SPIRITUALISM – THE FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – THE FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS:

SPIRITUALISM AND CONSCIOUSNESS: The understanding of Consciousness demands the recognition of difference between mechanical performance(Transitive Action), and intelligent performance(Immanent Action). Consciousness cannot be explained by elementary Laws of Physics and Chemistry. Living Functions are primarily Oxidation-Reduction Chemical Reactions.

Spiritualism and Consciousness: The actions performed in Nature have to be observed to know if it involves the selection of a purpose and the use of means to attain the desired goal. There is a difference between the forest fire and the bonfire. Consciousness cannot be explained using the mechanistic principles.

To make the fundamental distinction between the animate or living, and inanimate or non-living things, we may have to describe the nature of functions that can be observed in the actions performed by things. There is a difference between mechanical performance and intelligent performance. In the actions performed by the living things, the agent is perfected by its own actions, and activities. Actions such as growing, sensing, and understanding are called “Immanent” actions because they are activities which affect the growing, sensing, or understanding agent called the living thing. The action of one inert body upon another inert body is called “Transitive” action. For example, heating is a transitive action. In heating, the hot thing loses its own heat while heat is transferred to the cold thing. In the “Mechanistic” view, the continuity of nature is described in terms of the universality of purely mechanical principles. The mechanistic concept asserts that the phenomena of life are merely processes and transformations obeying elementary chemical and physical laws. However, it should not be very difficult to make a distinction between a forest fire and a bonfire, or a fire ignited in the kitchen in the preparation of a meal. Both the actions represent a chemical reaction called combustion, or rapid oxidation. Both actions may generate light, heat, and warmth. But, the forest fire may lack the purposiveness of the bonfire, or the kitchen fire used in cooking. The understanding of the living and the non-living things involves the difference between vital operations and mechanical operations. There is a difference between the vital power of the living thing and the mechanical capacity of inert, non-living thing.

THE VITAL POWER OF LIVING THINGS:

SPIRITUALISM AND CONSCIOUSNESS: Amoeba proteus is a living organism as it has the ability to perform vital, living functions. Amoeba knows the fact of its own existence, it knows as to where it exists, and knows as to how it is existing. It displays two kinds of awareness; 1. What goes on around in its external environment, and 2. What goes on within its internal environment.

The word “Animal” derives from the Latin( anima, animus ) name for vital principle called “Soul” which is a life principle associated with functions like breathing, or the principle called animation. Breathing is a vital function as it is associated with the “Power” of self-nutrition. The power of self-nutrition is the originating power, the possession of which leads us to speak of things as living, and non-living. Nutrition is a vital power as the action is not a mechanical performance. Nutrition is a function associated with a purpose and it is guided to achieve a future end and it involves the choice or selection of specific means to attain the desired goal of its action. A non-living thing like a stone gets heated on exposure to Sun’s radiation and the action is not goal-oriented; it is not guided action to attain a specific purpose of that non-living agent. A living thing like a plant can convert thermal energy from Sun to a new form of chemical energy that it can further use to perform a variety of its own living functions like growth, and reproduction. Living functions are intelligent functions that involve the use of knowledge or information to perform goal-oriented, sequential actions.

SOUL AND THE CELLULAR FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS:

Brain Stem Reticular Formation shown as a red band in the image represents an integrative focus of consciousness functioning through its widespread interconnections with the Cerebral Cortex and other regions of the Brain. It functions to compose the contents of consciousness that would be revealed as Cortical Awareness. Reticular Formation describes “The Capacity of Consciousness” and without this function the contents of consciousness( or cortical awareness) will not be known to the individual.

SRI AUROBINDO GHOSH IN HIS BOOK, “LETTERS ON YOGA”, Page 576 DESCRIBED CONSCIOUSNESS: “Just like you: you have lots of cells in your body; each cell has its own consciousness and you have a consciousness which is the consciousness of your total individuality, though made up of all these small cellular consciousness.”

SPIRITUALISM AND CONSCIOUSNESS: A LIVING, ANIMAL CELL PERFORMS VITAL FUNCTIONS USING ITS COGNITIVE ABILITIES. WHAT IS THAT “SOMETHING” THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY CONSCIOUSNESS?

Consciousness describes the ability to perform intelligent action. Consciousness describes the difference between vital operations and mechanical operations. Consciousness describes the difference between vital powers and the capacities of inert matter. Consciousness describes the difference between living things and non-living things. Consciousness is a biological, vital, or living(“Immanent”) function that characterizes the actions, and activities of living things. Consciousness can include psychological, and mental functions; but it is not a function that can only be performed by living matter of an anatomical structure, or organ called brain. In literature, religion, and philosophy, the term Consciousness is often used meaning, “attention to the contents or workings of one’s own mind.” John Locke defined consciousness as a psychological condition; it is described as the perception of what passes in a man’s own mind. In popular belief, consciousness is viewed as a form of relationship or act of the mind toward objects in nature. Consciousness is claimed to be a continuous field or stream of mental “sense-data.” Very often, neuroscientists describe consciousness as a neurophysiological mechanism that depends on the functions of the brain. It is true for the Brain Stem Reticular Formation represents an integrative focus of consciousness functioning through its widespread interconnections with the cerebral cortex and other regions of the brain.Consciousness involves recognizing the existence, the fact of knowing something; it describes the fact of being aware of some information. What is that ‘something’ that is known or recognized by Consciousness? A living thing which has a substance called living matter is conscious, or aware of the fact of its own existence in its given environment. There are two aspects of Consciousness that are subjectively registered by the living thing; 1. Consciousness is a state of knowing or awareness of what goes on around the individual living thing in its external environment, and 2. Consciousness is a state of knowing or awareness of what goes on within the individual living thing, its own internal environment. Consciousness is not simple awareness. It is awareness that involves the ability called “Cognition” which involves knowing; the processing of information, the analysis of information, the storing of information, the retrieval of information, and the application of information to perform a selected action. In other words, Consciousness represents the presence of “Intelligence.” A living thing has Consciousness of its nature of existence that demands the supply of energy from its external environment. The living thing uses its cognitive ability, to recognize the substances, the presence of both living, and non-living matter present in its external environment. It uses the power of self-nutrition to attract these substances to acquire energy, manipulate energy, transform energy, and exploit energy to perform its vital, living functions. Thus, Consciousness becomes an absolute attribute of life; it is the fundamental, biological characteristic of living matter or living substance. For the reasons that I have stated, I define Consciousness as a function by which a living thing knows the fact of its own existence; it knows as to where it exists and knows as to how it is existing. Since Consciousness is a function that operates at a level of structural, and functional organization that is the characteristic of complex, organic molecules, this function cannot be observed, or measured by quantum physicists who study structures and functions of subatomic particles. I define Consciousness as the ability to establish a connection, or a relationship between energy-demanding molecules, and energy-yielding molecules. A Fundamental Force like the force of Gravitation is very important for existence of man on planet Earth. Man recognizes the physical reality of his own existence with the help of gravitation which provides the experience of his body mass or body weight. At the same time, it must be noted that man exists on the surface of a very fast spinning celestial object. The perception of this basic reality of Earth’s speed and velocity by the human organs of sense perception would endanger the ability to live. Man’s physical existence is defended, and is protected by the shielding effect of the force of gravitation. Gravitation helps to block the sensory awareness of the speed of Earth’s motions. This function of gravitational force must be distinguished from the intelligent function called Consciousness.

SPIRITUALISM-CONSCIOUSNESS-THE MOTIONS OF CELESTIAL BODIES: Human Existence demands alternating periods of light and darkness called Day and Night. At the same time, man cannot exist with direct, sensory perception of the very fast revolving, and spinning motions of planet Earth

ADI SHANKARA’S UNQUALIFIED NON-DUALISM – THE THEORY OF PURE CONSCIOUSNESS:

ADI SHANKARACHARYA – THE PROPONENT OF UNQUALIFIED NON-DUALISM: He based his view on his Theory of “PURE CONSCIOUSNESS.”

The Indian School of Philosophy known as “SUDDHADVAITA”, or Unqualified Non-Dualism of Adi Shankara is based upon a system of thought that may be called “ATMADVAITA” that describes one, universal, eternal, and self-illuminating self whose essence is “Pure Consciousness” without a Subject(“ASRAYA”) and without an Object(“VISAYA”) and from a transcendental point of view, “Pure Consciousness” is the only Ultimate Reality. The phenomenal world and finite individuals could be empirically true, but from the higher point of view are merely false appearances. Adi Shankara based his view on his definition of “Reality: The “Real” is that whose negation is not possible. The only thing that satisfies this criterion is consciousness; because denial of consciousness presupposes the consciousness that denies. It is conceivable that any object is not existent, but the absence of consciousness is not conceivable. Adi Shankara used his immense logical skills and relied upon reasoning to claim that consciousness is the only reality and anything different from it would be unreal. The basic problem of Adi Shankara’s philosophy is that of explaining as to how such “Pure Consciousness” appears in ordinary experience to become individualized as “my consciousness.”

http://Bhavanajagat.com/2010/05/10/I-Am-Consciousness-Therefore-I-Am/

http://Bhavanajagat.com/2012/11/08/Spiritualism-And-The-Quantum-Theory-of-Consciousness/

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.

I am pleased to share this view posted by Gaurachandra Das of IIT, Kharagpur, India.

Mystery of Consciousness : Life versus Non-life

Gaurachandra Das, B. Tech, M.Tech, Electrical Engineering-IIT Kharagpur

General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanical Theory (QM) are the two most prominent
theories in the field of Physics. General Theory of Relativity given by Einstein in 1915 states that
direction of light propagation should be changed in a gravitational field. It predicts that “light coming
from a strong gravitational field should have its wavelength shifted to larger values (a red-shift). The
electromagnetic field can have waves in it that carry energy that we call light. Likewise, the gravitational
field can have waves that carry energy and are called gravitational waves. These may be thought of as
ripples in the curvature of space-time that travel at the speed of light.”1 On the other hand Quantum
Mechanical Theory predicts the behavior of particles as waves as they drift away from the classical
domain. Both these stalwart theories till date have been unable to predict the function of consciousness
in living bodies. In fact, they do not even stand unwavering scrutiny and are subject to reformations, time and
again. Albert Einstein himself stated in this regard in 1954-“I consider it quite possible that physics
cannot be based on the field concept, i.e., on continuous structures. In that case, nothing remains of my
entire castle in the air, gravitation theory included, and of the rest of modern physics.”

In the words of Roger Penrose – “I definitely believe that Quantum Mechanics is not a final theory and it is incomplete. I agree with Einstein in that sense.” Quantum Mechanics has proved insufficient to describe
the nature of reality so far. He further says-“Quantum Mechanics has two parts: the first is Schrodinger’s
equation, which tells how a system evolves, it is a very precise equation yet it does not tell you how the world
behaves. The second part of QM is the measurement process. The measurement process is inconsistent
with Schroedinger equation. It is non-deterministic, probabilistic, etc. Although these two parts are
inconsistent with each other, they do fit together in a rather remarkable way. To me, it suggests that
QM is not perfectly correct.” 2 Another is the famous Schrodinger’s cat example. (Experiment parallel
to it is being done in Santa Barbara, California under Dirk Baumeister.) Penrose remarks -
“ Schroedinger pointed out that his own equation tells that you could produce a cat that is both alive and
dead at the same time. It is ridiculous because in reality you don’t see cats that are both alive and dead
at the same time. This means there is something wrong with the equations at the level when the objects
become big enough”.2

Schrodinger’s cat set-up

Along with Hameroff, Penrose constructed a theory of human consciousness in which human
consciousness is pointed to as being the result of a quantum gravity effect in microtubules. That was
presented in his “Orchestrated Reduction of Quantum Coherence in Brain Microtubules: A Model for
Consciousness”. However, he also says “Our present scientific knowledge cannot describe
consciousness. On the other hand, boundaries of what we call scientific are not fixed on this view.
Perhaps we may never be able to understand the Ultimate Reality through a rigorous scientific
approach. Some fundamentally new insights are needed. If perhaps there will eventually emerge some
kind of ultimate theory that may explain part of the reality, that theory must differ enormously from
what we have seen in physical theories so far” 2. So as per his opinion, a fundamentally new theory with
remarkably different features is needed to explain the paradigm of consciousness. Thus, what is this
consciousness, a mystery to the world of physics so far.

Robots are another field in which distinction between life and non-life can be seen approaching a
border-line. Nowadays robots are quoted to be even writing poems. But such collection of words is an
artificial attempt from the word-bank fed to computers and arranged with algorithms. The machine has
no feelings and emotions and the purpose of poetry –“to satisfy the poet’s heart” remains forever
absent to a machine. The computer may also play chess but that is the computational (mechanistic)
part done by it from the strategies fed by the programmer. A machine may also pass the Turing’s test3
but the Chinese room argument by John Searle refutes the conscious sense coming from this
resemblance. Actually to prove computers intelligent, one needs to design a robot that can play any
surprise or unexpected game brought before it, not just the chess game. It should be able to learn any
game by speech or text inputs and then play that game reasonably well. But it is not possible to design
such a robot because playing a surprise game requires an understanding in both learning and devising
strategy. A robot can do computation, but it will never have understanding because it can’t be
conscious.

A Robot cannot play an unprogrammed game.

After the tragic event of 9/11 many scientists have shown remarkable interest in these ideas concerning
search of an Ultimate Theory, absolute Reality and depths of the conscious paradigm. They look for a
scientific clue from the known sources of scientific knowledge. This brings them closer to the ideas of
fine-tuning and intelligent design in the universe which have a valid and very reasonable role in the
creation. The fine-tuning of water molecule (H2O) and preciseness of universal constants verify this
claim.

There are various directions to proceed on the basis of the Anthropic Principle.5 One of the interesting
insights is that Vedantic literature points in this direction about the presence of different universes
which have life and are also spiritual in nature. This idea is feasible from the strong Anthropic principle
as Roger Penrose says – “This is the argument that only the physical constants of nature which have
specific values may be suitable for life. Only in the world where the numbers are suitable for
consciousness we will find beings present in that world. It may be a completely different kind of life,
which is not like us at all, which does not depend on chemistry the way we do. So that may open up the
possibility of a world or spiritual world.” 2

Looking into Einstein’s life, we all admire his great insights for a scientific worldview having
mathematical foundations. At same time he also had some profound feeling for religion. In other words,
he tried to relate both scientific and religious worldviews in his life. He said-“Science without religion is
lame and religion without science is blind.” Another of his famous quotes is –“God doesn’t cast dice.”
This may be a serious question posed to the propaganda that life is a chance phenomenon. Roger
Penrose remarks in this connection – “There are remarkable interrelations between truth and beauty.
Even there is a mystery of our perceptions of mathematical truths. I would say that these are higher and
deeper aspects of reality of which we have little conception at the present time.”2 Einstein didn’t see
any conflict between science and religion while he considered them complementary. He could live
happily by synthesizing both the worldviews. It is from this religious paradigm, especially Vedantic
paradigm where we get a precisely correct understanding of consciousness which is a mystery for the
modern thinkers.

Universe and life is not created by humans so the proposal to study and demarcate its
ingredients and intricacies by research-based approach may not be well-placed and successful. It may
actually be like an ant’s attempt to study the architecture of Mercedes-Benz, which is quite too much for
the ant! However the religious side in this direction, particularly the Vedantic conception offers
interesting comprehensive facts and insights…for example, Bhagavad Gita says that “the soul (atma) or
spiriton is the cause of consciousness. This spiriton or atma interacts with matter through the agency of
the Paramatma or the all-pervading conscious aspect of the absolute truth. This interaction depends on
higher order, non-mathematical laws relating to psychological principles such as desire and free-will.”6
Bhagavad Gita mentions that “the size of spiriton or atma is 1/10000 of the tip of a hair; it is
inconceivable or spiritual in nature and it is eternal and unborn.”7 In fact, our present science cannot
explain this. As some prominent scientists (as Max Born, Roger Penrose and William D. Phillips) say -
“We need a new science, a higher dimensional science to explain this subtle conception of the source of
life.” Yet, its presence in the form of consciousness can be experienced by us all. Max Born says – “I saw
in the atom the key to the deepest secret of nature and it revealed to me the greatness of creation and
the Creator.”8

Roger Penrose and Dr T.D. Singh

So, probably, the sincere mind of a great scientist would need to blur these boundaries between
science and religion and sincerely take up this quest to understand life and conscious paradigm. This has
been the attitude of a galaxy of prominent thinkers, scientists and vastly learned men such as Nicholas
Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Albert Einstein, Max
Born, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Werner Heisenberg, Charles Townes, William D. Phillips and hundreds more.
Albert Einstein says-“I sense these things deeply…the most beautiful and profound religious emotion
that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true
science. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power which is
revealed in the comprehensible universe forms my idea of God.” In the words of Charles Townes-“I
believe there is no long-range question more important than the purpose and meaning of our lives and
of the universe.” 8 Indeed, such a positive and synthesized approach offers a key to solve this mystery of
life and consciousness, to know the distinction between life and non-life and to delve deeper into
Absolute Reality.

References:
1. General Theory of Relativity http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/cosmology/gravity.html
2. Discussion between Sir Roger Penrose and Dr T.D. Singh entitled “Science, Spirituality and
Nature of reality”, Bhaktivedanta Institute, 2005.
3. Turing Test : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test
4. Chinese room Argument : http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/
5. Anthropic Principle – see Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, Bantam Trade Paperback,
1996.
6. “Life, Matter and their Interactions “ by Dr T.D. Singh, Bhaktivedanta Institute, 2006.
7. “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. New York: Macmillan 1972.
8. “God is a Person”, Reflections of two Noble Laureates, Bhaktivedanta Institute, 2006.
9. Lincoln Barnett, “The Universe and Dr. Einstein, 2nd Edition, New York, 1957, pp.108-109.

Spiritualism – the New Advaita Theory of Non-dualism (bhavanajagat.com)
The Science of Consciousness. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2011/03/31/The-Science-of-Consciousness/
What is Life? Life is Knowledge in Action. http://Bhavanajagat.com/2010/08/05/What-is-Life-Life-is-Knowledge-in-Action/
The Study of Consciousness (robertjrgraham.com)
CONSCIOUSNESS: What It Is And How It Can Be Manipulated [W/ VIDEO] (secretsofthefed.com)

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)

BHAVANAJAGAT – 2012 IN REVIEW

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

About 55,000 tourists visit Liechtenstein every year. This blog was viewed about 300,000 times in 2012. If it were Liechtenstein, it would take about 5 years for that many people to see it. Your blog had more visits than a small country in Europe!

Click here to see the complete report.

R. Rudra Narasimham/Rudra N. Rebbapragada, 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

English: The border between Liechtenstien and Switzerland (Balzers – Trübbach). In the background the castle Gutenberg and the liechtenstein alps, Deutsch: Die Grenze zwischen Liechtenstein und Schweiz (Balzers – Liechtenstein). Im Hintergrund die Burg Gutenberg und die Liechtensteiner Alpen. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Regierungsgebäude (Government Building), Vaduz, Liechtenstein – Seat of Government and Parliament. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Impressive scenery in Liechtenstein, Europe. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Heliport in Balzers, Liechtenstein. In the background the castle Gutenberg and Liechtenstein Alps Deutsch: Hubschrauberlandeplatz in Balzers, Liechtenstein. Im Hintergrund die Burg Gutenberg und die Liechtensteiner Alpen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Deutsch: Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Map of Liechtenstein in closer view (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Johann I, prince of Liechtenstein (1760–1836) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPIRITUALISM AND THE QUANTUM THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

Professor Sir Roger Penrose (born 8 August 1931) is an English mathematical physicist renowned for his contributions to general relativity and cosmology. He is also a recreational mathematician and philosopher. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr. Stuart Hameroff, Professor Emeritus Department of Anesthesiology, Director of the Center of Consciousness Studies at The University of Arizona. Toward a Science of Consciousness Conference, Arizona (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WHAT IS SOUL ????

The Anatomy of Cell – Endoplasmic Reticulum. The Protoplasm or Cytoplasm consists of a network or honey-combed reticulum called Endoplasmic Reticulum. It is a network of sacs and tubules that act as channels for materials passing through the Cell. This network is described as Spongioplasm. The homogeneous substance contained in the meshes of the network is known as Hyaloplasm.

The Anatomy of Cell – Golgi Apparatus and Endoplasmic Reticulum

This story about ‘the quantum theory of consciousness’ that appears under this post is too brief and hence it would be bit difficult to come to a proper understanding of the subject matter. We need to know as to how the terms soul and consciousness are defined. What is Soul? Is it a material principle or is it an immaterial principle? What is Consciousness? Is it a mental function? Is it a psychological function? Is it a biological function? What is the relationship between soul and consciousness? I am sure that these authors may have provided more information on their views at some other place or in their book. But, the story provides some information that is good enough to doubt this theory. Micro tubules are found in all living cells of all living organisms other than bacteria, blue-green algae and viruses. If micro tubules are found inside brain cells or neurons, it is not a surprise. They tend to perform the same functions in all types of living cells called eukaryotes(cells with true nuclei). All the cells of the human body are derived from a single, fertilized egg cell. We need to discuss this topic called soul and consciousness in relationship with this egg cell. Does this egg cell display consciousness? If the egg cell is conscious, does it have a soul? In that context, we have to answer similar questions about Amoeba proteus, is it conscious? and does it have a soul?

Amoeba proteus and The Quantum Theory of Consciousness.

Human Ovum Structure and The Quantum Theory of Consciousness.

I have been writing about some of these issues and like these authors, I have been speaking about the role of Cytoplasm, the living substance found inside living cells. The micro tubules are related to the plasma membrane/biological membrane, the outermost layer that separates the cell from its external environment. This membrane performs functions like cognition and it can process information and transmit information which the cell further uses to perform its various living functions. The cytoplasm exists in a constant condition of motion called ‘amoeboid motion’. The cell structures called micro tubules and micro filaments maintain this motion all the time. Like all cells, the brain cells experience cellular death. We can remove several brain cells or kill them using drugs or radiation while treating problems like cancer. The person still remains conscious and we clearly know the term ‘consciousness’ as used in Clinical Medicine refers to the ‘arousal state’. These authors have not made any distinction between the clinical definition of ‘consciousness’ and the function performed by micro tubules. Their views about gravitational force and its impact upon information processing by brain’s nerve cells have no theoretical basis. We send astronauts into outer space and they function without experiencing any gravitational pull or force and they literally float inside the spaceship.

http://bhavanajagat.com/2012/05/05/Spiritualism-The-Cell-Theory-of-Spirituality/

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

SERVICE INFORMATION:

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Ex – Personal Number. MS – 8466. Rank. Lieutenant/Captain.
Branch. Army Medical Corps/Short Service Regular Commission,
Designation. Medical Officer, South Column, Operation Eagle(1971-72),
Ex – Personal Number. MR-03277K. Rank. Captain/Major.
Branch. Army Medical Corps/Direct Permanent Commission,
Designation.Medical Officer,
Unit.Headquarters Establishment Number. 22 C/O 56 APO(1971-74),
Organization. SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE.

Scientists offer quantum theory of soul’s existence

Scientific proof: according to the quantum consciousness theory, the soul lives within structures called microtubules that live inside brain cells.

A PAIR of world-renowned quantum scientists say they can prove the existence of the soul.

American Dr Stuart Hameroff and British physicist Sir Roger Penrose developed a quantum theory of consciousness asserting that our souls are contained inside structures called microtubules which live within our brain cells.
Their idea stems from the notion of the brain as a biological computer, “with 100 billion neurons and their axonal firings and synaptic connections acting as information networks”.
Dr Hameroff, Professor Emeritus at the Departments of Anesthesiology and Psychology and Director of the Centre of Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona, and Sir Roger have been working on the theory since 1996.
They argue that our experience of consciousness is the result of quantum gravity effects inside these microtubules – a process they call orchestrated objective reduction (Orch-OR). In a near-death experience the microtubules lose their quantum state but the information within them is not destroyed. Or in layman’s terms, the soul does not die but returns to the universe.
Dr Hameroff explained the theory at length in the Morgan Freeman-narrated documentary “Through the Wormhole”, which was recently aired in the US by the Science Channel.
The quantum soul theory is now trending worldwide, thanks to stories published this week by The Huffington Post and the Daily Mail, which have generated thousands of readers comments and social media shares.
“Let’s say the heart stops beating, the blood stops flowing, the microtubules lose their quantum state,” Dr Hameroff said. “The quantum information within the microtubules is not destroyed, it can’t be destroyed, it just distributes and dissipates to the universe at large. “If the patient is resuscitated, revived, this quantum information can go back into the microtubules and the patient says ‘I had a near death experience’.” In the event of the patient’s death, it was “possible that this quantum information can exist outside the body indefinitely – as a soul”.
Dr Hameroff believes new findings about the role quantum physics plays in biological processes, such as the navigation of birds, adds weight to the theory.

SPIRITUALISM AND ENTROPY

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM AND ENTROPY :

Spiritualism and Entropy: Rudolf Julius Emanuel Clausius(1822-1888), German physicist and mathematician, the Founder of the Science of Thermodynamics. His work in 1850, ‘On the mechanical theory of heat’ established the Second Law of Thermodynamics and during 1865, he introduced the concept of Entropy.

Spiritualism and Entropy: Entropy is the thermodynamic property toward equilibrium/average/homogenization/dissipation. Ice melting in a warm room is a common example of increasing entropy; an increase in the motions/positions of the water molecules in solid ice: Order leading to Disorder.

THERMODYNAMICS AND ENTROPY :

Thermodynamics is the branch of science concerned with the nature of Heat and its conversion into other forms of energy. Heat is internal energy of a substance and it is a form of energy associated with the positions and motions of its component molecules, atoms, and ions. The total energy that a body contains as a result of the positions and the motions of its component parts is called its internal energy. The First Law of Thermodynamics states: “In any process, energy can be changed from one form to another( including heat and work ), but it is never created or destroyed.” In any process, the change in a System’s internal energy is equal to the heat absorbed from the environment minus the work done on the environment. This Law of Conservation of Heat is similar to the Law of Conservation of Energy. According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, during any spontaneous process, the change in entropy of a System is either zero or positive. The term ‘entropy’ in Thermodynamics indicates the degree to which a given quantity of thermal energy is available for doing useful work- the greater the entropy, the less available the energy. A consequence of the Second Law is that an engine can deliver work only when heat is transferred from a hot reservoir to a cold reservoir or heat sink. In 1877, Ludwig Boltzmann, an Austrian physicist demonstrated the significance of entropy on the molecular level relating entropy to disorder at the level of the molecules of the System. This concept of entropy as a measure of disorder is also used in Information Theory. Entropy represents quantity specifying the amount of disorder or randomness in a System bearing energy or information. However, in Information Theory, entropy represents the “noise”, or random errors occurring in the transmission of signals or messages. It is important to know that heat and work are related and represent forms of energy that can be inter-converted. The study of Thermodynamics is central to both Chemistry and Physics and is useful in understanding biological processes such as Temperature Regulation in human body. While Thermodynamics studies changes in Physical State or Condition such as solid ice becoming liquid water, it is important to remember that the chemical properties of water molecules remain the same while the physical condition of water may change from solid,liquid, and gas states.

TEMPERATURE REGULATION AND SPIRITUALISM :

The ability of an organism to keep body temperature within certain boundaries is critical for the survival of the organism. Human body maintains its internal body temperature close to 37 degrees centigrade by balancing heat production and heat loss.

Spiritualism and Entropy: Human body uses various homeostatic, physiological mechanisms to regulate body temperature and it is aided by the physical laws of environment heat exchange to maintain the internal temperature close to 37 degrees centigrade.

Spiritualism and Entropy: Internal thermal normality is maintained by the Thermosensitive cells of the Heat center in Hypothalamus of the brain. It receives the stimuli from the thermosensitive receptors in the deep layers of the skin. Hypothalamus can initiate the temperature regulatory response via the nerve, and the hormone pathways. It sends impulses to the Temperature Regulating center in the medulla of the brain stem. The hormonal response involves the Pituitary- Adrenal Cortex pathway.

The external physical laws of thermal exchange which influence the body heat balance are Conduction, Radiation, Convection, and Evaporation from the body surface. In all medical conditions and health conditions that are related to climatic variation in temperature such as Hypothermia, or Heat Stroke( Heat Hyperpyrexia ), the medical interventions use the principles of Thermodynamics.The Living System is an Open System that is thermodynamically unstable and hence it constantly requires input of energy from an external source. Life comes into existence when energy-yielding molecules and energy-demanding molecules come together in a spiritual relationship. The term ‘Spiritual’ describes the nature of a relationship, a partnership, a connection, bonding, or an association between chemical molecules based upon characteristics such as that of providing some benefit to keep the System to continue its functions. In a Living System, the conversion of energy into work involves the operation of Consciousness and the application of Knowledge. Consciousness or awareness is the mechanism that operates structural and functional relationship between molecules. Consciousness is the principle by which a Living System that is thermodynamically unstable knows the fact of its own existence, it knows as to where it exists and knows as to how it is existing. Hence, Consciousness is a Spiritual mechanism as it establishes a relationship between the energy-dependent Living System and its energy-yielding provider. This is a relationship that requires use of Knowledge which is defined as the fact of knowing a range of information which is used to perform highly selective, sequential tasks under proper guidance. In the operation of a Living System, there is no random, unguided and unpredictable movement of molecules. I define Life as structural and functional organization of matter with implanted knowledge and Spiritualism is the potency that generates Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in the interactions within the Living System and between Living Systems. The statement that reads: “When Entropy leads to Order” is not applicable to Living Systems that are Open. Soul or Spirit is the Life Principle; the vital or animating principle found in all Living Things. Spiritualism is the guiding mechanism to establish Order in Biotic Actions and Interactions.

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,
Ex- Number. MS-8466 Rank Lieutenant/Captain AMC/SSC,
Medical Officer, South Column, Operation Eagle(1971-72),
Ex- Number. MR-03277K Rank Captain/Major AMC/DPC
Medical Officer, Headquarters Establishment No. 22 C/O 56 APO(1971-74),
Directorate General of Security,
Office of Inspector General Special Frontier Force,
East Block V, Level IV, R. K. Puram,
New Delhi – 110 022
http://bhavanajagat.com/

WHEN ENTROPY LEADS TO ORDER:

Researchers trying to herd tiny particles into useful ordered formations have found an unlikely ally: entropy, a tendency generally described as “disorder.” Computer simulations by University of Michigan scientists and engineers show that the property can nudge particles to form organized structures. By analyzing the shapes of the particles beforehand, they can even predict what kinds of structures will form.The findings, published in Science, help lay the ground rules for making designer materials with wild capabilities such as shape-shifting skins to camouflage a vehicle or optimize its aerodynamics.Physicist and chemical engineering professor Sharon Glotzer proposes that such materials could be designed by working backward from the desired properties to generate a blueprint. That design can then be realized with nanoparticles—particles a thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair that can combine in ways that would be impossible through ordinary chemistry alone.One of the major challenges is persuading the nanoparticles to create the intended structures, but recent studies by Glotzer’s group and others showed that some simple particle shapes do so spontaneously as the particles are crowded together. The team wondered if other particle shapes could do the same.”We studied 145 different shapes, and that gave us more data than anyone has ever had on these types of potential crystal-formers,” Glotzer SAID. “With so much information, we could begin to see just how many structures are possible from particle shape alone, and look for trends.”Using computer code written by chemical engineering research investigator Michael Engel, applied physics graduate student Pablo Damasceno ran thousands of virtual experiments, exploring how each shape behaved under different levels of crowding. The program could handle any polyhedral shape, such as dice with any number of sides.Left to their own devices, drifting particles find the arrangements with the highest entropy. That arrangement matches the idea that entropy is a disorder if the particles have enough space: they disperse, pointed in random directions. But crowded tightly, the particles began forming crystal structures like atoms do—even though they couldn’t make bonds. These ordered crystals had to be the high-entropy arrangements, too.

Shapes can arrange themselves into crystal structures through entropy alone, new research from the University of Michigan shows. Image credit: P. Damasceno, M. Engel, S. Glotzer

Glotzer explains that this isn’t really disorder creating order—entropy needs its image updated. Instead, she describes it as a measure of possibilities. If you could turn off gravity and empty a bag full of dice into a jar, the floating dice would point every which way. However, if you keep adding dice, eventually space becomes so limited that the dice have more options to align face-to-face. The same thing happens to the nanoparticles, which are so small that they feel entropy’s influence more strongly than gravity’s. “It’s all about options. In this case, ordered arrangements produce the most possibilities, the most options. It’s counterintuitive, to be sure,” Glotzer said.The simulation results showed that nearly 70% of the shapes tested produced crystal-like structures under entropy alone. But the shocker was how complicated some of these structures were, with up to 52 particles involved in the pattern that repeated throughout the crystal.”That’s an extraordinarily complex crystal structure even for atoms to form, let alone particles that can’t chemically bond,” Glotzer said.The particle shapes produced three crystal types: regular crystals like salt, liquid crystals as found in some flat-screen televisions and plastic crystals in which particles can spin in place. By analyzing the shape of the particle and how groups of them behave before they crystallize, Damasceno said that it is possible to predict which type of crystal the particles would make.”The geometry of the particles themselves holds the secret for their assembly behavior,” he said.Why the other 30% never formed crystal structures, remaining as disordered glasses, is a mystery.”These may still want to form crystals but got stuck. What’s neat is that for any particle that gets stuck, we had other, awfully similar shapes forming crystals,” Glotzer said.In addition to finding out more about how to coax nanoparticles into structures, her team will also try to discover why some shapes resist order.Source: University of Michigan

Entropy Paves Way to Nanostructures (thesciencebulletin.wordpress.com)
Entropy can lead to order, paving the route to nanostructures (nanitenews.com)

SPIRITUALISM – DEATH AT THAPAR STADIUM SECUNDERABAD

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – DEATH AT THAPAR STADIUM, SECUNDERABAD:

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium Secunderabad: The decision to include Aerial Shell Fireworks Display during Corps Raising Day Celebrations of 1983 caused the unfortunate death of Havildar Rao of AOC Centre Music Band. This Fireworks Display did not include a plan for HAZARD MANAGEMENT and hence it failed to recognize the hazards, did not evaluate hazards and had not taken adequate action to control risks associated with Fireworks Display. The Fireworks Show did not plan or meet the criteria for a SAFE-ZONE.

Spiritualism-Death at Thapar Stadium Secunderabad. The main entrance of Thapar Stadium is on Wellington Road. AOC Farm is on Wellington Road. The Mortar Bomb that caused a fatal accident was launched from AOC Farm. The chief concern is about the size of the Mortar Bomb Shell used for Aerial Shell Fireworks Display during AOC Raising Day Celebration 1983.

Spiritualism and Death- A view of Thapar Stadium, AOC Centre Secunderabad where the Aerial Shell Fireworks Display during 1983 caused the death of Havildar Rao of AOC Centre Music Band. Havildar Rao of No. 2 Training Battalion was seated among the spectators and had come to watch the Fireworks Display.

Spiritualism and Death- Thapar Stadium is also called Army Ordnance Centre Cricket Ground, Secunderabad/Hyderabad where sporting events are conducted on a regular basis. We need a Memorial to pay tribute to Non-Commissioned Officer/Havildar. Rao of No. 2 Training Battalion, a member of AOC Centre Music Band who died during Aerial Shell Fireworks Display on AOC Raising Day Celebrations of 1983. We need to pay this memorial tribute in recognition of the error in the decision to conduct Fireworks without establishing a Safety-Zone.

I am reporting about an event that resulted in the death of Hav. (Havildar) Rao, a non-commissioned officer of Indian Army serving at No. 2 Training Battalion, Army Ordnance Corps Centre, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India at Thapar Stadium during April, 1983 where over 1, 500 people including army personnel, their wives, and children had gathered to celebrate Army Ordnance Corps( AOC ) Raising Day. I am writing about an unfortunate, tragic event that was witnessed by a multitude of spectators who came to Thapar Stadium to witness what they had hoped would be a spectacular Aerial Shell Fireworks display. I would like to briefly describe the history of Army Ordnance Corps( AOC ) and its Centre in the Cantonment Area of Secunderabad. I would also describe about the infantry weapon known as ‘Mortar’, and the Physics of Aerial Shell Fireworks and the Pyrotechnological principles involved in Fireworks. I would give a brief explanation of the medical aspects of this death event which may help us to understand death as a dying process. It is important to understand as to why an innocent spectator got killed at Thapar Stadium. We may bury our dead but we must never, ever bury our mistakes. Spiritualism seeks the establishment of Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in the lives of human beings. There will be no Peace until we recognize and admit our errors of judgment that initiate our wrongful actions that disrupt Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility.

ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS OF INDIAN ARMY:

Spiritualism and Death at Army Ordnance Corps Centre, Secunderabad during Corps Raising Day Celebrations of 1983. The Flag of Indian Army Ordnance Corps. Its Motto:”SHASTRA SE SHAKTI”. To project Military Might and Power, we need Weapons and Ammunition.

The AOC has a chequered history since the year 1775 when the Board of Ordnance was formed under the British Empire in India in the then Bengal Presidency. On April 01, 1884 The Ordnance Commissariat Department or the Ordnance Department in India came into existence. In 1922 the Indian AOC came into being. India won its Independence on August 15, 1947 and in 1950 India became a Republic. The Indian AOC was re-designated as the AOC which could be described as the material manager of the Indian Army. The Corps motto is: “SHASTRA SE SHAKTI” which describes the purpose of AOC as that of shaping the Army’s ‘Punch’. AOC provides and supplies the munitions required for war. Its inventory includes a diverse range of equipment, armaments, ammunition, explosives, clothing, and tentage. One of the major responsibilities of the Corps is the management of ammunition safety; security of ammunition, and repairs and disposal of unserviceable ammunition. The AOC CENTRE at Trimulgherry or Tirumala Giri, Secunderabad Cantonment was established in June 1953.

Headquarters Army Ordnance Corps Centre Secunderabad. During 1983, Brigadier AM Bhattacharya was its Commandant, the first Commandant of AOC Centre who held the rank of Brigadier.

AOC Centre Secunderabad is a huge training establishment that imparts training to various personnel who belong to or recruited to join Indian Army to serve in Army Ordnance Corps.

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium: Shakti Motivational Hall AOC Centre Secunderabad. Shakti means Power. We need to learn the use of Power with a sesne of Respect. To use Power with a sense of Respect, we have to learn about the Science that operates the Weapons and Ammunition that we use to display Power.

Thapar Stadium at AOC Centre is also known as Army Ordnance Centre Cricket Ground, Secunderabad/Hyderabad. During 1965-66 the first Ranji Trophy Cricket Match between Hyderabad and Mysore( now Karnataka ) was played here. Later, a second Ranji Trophy Cricket Match was played in 1992-93 between Hyderabad and Kerala. Thapar Stadium has hosted several First-Class Cricket Matches and has been the venue for several other sporting events.

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium: Lieutenant General T A D’ Cunha, Director General of Ordnance Services is seen in this photo image taken during AOC 8th Reunion Celebration at AOC Centre Secunderabad. The decision to include Aerial Shell Fireworks Display during Corps Raising Day Celebrations of 1983 was not a decision made by Brigadier A M Bhattacharya, Commandant AOC Centre Secunderabad for the Centre had no weapons and ammunition and had no personnel trained in Pyrotechnical Displays.

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium: This is a photo image from 228th Corps Day Celebration at AOC Centre Secunderabad. The venue is the ‘Open Air Theater of AOC Centre.

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium: This is a photo image taken at 235th Raising Day Celebrations at AOC Centre Secunderabad.

AOC celebrates Corps Day every year and the Corps Raising Day is celebrated once every five years. Hav. Rao of No. 2 Training Battalion during 1983 was the leading member of AOC Music Band that performs at various AOC official functions both at the Centre and at various locations of AOC across the country. He was married, and his family lived with him at the Centre. His musical talent and artistic performances were liked and appreciated and he was also liked for his pleasant bearing, and amiable nature. I would like to add that he was in perfect health when this totally unexpected event prematurely ended his life.

THE SCIENCE OF PYROTECHNICS :

Aerial Shell Fireworks-Death at Thapar Stadium-There are applications of Physics to create the myriad effects of Fireworks. The size of the Shell is related to the size of Shell burst that produces the display.

Fireworks are devices that use explosive, flammable/combustible chemical materials to create spectacular displays of light, noise, and smoke. Pyrotechnics is the art and technology of making and using fireworks. We need to understand the Science behind the spectacle of an entertaining fireworks show.The art of fireworks display dates back to ancient China. In India, traditional festivals like ‘Deepavali’ or ‘Diwali’ include the use of decorative fireworks such as rockets, fountains, sparklers and Roman candles. The celebrations of Victory and Peace like the Fourth of July celebration in the United States, New Year Day celebrations and the firework shows at sporting events are inventions of this century and they speak of the immense popularity of entertaining people with fireworks show. Fireworks makers fill the night sky with myriad effects in displays that are popular all over the world. Aerial fireworks developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles.

Aerial Shell Fireworks-Death at Thapar Stadium. The distance traveled by the Projectile and its initial velocity is important. There should be a safety barrier between the spectators and the site where the Projectile may fall to the ground if it does not explode in the sky. The angle of the trajectory is important. Army Ordnance Directorate, New Delhi during 1983 had failed to recognize the requirement of a safe-zone.

Until late 18th century, fireworks lacked the essential characteristic of color. For producing color, we need specific emitters of colored light. Chlorate an invention of the late 18th century and an industrial product of the early 19th century gave the ability to add colors to the fireworks. With the addition of various metallic salts to Potassium Chlorate brilliant colors could be produced. Chemical compounds such as Potassium Chlorate, Potassium Nitrate, and Potassium Perchlorate contain the Oxygen necessary for combustion of the pyrotechnic mixture. The nitrate, carbonate, or sulfate salts of Strontium produce red color; Copper salts produce blue color; Barium salts produce bright green color; and Sodium salts produce yellow flash. Magnesium and Aluminum powder add extra brilliant sparks and flash. The colors, fiery flashes, and star-burst effects of Aerial Fireworks come from ‘stars’, small pellets of firework composition which contain all the necessary ingredients for generating colored light or other special effects like creating images and letters in the air.

Aerial Fireworks Display-Death at Thapar Stadium-The addition of Color is important to create splendid Fireworks Display. Brilliant colors are produced by addition of chemical compounds. For the Color, we need specific emitters of Colored Light. This Chromacity diagram shows some Emission Bands.

Aerial Shell Fireworks-Death at Thapar Stadium-The addition of Copper salts produces brilliant Blue Color.

Aerial Fireworks Display-Death at Thapar Stadium-Aerial Fireworks Display when properly planned and executed would provide great visual entertainment.

MILITARY SCIENCE – MORTARS :

Mortar Infantry Weapon-Death at Thapar Stadium: The use of Mortars as Infantry Weapon has increased during World War II during Open Warfare. The image shows the use of 60 mm Mortar by U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium: Shell is a payload-carrying Projectile which contains an explosive or other filling. This Photo image shows Mortar Bombs with High Explosive material. This photo image of Mortar Shells or Projectiles helps the readers to know the size, and shape of the type of heavy, Shell that was used in the conduct of Aerial Shell Fireworks Display at Thapar Stadium during 1983 Corps Raising Day Celebrations.

Spiritualism and Death at Thapar Stadium: To use Power or Shakti we must learn about the Weapon and Ammunition that we use. This image depicts the various component parts of a Mortar Bomb or Projectile.

Mortars could be simply called as a small cannon. Mortars are gun like weapons that were first developed for the close support of infantry and therefore classed as infantry weapons. Mortar is a short-range weapon with smooth bore, short barrel, low muzzle velocity, and it fires heavy shells or projectiles with high-arched trajectory. Shell is a payload-carrying projectile which contains an explosive or other filling. Mortars have a role as an adjunct to artillery. It consists principally of a steel tube and supporting bipods and a base plate. During the trench warfare of World War I greatly improved mortars came into use. Mortars as infantry weapons were employed extensively by all countries in a variety of calibres during open warfare of World War II. Small, portable mortars became standard 20th- century infantry weapons, especially for trench or mountain warfare. In mountain and jungle country, the high-angle, or high-arched trajectory fire enables infantry to reach targets inaccessible to other supporting weapons. Mortars because of their light weight and inconspicuousness could be brought into action quickly in difficult terrain to engage military targets that cannot be hit by direct, and observed fire. Modern mortars provide more mobile and less vulnerable weapons than field artillery or howitzers. Mortars are inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate, and robust and easy to maintain. Medium mortars with a calibre of 70-90 millimetres( about 3-4 inches ), a range up to 4, 000 metres, and a bomb weight of up to 5 Kg are favored. The fin-stabilized projectiles fired from mortars have arrow-like stability. These projectiles are designed to encounter less air resistance and thus retain more of their velocity in flight.

PHYSICS OF AERIAL SHELL FIREWORKS :

Aerial Shell Fireworks Display-Death at Thapar Stadium: This photo image shows the preparation of Fireworks Mortar Tubes. There is a relationship between the size of the Shell, the Length of the Mortar Tube, the Initial Velocity and the Distance traveled by the Shell. We can predict as to where the Shell may land and calculate the Risk involved to Spectators watching the Show.

The Science of Pyrotechnics involves many Physics applications that must be considered to produce dazzling displays. Aerial Shells contain the chemicals that when ignited produce the brilliant flash of colored light. These Shells are loaded into mortars and are fired into the sky. The size of the Shell is important and six-inch Shells are used at small shows. Shells usually travel about 100 feet vertically for every inch they are in diameter depending on the angle they are fired from. There is a relationship between the initial velocities and the distances traveled by the Shells. Six inch Shell has the initial velocity of 203.5 feet/second. Fireworks are launched from rows of steel tubes(mortars) secured in troughs of sand. The tubes or mortars are three times as long as the Firework Shells but have the same diameter. The Shell fits smugly into its ‘Launch’ tube to allow the pressure created by the ‘Lift Charge’ to launch it into air. There is a ‘Bursting Charge’, a firecracker charge at the center of the Shell. ‘Fuse’ provides a time delay to allow the Shell to explode at the right altitude. When the ‘Lift Charge’ fires to launch the Shell, it ignites the Shells’ ‘Fuse’. The Shell’s Fuse burns while the Shell rises to its correct altitude, and then it lights the ‘Bursting Charge’ making the Shell to explode. Understanding of these basic principles of Physics will help to formulate a policy of Hazard Management for Aerial Shell Fireworks displays.

HAZARD MANAGEMENT FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS:

It involves, 1. Recognition of hazards, 2. Evaluation of risks, and 3. Control of risks.

I. Hazards associated with Lift or Propelling Charge:-

1. Premature Ignition or Ignition Problem.

2. Delayed Ignition or “Hangfire.”

3. Ignition Failure or “Misfire.”

II. Functioning Problems:-

1. Explosion within the Mortar tube; a. Mild explosion, b. Powerful explosion or Shell detonation.

2. Explosion just above the Mortar tube.

3. Delayed Explosion.

4. Failure to Explode – Shell or Shell components fall to ground; ignited or unignited; Shell, or burning debris reaches ground.

These hazards have to be recognized for proper planning of Fireworks Displays. If there is no protective barrier like a lake or waterfront, the size and the make of the Aerial Shell used for the display would be of critical importance. For Fireworks Display at Thapar Stadium, the Shell size must not exceed six inches, and Shells with metal casing would pose serious risks to the spectators if the unexploded Shell reaches ground.

AOC RAISING DAY CELEBRATION DURING 1983 AT THAPAR STADIUM :

AOC Raising Day Celebration at AOC Centre, Secunderabad takes place over several days and it includes a variety of events such as a Ceremonial Parade, ‘Sainik Sammelan’( a ceremonial gathering of all Unit personnel in Uniform to hear and discuss about Regimental issues and concerns about general welfare ), ‘Bara Khana’( a feast in which all ranks participate in Uniform ) and a Live Entertainment Show. For the Celebration during 1983, the Ordnance Directorate at New Delhi had decided the addition of an Aerial Shell Fireworks Display at Thapar Stadium where all ranks with their families could be entertained. However, AOC Centre Secunderabad had no ammunition, or mortar tubes, or personnel trained in Pyrotechnics. A trained team headed by a Junior Commissioned Officer, along with the necessary equipment was dispatched to Secunderabad on Temporary Duty to organize the Fireworks Display at Thapar Stadium. The Pyrotechnic Team that had arrived in Secunderabad made no attempt to discuss the issue of Hazard Management with the Regimental Medical Officer. Apparently, a decision was made by the Ordnance Directorate not to directly involve AOC Centre Secunderabad in the conduct of the Aerial Shell Fireworks Display. There was no malicious intent. The Show was intended to amuse people and organizing a rehearsal of the event would spoil the sense of fun in watching the Show. The Team had arrived with ammunition and equipment that was tested at a different location and did not conduct further testing at Secunderabad prior to the actual Show.

After spectators got seated at Thapar Stadium, the lights were turned off, and the night sky was clear and dark for an ideal display of Aerial Fireworks. The mortar tubes were positioned on AOC Farm located just outside the boundary of Thapar Stadium. The very first Mortar Bomb Shell that was fired got launched into the air, had reached its right altitude, and had failed to explode. The Shell had experienced a Functioning Problem and the unexploded Shell rapidly descended vertically, towards the ground with its tip pointing downwards, where people were seated. The crowd of spectators were absolutely stunned and were speechless when this unexpected event hit them like a bolt from the sky. The Shell found its victim and Havildar Rao was that unsuspecting victim. I was among the spectators in a section designated for the Officers of the AOC Centre. I simply dashed towards the bleachers, the site of mishap, and found Hav. Rao within an instant after he was hit. He had recognized me as he was fully conscious. I found the Mortar Bomb standing right on top of his head with its tail fin pointing upwards. He had no words to speak, and he was not in pain. I could clearly see the sense of mortal fear expressed on his face. This sense of fear had an overwhelming force of its own and it would not let the person experience the sensation called Pain. All his vital signs were normal, and he was able to stand on his own. The Shell had penetrated his skull bone and remained very firmly seated in the head. There was no external bleeding from the head injury. I must frankly admit that I was shocked beyond all belief to find the type of Mortar Bomb that got planted into his head. It was eight inches long and had a heavy metal casing. I was not really expecting that the Shell would be that long and heavy and might have metal casing instead of cardboard. However, at that moment, my first concern was that of assuring Hav. Rao and to take him to the Military Hospital for immediate management of his head injury. The unexploded Mortar Bomb posed a great risk to him and all others and it was my urgent priority to safely dislodge this Bomb from his skull before it explodes. Rules of Safety demand that unexploded ammunition such as Bombs should not be directly touched or handled as such handling would cause them to explode. I assisted Hav. Rao to move and found the staff car of Brigadier A M Bhattacharya, Commandant of AOC Centre that was parked inside the Stadium. I helped Hav. Rao to get into the backseat of this staff car as it would be better to transport him in a sitting position without disturbing the Bomb. Within a few minutes, we had reached the Military Hospital on Gough Road, a short distance from the AOC Centre campus. As he stepped out of the car to enter the Hospital Medical Inspection Room, he had to pause for he had a bout of vomiting. It was a danger signal, a symptom of raising intracranial pressure due to head injury. The Duty Medical Officer and his staff lost no time and we had initiated the medical treatment to reduce the raising intracranial pressure. Lieutenant Colonel A K Gupta, the Senior Surgical Specialist of the Hospital had soon arrived on the scene. At that time, Hav. Rao was still fully conscious, breathing on his own, and his blood pressure showed a response by getting elevated as a result of the raising intracranial pressure. Surgeon A K Gupta had immediately taken him to the Operation Theater and his first priority was to safely remove the Bomb which penetrated his skull and then to attempt a surgical decompression by removing the collection of blood inside the skull that was compressing the brain matter. The Surgeon could safely remove the Bomb and could not proceed any further as a fatal complication called brain herniation began to manifest. It was a very rapid, and fast-moving course of medical condition during which the patient loses cardiac and respiratory functions associated with signs of deep coma or loss of consciousness. Apart from the loss of heart and lung functions, there was loss of all brainstem functions at which point the fact of the clinical onset of brain death was made. From the Military Hospital, I had proceeded to the residence of Lieutenant Colonel R S Johar, the Commanding Officer of No. 2 Training Battalion. He and other Officers were anxiously awaiting to learn about the outcome of this tragic event. Later, a Court of Inquiry was instituted as required by Army Regulations to officially inquire about this accident and the death of Hav. Rao. The Court was satisfied that the death was due to an accident and did not blame any individual for causing or contributing to this accident.

THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF SEVERE HEAD INJURY :

Aerial Fireworks Display and Death at Thapar Stadium: The complications of head injury or trauma are brain edema or swelling and brain herniation when brain tissue gets displaced from its usual position within the cranial cavity. Six types of brain herniation can occur:1. Uncal herniation, 2. Central or Transtentorial herniation, 3. Cingulate or Subfalcine herniation, 4. Transcalvarial or Infratentorial herniation, 5. Upward Cerebellar or Upward Transtentorial herniation, and 6. Tonsillar or downward Cerebellar herniation. The compression of Brainstem causes Brain Death due to Cardiac and Pulmonary Arrest.

A serious and potentially fatal consequence of head injury is that of brain edema and brain herniation. Brain is enclosed in a non-expandable case, the skull or the cranium. Head trauma causes increased permeability of the endothelial cells, the cells that line the walls of the small blood vessels and capillaries that supply blood to the brain tissue. The blood vessels can also rupture as a direct consequence of the trauma. This leads to loss of blood or fluid from the capillaries and blood vessels which collects and accumulates in the surrounding brain tissue. This vasogenic brain edema or swelling leads to an increased intracranial pressure. The leaked blood collects as a swelling called hematoma which exerts pressure on brain tissue. The cranial or skull cavity is divided by dural septa or partitions into several compartments. A mass lesion like hematoma, or brain edema causes a pressure gradient between the compartments of the cranial cavity. The term brain herniation describes the displacement that occurs when cerebral tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and blood vessels are moved or pressed and pushed outside of their usual positions within the brain compartments. The pressure gradient causes the movement of brain tissue and the tissue gets pushed through openings in the covering of brain called dura mater or through openings in the skull like the foramen magnum. Herniation causes damage by direct compression of brain tissue and of blood vessels that supply brain. Compression of brainstem affects the vital respiratory and circulatory centers that operate the functions of Lungs and Heart. The loss of functions of brainstem causes 1. coma or deep unconsciousness, 2. cardiac and respiratory arrest, absence of heart beat, and spontaneous breathing, and 3. absence of brainstem reflexes like blinking of eyes, pupils not responding or reacting to light( remain dilated and not constricting to light) and the absence of ‘gagging reflex’.

SPIRITUALISM AND DEATH AT THAPAR STADIUM :

I am reporting this unfortunate event in due recognition of the failure of Hazard Management for that fateful Aerial Shell Fireworks Display held during 1983. We had not recognized the risks and we had not evaluated the risks and hence we had no ability to control the risks. To acknowledge the fact that we had learned a lesson, we must erect a suitable Memorial to pay homage to our Fallen Soldier and pay tribute to Hav. Rao of AOC Centre Music Band.

“ARMY COVERED UP HAVILDAR’S DEATH” – NEWS STORY IN DECCAN CHRONICLE :

Jatinder Kaur Tur of Deccan Chronicle published a news item on August 29, 2012 giving some details of this incident involving the death of Havildar Rao and commented about Army’s inability to report its mistake. In a Letter to the Editor, Deccan Chronicle reader, Colonel Prasad had commented on September 01 and claimed that, “All accidents are investigated by Courts of Inquiry and action is taken.” It is indeed true and as I mentioned in this blog post, a Court of Inquiry presided by Lieutenant Colonel R S Johar of No. 2 Training Battalion, AOC Centre, Secunderabad had given its findings and the same were approved without blaming any person or entity for contributing to this accidental death.

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

Ex- No. MR- 03277K. Rank. Major . AMC/DPC

Senior Regimental Medical Officer ( 1978-84 ),

AOC CENTRE, TRIMULGHERRY, SECUNDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh, India.

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, Town Congregational Church, Cuddapah, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Mortar injures worker setting up fireworks show (clickorlando.com)
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San Diego Fireworks Fail (Video) (dailypicksandflicks.com)
Fireworks Are Fun! Well, Only When Done Properly. (kroq.radio.com)
Update: ‘Catastrophic’ explosion at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore injures three (swrnn.com)

SPIRITUALISM – TIME AND LIFE – SPIRITUAL INTERACTIONS

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – TIME AND LIFE – SPIRITUAL INTERACTIONS :

LORD GAUTAMA BUDDHA HAD OBSERVED THAT WHATEVER IS BORN, PRODUCED, OR CONDITIONED CONTAINS WITHIN ITSELF THE NATURE OF ITS OWN DISSOLUTION. LIFE IS CONDITIONED TO EXPERIENCE CHANGE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TIME AND LIVING THINGS ARE BORN TO EXPERIENCE DISSOLUTION AT THE END OF THEIR LIFETIME.

Gautama Buddha had observed that whatever is born, produced, conditioned, contains within itself the nature of its own dissolution. The greatest miracle is that of explaining the truth and to make man realize it. What is the Truth? To know the truth about Life, we have to understand the influence of Time. Individual living entities exist during their own LifeTime while the vital principle that animates all Life remains imperishable, immortal, eternal, and unchanging. Time is defined as the duration in which things are considered as happening in the past, present, or future. Time is the measurement of duration, the period between two events during which something exists, happens, or acts. This concept of Time demands that we must make a fundamental distinction between static and dynamic events. Static is the term used to describe a body, mass, or force that is at rest or in equilibrium and hence it is inactive, stationary, not moving, or progressing. Life is a dynamic event in which the object called the living thing exists by a tendency towards change or productive activity. Life requires the presence of a vital, energetic, animating principle that maintains the equilibrium called existence while responding to a flow of events that measure the duration of the existence of that living thing. In my view, Death is also a dynamic event and it is not a static event as the change called Death inevitably flows to cause Rebirth. The flow of Life must be synchronized with the flow of Time for both of them to proceed until Eternity. I describe Spiritualism and Spirituality as the potency that generates Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in the Time and Life Interactions to provide the Living Experience that is dependent upon Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility. To know this, we may have to know about the Cyclical Changes of Matter, and the Cyclical Flow of Time. Chemistry is the Science that would give us the understanding of Living Matter and the Cyclical Changes that are caused by Chemical Reactions. In the study of Life, Chemistry is the Science that describes the nature of ‘Spiritual Interactions’. The ‘Spiritual Interactions’ between Time and Matter establish, support, and preserve the existence of Life on this planet Earth.

MATTER – CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS :

HENNING BRAND(c. 1630-c. 1710), GERMAN ALCHEMIST WHO DISCOVERED PHOSPHORUS DURING c.1669 or 1674. I WOULD DESCRIBE CHEMISTRY AS THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUAL INTERACTIONS.

ROBERT BOYLE (1627-1691)THE FATHER OF MODERN CHEMISTRY. Anglo-Irish Physicist and Chemist who separated the Science of Chemistry from Alchemy. He gave the first precise definitions of a Chemical Element, a Chemical Reaction, and Chemical Analysis. He discovered Boyle’s Law(Gas Laws).

All ‘Matter’ is composed of fundamental materials called Chemical Elements. A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes is by definition an Element. There are about 88 ‘naturally’ occurring Elements, and about 20 Elements are used in measurable amounts by most living organisms. Phosphorus is an essential Element to all Life as it is a component of DNA and RNA that make up the genetic material of all cells and control reproduction of both the cell and the organism. Phosphorus is part of the energy storage and utilization system at the cellular level. In addition, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Cobalt, Cadmium, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Molybdenum, Boron, Sodium, Chlorine, Fluorine, Iodine, Sulfur, and Chromium are all essential to one form of life or another. Elements can combine with one another to form a wide variety of more complex substances called Chemical Compounds. A Chemical Compound is a substance in which two or more Elements are joined by Chemical Bonds. A Chemical Compound can be created or broken down by means of a Chemical Reaction but not by mechanical or physical separation techniques. It helps to make the distinction between Mixture and Compound. Most naturally occurring Matter represents Physical Mixtures of Chemical Compounds that could be separated using simple physical techniques. While the number of known Elements is small, the number of possible Compounds is almost ‘infinite’; perhaps a million or more Chemical Compounds are known to exist. When two or more Elements combine to form a Compound, they lose their separate identities, and the product called Chemical Compound has characteristics quite different from those of the constituent Elements. For example, the Common Salt or Sodium Chloride is a combination of the highly reactive metallic element Sodium(Na) and the poisonous gas Chlorine(Cl). The unique taste and flavor imparted by Salt cannot be discovered by studying the physical and chemical properties of Sodium or Chlorine. Elements in Compounds always are combined in definite proportion. For instance, a molecule of Water is always made up of two Hydrogen(H) atoms and one Oxygen(O) atom. Again, I would like to pay attention to the fact of two gaseous elements, Hydrogen, and Oxygen with quite different physical and chemical properties can combine to form the Compound Water which has altogether different properties from either Hydrogen or Oxygen. The simple, pure, original, and sweet taste imparted by Fresh Water cannot be discovered in its constituent Elements. I have mentioned that the Element Phosphorus is basic to all Life. Phosphorus is discovered in c.1674 by Hennig Brand. It is an extremely poisonous, yellow to white, waxy, solid substance. When exposed to air, Phosphorus ignites spontaneously. Some of the commercial uses of Phosphorus include the making of detergents, toxic nerve gases and explosives. We have to learn to make the distinction between Chemical Elements and Chemical Compounds and apply this understanding to know the nature of relationship between things. Calcium Phosphate is the principal material found in bones and teeth. Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP is the fundamental energy source in living things. It is very understandable that all Matter is composed of units called Atoms and the physical structure of Atom is well-known. We have to be very careful and avoid deriving understanding about Life and Living Matter from the descriptive knowledge derived from Quantum Physics. To understand the nature of living experience, we need Chemical Molecules and Chemical Compounds whose qualities and characteristics may not be discovered from the study of Nuclear Physics. The phenomenon of creating and breaking down Chemical Compounds in living organisms is known as Metabolism. A Chemical Compound’s smallest units are, Molecules, and Ions. A Molecule can exist in the free state and still retain the characteristics of the Element or Compound; a Molecule can be formed by an Element when it consists of one Atom, or two, or more similar Atoms; a Molecule can be formed by a Compound when it consists of two or more different Atoms. The term ‘Ion’ is used to describe an Atom or Molecule bearing an electric charge as a result of having a number of negative electrons unequal to the number of positive protons in its nuclei. ‘Ionization’ is the process that describes the formation of ‘Ions’ from neutral Atoms or Molecules. ‘Ions’ that are positively charged are known as ‘Cations’, and that are negatively charged are known as ‘Anions’. Simple ‘Ions’ consist of a single charged Atom; double, triple, or even higher positive or negative charges are possible. Oxidation of Hydrogen removes its single electron and gives H+ or cationic Hydrogen which contains no electrons and it has a nucleus which is composed of one proton. This cationic Hydrogen plays a particularly important role in the Acid-Base Chemistry of the human organism with many reactions exchanging protons between soluble molecules. The internal environment of a living cell includes Hydrogen, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Chloride, Sulfate, Phosphate and several organic acid ‘Ions’. The chemical events collectively called ‘Metabolism’ require the concentration of Hydrogen Ions and electrolytes to remain within narrow limits in the tissue cells and in the fluid which bathes them. The term ‘pH’ or ‘Acidity’ is a measure of the Hydrogen Ion concentration and a reading level of 7 indicates ‘Neutral’. Human life is possible only if the Hydrogen Ion concentration of body fluid is kept within a narrow range. In health, a blood Hydrogen Ion concentration of 36 – 44 nmol/Liter or pH level of 7.37 – 7.45 is maintained by several closely integrated but widely differing mechanisms.

THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OF LIFE :

HENRY CAVENDISH(1731-1810), British Chemist and Physicist noted for his discovery of Hydrogen, a gaseous Element during 1766. French Chemist Lavoisier named the gas Hydrogen in 1783. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and it is the major fuel in fusion reactions of the Sun. However, this gas in its free state is very rare in our planet Earth.

Hydrogen, the most abundant Element in the universe is present in its diatomic, molecular form. Hydrogen is important for the formation of Stars. In this photo image, NGC 604, a giant region of ionized Hydrogen in the Triangulum Galaxy is seen.

Hydrogen makes up most of the mass( over 90%)of the universe and about 75 % of natural Matter by number of Atoms.Naturally occurring atomic Hydrogen is rare on Earth because Hydrogen readily forms covalent Compounds with most Elements. Hydrogen is present in the Water Molecule and in most Organic Compounds found in living organisms. Hydrogen forms a vast variety of Compounds with Carbon that are called Hydrocarbons.

To understand Life, we have to know about Hydrogen as it is the fuel that Sun expends in its role as the Cosmic source of Energy that supports the biological existence of all terrestrial organisms. Man exists on the surface of planet Earth not on account of the merit of his physical, or mental work and effort. Man has no direct access to this source of energy produced from Hydrogen fuel. If Hydrogen is important to support the existence of Life, we have to understand the nature of ‘Spiritual Interactions’. Secondly, Hydrogen is important as it is required to form the Water Molecule. However, Oxygen, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, is the most abundant Element at the surface of the Earth. In the terrestrial environment, Oxygen accounts for about half of the mass of the Earth’s crust, 89% of the mass of the oceans, and 23% of the mass of the atmosphere or 21% of its volume. Oxygen makes up about two-thirds of the human body. It is a vital substance which supports vital functions. Among Chemical Elements used by human body, Oxygen has the highest electronegativity and electron affinity. Oxygen can form ‘Anion’ with a double negative charge by accepting electrons from a donor like Hydrogen. Most of the Earth’s rocks and soils are principally compounds of Oxygen with Silicon and other metals. It is well understood that most organisms depend on Oxygen to sustain their biological processes. Biological Oxidation-Reduction Reactions are ultimately the sources of energy for the higher plants and animals. While speaking about the importance of Oxygen in the biosphere, we must recognize that Oxygen is responsible for natural decomposition of all organic material. Waste products from the activity of the living organisms, dead plants and animals decompose or oxidized through the agency of microorganisms. Thus, Oxygen plays a key role both in its support of important processes of Life and Death. Organic decay and decomposition is of fundamental importance for Life to renew itself and to be reborn and to cause rebirth. The study of ‘Spiritual Interactions’ must include the study of Life and Death.

Joseph Priestley and Karl Scheel were the first to isolate the gaseous Element during 1773-74 which was named by Antoine Laurent Lavoisier as Oxygen. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, and is the most abundant Element found on planet Earth.

Oxygen makes up about 90% of Water, two-thirds of the human body, and 20% by volume of Air. Normal atmospheric Oxygen is a diatomic Molecule.

The common Chemical Reaction in which Oxygen unites with another substance is called Oxidation.Combustion or rapid oxidation, the burning of s substance may generate light and heat. The process called Oxidation need not involve the generation of light and heat. Oxygen itself does not burn. The Respiration of plants and animals is a form of Oxidation that is essential to the liberation of the energy stored in such food materials as Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins. Oxygen is necessary to sustain Metabolism which primarily involves the Oxidation-Reduction Chemical Reactions. If the Oxygen concentration were to drop to about half its value in the atmosphere, humans could no longer survive. The loss of Oxygen is critical as the human body has no means of storing Oxygen. Because the human body stores no Oxygen, any interference with breathing and ventilation that lasts more than a few minutes can cause Death.

Dr. Daniel Rutherford(1749-1819), Professor of Medicine & Botany, Edinburgh University, Scotland, discovered Nitrogen in 1772. Joseph Priestley and Henry Cavendish in England, and Carl W. Scheele in Sweden also get credit for the discovery of Nitrogen. The French Chemist Antoine Lavoisier proved that it is an Element.

Adenosine Tri Phosphate or ATP is a Nucleotide; the monomeric unit of Nucleic Acid,contains a Purine or Nitrogenous base called Adenosine, a Sugar called Ribose and three Phosphate groups.In most Chemical Reactions of all cells in which transfer of energy occurs, the nucleotide ATP is involved. It functions as a Coenzyme in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions and helps in the performance of chemical, electrical, and osmotic work in animals, plants, and microorganisms.

Cyclic Adenosine Mono Phosphate or cAMP is formed from ATP by the catalytic action of the enzyme Adenyl Cyclase. It controls many important functions in the cell including the ability of the cell to generate electrical impulses and is called “Second Messenger.”It is responsible for the intracellular mediation of hormonal effects on various cellular processes; e.g., Lipid Metabolism, Membrane Transport by opening Ion Channels, and Cell Reproduction.

All living organisms need organic nitrogen compounds such as Proteins, Vitamins like Thiamine and Riboflavin. In nature, Nitrogen from the air is ‘fixed’ by some bacteria and plants. It is then made available to all organisms through ‘Nitrogen Cycle’.

Plants incorporate Carbon into Carbohydrates and other complex organic molecules by means of Photosynthesis. During Respiration or Cellular Oxidation, living organisms combine Oxygen with portions of Carbohydrate molecule, releasing Carbon in the form of Carbon dioxide and water.

ANTOINE LAURENT LAVOISIER(1743-1794), French Chemist and Physicist. He discovered the Composition of Water Molecule and of various other Organic Compounds.

Water Molecule looks very simple and yet it plays a mysterious role inside all living cells. It is essential to Life and its propagation. Its Spiritual nature is revealed by its pure, original, and sweet taste it imparts apart from its role as a Chemical Compound. It is the main mode of transport of many Elements that are needed by the living organisms. Water is the Agent that leaches Nutrient Elements and Compounds from rocks and soils and makes them available for use by plants ,and animals.

SUN THE COSMIC SOURCE OF ENERGY SHINES ALL THE TIME. IT IS APPARENTLY AN UNCHANGING EVENT. HOW DOES MAN MEASURE HIS TIME?

The Flow of Time is measured as the duration or the interval between two events; Time exists for man and other living organisms as the measure of the period of duration from Sunrise to Sunset that causes an environmental change; the alternating periods of Light(DAY) and Darkness(NIGHT). Earth’s Rotational Spin transforms the instant called ‘FUTURE’ into an instant called ‘PAST’ without giving man any choice to know the instant called ‘PRESENT’. Earth’s Revolution brings Seasons that man experiences at regular and constant intervals of Time while man simply exists on the surface of planet Earth with no physical experience of Earth’s Motions through Space.

The Biological Clock: Every Living System behaves as if it contains a highly dependable ‘CLOCK’. It is a self-sustained internal timing mechanism that controls the ability of an organism to synchronize its existence with events in its internal and external environment.Such Time-Dependent variability in Function is called a Biological Rhythm.

The Water Cycle or Hydrologic Cycle is necessary to the operation of all Nutrient Cycles. The energy for the transportation of Water Molecules is provided by the Sun and it is the Fundamental Basis for all other Time-Life Spiritual Interactions.

The Carbon Cycle clearly illustrates the complexity of relationships involved in the processes of Recycling Nutrient Elements in Nature. Life depends on the interwoven and interdependent relationships of green plants and animals, supplemented by the activities of bacteria, and the constant transport of nutrients within the Ecosystem and within organisms.

Photosynthesis and Respiration are complementary functions and drive the Oxygen Cycle.Oxygen is necessary to sustain Metabolism. Oxygen is also important and is responsible for natural decomposition of organic material, waste products of Metabolism, oxidative decomposition of dead plants and animals through the agency of microorganisms.

All living organisms participate in the Nitrogen Cycle. It includes the processes and Chemical Reactions involved in producing organic Nitrogen from inorganic Nitrogen and subsequently breaking down organic Nitrogen back to the inorganic form.

Phosphorus recycles more slowly than other Nutrient Elements. Phosphates are taken up by the roots of green plants and used in organic synthesis. They are passed to animals through ‘Food Chains’. Ultimately, Phosphates are released to soil through bacterial and fungal decomposition after the death of an animal.

We need to make the distinction between the Chemical Element Phosphorus and Phosphate the Chemical Compound that supports Life. The Phosphate mineral found in the rocks may have taken millions of years before it became available to plant Life.

Life depends on the interwoven and interdependent relationships between living organisms and the environment. No organism leads a truly independent existence of its own. Each organism lives by either consuming other organisms or the products from other organisms. In a Biological Community, Life and Death have a relationship which has a Spiritual Basis.

Spiritualism – the Science of Matter-energy-life-and-spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Molecular Basis of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Biological Basis of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cell Theory of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cognitive Science of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)

SPIRITUALISM – THE UNCHANGING SPIRITUAL NATURE IN CHANGING WORLD

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

HMS Beagle at Tierra del Fuego (painted by Conrad Martens). HMS Beagle in the seaways of Tierra del Fuego, painting by Conrad Martens during the voyage of the Beagle (1831-1836), from The Illustrated Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, abridged and illustrated by Richard Leakey ISBN 0-571-14586-8. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPIRITUALISM – THE UNCHANGING SPIRITUAL NATURE IN CHANGING WORLD :

Natural Science is the systematized knowledge of Nature and the physical world. It gives us the information to show change as the pervasive natural phenomenon. I seek to establish Spiritualism as the relationship between a changing object and its unchanging Spiritual Nature.

Richard Leakey, the leading Paleoanthropologist who conducts research at Turkana Basin Institute, Kenya believes that humanity will soon embrace the Theory of Evolution. He finds evidence for Human Evolution from the collection of Hominin fossils found in Africa.

Richard Leakey, a leading Paleoanthropologist who conducts research at Turkana Basin Institute, Kenya and teaches at SUNY, New York, has stated: “Extinction is the most common phenomena” …..”Extinction is always driven by climate change.” He believes that he has gathered enough fossil evidence to establish that man has evolved in Africa and that man in the next 30 years or so would fully embrace the Theory of Evolution as the basis for man’s origin.

THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION – A CHANGING WORLD – UNCHANGING REALITY :

Things in Nature change under the influence of time. Charles(Robert)Darwin,1809-92, English naturalist originated Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection which holds that all species of plants and animals developed from earlier forms by hereditary transmission of slight variations in successive generations and that Natural Selection determines which forms will survive.

I would like to respond to the view shared by Charles Darwin and other evolutionary biologists by suggesting that the Unchanging Reality supports the biological existence of a changing reality called Life. Human Life depends upon alternate periods of Light and Darkness. Each human being has a life span or LifeTime of its own as the organism measures the time interval between the moments of changing day and night while the source of Light remains the unchanging Reality. The reality called Life is not possible without this environmental change called day and night and the change called day and night will not happen unless it is supported by the unchanging nature of Reality. That is why, Life is a conditioned experience. Life is conditioned to exist by depending upon a change that is supported by unchanging Nature. While the Laws of Conservation of Matter and Energy would not allow matter( or mass ) and energy to be created or destroyed; living things are born and die because of the unchanging nature of Reality. Every change happens because of the unchanging nature of what we describe as ‘Nature’. Things in Nature change and yet Nature remains unchanged. Days alternate with Nights, Seasons change with regularity and consistency. While environment, and climate tend to show change and variation, we tend to notice change in the shape, size, or appearance of a Life Form while the nature of Life remains unchanged. In the fossils, we find the evidence for extinction of life forms and yet there is Life on planet Earth as the living substance, living matter, and living ground material remains unchanged. The unchanging ‘Spiritual’ Nature of Life and living matter allows the simple form of life called Egg Cell to change in size, in shape, in complexity, and in its morphological appearance and arrive as a newborn baby. At a fundamental level, this natural change from a simple to complex form of Life is possible because the elements of Nature have unchanging properties and the celestial objects move in Space in consistent, and expected regular orbits to support the existence of Life. Time flows, brings changes and yet Time flows in a cyclical manner. The Cyclical Flow of Time brings changes called Life and Death and Life after Death/Extinction.

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

Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,

M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970.

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.

Spiritualism – the Cognitive Science of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Biological Basis of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Medical Doctrine of Dialectical Spiritualism (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – Spiritual Being and Self-realization (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism and Materialism (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Science of Matter-energy-life-and-spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cell Theory of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Theory of Consciousness (bhavanajagat.com)

SPIRITUALISM – THE SCIENCE OF MATTER-ENERGY-LIFE-AND-SPIRITUALITY

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALISM – MATTER-ENERGY-LIFE-AND-SPIRITUALITY :

Man is a Physical Being with matter and form. Materialism is a system of thought that explains the nature of the world as entirely dependent on matter, the final reality. Man must understand what it is to be a substance and what it is to exist. I use a method of investigation or inquiry called ‘Dialectic’ which deals with the nature and relation of things - what each is, how it differs from others, what common quality all have, to what kind each belongs, and in what rank each stands in its kind, and whether its being is real-being, and how many beings there are and how many non-beings to be distinguished from beings. Life is characterized by the presence of complex transformation of organic molecules and by the organization of such molecules into the successively larger units of protoplasm, cells, organs and tissues. Life comes into existence only when matter has the ability to acquire energy from its external environment. I would like to begin this dialectical inquiry by paying a tribute to people who have significantly contributed to the understanding of matter, and energy transformation in living matter.

THE FOUNDER OF MODERN CHEMISTRY :

Antione Laurent Lavoisier(1743-94), French Chemist and Physicist, a Founder of Modern Chemistry. He was one of the first to use effective quantitative methods in the study of chemical reactions. His classification of substances is the basis of the modern distinction between chemical elements and chemical compounds and of the system of chemical nomenclature. His work established the Law of Conservation of Mass(or Matter). He was guillotined during the Reign of Terror unleashed by French Revolution.

Chemistry is the science that deals with the composition and properties of substances, and with the reactions by which substances are produced from or converted into other substances. The name Organic Chemistry originated to differentiate between those substances derived from plant and animal(organic) sources and those derived from inanimate(inorganic) materials. It refers to the Chemistry of compounds containing Carbon, or chains of connected Carbon atoms. The science called Biochemistry involves the study of the large organic molecules found in living systems and their reactions which make up the life processes. The science called Molecular Biology explains biological events by studying the molecules within cells.

Joseph Priestley(1733-1804), English Theologian, Philosopher, and Scientist. His techniques for studying gases led to his discovery of Sulfur Dioxide, Ammonia, and “Dephlogisticated Air”, the gas that Lavoisier named Oxygen. He had studied Photosynthesis in Plants and Respiration in animals. The most important equations for living things are mutually inverse.Respiration represents the reverse of Photosynthesis in Plants.

The Living Cell is a thermodynamically unstable system. This means that without continuous input of energy, a Cell will degrade spontaneously into a non-living collection of molecules. However, we have to be careful in using the term ‘perishable’. The Law of Conservation of Mass or Matter states that matter may change its form or shape; its mass always remains the same. Mass is the quantity of matter in a body regardless of its volume or of any forces acting on it. The Conservation Laws of classical Physics apply to certain physical properties of an isolated system that remain constant with time. These basic Laws of Physics maintain that the total value of certain quantities like mass and energy remain unchanged during a physical process. Laws of Conservation signify that nature does not change with passage of time. Conservation of Mass implies that matter can be neither created nor destroyed; that is, processes that change the physical or chemical properties of substances leave the total mass unchanged. The Law of Conservation of Energy implies that energy can be neither created nor destroyed although it can be changed from one form into another. The Laws of Conservation of Mass and Energy could apply to both living systems and non-living physical systems. To maintain life, a living system not only repairs or replaces( or both ) its structures by a constant supply of the materials of which it is composed but also keeps its life processes in operation by a steady supply of energy. Living systems must be supplied energy for continual synthesis of new organic molecules and to replace or to repair broken organic molecules. Life is a consequence of successive and coordinated chemical reactions - the most important being the Oxidation-Reduction or Redox Reactions.

OXIDATION-REDUCTION OR REDOX REACTIONS :

Most important biological processes involve Oxidation-Reduction or Redox Reactions to acquire Oxidative energy from other substances termed nutrients. The burning of a substance in air is rapid Oxidation or Combustion which is not of much use for living systems. Plants and Animals use a form of Oxidation called Respiration to liberate energy stored in food materials.

Oxidation-Reduction reactions are complementary chemical reactions characterized by the loss or gain, respectively, of one or more electrons by an atom or molecule. When an atom or molecule combines, or forms a chemical bond, with oxygen, it tends to give up electrons to oxygen. Similarly, when a molecule loses oxygen, it tends to gain electrons. Oxidation is a reaction involving loss of electrons, and Reduction is a reaction involving the gain of electrons. The two processes, Oxidation and Reduction, occur simultaneously and in chemically equivalent quantities; the number of electrons lost by one substance is equaled by the number of electron gained by another substance. The substance losing electrons or electron donor undergoes Oxidation and is called Reductant. The substance gaining electrons or electron acceptor undergoes Reduction and is called Oxidant. Common Reductant substances are Carbon and Hydrogen( readily oxidized ). Common Oxidant( substance readily reduced ) is Oxygen. Respiration is the process by which an organism exchanges gases with its environment. Organisms that utilize respiration to obtain energy are called aerobic, or Oxygen-dependent. In Biochemistry, respiration refers to the series of biochemical Oxidation-Reduction reactions in which organic molecules such as carbohydrates( sugars ), fatty acids( fats ), and amino acids( proteins ) are converted to carbon dioxide and water. The chemical energy thus obtained is trapped and stored for later use by the cells.

ENERGY TRANSFORMATION IN LIVING MATTER :

Chlorophyll molecule is the green pigment found in the Chloroplasts of plant cells is uniquely capable of converting active light energy into a latent form(Glucose or Sugar)using the photosynthetic mechanism. Carbon is the central or key element in the compounds of which organisms are composed; the Carbon is derived from the Carbon Dioxide found in atmospheric air or dissolved in water. Plants incorporate Carbon into Carbohydrates and other complex organic molecules. During Respiration or Oxidation, Oxygen combines with portions of Carbohydrate molecule, releasing Carbon in the form of Carbon Dioxide and Water.

Energy Transformation in Living Matter. Oxygen is released as a byproduct during Photosynthesis and it is vital to Respiration in Plants and Animals. This relationship is very important for existence of Life.

Sir Hans Adolf Krebs(1900-1981), German-born British Biochemist who received the 1953 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for the discovery in living organisms of the series of chemical reactions known as the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle/Citric Acid Cycle or Krebs Cycle.

Substances formed by the breakdown of Sugars, Fats, and Proteins are converted into Carbon Dioxide and Water, and energy-rich compounds(Adenosine Tri Phosphate or ATP) in a series of chemical reactions. It is the source of two-thirds of the food-derived energy in higher organisms.

Mitochondria are organelles found within most cells which provide the cells with energy by converting Oxidation energy into Chemical energy. They have extensive internal membranes or cristae where Cellular Respiration or Oxidation takes place. They provide energy oxidising Sugars, Fats, and Amino Acids using the Kreb’s Cycle. They have their own DNA and replicate autonomously.

The process by which a living cell acquires energy to perform its living functions is called ‘Nutrition’, the power by which living matter attracts or obtains materials necessary for its growth and maintenance from surrounding matter or environment. The cell takes in nutrients and excrete waste products. The nutrients are either used as building blocks in synthesizing large molecules or they are oxidized producing energy for powering the cell’s activities. Life may be stated as a relationship between energy-yielding substance and energy-demanding substance.

SPIRITUALITY, CONSCIOUSNESS AND LIVING SYSTEM :

Irrespective of the size, shape, and external appearance, Consciousness is the fundamental characteristic of Living Matter. Consciousness has a set of defining features; it is the principle by which a Living System knows the fact of its own existence; it knows as to where it exists and knows as to how it is existing. Consciousness is the awareness of energy-dependent existence in a given environment and this characteristic is common to all living cells. The term ‘Spiritual’ describes the nature of a relationship, a partnership, an association, bonding, or connection between living molecules to provide some benefit to the existence of a living, individual entity. Hence, I describe Consciousness as a ‘spiritual’ function as it establishes a relationship between the energy-dependent and energy-yielding substances. Human Consciousness is fundamentally related to the Subject called “I AM” both at the level of the entire organism and at the level of individual living cells that constitute the organism displaying complex structural and functional organization of molecules which acquire, manipulate, transform, and utilize energy for the benefit of the existence of the Individual whom we recognize as a Human Person. Life has to be studied as structural and functional organization of matter in which knowledge is implanted, the presence of this knowledge is reflected in its living spiritual functions of consciousness, intelligence and use of information to manipulate and transform energy to support its own existence in its given environment.

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

Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,

M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970.

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.

Spiritualism – the Molecular Basis of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism and Intelligence (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cell Theory of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cognitive Science of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Medical Doctrine of Dialectical Spiritualism (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Biological Basis of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Positive Science of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism and Materialism (bhavanajagat.com)
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SPIRITUALISM – THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF SPIRITUALITY

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Bhavanajagat

Tobacco mosaic virus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPIRITUALISM – THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF SPIRITUALITY :

The molecules and processes responsible for energy acquisition, energy manipulation, growth and reproduction are basically similar in all life-forms. To understand life, consideration must be given to describe the molecules that determine its structure and to the ways in which molecules are organized. The Molecular Basis of Spirituality describes the organization of molecules that is responsible for the coordination of living functions and living activities of life-forms. Spiritualism involves the capacity or capability to organize molecules to establish the reality of biological existence by any life-form. To explain the Molecular Basis of Spirituality, I would begin with the simplest life-forms that we know.

THE FOUNDERS OF VIROLOGY – THE STUDY OF VIRUSES :

Dmitri Ivanovsky( Dmitri Iosifovich Iwanowski ), Russian Botanist in 1892, discovered the filterable nature of a very tiny agent that causes Tobacco Mosaic Disease.

Martinus Beijerinck, the Dutch Microbiologist in 1898 named the mysterious infectious agent that causes Tobacco Mosaic Disease as ‘VIRUS’.

I am glad to pay my respectful tribute to Dmitri Ivanovsky, Russian Botanist, and to Martinus Beijerinck, the Dutch Microbiologist, the founders of Virology, the Study of Viruses. Ivanovsky studied the Tobacco Mosaic Disease during 1892. By conducting experiments he had demonstrated that the disease is caused by a filterable agent smaller than bacteria. In 1898, Beijerinck independently replicated Ivanovsky’s experiments and found that the infectious agent could only reproduce by infecting leaves of the Tobacco plant. He named the mysterious infectious agent as Tobacco Mosaic Virus- the first Virus recognized.

THE STUDY OF VIRUSES, VIRIONS, VIROIDS, AND VIRUSOIDS :

Virus is a complex, molecular life-form that blurs the boundaries of living and non-living material.

Viruses are small masses of material( 100 – 2,000 angstrom ), complex molecular life-forms that blur the boundaries of living and non-living material. Most Viruses are smaller than the wavelength of visible light. They are extremely small and can only be seen with an electron microscope. As compared to light microscope, electron microscope can increase magnification from 1,000 – 2,000 diameters to around 300, 000 diameters. Viruses are 1,000 times more plentiful in water than originally suspected and hence Viruses could be the most numerous life-forms on Earth. Many hundreds of different types of Viruses exist and all of them need living cells to serve them as hosts. Viruses can only complete their life cycles as parasites as they reproduce only within the cells of their hosts, upon which they depend for many of their fundamental life processes. While many Viruses are harmless to their hosts, certain Viruses are responsible for important diseases of humans, animals, and plants. Many Viruses are known to man by the specific disease entities that they cause: Smallpox, Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps, Yellow fever, Polio myelitis, Rabies, Influenza, and the Common Cold. All of us without any exception would get the chance of experiencing the bouts of one or the other Viral infections.

The DNA of Herpes Virus particle is enclosed by an icosahedral(20-sided) shell of 162 protein units, or capsomers, and by an outer spiked lipoprotein envelope. It causes infectious diseases in man like Chickenpox and Shingles.

A complete virus particle or Virion consists of one molecule of Nucleic Acid, single or double-stranded, either DNA or RNA depending on the specific Virus. It has a protein coat called Capsid which consists of a specific number of protein molecules or Capsomers in a definitive arrangement. In some Viruses, the outer coat has lipid(fat) and carbohydrate. The protein coat helps the survival of the Virus while it exists outside a living cell. The protein coat is also concerned with the mechanisms by which the Virus enters and infects the host cell.

To understand the concept of Spiritualism as a functional relationship that generates Peace, Harmony and Tranquility, we must know the nature of biotic interaction called Parasitism that causes Disease. Millions of human lives have perished due to the scourge of Viral Diseases that afflict humankind. This Retrovirus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) is responsible for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS.

During the stage of its life cycle, when the Virus is free and infectious, the virus particle or Virion is inert, and does not carry out the usual functions of a living entity, such as reproduction or growth in numbers. The propagation of a Virus requires the internal environment of a complete cell, including its biochemical machinery. The Virus loses the protein coat upon entry into a cell, after which the genetic material of the Virus reproduces using materials made by the host cell. The Virus leaves the host cell surrounded by the protein coat, the characteristics of these protein molecules are determined by the genes in the Virus, but the protein molecules are synthesized by the host cell. Viruses are often described as “naked genes” which have discarded all other attributes of complete cells. The Virion or virus particle contains the knowledge or biological information that is needed for its replication. However, to perform that reproductive function, a Virus needs the host cell’s chemical energy, and protein-and nucleic-acid synthesizing ability.

Viroids and Virusoids are the smallest and simplest form of all recognized Viruses and Self-replicating Molecules.They lack the protective shell of protein coat that most other Viruses have.

Viroids and Virusoids are the smallest and simplest form of all recognized Viruses and Self-replicating Molecules. Viroids are composed of nothing more than a single circular strand of genetic material and cause major disease in plants. Since Viroids lack the protective shell of protein, they do not even spread easily from one cell or plant to another. The genetic material of Viroid is RNA which has a length of only a few hundred ribonucletids(200-400). Viroids are described as molecules of “naked RNA” that are significantly smaller than the genome of the smallest Virus. They are also called ‘subviral particles’. Viroids/Virusoids ”infect” other Viruses, and use the replication process of the host Virus to replicate themselves instead. Viroids are responsible for a number of serious diseases of economically important plants like the Coconut Palm and Chrysanthemums. Episomes are pieces of self-replicating genetic molecules found in some bacterial cells. These are similar to Viruses except for the fact that they only reproduce themselves when their host cells do, whereas Viruses reproduce themselves hundreds of times and often generate the signs and symptoms of the infectious disease they cause in the host.

RNA MOLECULE AS GENETIC MATERIAL :

The only human disease caused by a Viroid is HEPATITIS- D. The Viroid is enclosed in Hepatitis B Virus Capsid. Viroids use different strategies for encouraging host Viruses/cells to replicate its RNA molecule.

The RNA-containing Viruses are unique among living systems. They use RNA as their primary genetic material. Retroviruses produce the enzyme called RNA-directed DNA Polymerase or Reverse Transcriptase, which can make a DNA molecule from the Viral RNA molecule. This DNA molecule formed from RNA then serves as the principal genetic molecule within the infected, host cell. Retrovirus uses a life process that is termed ‘reverse transcription’. Two Retroviruses are associated with human leukemia which are Cancer of T-cells. The Retrovirus known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is responsible for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS.

THE NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULE – THE ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE OF LIFE :

The Influenza Virus has the ability to cause pandemic(world-wide)infection of humans. The pandemic of 1918 is estimated to have killed 21-22 million people worldwide. The Virus got its name from the word “INFLUENCE” from an observation made more than 400 years ago that epidemics of respiratory illness occurred under the “influence” of planets and other astrological events. The term ‘spiritualism’ or ‘spirituality’ does not describe the ‘essence’ or character of this Viral Nucleic Acid Molecule.

Nucleic Acids are organic substances that are characteristic of all living things. These organic molecules are not found in nature except as components or products of organisms. They are called macromolecules; molecules of molecular weight greater than 10,000 daltons or 10,000 times the weight of a Hydrogen atom. These molecules are long chains or polymers that consist of chains of smaller units called monomers. Each Nucleic Acid chain is composed of subunits called nucleotides, each of which is composed of a specific sugar molecule( Deoxyribose or Ribose ), a molecule of Phosphoric Acid, and a molecule of one of four organic bases: Adenine(A), Guanine(G), Cytosine(C), and Thymine(T). The two chief types of Nucleic Acid are DNA( Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid ), and RNA( Ribo Nucleic Acid ). DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose and RNA contains the sugar ribose, and the base Uracil(U) instead of Thymine(T). The specific sequences of nucleotides constitute the genetic information of the life-form. Each three-nucleotide sequence specifies one particular amino acid. The long sequences of nucleotides thus correspond to the sequences of amino acids in the proteins that are synthesized. In order to be expressed as protein, the genetic information is carried to the protein-synthesizing machinery called Ribosomes found in the cytoplasm of the cell. Forms of RNA mediate this process and are important in the expression of the genetic code contained in the DNA for the synthesis of proteins. Although the triplet nucleotide code seems to be universal, the actual sequences of the nucleotides vary according to the species and individual organism. The Nucleic Acid Molecules, DNA/RNA is the substance of heredity; it carries the ‘essence’ or character of an organism from one generation to next generation. But, in the study of Viruses we have found that this ‘essence’ is not displayed until its ‘existence’ is supported and is established in a complete living cell. The Nucleic Acid Molecules do not have the capacity or capability of acquiring energy from their external environment. The Virion or virus particle is inert until it finds a host cell to establish its life as a living thing. The Nucleic Acid Molecules are important to establish the ‘essence’ of an organism and I find the characteristics called ‘Spiritualism’ or ‘Spirituality’ in the functional organization of those Molecules that establish the ‘existence’ of a living entity.

THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF SPIRITUALITY :

Smallpox or Variola was one of the worst scourges ever to afflict human beings. The Smallpox Vaccine developed by Dr. Edward Jenner, British Surgeon in 1796 was the first successful Immunization against any Infectious Disease or Agent. In October 1979, the World Health Organization(WHO) declared that the world is Smallpox Free. Spiritualism and Spirituality seek to establish Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in all functional Biotic Interactions within the Individual and within the Biotic or Biological Community.

The purpose and goal of Spiritualism or Spirituality is that of generating Peace, Harmony, and Equilibrium in all functional relationships within the Individual and between members of the Biotic or Biological Community. The disease, the disability, the morbidity, and death caused by Viral infections demonstrate the consequences of Biotic Interactions called Parasitism. The functional organization of a variety of Molecules that provide the functional ability called ‘Existence’ that establishes a living entity is the chief attribute of the ground substance found inside the Living, Complete Cell and the viral particles have no such functional organizational capacity or capability. The Spirit or Soul represents the ‘Knower’ of the Function and is the Architect of Molecular Organization that causes ‘Existence’. The role of various other Molecules, the Molecules concerned with Life, found in living cells will be given further consideration in my next blog post to demonstrate the ‘spiritual’ nature of the Protoplasm, the ground substance, the living material, or living matter that constitutes Life.

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

Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India,

M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970.

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.

Spiritualism – the Biological Basis of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cognitive Science of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism – the Cell Theory of Spirituality (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism and Intelligence (bhavanajagat.com)
Spiritualism and Materialism (bhavanajagat.com)

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Bhavanajagat

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

Category Archives: THE SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS – SPIRITUALISM AND SPIRITUALITY

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SPIRITUALISM AND THE QUANTUM THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

SPIRITUALISM AND ENTROPY

SPIRITUALISM – DEATH AT THAPAR STADIUM SECUNDERABAD

SPIRITUALISM – TIME AND LIFE – SPIRITUAL INTERACTIONS

SPIRITUALISM – THE UNCHANGING SPIRITUAL NATURE IN CHANGING WORLD

SPIRITUALISM – THE SCIENCE OF MATTER-ENERGY-LIFE-AND-SPIRITUALITY

SPIRITUALISM – THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF SPIRITUALITY

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THE CYCLICAL FLOW OF TIME :

Water is important to all life forms for its role in the control of environmental conditions and as it is the main mode of transport of many nutrients; it is the agent that leaches nutrients from rocks and soils and make them available for further use by living organisms.

THE CARBON CYCLE :

THE OXYGEN CYCLE :

Oxygen is equally important for Life and Death as Death must be accompanied by decay and decomposition of organic material to release the Nutrient Elements for further use by other living organisms.

THE NITROGEN CYCLE :

ECOLOGY – LIFE AND DEATH SPIRITUAL INTERACTIONS :

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