CHANGING WORLD

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM: UNCHANGING OPERATING SYSTEM IN A CHANGING WORLD:

Thanks to Shri. Agarwal, and Dr. Bodapati Ramarao for sharing the photo images our celestial home. We exist on the surface of a fast-spinning celestial body which changes the position at which we live all the time without giving us a chance to know as to where exactly we exist. Earth has no choice and it participates in the motions of Sun and of the Milky Way Galaxy. At every given instant, we are on the move. In a changing world, spiritualism describes the operation of an unchanging principle. In a changing world or universe called “JAGAT”, the term called “BHAVANA”(Soul/Spirit) provides the unchanging operating system to make the human existence a reality. The vital principle named Soul/Spirit does not exclusively belong to the transcendental or metaphysical realm or domain. It belongs to the terrestrial world where man, and life exist.

http://Bhavanajagat.com/2012/09/12/Spiritualism-The-Discovery-of-Bhavanajagat-Org/

Rudra N Rebbapragada
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162, USA
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spirits-of-Special-Frontier-Force/362056613878227

SERVICE INFORMATION:

R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Personal Numbers:MS-8466/MR-03277K. Rank:Lieutenant/Captain/Major.
Branch:Army Medical Corps/Short Service Regular Commission(1969-1972); Direct Permanent Commission(1973-1984).
Designation:Medical Officer.
Unit:Establishment No.22(1971-1974)/South Column,Operation Eagle(1971-1972).
Organization: Special Frontier Force.

Nasa has shown us views of the Big Marble, the breathtakingly beautiful planet on which we live because it studies space and the Earth. The first Big Blue Marble photo was released in 1972 and each subsequent release of images has increased in quality so that the newest 2012 release of the Big Black Marble, or Earth at Night, are stunning. The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite was launched last year by NASA, NOAA, and the Department of Defense. It orbits 512 miles above our planet’s surface and has an extremely sensitive sensor that can detect
the nocturnal glow produced by Earth’s atmosphere. In fact, it can see the light given off from a single street light or one glowing light on a boat floating alone on the ocean. The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) carries a low-light sensor that can distinguish night lights with six times better spatial resolution and 250 times better resolution of lighting levels (dynamic range) than before. NASA added a global composite image, constructed using cloud-free night images from a new NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite, shows the glow of natural and human-built phenomena across the planet in greater detail than ever before. So here is the series of the Big Marble in Old, New, Aqua, Blue, White and Black Marble. If you stop to think that this is our home, all of us regardless of where on the globe you are located, then it somehow seems possible that we could achieve peace on Earth around this holiday season for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Boxing Day. It also shows why we should protect our environment . . . it belongs to your children’s children and us all. Thank you NASA! You ROCK!

This image of North and South America at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. The new data was mapped over existing Blue Marble imagery of Earth to provide a realistic view of the planet. NASA added, The day-night band observed Hurricane Sandy, illuminated by moonlight, making landfall over New Jersey on the evening of Oct. 29. Night images showed the widespread power outages that left millions in darkness in the wake of the storm. Photo #1 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

The continental United States at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. The image was made possible by the satellite’s day-night band of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe dim signals such as city lights, gas flares, auroras, wildfires and reflected moonlight. Photo #2 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Black Marble, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. NASA reported, Unlike a camera that captures a picture in one exposure, the day-night band produces an image by repeatedly scanning a scene and resolving it as millions of individual pixels. Then, the day-night band reviews the amount of light in each pixel. If it is very bright, a low-gain mode prevents the pixel from over-saturating. If the pixel is very dark, the signal is amplified. The Earth Observatory wrote of the night lights on our globe, Scientists are using new images of Earth’s dark side to gain insight on human activity and poorly understood natural events. Photo #3 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Black Marble Europe at night 2012. For all the reasons that we need to see Earth during the day, we also need to see Earth at night, said Steve Miller, a researcher at NOAA’s Colorado State University Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. Unlike humans, the Earth never sleeps.Photo #4 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Black Marble, Asia and Australia. On Out of the Blue and Into the Black, Miller is quoted as saying, The night is nowhere near as dark as most of us think. In fact, the Earth is never really dark. And we don’t have to be in the dark about what is happening at night anymore either. Photo #5 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Why is Western Australia So Bright? Careful observers of the new Black Marble images of Earth at night released this week by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have noticed bright areas in the western part of Australia that are largely uninhabited. Why is this area so lit up, many have asked? The sensor on the satellite is so sensitive that it picked up wild fires at night. Photo #6 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

The image above shows London and the southern half of Great Britain as it appeared on the night of March 27, 2012. NASA Earth Observatory Photo #7 by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using VIIRS Day Night Band and MODIS Blue Marble data

Earth at Night in HD. Video #1 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

USA East Coast lights on Friday, June 29th, 2012. NASA Earth Observatory Photo #8 by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon using data from the NASA/NOAA satellite S-NPP

Composite map of the world assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. Photo #9 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Black Marble “ City Lights 2012. NASA’s Earth Observatory said, Earth at Night 2012: It’s the end of the night as you know it; you’ll see fine. Photo #10 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Black Marble 2012, Asia at night. NASA’s Earth Observatory wrote, Away from human settlements, light still shines. Wildfires and volcanoes rage. Oil and gas wells burn like candles. Auroras dance across the polar skies. Moonlight and starlight reflect off the water, snow, clouds, and deserts. Even the air and ocean sometimes glow. Photo #11 by NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Most Amazing High Definition Image of Earth Blue Marble 2012. Photo #12 by NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring

The Blue Marble 2012 turned into a White Marble with this snow and ice Arctic View. Fifteen orbits of the recently launched Suomi NPP satellite provided the VIIRS instrument enough time (and longitude) to gather the pixels for this synthesized view of Earth showing the Arctic, Europe, and Asia. Photo #13 by NASA/GSFC/Suomi NPP

NASA Blue (Aqua) Marble 2007 West.ย Photo #14 by Reto Stรถckli, based on data from NASA and NOAA

NASA Blue (Aqua) Marble 2007 East. Photo #15 by Reto Stรถckli, based on data from NASA and NOAA

NASA’s Spacecraft View of Aurora Australis from Space. NASA file image acquired September 11, 2005. Photo #16 by NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

From space, the aurora is a crown of light that circles each of Earth’s poles. The satellite captured this view of the aurora australis (southern lights) on September 11, 2005, four days after a record-setting solar flare sent plasma”an ionized gas of protons and electrons”flying towards the Earth. The ring of light that the solar storm generated over Antarctica glows green in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum, shown in this image. The observations of the aurora are overlaid onto NASA’s satellite-based Blue Marble image. From the Earth’s surface, the ring would appear as a curtain of light shimmering across the night sky. Video #2 by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio via LittleSDOHMI

Blue Marble 2002.ย Photo #17 by NASA Earth Observatory

Blue Marble 2002: At the time, This spectacular blue marble image is the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Photo #18 by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stรถckli (land surface, shallow water, clouds). Enhancements by Robert Simmon (ocean color, compositing, 3D globes, animation). Data and technical support: MODIS Land Group; MODIS Science Data Support Team; MODIS Atmosphere Group; MODIS Ocean Group Additional data: USGS EROS Data Center (topography); USGS Terrestrial Remote Sensing Flagstaff Field Center (Antarctica); Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (city lights

Blue Marble 2000. Photo #19 created by Reto Stockli with the help of Alan Nelson, under the leadership of Fritz Hasler

Earth image and star field background, released in 2000. Photo #20 by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio / The Blue Marble data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC) / Laura Rocchio (NASA/GSFC)

First Blue Marble image captured from Apollo 17 on Dec 7, 1972. View of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew traveling toward the moon. This translunar coast photograph extends from the Mediterranean Sea area to the Antarctica south polar ice cap. This is the first time the Apollo trajectory made it possible to photograph the south polar ice cap. Note the heavy cloud cover in the Southern Hemisphere. Almost the entire coastline of Africa is clearly visible. The Arabian Peninsula can be seen at the northeastern edge of Africa. The large island off the coast of Africa is the Malagasy Republic. The Asian mainland is on the horizon toward the northeast. Astronaut photograph AS17-148-22727 courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Photo #21 by NASA

What is your favorite Old, New, Aqua, Blue, White or Black Marble? Blue Marble “ Astronaut photograph 1972; Blue Marble 2002; Aqua Marble 2005; Bottom row left to right: Blue Marble 2012; White Marble 2012; Black Marble 2012. NASA Goddard Space Flight Centerย wrote, Since we have escaped the bounds of gravity, visions of Earth have inspired and captured the imagination. Here are a few of the most iconic views of our planet returned by both living astronauts and robotic spacecraft in orbit throughout the space age. Photo #22 by Apollo 1972 / NASA / NASA Earth Observatory

There is so much Joy in Sharing. Wish all of my readers a Very Happy Holiday Season.

SPIRITUALISM AND VIOLENCE – GRIEF AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM AND VIOLENCE – GRIEF AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

Spiritualism: Grief and Compassion at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut, Friday, December 14, 2012.

In U.S. history, the second-deadliest school shooting took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut during the beautiful morning hours on Friday, December 14, 2012. The killing of 20 school children and other adults will force us to reflect upon human nature.

The tragedy at Sandy Hook: 6-year-old Emilie Parker is one of the shooting victims. She is seen in this photo with her father Robbie Parker.

This act of violence at Sandy Hook compels us to examine the Spiritual Basis for human existence.

AGGRESSION AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS:

Among animals, man has the ability to kill members of his own kind for reasons other than that of food, territory, and reproductive success. However, I do not consider that aggression is innate to human nature. The thought to commit an act of violence may enter the human mind because of an external, environmental stimulus. For an infectious agent to enter human body and cause a diseased condition would require a degree of susceptibility to that infection. A person who is not in proper relationship with his own self, and with others is susceptible to be taken over by harmful emotions such as anger that generates the desire to commit an act of violence. The gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School could be described as a victim of his inability to formulate harmonious relationship both at personal level and interpersonal level. Mental Health involves the ability to develop harmonious social relations. In my view, the basis for external, harmonious, social relationships begins at a personal level; the ability to define one’s relationship with oneself.

THE SPIRITUAL BASIS FOR HUMAN EXISTENCE:

This act of violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School illustrates man’s estrangement or alienation from his true or real nature. I would like to reinforce the fact of the spiritual basis for human existence. In life, or death, man needs the mercy, grace, and compassion of his Creator. Man does not exist in this physical world because of his intellectual, or physical effort. It is a good time to explain the dependent nature of human existence and invite peace, harmony, and tranquility in the living condition by accepting the Divine Providence with a sense of respect and humility. The act of acceptance of Divine mercy, grace, and compassion generates the emotion called ‘devotion’ which provides a sense of comfort and makes the person stress-resistant, and imparts the ability to overcome the feelings of fear, and the sense of grief generated by the loss of life.

GRIEF AND COMPASSION AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

SPIRITUALISM AND VIOLENCE: GRIEF AND COMPASSION AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

It is human nature to respond to grief with feelings of compassion. I describe, that human nature is constituted by the principles called ‘spirit’, and ‘soul’. In ‘spirit’, man seeks freedom, and with ‘soul’, he establishes the dependence that supports the human existence. The violence, and aggression that we have witnessed is a response to an external environmental stimulus. Man betrays his own true nature or fails to recognize his real self; and this sense of estrangement or alienation from reality leads to behavior that destroys peace, harmony, and tranquility in man’s interactions with others in his environment. This gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School had utterly failed to defend his own freedom as he got alienated from his own ‘spirit’ and had failed to recognize his own ‘soul’ that sustains his existence. This loss of freedom had caused him to end his own existence using the same gun with which he had attacked others.

Rudra N. Rebbapragada,

Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spirits-of-Special-Frontier-Force/362056613878227

2. Spiritualism – The Key to Human Nature. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2012/01/17/Spiritualism-The-Key-to-Human-Nature/

SPIRITUALISM – ALBERT EINSTEIN’S GOD LETTER

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

Albert Einstein’s hand-written letter in German questions whether an entity named God exists:

SPIRITUALISM – SPIRIT AND SOUL ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN. SPIRIT IS RELATED TO THE HUMAN NATURE THAT SEEKS FREEDOM. SOUL IS RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT ESTABLISHES THE DEPENDENT NATURE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE. ALBERT EINSTEIN FAILED TO EXAMINE THE TWO ASPECTS OF HUMAN NATURE AND ITS CONDITIONED EXISTENCE.

SPIRITUALISM – ABOUT SPIRIT AND SOUL – THE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN :

I am pleased to share this letter with my readers. I am not surprised. Albert Einstein is no exception and like all others before him and after him( like Richard Dawkins ), he just chooses to examine one side of the coin and forgets that the same coin could have a second face. This is the same problem that I encounter while I read the thoughts of a variety of people. They fail to make the fundamental distinctions( for example, the distinction between the living and the non-living, or animate/inanimate ) and they tend to examine one aspect of the standard dualism( for example, Appearance – Reality, and Conditioned – Unconditioned ) . However, I have no reason to reject their views as they present a view of the coin, the face that they recognize. I would give a brief response and invite all to discuss the issue if that would be of any interest to you.

1. Human Identity and Human Individuality

2. Human Essence and Human Existence

3. Human Spirit and Human Soul

4. Human Creation and Human Evolution

5. Reality and Illusion.

There are two aspects or elements of human nature that are in perpetual tension with each other; 1. Freedom, and 2. Dependence. In ‘Spirit’ we seek Freedom, Independence, Liberation, Release, and Salvation. Freedom is associated with man’s ability called imagination, and man can find inspiration from within himself and from without to express his creativity. Man has this unique ability to set himself “FREE” in his mind. Man is endowed with an intellectual ability to seek “FREEDOM” even when that concept has no correspondence with an external Reality. Man can think that he is “FREE” while he exists in captivity. Man primarily uses his Freedom, the Free ‘Spirit’ to manipulate the dependent nature of his “conditioned” existence that is represented by the vital, animating, Life Principle called ‘SOUL’ on the flip side of the same coin. Man seeks to exist as an Individual with Individuality while being attached to the environment and the biological community in which he always exists. Man cannot escape from being an Individual with Individuality as this Individualism is the expression of the Individualistic behavior of the molecules( Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid or DNA) that are the biological basis for his existence. At the same time, man cannot find Freedom for he survives on support from an external source which demands a constant relationship with an external community of living things. I describe the second face of the coin as the ‘Soul’ which provides the attachment for man’s dependence. Man’s Spirit is expressed as his Essence and man seeks to describe his Identity in terms of this Essence and will be able to do so if and only if the Spirit is in relationship with the Soul that provides the attachment to draw energy from an external source. Man’s Dependence is associated with an emotional state or condition called ‘Devotion’ which is expressed as a behavioral attitude called Humility.

The matter that concerns us is not that of verifying the existence of God. Man is condemned to exist under the influence of an Illusion that generates Ignorance or inability to perceive the Reality. The experience of Ignorance is a fundamental requirement to support human existence. The perception of Reality puts an end to man’s existence. Man is free in his Spirit to seek Mercy, Grace, and Compassion to understand the nature of Reality while he is trapped by the powerful influence of Illusion. The Illusion that I speak about, describes the lack of sensory perception of the fact of existence on the surface of a fast-moving object. Man is free to describe the motion, but is not free to have a direct, sensory perception of that motion. Man’s Freedom is in his Free Spirit called ‘Bhavana’ and his relationship with the world and universe called ‘Jagat’( that which is constantly moving and changing ) in which he lives, is called Spirituality and Spiritualism. I like the concluding remarks made by Albert Einstein in his letter and it reads: “Therefore I think that we would understand each other quite well if we talked about concrete things.” In that spirit, I would invite my readers to talk about concrete things; this discussion is not about Albert Einstein’s personal belief, it is not about his Identity as a Jew, it is not about the stories found in Bible, and it is not about God. Let us talk about concrete things; man, his structure, his function, his behavior, his nature, and his existence in the world that we know and understand today.

Rudra N Rebbapragada
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162, USA
www.Facebook.com/Bhavanajagatorg.

Spiritualism and Albert Einstein’s God Letter : What is Appearance? What is Reality? What is Conditioned? and What is Unconditioned? Can man know the reality of the nature of his physical existence? Man exists like this Pencil in Water and has no choice other than that of the experience of an Illusion.

Albert Einstein’s Historic 1954 “God Letter”

by Richard Dawkins posted on September 17, 2012 02:34PM GMT

Go to:

http://richarddawkins.net/news_articles/2012/8/15/Albert-Einstein-s-historic-1954-god-letter-handwritten-shortly-before-his-death

EXCERPTS:

E-Bay will auction the original, handwritten, in German, letter and envelope,
sent on Princeton University letterhead, by Albert Einstein to
Eric B. Gutkind, on January 3, 1954, a year before Einstein passed away in 1955,
sent as response to Gutkind’s book “Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt”.

Key Passages in Translation into English from German:

… I read a great deal in the last days of your book, and thank you very much for
sending it to me.

What especially struck me about it was this. With regard to the factual attitude to life
and to the human community we have a great deal in common.

… The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this. These subtilised interpretations are highly manifold according to their nature and
have almost nothing to do with the original text. For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. And the Jewish people to
whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better
than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything ‘chosen’ about them.

In general I find it painful that you claim a privileged position and try to defend it by two walls of pride, an external one as a man and an internal one as a Jew. As a man you claim,
so to speak, a dispensation from causality otherwise accepted, as a Jew the privilege of monotheism. But a limited causality is no longer a causality at all, as our wonderful
Spinoza recognized with all incision, probably as the first one. And the animistic interpretations of the religions of nature are in principle not annulled by monopolization.
With such walls we can only attain a certain self-deception, but our moral efforts are not furthered by them. On the contrary.

Now that I have quite openly stated our differences in intellectual convictions it is
still clear to me that we are quite close to each other in essential things, i.e; in our
evaluations of human behavior. What separates us are only intellectual ‘props’ and ‘rationalization’ in Freud’s language. Therefore I think that we would understand each
other quite well if we talked about concrete things.

With friendly thanks and best wishes,

Yours, A. Einstein

The translation above is an abridgment of the letter from Albert Einstein to Eric Gutkind from Princeton in January 1954,
translated from German by Joan Stambaugh.

SPIRITUALISM – THE DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.Org

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

Spiritualism – The Discovery of Bhavanajagat.org :

The Discovery of Bhavanajagat.org – Bhavanajagat is a private organization that is devoted to the study of discovering the purpose of man in this vast, universe of unknown dimensions.

SPIRITUALISM – THE DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.org : Man’s home in the Milky Way Galaxy. Man is destined to live and seek existence on planet Earth as it is created with a purpose; the purpose of providing a home to the living entities.

SPIRITUALISM – THE DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.org : Planet Earth is unique, distinctive, original, and one of its own kind of created celestial object. The feature that I use to determine planet Earth’s originality is that of its Rotational Spin; its Rotational Speed and its Rotational Axis which make the planet the home for all living things.

Bhavanajagat.org is a private organization devoted to the study of discovering man’s purpose in this vast universe of unknown dimensions. Please note that the word ‘man’ is being used in this conversation to refer to the human organism which is constituted by trillions of individual, independent, living cells that have formulated an association, a partnership, a relationship and bonding that is beneficial to the existence of the ‘subject’ called ‘man’. If man has a purpose in this universe; it will not be possible to discover that purpose by physically exploring the limits or boundaries of the universe. Man’s physical abilities and capacity to directly explore universe are extremely limited. Man needs the safety and comfort of his terrestrial home to perform his life’s journey. The word “JAGAT” refers to planet Earth, this entire known and unknown limits of physical universe. The word “JAGAT” also refers to things that are constantly moving and hence changing. Man exists on planet Earth which is never at the same position as it partakes in the motion of Sun in the Milky Way. It is observed that the galaxies in our universe are not stationary objects and are moving all the time. Man may never know his precise location in this universe at any given instant and his existence is conditioned by an unknown factor called change. Since man’s existence is conditioned by constant change, it faces several challenges from known and unknown directions. The purpose of my study and investigation is that of promoting the well-being of all people without any distinction based upon race, ethnicity, country or nationality, culture, religion, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, educational qualification, occupational status, social ranking and participation in social or political organizations. There is a fundamental need to defend, and to preserve human existence as such ideas are always inspired by true or real human nature.

Man is a Rational Being :

Vitruvian Man, the creation of Leonardo da Vinci – Spiritualism – The Discovery of Bhavanajagat.org : What is the purpose of Man in Life and What is His purpose in the World and in the Universe where he exists???

Man has no choice other than that of dependence upon his reasoning abilities to arrive at a rational understanding of his purpose in life and its existence in this universe. A tool that man can use to know and understand the world and the universe is called “BHAVANA.” The Indian language term “BHAVANA” refers to a mental function or activity called thought or imagination. Man has the ability to use sensory information and combine it with his reasoning skills to make inferences about things that he may not be able to directly experience. Man uses a verification process to validate his mental concepts and ideas to find some correspondence between the mental concept and an external reality. The word “BHAVANA” could be used in several contexts such as 1.Originating Principle, 2. Prime Cause, 3. Devotion, 4. Meditation, 5. Mental Reflection or Contemplation, acts of thinking or imagination, 6. an act of Remembrance, 7. a proof or evidence, 8. recognition of things using the olfactory sense perception, 9. the mental preparation prior to performance of acts such as procreation and others,and 10. the use of a fluid medium like honey or fruit juice to dissolve medicinal agents. Using the principles of valid reasoning, it can be suggested that the universe had a beginning and it appears as a creative beginning as the products or things that came into existence appear like original, distinctive, and one of their own kind of objects. As of today, planet Earth appears like one of its own kind of object that is known to be supporting human existence. If planet Earth and the universe are created entities, the beginning implies a creative thought, imagination, or “BHAVANA.” I will be using ‘Bhavanajagat.org’ to share those ideas and mental concepts that may have practical application to provide therapeutic relief to the problems of human existence in this world and in this universe. I would also use ‘Bhavanajagat.org’ to communicate several aspects of the term “BHAVANA” as it relates to a “JAGAT’, planet Earth and universe that are subject to constant change.

Man is a Created Being : The Subjective Reality of Man :

SPIRITUALISM – THE DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.org : Man is a created being and this fact does not demand the Discovery of the Lord God Creator. Man is a rational being who uses sensory information, applies a reasoning process and makes inferences about existence of things that he may not be able to directly experience.

Bhavanajagat recognizes man as a created being. Man comes into his state of existence as an original, unique, distinctive, one of its own kind of object or thing that has not existed in the past, and will not exist again in the future. This uniqueness is related to the nature of the human genome that always establishes man as an Individual with Individuality. Man has no choice other than that of existing as an Individual with Individuality. This fact of being an Individual is explained by the individualistic behavior of the DNA molecules which determine the morphological appearance, the structure, and functions of the human organism the DNA and other organic molecules create. The human person who describes himself as “I” comes into being and declares the fact of his existence by using the two words; “I AM.” The person called “I” has no independent existence at any stage of his existence. The condition called human existence always demands a connection with an external source of energy. In good health, or ill-health, at any given age, under any given circumstances, at any given place and environment, and membership in a social community, man needs to use energy and replenish the used energy. Man can maintain the Subjective Reality of his existence if he is connected to an external source of energy that derives its energy from Cosmic or extraterrestrial source of energy. Man does not establish this connection or partnership because of his physical, or mental efforts and work.

Man is a Spiritual Being : The Objective Reality of Man :

SPIRITUALISM – THE DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.org : What is the “Connection” between man and Sun??? Does man have the physical and intellectual ability or capacity to harness Solar Energy to maintain his living functions??? Man is a spiritual being as his existence demands the presence of a vital, animating, Life Principle that can be named as soul, or spirit. The purpose of soul or spirit involves the use of awareness or consciousness to obtain energy from an external source to maintain the fact or condition called living. Man has no ability to directly rule or govern the individual, independent living cells of his body that display functional autonomy. Man, to support his existence needs the integration of functions of the cells, the tissues, and the various organ systems that constitute the multicellular, complex organism. Soul or spirit is the agency that operates the guiding or controlling mechanisms to provide mutually beneficial relationships and interactions that have characteristics such as mutual assistance, mutual tolerance, mutual cooperation, and mutual subservience for the benefit of the person who exists because of those functions.

Man is a Spiritual Being as his existence demands the presence of a vital, animating, Life Principle. While most people agree that there is a fundamental distinction between living, and non-living matter, there is no consensus about the meaning of the term ‘soul’, or ‘spirit’. Bhavanajagat. org would use the term ‘Soul’, or ‘Spirit’ to describe it as a living principle and the term will not be used to describe any kind of immaterial principle which may have an independent existence while it is not attached to a living human being.

Man’s Essence and Man’s Existence :

SPIRITUALISM – DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.org : The Pencil in Water Illusion: Man leads a ‘conditioned’ existence, just like the Pencil in Water. The Reality of the Pencil can be easily demonstrated by simply removing the Pencil from Water. In case of man it is not easy to conduct such a demonstration as man needs the help of an Illusion and not the experience of Reality. Science can explain the reason for this Illusion, but Science has no Power/Force/Energy to alter the properties of Light rays that produce the Illusion. While being conditioned, man has no choice other than that of Ignorance; the Reality of planet Earth’s motions are not needed as direct sensory experience.

Man’s Essence has two aspects; 1. An External Reality that can be known to others and is recognized by others, and 2. An Internal Reality, known to the man or an entity that can be called “The Knowing-Self.” Man’s physical identity, actions, and behavior are variable and are influenced by variable, external, environmental factors. Man defines his Essence in his thoughts, in his speech, in his actions, and behavior. But, to display this Essence, man needs the help of an unchanging nature of his living substance or living matter. Soul, or spirit is that unchanging principle that is unaffected by the influence of time or the variable, external, environmental factors. Man’s thoughts, speech, actions, and behavior will reflect this true, or real unchanging spiritual nature when he understands, and knows that his Existence demands the experience of an Illusion. Man exists on the surface of a fast-moving object and man is blissfully ignorant of the reality of Earth’s motions.Man recognizes Sunrise, Sunset, the alternating periods of Light and Darkness, and the changing Seasons. But, man has no direct, sensory experience of the fact of a moving object that causes the changes that he experiences as Day and Night. In other words, man lives because of his ignorance of the changing world. The speed of planet Earth if experienced, is not compatible with human existence. Man exists as he has no direct experience of the Reality of this World and the Universe. Man can recognize the operation of a Fundamental Force called the Force of Gravitation. But, if man’s Essence, and Existence have to come together, we need a Power/Force/Energy that can be called Mercy/Grace/Compassion. To know the existence of this Power/Force/Energy called Mercy/Grace/Compassion, man is endowed with an intellectual ability called ‘Devotion’. Bhavanajagat.org intends to explore the purpose of man in this universe using a reasoning process directed by ‘Devotion’.

Kindly join me in this effort and visit my Facebook page Bhavanajagat.org. I would really appreciate if you click on the “LIKE” icon on my Facebook page.

www. Facebook.com/Bhavanajagatorg.

Rudra N Rebbapragada,

Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

Spiritualism and Exploring Anti-matter in the Universe (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism and Entropy (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Victory Over Death (bhavanajagat.com)

SPIRITUALISM – THE TRUTH ABOUT SOUL OR SPIRIT

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – THE TRUTH ABOUT HUMAN SOUL OR SPIRIT :

Adi Shankara( c. 788 A.D. – c. 820 A.D. ), the founder of the Non-Dualist or ADVAITA School of Indian Philosophy has shared his ideas about human soul or spirit which is called ATMA or ATMAN in Indian Sanskrit language. What is the Truth about Soul or Spirit?

Truth is the quality of being in accordance with experience, and verified facts. Truth or Reality can be established by using a reasoning process called verification and validation. To verify or refute a theoretical claim, we need to clarify statements by demonstrating relation between the theoretical claim and the observational evidence. Such a reasoning process could be applied in two manners; 1. The Coherence Theory of Truth, and 2. The Correspondence Theory of Truth. According to the Coherence Theory of Truth, the standard of Truth is the logical consistency of a proposition with a large system of propositions. According to the Correspondence Theory of Truth, Truth is viewed as a relation between an idea or proposition and its object. To verify Truth or Reality, the Subject and Object of an idea or proposition must have a relationship. Truth when applied to statements or ideas is related to the validity of what we mean and hence it requires correspondence between thought and external reality. It is true that man has the biological ability and capacity called ‘imagination’, but man may not have the ability and capacity to translate the act and power of imagination into actuality, an external experience that could be observed by others. In my imagination, I can seek the existence of an all blissful entity called ‘SHIVA’ while in actuality, I exist in the physical world as a fragile, mortal being. Religion, Philosophy, and Science may represent three distinct fields of learning about Truth and Reality. Scientific knowledge not only provides the knowledge that something is true, but it also provides the reason why it is true. Religion, and Philosophy could use different methods to study Truth and Reality, but the ideas they share require verification, corroboration, and validation. In the study of man, the know-er and the known are one. Man is the observer and the observed fact is that of man’s nature. If man has to know the truth about his self, man has to understand the truth and reliability of his own cognitive powers. If the Subject called man is identified as an Object called Soul, or Spirit, the Truth or Reality of Soul, or Spirit involves a structural/functional relationship between the Subject and its Object.

ADI SHANKARA’S NIRVANA SHATAKAM OR ATMA SHATAKAM :

Adi Shankara ( c. 788 – c. 820 A.D. ), the founder of the Non-Dualist or ‘ADVAITA’ School of Indian Philosophy called ‘VEDANTA’ has shared his ideas about human Soul, or Spirit or ‘ATMA’ or ‘ATMAN’ in Indian Sanskrit language. In six short poems popularly known as ‘Nirvana Shatakam’, or ‘Atma Shatakam’, he has presented his mental concepts about human Soul, or Spirit which he called “AHAM”(Subject ‘A’) . Adi Shankara is primarily concerned about establishing the perfect Identity between this Subject ‘A’ and its Object called “CHIDANANDA SHIVAM(Object ‘C’). However, Adi Shankara makes no attempt in his propositions to establish the basis for this Identity between the Subject ‘A’ and its Object ‘C’. Adi Shankara is proposing that the Subject ‘A’ or ‘AHAM’ has no structural, functional, mental, moral, social, and spiritual relationship with its human body or ‘B’. In his view, the human soul or spirit is not involved, and is not concerned with the existence of human body in which the soul or spirit is thought to be residing. In an effort to establish the school of thought called “ADVAITA” or Non-Dualism, he systematically separates the human body from its human soul. Adi Shankara has further extended this proposition to claim that the Subject ‘A’ is the same as the Object ‘C’ and the reason he has given is that of a lack of relationship between Subject ‘A’ and the human body ‘B’. Since, ‘A’ is not the same as ‘B’, ‘A’ is not equal to ‘B’. And, therefore, Adi Shankara claims that ‘A’ is the same as ‘C’ or ‘A’ is equal to ‘C’. He has not stated that there is or there could be a structural, functional, mental, moral, social, and spiritual relationship between ‘A’ and ‘C’. If such relationship exists between ‘A’ and ‘C’, Adi Shankara has not presented any observational evidence in support of his claim that states ‘A’ = ‘C’. Let us briefly review the six verses. Kindly note that the verses are composed in Indian Sanskrit language and there are several minor variations in the words that are attributed to Adi Shankara. The word ‘NIRVANA’ means ‘MUKTI’ or Release( the release of the conditioned human soul ), death, Sunset, and conclusion of an event( such as the end of Life ). I must clarify that ‘death’ may not be viewed as a static, or final event. Death is a dynamic event like Life which is characterized by changes like growth and development and various stages like infancy, youth, man, and old age. Just like Sunset which is followed by Sunrise, the event called death is followed by regeneration, renewal, and rebirth. Living organisms arrive with a plan for their own dissolution and such organic decay and decomposition is influenced by the cyclical flow of Time.

MAN IS A PHYSICAL, MORTAL BEING, A CREATED BEING WITH A LIVING SOUL:

Mano Buddhi Ahankara Chittani Na AHAM;
Na cha Karnam( or Shrotra), Na Jihvaa, Na cha Ghraana Netre;
Na cha Vyoma, Bhoomir Na TejO, Na VaayuH;
CHIDANANDA RuupaH ShivO Aham, ShivO AHAM.

Adi Shankara excludes the four mental functions known as Ma-nah( the seat of thoughts and imagination, the chief sense organ called Mind), Buddhi(the seat of intellect and knowledge), Chitta(the seat of emotions such as compassion, affection, and devotion), and Ahankara(the seat of ego, self-pride, the sense of pride that is associated with the recognition of ‘SELF’ or ‘I’ as existing or living) as the basis of his true Identity or Essence(What you are). These four aspects of mental activities are described in Indian tradition as “ANTAH KARANAM” or ‘MANO CHATUSHTAYAM”. The human nature which is known as “CHITTA” or “HRUDAYA”, “KARUNA”, or “DAYA” and “BHAKTI” is recognized as Compassion, Kindness, and Devotion; the mental qualities that are needed for formulating Spiritual relationships both within the Individual and between Individuals. Adi Shankara gives no reason for this separation of human nature from its human Soul. Similarly, he excludes the five organs of Sense Perception( often described as “JNANA INDRIYAS”, the organs that provide sensory information and sensory experience ) such as ears, tongue, nose, eyes, and skin and the Five Primordial Elements described in Indian tradition as ‘Pancha Maha Bhutas’ such as Sky, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. He thinks that they are not truly related to his True Identity and Essence. He is specifically excluding all known material substances, material structures and forces that operate in the natural world in the description of his True Identity. In my view, I consider that man comes into existence as a newly created object, one of its own kind, original, and distinctive who could always be identified as a specific individual. I claim that man is a created being and man has no choice other than that of existing as an Individual with Individuality. The physical form, the morphological appearance of man always makes him unique and it has to be explained and accounted for. I suggest that human Soul is the internal reality; and Soul is the basis for human Individuality and the Soul is the unchanging principle that allows man to exist with changing external forms with specific physical attributes.

MAN IS DEFINED BY HIS STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS, AND BEHAVIOR :

Na cha Praana SamjnO, Na vai Pancha Vaayur;
Na vaa Sapta Dhatur, Na vaa Pancha KoshaH;
Na Vaak Paani Paadau, Na cha Upastha Paayuu;
Chidananda RuupaH, ShivO AHAM, ShivO AHAM.

In this verse Adi Shankara gives a very detailed description of various tissues of human body and describes all the vital functions and states that the Subject ‘A’ or “AHAM” has no structural or functional relationship with human anatomy and physiology. The term “PRAANA” refers to the vital life-energy and is generally used to describe the chief characteristic to make the fundamental distinction between living and non-living; the important sign of life is the act of breathing or respiration.The term “PANCH VAAYU” refers to, 1. Vyaana – the air that is spread in the entire extent of the human body; 2. Samaana – the air that is in the navel region; it could be the air that is swallowed during acts of eating and drinking and may refer to the intestinal gas; 3. Udaana – the air that is in the throat/neck region; this narrow airway is vital for the respiratory function; 4. Apaana – the air that travels downwards and outwards; it could mean the air expelled from the body as flatus or exhaled air from the lungs; and 5. Praana – the inspired air; air that is in the heart, the chief organ of Cardiovascular System that circulates Oxygen throughout human body. The term “SAPTA DHATU” refers to the seven material essences such as the skin, muscle/tendons/nerves, blood, bones, bone marrow, brain( neural tissue ), and “RASA” which describes fluids like semen and lymph. The term “PANCH KOSHA” refers to the traditional view about the structure of Soul. It is believed that the Soul has five coverings or envelopes and each layer establishes human existence and these are called as the five stages of Self-Realization; 1. Anna maya( related to Nutrition ), 2. Praana maya( related to vital functions like Respiration ), 3. Jnana maya( relates to implantation of Innate Knowledge and Consciousness ), 4. Vijnana maya( relates to the ability to make a distinction between human body or Self and Soul as the Knowing-Self ), and 5. Ananda maya( relates to the experience of Bliss, the experience of Peace, Harmony, Tranquility, and Equilibrium as a Living Experience ) ; these are the five aspects of Self-Realization and refer to complete fulfillment or development of man. I have discussed these five aspects in my blog post:

http://Bhavanajagat.com/2012/03/18/Spiritualism-Spiritual-Being-And-Self-Realization/

Adi Shankara also refers to the five organs of action that are described in Indian tradition as “KARMA INDRIYAS” which are the five instruments of Speech(VAAK), Hand-Grip and Manipulation(PAANI), Locomotion( PAADA), Procreation(UPASTHA) and Excretion(PAAYU). Adi Shankara has not bothered to state as to how these different organs and organ systems could function together to support the existence of the human person who lives because of those varied living functions. Life is nothing but to function and in my view, the human Soul is the central element that generates the structural and functional coordination that is required for human existence.

MAN IS A MENTAL BEING, AN EMOTIONAL BEING, AND A MORAL BEING:

Na Me Dvesha Ragau, Na Me Lobha MOhau;
MadO Naiva , Me Naiva Matsarya BhavaH;
Na DharmO, Na cha ArthO, Na KamO, Na MokshaH;
CHIDANANDA RuupaH, ShivO AHAM ShivO AHAM.

Adi Shankara correctly claims that the human Soul may not contribute to human feelings, and thoughts associated with hatred, sexual passion, greed, arrogance, and envy or jealousy. At the same time, he rejects the traditional Indian view about man’s purpose in Life; the purpose of Right Action or “DHARMA”, the purpose called earning money or material wealth to support Life or “ARTHA”, the purpose of Procreation or “KAMA”, and the purpose called God-Realization, Liberation, or “MOKSHA”. In other words, Adi Shankara is suggesting that human life and human existence may have no underlying purpose. He is also not giving any coping mechanism to deal with the problems associated with human emotional experiences like passionate desires. Indian tradition consistently recommends that man can exercise self-control as the human Soul is superior to human mind, human intellect, and human sense organs. If human body has no structural or functional affiliation with its human Soul, it will not be likely that man can exercise self-restraint and self-control. In my view, man, the Mental Being can establish himself as a Moral Being using the discerning ability to make the distinction between right and wrong, and distinguish good from evil by knowing the existence of the Knowing-Self or the Soul.

MAN IS A SPIRITUAL BEING :

Na Punyam, Na Papam, Na Saukhyam, Na Dukham;
Na MantrO, Na Teertham, Na Vedaa, Na YajnaHa;
Aham Bhojanam, Naiva Bhojyam, Na Bhoktaa;
Chidananda RuupaH, ShivO Aham, ShivO Aham.

Adi Shankara is describing that he has no sense of attachment to the consequences of his actions either good(“PUNYA”) or bad(“PAAPA”). He is recommending that man need not perform temple worship, and there is no need to observe religious rituals, sacrifice, and perform acts of pilgrimage. He is rejecting the desire to seek pleasure and comfort(“SAUKHYAM”) and he may not be able to totally avoid the pain, misery, and the experience of suffering(“DUKHAM”). He specifically undermined the role of food and its five functions in support of human existence. The problem is that of the nature of human existence. In my view, man at any given age, in any given condition, under all given circumstances including good health or ill-health depends upon the Power/Energy/Force called MERCY/GRACE/COMPASSION. Man is not in control of his own existence. Man needs a guiding, and controlling force called the Divine Providence. In my opinion, the human Soul operates as the Connection between man and the Divine Providence that supports, sustains, and preserves human existence irrespective of man’s experience of pain or pleasure. Man has no choice other than that of seeking Mercy, Grace, and Compassion that is called “KRUPA” in Sanskrit language.

MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING :

Na Me Mrityu, Na Shankaa, Na Me Jati BhedaH;
Pitaa Naiva, Me Naiva Maataa, Na Janma;
Na Bandhur, Na Mitram, Gurur Naiva ShishyaH;
Chidananda RuupaH, ShivO AHAM, ShivO AHAM.

Adi Shankara very boldly asserts that he is without a trace of doubt(“SHANKAA”) and further adds that the Soul that he calls “AHAM” has no Father, or Mother. Indian tradition calls Father(“PITAA”) as the originating principle, and Mother(“MAATAA) as the sustaining principle. In my view, the human Soul comes into existence(“JANMA”) because of the Supreme Will or the Supreme Soul which is the Prime Cause, the Cause of all types of things and all kinds of Existence. The human Soul is conditioned and is not totally independent and hence, the human soul still needs a Divine Mother Principle to maintain its Spiritual Condition and Spiritual Existence.

MAN IS A CONDITIONED SOUL :

Aham NirvikalpO, Niraakaara RuupaO;
Vibhur Vyapa(or tvaa cha) Sarvatra, Sarvendriyaanaam;
Na cha Sangatham( or Sada Me Samtvam), Naiva Muktir, Na BandhaH;
Chidananda RuupaH, ShivO Aham, ShivO Aham.

In this final or sixth verse, Adi Shankara tries to eliminate the classical dualism that is called the dualism of Universal-Particular. He claims that his human Soul or “AHAM” is universal entity that is limitless, formless(“NIRAAKAARA”) and is without any attributes or attachments(“BANDHAH”). In his view, the human Soul is essentially free; it is everything, everywhere, every time and is always in a state of equilibrium. He has stated this view without a trace of doubt(“NIRVI KALPA”). I would like to suggest some caution and ask my readers to recognize the importance of separation between the human soul and the Ultimate Reality. I can understand that there is no disunity between man and his Creator. I would ask my readers to know the philosophical system of thought called ‘NOMINALISM’ that does not grant universality to mental concepts outside the mind. Universality could be applied only to words or “nomina”, mental habits, or concepts. Nominalism only maintains the objective existence of the concrete, individual thing. It denies all objectivity whether actual or potential to universals. The human soul is attached to the human being and the human being has his existence on planet Earth and hence is not an universal entity. Since the human condition demands existence only on planet Earth and not the rest of the universe, the human Soul cannot escape from its conditioned status while it exists as a human Soul. The Universal Soul as proposed by Adi Shankara is just a mental concept and it can only exist in the mind of the man and it may have no correspondence with the facts of external world and the Universe.

WHAT IS TRUTH, WHAT IS ILLUSION???

SPIRITUALISM AND SOUL – WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHAT IS ILLUSION???
Adi Shankara claims: “Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya, Jivo Brahmaiva Na paraH.”
Brahma is the Only Truth, the World is Illusion, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and Individual True Self. My question is: “WHERE DOES THIS TRUE SELF EXIST? WITHOUT EXISTENCE, THERE IS NO ESSENCE. ONLY WHEN A THING EXISTS, IT CAN DEFINE ITS ESSENCE.

Adi Shankara is fully convinced in his belief that ‘A’ and the human body ‘B’ are not connected or related. It must be noted that, ‘A’ or “AHAM” refers to a singular person called ‘I’ and that singular person ‘I’ is in a state called ‘Being’, one who lives, or exists. If ‘A’ is stated to be existing, I would like to ask the following questions:

1. Who is Existing?

2. What is Existing?

3. When it is Existing?

4. Where it is Existing?

5. Why it is Existing?

If the Subject ‘A’, or “AHAM”( I AM ), has no size, no shape, and no form, how could we establish the fact that ‘A’ is existing? Adi Shankara has not categorically stated the place or site where ‘A’ could be existing. If ‘A’ is existing, we may like to know the purpose of this existence. If there is a purpose for the existence of ‘A’, the question would be, What is that purpose? How is the nature of ‘A’ or the nature of ‘C’ is related to its purpose? The Truth and Reality about human Soul, or Spirit can be verified, can be corroborated, and can be validated by knowing the structural, functional, mental, moral, social, and spiritual relationship, partnership, connection, association, or bonding between ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’. Indian tradition suggests that human body has three aspects; “Tri-ani-pada”, or three-in-one; and the three aspects of human body are, 1. Causal, 2. Spiritual, and 3. Material. There is a material connection between ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’, if the human body has a ‘causal, and a ‘spiritual’ dimension. It would be very interesting to note that Adi Shankara has specifically avoided to describe the connection or relationship between the human Soul and human Consciousness. In Sanskrit language, Consciousness is called “CHETANA” and this term is not used in any of the six verses. Indian tradition believes that consciousness is the evidence for the presence of the human Soul and there is a structural and functional relationship between Soul and the Living Entity that is Conscious. We need to explain the concepts of Subject-Object, Appearance-Reality, Perceptual-Categorical, Immanent-Transcendent, Regulative-Constitutive, Conditioned-Unconditioned Dualism in respect of man’s existence and man’s status in Nature. In the context of human existence, the human Soul, or Spirit belongs to the Immanent Realm.

Rudra N . Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

Biographical Information :

1. Place of Birth: Mylapore, Madras City, Chenna Patnam, Chennai, Madras State, Tamil Nadu, India. Born Hindu( Brahmin, Niyogi, Smartha), Telugu-Speaking.

2. Date and Place of Marriage: January 29, 1973. Congregational Town Church, Cuddapah, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Please view this melodious presentation of Adi Shankaracharya’s Nirvana Shatakam or Atma Shatakam at http://www.Youtube.com site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br29S_GBBjQ

Spiritualism-nationalism-the Land of India (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Victory Over Death (bhavanajagat.com)

SPIRITUALISM-NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – NATIONALISM – THE LAND OF INDIA :

SPIRITUALISM-INDIAN NATIONALISM – KARGIL WAR 1999 : Indian Army Personnel salute the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Jammu & Kashmir, India on August 12, 2012 in celebration of 65 Years of Independence. The photo insert shows the winner of Gallantry Award of Param Vir Chakra, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.

ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE IN THE LAND OF INDIA :

SPIRITUALISM AND INDIAN NATIONALISM : On August 15, 2012, Indian people are celebrating the 66th Independence Day in commemoration of 65 Years of Independence. The Red Fort in New Delhi is the traditional venue for this celebration and the Indian National Flag is hoisted by the Prime Minister of India, the elected representative of People of India. In this context we have to explore the relationship between Spiritualism and Nationalism.

Today, on August 15, 2012, people of India also known as ‘BHARAT’ are celebrating the 66th Independence Day in commemoration of 65 Years of Independence. In this context, we have to examine the relationship between Spiritualism and Nationalism. In the ancient Land of India, human beings have lived continuously for thousands of years. But, it was a Land divided into several hundreds of small and large kingdoms until Indian people joined together in a Nationalist Movement to win their Freedom from foreign rule and occupation. Indians won this Freedom on August 15, 1947 when Great Britain ceased its occupation of India.

WHAT IS NATIONALISM ?

SPIRITUALISM-NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA : This National Flag of India known as ‘Tricolor’ has infused a sense of new ‘SPIRIT’ called Indian Nationalism, a sense of Devotion to one’s Nation.

SPIRITUALISM-NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA – Indian Nationalism won Freedom at a huge cost in human lives. The British Empire while leaving India during 1947 had divided the Land creating new National entities. The disorder that followed the Partition of India caused the loss of over one million human lives. The concept of Cultural Nationalism cannot and will not defend and preserve human life in the Land of India.

Nationalism is the state of mind in which the individual feels that everyone owes his supreme loyalty to the Nation-State. Nationalism is a modern movement and it belongs to the modern world. Before the 18th century, people gave their loyalty to their communities, tribes, feudal lords, princes, or religious groups. The historical sense of attachment to the native soil, to social and cultural traditions, and to established territorial authorities has changed by the end of the 18th century when Nationalism began molding public and private life. Since then, Nationalism has become an important factor of modern history. The American Revolutionary Wars(1775-1783), and the French Revolution(1789) could be regarded as the first manifestations of Nationalism. It led to the formation of modern National States in Europe. The 19th century has been called the Age of Nationalism in Europe. The World War I, and World War II resulted in the spread of Nationalism in Asia and Africa and has manifested itself as a struggle against European Colonialism. Nationalism began to appear in India after World War I. Indian National Congress founded in 1885 began a new political process in the private and public lives of Indian people. It had produced leaders such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi(1869-1948) who had joined the Nationalist Movement for Indian Independence during 1915. The people of India started replacing the king as the center of the Nation. The State had become the people’s State, a National State, and a Motherland. Nationalism is not a political program or ideology; it is a perspective on such programs or ideology. Nationalism can be described as a sentiment that places the existence and well-being of the Nation highest in the scale of personal loyalties. In political terms, it signifies a person’s willingness to work for the Nation against foreign domination. It reflects a person’s willingness to resist foreign political, economic, and cultural domination. Nationalism implies a group’s consciousness of shared history, language, race, and values. Its significance lies in its role in supplying the ties that make the Nation-State a cohesive, viable entity. The terms such as nation, state, or country describe a political entity in which people are united under a particular political organization and are occupying a defined territory. However, the term ‘Nationalism’ demands more than the existence of boundaries or political institutions. Nationalism includes the feelings or thoughts of patriotism, zealous love of one’s country, advocacy of national unity or independence and it involves the creed that fidelity to one’s State or Nation is more important than fidelity to individual interests. We, the people of India and of Indian origin have to truthfully examine if ‘Nationalism’ has ever existed in the Land of India. We have to truthfully explain as to why the Land of India exists as an easy target for foreign invasion, foreign conquest, foreign occupation, and foreign political, economic, and cultural domination.

THE PROBLEM OF NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ROLE OF CULTURAL NATIONALISM IN INDIA :

SPIRITUALISM-NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA : Mahatma Gandhi is correctly recognized as the Father of the Nation. He won a huge political battle and won Freedom for millions of Indian people. Did he secure Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in the living experience of the People of India??? The Past is Never Dead. Spiritualism is the potency generated by Consciousness; the Consciousness or Awareness of the fact of existing in a given physical environment. Spiritualism demands the existence of a Living Soul or Spirit.

There is a fundamental problem with the experience of life in the Land of India. The Nation - State was nonexistent during the greater part of Indian history. People did not give loyalty to the Nation – State but to other, different forms of feudal states. Before 20th century, political allegiance was determined by mostly local and regional factors such as that of a local princely ruler, regional language or regional culture. Indian Cultural Nationalism mainly consists of expression of some national characteristics through nonpolitical activities such as art, literature, music, dance, and other forms of culture such as the performance of Temple Worship and Pilgrimage. A vast multitude of people may come together at a particular place in celebration of an event and return to their native places. India did not exist as a large, unified territorial state with political, and economic centralization. The political, and economic centralization that existed in India was largely a product of foreign rule and foreign occupation of the Land of India. This lack of National Unity and the lack of a National identity and Individuality made India an easy target for foreign, military attacks. Sir Jadunath Sarkar, a former Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University, a historian who had reviewed the records kept by Al- Utbi, the Secretary of Sultan Yaminu -d- Daula Mahmud bin Subuktigin known as Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna. The Secretary in the Persian document called the Tarikh -i- Yamini recorded the details of several episodes of bloody campaigns waged by Sultan Mahmud between 1001 A.D. and 1027 A.D. Persian historian Ferishta(“Tarikh-e- Fereshteh” work by Ferishta about Mahomedan Power in India ) also recorded the military conquests of India by Sultan Mahmud. The Sultan of Ghazna had directed his military attacks on places of spiritual pilgrimage in India. He had attacked the temple towns of Nagarkot, Thanesar(1011), Mathura(1018), Kannauj(1019), Kalinjar(1023), and Somnath(1024-25). He had also attacked the holy places of Varanasi, Ujjain, Maheswar, Jwalamukhi and Dwaraka. These attacks were witnessed by Persian writers such as Al-Biruni(Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Biruni) and Ferdowsi(Abu ol-Qasem Mansur or Firdawsi/Firdusi). All of these historical records and documents reveal the scale of loss of human life. It is estimated that about two million people had died in the Land of India during Sultan Mahmud’s repeated attacks. Asaru -l- Bilad, a Persian geographer had also described some of the foreign conquests of India. K.S. Lal, an Indian historian estimated that about sixty to eighty million people in India may have died between 1000 and 1525 CE due to foreign invasions. It clearly demonstrates that the idea of Cultural Nationalism did not play a significant role in defending Indian people and had failed to preserve human life. Apparently, Cultural Nationalism did not generate the cohesiveness or Unity that is needed to resist and to defeat foreign military campaigns.

CULTURAL NATIONALISM vs SECULAR NATIONALISM – THE CLASH AT KURNOOL MEDICAL COLLEGE, ANDHRA PRADESH :

CULTURAL NATIONALISM vs SECULAR NATIONALISM – THE CLASH AT KURNOOL MEDICAL COLLEGE : The clash at Kurnool Medical College is a consequence of my participation as a student delegate in a National Student Seminar on National Integration that was sponsored by Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, International Youth Centre, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India during June 1967.

SPIRITUALISM – NATIONALISM – THE LAND OF INDIA : Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Superintendent of Kurnool Government General Hospital worked at Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool City, Andhra Pradesh, India from January 1957 to August 1968. He represents the face of forces opposed to the idea of Secular Nationalism. I was a student at Kurnool Medical College who had advocated the need for a National Identity and National Individuality and promoted the idea of formulating marital social relationships neglecting traditional cultural values based upon religion and caste. He had actively opposed my personal initiative and had encouraged my paternal uncle, Dr. R. Anjaneyulu, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, B. J. Medical College and Sassoon Hospitals, Pune City, Maharashtra State, India to sabotage my career in Indian Army Medical Corps by using his influential contacts with senior Officers of Indian Army Medical Corps.

I submitted an application to Chief Minister Office, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, India on September 02, 2012. The request made by me is registered by the Secretariat Departments of Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Application Number is shown as : SR 12014477 and it reads as follows:

“I was a student at Kurnool Medical College from November 1965 to June 1970. I had represented the State of Andhra Pradesh as a student delegate at the four-week long National Student Seminar on National Integration sponsored by Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi during 1967 to promote the need for developing a National Identity and National Individuality for National Unity and National Integration. I had encouraged students to ignore any identity that is derived from region, religion, language, and caste as India needs Secular Nationalism and not Cultural Nationalism. This was opposed by Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, M.D., who then served as the Professor of Medicine and the Superintendent of Kurnool Government General Hospital. Since he had actively opposed the principle of Secular Nationalism, I would request you to reconsider the decision made by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to name a building on Kurnool Medical College/General Hospital Campus to honour him.”

ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE IN THE LAND OF INDIA :

The ideas about human soul or spirit( Atman or Atma in Sanskrit language) find their profound expression in the oral and written literature of India. Indian thoughts about the nature of man and his existence can be traced to the ancient texts of Vedas( the Rig-Veda, the Sama-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda) which were compiled from c. 1500 B.C. to c. 500 B.C. The Sanskrit texts known as the Upanishads( c. 900 – 500 B.C. ) have systematized Indian philosophy. There are six classical systems of Indian philosophy that accept the authority of the Veda and the Upanishads; 1. NYAYA( 6th century B.C. ) is a school of logic and epistemology, 2. VAISHESHIKA( 3rd century B.C. ) posits a sixfold classification of Reality( Substance, Quality, Activity, Generality, Particularity, and Inherence ), 3. SAMKHYA( 6th century B.C. ) expounds two basic metaphysical principles; Purusha or Soul and Prakriti or Material Nature, 4. YOGA( 2nd century B.C. ) of Patanjali accepts Samkhya metaphysics, presents an eight-stage discipline of self-control and Meditation, 5. PURVA-MIMAMSA( 2nd century B.C. ) sets forth principles of interpretation of the Vedic texts, and 6. UTTARA-MIMAMSA or VEDANTA which includes different schools of thought based on the Brahma-Sutras of Baradayana( early century A.D. ) which summarize the Upanishadic doctrine and explain the teachings of the Upanishads. The most important schools of Vedanta are 1. the non-dualist(ADVAITA) Vedanta of Shankara( A.D. 788-820 ), 2. the qualified non-dualist Vedanta of Ramanuja( A.D. 1017-1137 ), and 3. the dualist Vedanta of Madhava( A.D. 1197-1276 ). Buddhism and Jainism are two important schools of thought that do not accept the authority of Veda and Upanishads. To a great extent, Indian traditions claim that man is an embodied soul. The mind, and body that represent the physical person is an illusion as the human body is thought to be “ASAT”, or unreal, perishable, full of ignorance, and not happy. The real or true man as represented by soul or spirit is unborn. The real person is viewed as an eternal person who is not subject to change called life and death. Indian tradition considers that the Objective Reality of man or Essence of man is soul or spirit. We must note that it is impossible to describe this mental concept called soul or spirit if it is never associated with its human body. The separation of man into body, mind, and soul is not supported by scientific study of man. Man comes into existence from a single, fertilized Egg-Cell. This man cannot be separated into distinct entities like material or physical body, thinking substance called mind, and an immaterial principle called soul. These three aspects of man have no independent existence of their own. There is no Life and there is no human Existence if body, mind, and soul are separated. Who you are describes your Essence and it is defined by What you do to establish the fact of your Existence. In other words, the Essence(Who you are) is preceded by the reality of Existence(What you do). Thus, Existence is the precondition to recognize Essence. Hence, I describe man as a living soul and not as an embodied soul. In my impression, the traditional Indian views about human soul or spirit have failed to recognize the importance of human Existence as a precondition to define the nature of human Essence. Indian people have to give due recognition to the problems of human existence and must realize that Essence has no value if its meaning is not attached to the condition called Existence. In my opinion, Spiritualism demands the existence of a Living Soul or Spirit to understand its characteristic functions that generate Peace, harmony, and Tranquility as a living human experience. If India seeks its existence as a Nation, Indians have to forget the parochial differences to develop National Individualities and the primary focus of allegiance must be the Republic of India and not that of the local language, religion, or culture.

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Danavaipeta Municipal/Corporation High School, Rajahmundry, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India,

S.S.L.C. Class of March/April, 1961.

Biographical Information :

1. Place of Birth: Mylapore, Madras City, Chennai, Chenna Patnam, Madras State, Tamil Nadu, India. Born Hindu(Brahmin, Niyogi, Smartha), Telugu-Speaking.

2. Date and Place of Marriage: 29 January, 1973. Town Congregational Church, Cuddapah, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Spiritualism and Identity – the Conflict at Kurnool Medical College (bhavanajagat.com)

SPIRITUALISM – THE VICTORY OVER DEATH

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

Spiritualism-The Victory over Death : In Indian tradition, Lord Shiva is the Father Principle and His consort Goddess Parvati is the Mother Principle. Man attains Liberation or ‘Moksh’ and obtains his Release from bondage or ‘Mukti’ or ‘Vimochan’ by severing the connection called ‘Attachment’ to free oneself from the fear of Death. The condition called ‘Death’ causes fear if man is not aware of his Objective Reality. The Truth is that there is no disunity between man and God and there is no separation between man and God.

THE VICTORY OVER DEATH – BREAK THE PEDICLE OF ATTACHMENT – Man is attached to his life by a pedicle or attachment called ‘the fear of death’. Man conquers Death and can declare his Victory over Death by simply severing this attachment that arouses the sense of fear of Death. Spiritualism is the potency that brings man’s Essence and Existence to come together to establish the subjective reality of man in the physical world or the material realm. This hymn called ‘Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra’ in praise of Lord Shiva known as ‘Triyambaka appears in the ancient Vedic Book of Rig Veda.’

SPIRITUALISM – THE VICTORY OVER DEATH :

SPIRITUALISM – THE VICTORY OVER DEATH: In Indian tradition, the sense of pain and sorrow caused by death is overcome by coming to correct understanding of true or real nature of Man; His Essence and His Existence.

Spiritualism-The Victory over Death : The Rebbapragadas Family Photo. The Rebbapragada Group is mourning the loss of the second son of (Late) Dr. R. Anjaneyulu, M.D. former Professor of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, B.J. Medical College, Dean Faculty of Medicine, Pune University.

Ramakrishna ‘Rama’ Rebbapragada. Born. February 27, 1958, Died. July 25, 2012. A Funeral Service is being held on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at Boyd – Panciera Douglas Road Chapel, Pembroke Pines, Florida. In Indian Tradition the grief, the pain, and the sorrow caused by loss is overcome by declaring ‘The Victory over Death’ by expressing an understanding of true or real nature of man and his existence.

“EKAM EVA ADVITIYAM” – “I ONE ALONE AND THERE IS NO SECOND” :

The Individuality of man is described in a thought that is expressed in Sanskrit language and it appears in the ancient Vedic Book of Chandogya Upanishad( 6:2:1 ) which reads: “Ekam eva Advitiyam” meaning – “I one alone and there is no second.” The intent of this statement is that of seeking the unity of the Objective Reality of Man and the Ultimate Reality called God. There is no duality between the two and there is no disunity between Man and God.

SPIRITUALISM – THE VICTORY OVER DEATH : THE LAW OF CREATION AND INDIVIDUALITY :

In Indian tradition it is explained that the human body is composite of three principles; three bodies in one, ‘tri-ani-pada’ – the Causal, the Spiritual, and the Material; Man is a Created Being, Man is a Spiritual Being, and Man is a Physical Being with body, and mind. Human being exists as a dual entity or two “Purusha” – the Higher, Real-self( the Spirit, the Soul, or Atma ) which is unchanging and is the basis for Man’s Individuality, and the Lower, Body-self which is subject constant change in morphological appearance and is the basis for Man’s physical Identity in this world. The Law of Creation and Individuality claims that Man always arrives into the physical world as a newly created object that is original, one of its own kind, distinctive, and unique; an Individual that has not existed in the Past and an Individual that will never again exist in the Future in the material realm. I describe Spiritualism as the potency of the Spiritual Matter that brings Man’s Essence and Existence to come together. Being born relates Man to the Subjective and Objective Reality of a biological existence in the physical and material world. Man because of his innate Spiritual nature has the intrinsic power to uplift himself from an event called Death to sustain his Individuality which is the unchanging, underlying Principle that supports the existence of a changing form with a morphological appearance. Under the influence of the Cyclical Flow of Time, the events called Birth and Death flow from one state into another while the Individual with Individuality remains as, “I, one alone and there is no second.”

Spiritualism-The Victory over Death : I define Spiritualism as an Unchanging, Underlying Principle that supports the existence of every living Object that changes in Nature under the influence of the Cyclical Flow of Time.

ROYAL CARIBBEANS MOURNS THE LOSS OF RAMAKRISHNA REBBAPRAGADA :

Kindly read about Ramakrishna ‘Rama’(RAMU) Rebbapragada’s great contribution to Royal Caribbeans and to the Cruise Industry:

http://www.seatrade-insider.com/News/News-Headlines/Industry-mourns-Royal-Caribbeans-Rama-Rebbapragada-Global-Sales-Guru.html

Dr. R . Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

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Welcome to Noble Thoughts from All Directions to promote the well-being of man and to know the purpose in Life.

Category Archives: Human Existence – Human Survival-Dialectical Spiritualism

WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE DECLARATION

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SPIRITUALISM – ALBERT EINSTEIN’S GOD LETTER

SPIRITUALISM – THE DISCOVERY OF BHAVANAJAGAT.Org

SPIRITUALISM – THE TRUTH ABOUT SOUL OR SPIRIT

SPIRITUALISM-NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA

SPIRITUALISM – THE VICTORY OVER DEATH

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