Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 79 – Transient Being vs Eternal Being.

Human Existence – Mortal vs Everlasting Life

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower. Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

The Experience of Life in the Natural World

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower.Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

What it is to be a Substance? and What it is to Exist? We need to establish knowledge about man (the Human Species) on a firm basis and the information it provides must be tested for its accuracy and consistency with an external reality. We have to make the fundamental distinction between the living and the non-living matter. The scientific advances of the 19th and 20th centuries reinforced the materialistic position concerning the basic similarity of organic living and inorganic physical matter. Man is viewed as a product of natural evolution and is thought to be subject to the same laws of Physics and Chemistry or mechanistic principles.

We need a methodology to study philosophy and to understand philosophical statements. Logical Positivism, also known as Scientific Empiricism aims to clarify concepts in both everyday and scientific language. It describes analysis of language as the function of philosophy. This analysis of language and of concepts is important to understand questions of belief and ideology which affect what we think we ought to do individually and socially.

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower.Mortal vs Everlasting Life.
Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower.Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

I use this method of ‘Analytic Philosophy’ to analyze the concept of Spiritual Optics, the Spiritual dimension of Man’s experience of Life in the Natural World. There are two facets of man’s experience of his own existence. These are, 1. The Identity which keeps changing or varying over the entire lifetime, and 2. The Individuality which continues to be the same without changing under the influence of time. Man can be presented as the constantly changing or varying, transitory, mortal, physical being on the basis of his Identity and on the flip side there is the dimension of unvarying, unchanging, constant, and eternal being defined by his Individuality.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – ESSENCE – IDENTITY – UNITY – EXISTENCE: MAN’S EXISTENCE IS GOVERNED BY THE ETERNAL LAW OF AGING. MAN EXISTS WHILE HE PASSES THROUGH VARIOUS STAGES SUCH AS BOYHOOD, YOUTH, ADULTHOOD, AND OLDAGE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN FORM AND APPEARANCE.
Identity vs Individuality: Two facets of human existence. The Mortal Being keeps His Individuality while passing through several stages described as Embryo, Fetus, Newborn, Infant, Boyhood, Youth, Adulthood, and Old Age. Existence Precedes Essence.

The Lotus Effect -The Two Facets of Lotus

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower. Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

Botanist Wilhelm Barthlott of the University of Bonn in Germany discovered in 1982 that the lotus leaf has a naturally self-cleaning, water-repellent surface. The secret lies in waxy microstructures and nanostructures that, by their contact angle with water, cause water to bead and roll away just like mercury. Barthlott patented his discovery, calling it the Lotus Effect.

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower. Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

While Barthlott takes credit for his discovery of the waxy surface of the lotus leaf, Indians have known the Lotus, an aquatic plant, for a very long time. Lord Vishnu, the Protector always carries a Lotus flower in his hand, He is generally depicted in images in a lying pose with a lotus springing out of His belly button, His eyes are always compared to the petals of the Lotus flower and His consort Goddess Lakshmi prefers to be seated on top of a Lotus flower. Indians use the Lotus flower for their worship and in Indian Art and Literature, Lotus finds a prominent place and the Lotus is given the official status of the National Flower. Indians are also equally impressed about the waxy nature of the surface of the lotus leaf and they know that the surface causes the water to bead and the drops rollaway with great ease. This phenomenon is very often used to describe the transient nature of human existence. But, the Lotus is the only flower that is constantly held in the hand of Eternal God.

Two Sides of the Coin – Two Facets of Existence:

Transient Being vs Eternal Being: If Identity described by the Phenotype that establishes one face of the Coin, the Individuality describes the second face of the same coin and is established by the Genotype. The same Individual with the same Genotype exists as different Individuals with varying features of Identification.
Transient Being vs Eternal Being: Identity and Individuality are the two sides of the same Coin. The Phenotype establishes the Identity, and the Genotype establishes the Individuality of a Living Cell or of a Living Organism.
Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower. Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

The coins that we use are minted with two different faces and we need to flip the coin to see the face on the opposite side. So also, human existence has its two sides, an eternal entity and at the same time a transient, perishable, temporary, ephemeral, fleeting, and finite entity. I would refer to the following two verses to illustrate this view-point.

The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter II, Verse 13:

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus Flower. Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth, and then to old age, similarly, the soul also passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change”.

Since every living entity is an individual soul, each is changing his body at every moment, manifesting sometimes as a child, sometimes as a youth, and sometimes as an old man, the spirit or soul however remains the same and does not undergo any change. The individual soul eventually changes the body itself, the soul transmigrates from one body to another body and hence death is viewed as the soul changing bodies from old to new one. According to one’s work in the present life, the living entity experiences enjoyment or suffering with the changing of bodies. This view helps the individual not to lament about death.

Shankara’s Bhaja Govindam and Nirvana Shatakam Lyrics:

The ‘Advaita’ school of Indian philosophy was founded by the great teacher Shankara who is popularly referred to as Adi Shankaracharya. He composed hymns known as Bhaja Govindam (Praise Lord Vishnu, the Protector) in which he describes the transient, ephemeral, and fleeting nature of human life and existence.

Shankara describes the transient, ephemeral, and fleeting nature of human life and existence.

He compares human life to that of the bead of water drop on the surface of the Lotus leaf. He reminds us to understand that the body’s existence is very temporary and he observes that the entire humanity is suffering due to sickness caused by ignorance which makes people to crave with a sense of attachment and desire to keep their impermanent existence.

Pencil in Water Illusion. Can Science influence the nature of Perception? The Perception of bent Pencil is caused by the properties of Light rays. Science can only explain the reason for this Optical Illusion. Science has no Power to eliminate the Illusion. The only way man can experience the Reality of this Pencil would be that of changing the State of Pencil’s Conditioned Existence. It is easy to remove the Pencil from Water and experience the Reality. But, can Man remove himself from his State of Conditioned Existence and experience Reality?
“ManO buddhyaHamkaara, chittani na aHam, Na karnam, na jihvaa, na cha ghraana neytrey, Na cha vyoma, bhuumir na TejO, na vayuH; Chidaananda Rupah, ShivO aHam, ShivO aHam.” Adi Shankaracharya has described that his Identity does not pertain to his mind, intellect, the intellectual pride/ego, mental functions, his organs of sense, the five primordial elements of Nature. His Identity could only be stated as SAT+CHIT+ANANDA, the Identity of Ultimate Reality.

Adi Shankaracharya in the lyrics known as Nirvana Shatakam describes the individual entity as an embodied Soul. The Soul is eternal but the physical body is temporary and just like the water drop on the surface of the Lotus leaf, the drop could roll away any moment, and the Soul may change bodies sooner than we wish or desire. There is no point in cultivating a sense of attachment to the body as the Soul is not willing to cling to the physical body.

I acknowledge the fleeting dimension of man’s Mortal Being and at the same time, Human existence cannot be dismissed as Unreal or as an illusion. I demand a full accounting of the biological basis for this transient, ephemeral, or fleeting existence. The fact or the reality of human existence describes the Yoking, the coming together, the joining, the pairing, the Unity of man with an Everlasting Principle.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AHAM BRAHMASMI – UNITY VS IDENTITY: GOD IS DESCRIBED AS THE CREATOR, THE ARTIST, THE DESIGNER, AND THE ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE. EVERY CREATED OBJECT EXISTS AS AN ORIGINAL, UNIQUE, DISTINCT, AND ONE OF ITS OWN KIND OF OBJECT. AND YET THIS DIFFERENTIATION DEPENDS ON A MATERIAL SUBSTANCE AND NATURE THAT IS SHARED BY ALL CREATED OBJECTS.

Man is a created being, exists as an Individual with Individuality, and has living substance constituted by Chemical Elements that are immortal, imperishable, or eternal. However, Man, the physical being with a shape and form is transient as he is born with a plan for the dissolution of its form.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Transient Being vs Eternal Being. The Two Facets of the Human Existence. The Two Facets of the Lotus. The Leaf symbolizes the Transient Being and the Flower symbolizes the Eternal Being. The Eternal God always carries the Everlasting Lotus Flower in his hand. Mortal vs Everlasting Life.

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 78 – Biological Rhythms are manifested under the influence of a Vital, Animating, and Unchanging Principle

The Science of Spiritual Optics

The Science of Spiritual Optics. What is Matter? and What is Spirit? The Laws of Conservation are applicable to both the living, and the non-living matter. Hence, it can be stated that “Life can neither be created nor destroyed.”

What it is to be a Substance? and What it is to Exist? We need to establish knowledge about man (the Human Species) and the world on a firm basis and the information it provides must be tested for its accuracy and consistency with an external reality. We have to make the fundamental distinction between the living and the non-living matter. The scientific advances of the 19th and 20th centuries reinforced the materialistic position concerning the basic similarity of organic living and inorganic physical matter. Man is viewed as a product of natural evolution and is thought to be subject to the same laws of Physics and Chemistry or mechanistic principles.

We need a methodology to study philosophy and to understand philosophical statements. Logical Positivism, also known as Scientific Empiricism aims to clarify concepts in both everyday and scientific language. It describes analysis of language as the function of philosophy. This analysis of language and of concepts is important to understand questions of belief and ideology which affect what we think we ought to do individually and socially. I use this method of ‘Applied Philosophy’ to analyze the concept of Spiritual Optics, the Spiritual dimension of biological coloration, and the phenomenon of changing Seasons and the behavior of organisms described as Photoperiodism.

The Science of Optics-Spiritual Light-Spiritual Optics-God is Light:

WHOLE DUDE - WHOLE OPTICS: SPIRITUALISM INVOLVES A SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF LIGHT OR OPTICS. GOD IS LIGHT, LIGHT IS LIFE, AND COLOR IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE USE OF IMAGINATION TO FORMULATE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS.
The Material Basis of Spirituality Science. Spiritual Light and Spiritual Optics involves a scientific study of Light or Optics. God is Light or God created Light; Light is Energy, Light is Energy of Life and Color is the evidence for the use of imagination to formulate spiritual relationships between energy dependent life and energy providing Supreme Being.

Optics is the scientific study of Light and the study of Light should be concerned with the genesis, nature, properties of Light and its purpose and role in the establishment of life and interactions among living things.


The Material Basis of Spirituality Science. Spiritual Light and Spiritual Optics involves a scientific study of Light or Optics. God is Light or God created Light; Light is Energy, Light is Energy of Life and Color is the evidence for the use of imagination to formulate spiritual relationships between energy dependent life and energy providing Supreme Being.

The first recorded utterance of God in the Bible is, “Let there be light.” (The Old Testament, The First Book of Moses, The Book of Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 3.) Light is the sign of divine operation in the world of chaos and darkness. Light brings order to the world. Without a source of light, a primary source of external energy, life would be impossible on planet Earth. Further, it can be stated that light is essential for life for the synchronization of life’s living functions, and to generate the experience of peace, harmony, and tranquility in the living condition, or state.

The first recorded utterance of God in the Bible is, “Let there be light.” (The Old Testament, The First Book of Moses, The Book of Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 3.) Light is the sign of divine operation in the world of chaos and darkness. Light brings order to the world. Without a source of light, a primary source of external energy, life would be impossible on planet Earth. Further, it can be stated that light is essential for life for the synchronization of life’s living functions, and to generate the experience of peace, harmony, and tranquility in the living condition, or state.

Thus light is associated with the experience called happiness. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (The New Testament, The Epistle of Apostle James, Chapter 1, verse 17)

WHOLE DUDE - WHOLE COLORS: The most important function of Light is not that of providing visual sensation. Light performs several non optical functions. Plants do not have the ability to see Light. But, plants have the ability to use light energy to perform biochemical reactions such as Photosynthesis which is a creative mechanism to trap light energy as chemical energy that living things can further use to perform a variety of their living functions.
The Material Basis of Spirituality Science. Spiritual Optics: The most important function of light is not that of providing visual sensation. Light performs several non optical functions. Plants do not have the ability to see Light. But, plants have the ability to use light energy to perform biochemical reactions such as Photosynthesis which is a creative mechanism to trap light energy and convert it into chemical energy that living things can further use to perform a variety of their living functions. Hence light is Divine Providence to transform nonliving matter into Living Organisms which can be identified by their color, and appearance.

The Blessings of Autumn Season

Spiritual Optics – The Magical Spell of Seasons

The fall equinox arrives on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 8:05 PM Eastern Time. The equinox occurs at the same moment worldwide. Fall begins in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere.

Spiritual Optics – The Magical Spell of Seasons

The word “equinox” comes from Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, “night.” On the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length.

Spiritual Optics – The Magical Spell of Seasons

During the equinox, the Sun crosses what we call the “celestial equator”—an imaginary extension of Earth’s equator line into space. The equinox occurs precisely when the Sun’s center passes through this line. When the Sun crosses the equator from north to south, this marks the autumnal equinox; when it crosses from south to north, this marks the vernal equinox.

Spiritual Optics – Photoperiodism – September Equinox or Autumnal Equinox:

Spiritual Optics – The Magical Spell of Seasons
Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – PHOTOPERIODISM – SEPTEMBER EQUINOX. SPRING OR VERNAL EQUINOX AND AUTUMNAL EQUINOX ARE TWO POINTS ON THE CELESTIAL SPHERE WHERE THE PATH OF SUN’S APPARENT MOTION IN SKY OR ECLIPTIC AND THE CELESTIAL EQUATOR INTERSECT. BUT THE SEASONAL CHANGE IS NOT INFLUENCED BY SUN’S REAL MOTION AROUND MILKY WAY GALACTIC CENTER.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox. The changes called Day and Night, and the changes called Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer Seasons manifest while the Sun is shining with its full brightness at all times.

In my view, all natural phenomena require the operation of an unchanging condition that gives the opportunity to experience the change that is manifested. The change called Day and Night, and the changes called Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer Seasons are manifested because of an unchanging condition; the fact of Sun shining with its full brightness 24-hours, and at all times.

The rhythmically recurring phenomena called biological rhythms are manifested for living functions operate under the influence of an unchanging, vital, animating principle called Soul, or Spirit.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

Photoperiodism is described as the behavioral or physiological reaction of an organism to changes of duration in daily, seasonal, or yearly periods of light and darkness. The changes in activities occur on daily basis as well as with a consistent pattern when the seasons change. For example, the Autumn or Fall season in the Northern Hemisphere includes the months of September, October, and November. Fall is the season of the year in which many trees change in their appearance; the color of their leaves changes and then trees lose their leaves. Autumn is the season that comes between Summer and Winter seasons. In the astronomical year, the Fall season is the period between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Note that fall foliage isn’t due to current weather conditions. This is a common misconception. Leaves change color because of the amount of daylight and photosynthesis.

The characteristic of Fall is the beginning of a decline in activities of several living organisms to prepare for subsequent changes expected to come in future. Daily periods of light and darkness determine to a great extent when seasonal activities occur.

An important prerequisite to the response to light that occurs in Winter and Spring is exposure to short days or long nights in Autumn. This phase of the annual cycle is called the Preparatory Phase. This preparation is important for the subsequent response. Under experimental conditions, it is shown that the failure to complete the Preparatory Phase will undermine the organism’s subsequent response to changes in the next phase. Hence, Autumn is a season of preparation for the arrival of Winter and Spring seasons. This preparation has the characteristics of planning and designing the responses of organisms to forthcoming events in the future.

This ability to connect the activities of past and present with activities that occur in the future requires the operation of an unchanging principle that is not influenced by changes of time. The colorful changes that we witness during the Autumn season relate us to the works of a Whole Designer, a Whole Architect, a Whole Planner, and a Whole Artist.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

Daily periods of light and darkness determine to a great extent when seasonal activities among living organisms occur. Man exists on the surface of planet Earth experiencing the daily alternating periods of light and darkness and marks his calendar as seasons bring changes with marked regularity.

Photoperiodism was first reported in 1920 when the flowering of certain plants was demonstrated to be controlled by the daily duration of light. The photoperiodic response of plants may actually depend on the duration of the darkness. Some of the conspicuous activities of animals closely correlated with certain seasons of the year or with changes in day length are bird migration, reproduction, and changes in coat and plumage. In most birds, mammals, and other vertebrates, breeding is seasonal. For species such as brook trout, deer, sheep, and goats breeding begins in Autumn. The light stimulates the release of special hormones from the brain which in turn stimulate the pituitary gland which secretes the hormones that function to control the growth of the reproductive organs.

The length of the dark period and the ratio of light to darkness are important factors in determining the reproductive response. Practical applications of knowledge of photoperiodism are common in poultry management, for the length of daylight affects laying, sperm production, and the bodyweight of the fowl.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. The phenomenon of Photoperiodism and Poultry management. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

The most conspicuous seasonal change in coat and plumage occurs in those mammals and birds that are white in Autumn and Winter and brown in Spring and Summer.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

The seasonal change in the coat is conspicuous in this hare which is brown during Spring and Summer, and changes to white during Autumn, and Winter.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

Photoperiodism – Biological Rhythms and Biological Clock:

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

Organisms have synchronized their living functions to their rhythmic environments and have become periodic in diverse aspects of their physiology and behavior. Periodic biological phenomena fall into two distinct, different categories: 1. Those correlated with periodic changes of the planet or geophysical correlates, and 2. Those correlated to an internal timing mechanism often called the ‘Biological Clock’.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. How does Time flows?

The living things to some extent behave like ‘Living Clocks’; 1. A timing capacity geared to the rhythmic variations of the natural environment, the alternating periods of light and darkness called day and night, and 2. A timing capacity that operates in response to the flow of time as planet Earth spins and moves without providing sensory stimuli of its motions. Timing information continuously flows in from the environment and no organism can exist under constant conditions of life. All life exists on planet Earth which exists in a constant state of motion as a member of the Solar System which also exists in a constant state of motion. The biological rhythm results in part as a direct response to the environment and in part as an indirect response via the complex clock-timed organization.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

There are two kinds of biological responses or rhythms. 1. The activities like Sleep and Wakefulness are related to the fluctuations of the physical environment such as darkness, and light, or night and day variation, and 2. The rhythms such as heartbeat and respiratory rate occur without external geophysical correlates as a consequence of the movements of Earth.

Man’s biological functions are influenced by Earth’s Rotational Spin. Man has the sensory awareness of an environmental change called Day/Night. Otherwise, man is blissfully unaware of Earth’s Motion that happens all the time. Man is always influenced by the flow of time and his existence is measured as if there is a precise internal clock.

Spirituality Science – Earth’s Rotational Spin – Reality vs illusion:

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox.

Earth’s Rotational Spin is a unique mechanism that is indissociable from Life itself. While the Sun shines with all its brightness 24-hours all the time, Earth’s Spin allows the man to experience alternating periods of light (Day), and darkness (Night) to plan his physiological functions and activities in the external environment. There is this equally important aspect of Earth’s Spin; man’s existence on the surface of planet Earth depends on the lack of direct sensory awareness of the linear and angular speed/velocity of Earth’s motions.

Biological Clocks time the Solar Day, the period of Earth’s spin or rotation relative to the Sun. While Earth spins or rotates, man experiences the illusion of Sun’s apparent motion across the path called Ecliptic and exists on the surface of Earth in a state of blissful ignorance of Earth’s Angular Speed, and Linear Velocity.

The daily rhythm of about 24 hours’ duration makes it appear as though the organism is keeping track of each day and behaves as if it is a Living Clock. Light appears to be the dominant Phase Setter as it synchronizes activity pattern during the 24-hour cycles. The 24-hour rhythms are called Solar Day, Circadian, Diel, Daily, Diurnal (day-active), and Night-Active rhythms. Plants show their daily rhythm in sleep movements such as the daytime raising and nighttime lowering of their leaves, and the timing of flowering activity. In man, the daily alternation of sleep and wakefulness is accompanied by many chemical and physiological changes that include the activities of the nervous, endocrine systems, and the liver and kidneys. Daily variations occur in the body temperature, in the heart and respiratory rates, and in blood pressure and composition of blood. There are daily variations in chemical syntheses and in cell divisions.

The Living Systems display a timing capacity and behave as if they contain a highly dependable clock. The specialized properties of this clock suggest that it involves some unique biological mechanism indissociable from life itself. The ‘immutability’ of Soul or Spirit can be observed as its operations are not influenced by time or external geophysical correlates.

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Reflections on the first day of the Autumn Season. The world or ‘Jagat’ exists in a constant state of motion. Fundamentally, there is no possibility of the infinite repetition without alteration of each and every moment. Every instant is a new instant as the planet is changing its location all the time.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Spiritual Optics – The Spiritual Dimension of Photoperiodism. Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Magical Spell of Seasons. Reflections on Autumnal Equinox. Welcome to longer nights starting from today.

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 77 – Can Medicine Save Man from the trappings of Karma?

Whole Life – Whole Experience – Whole Burden

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22

Yes Indeed, Life is Complicated. Willingly no one chooses the Yoke of Slavery. The complexity of Life is about the choices we make. Sometimes, the pursuit of Freedom can come with the trappings of Slavery. On September 22, I explore the doctrine of Predestination.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. My Living Experience of Pain, Humiliation, and Loss of Face is Predestined. On September 22, I explore the role of my Birth Star Moola, Sagittarius Constellation in the operation of the mechanisms of Predestination.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. My Living Experience of Pain, Humiliation, and Loss of Face is Predestined. On September 22, I explore the role of my Birth Star Moola, Sagittarius Constellation in the operation of the mechanisms of Predestination.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. My Living Experience of Pain, Humiliation, and Loss of Face is Predestined. On September 22, I explore the role of my Birth Star Moola, Sagittarius Constellation in the operation of the mechanisms of Predestination.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. My Living Experience of Pain, Humiliation, and Loss of Face is Predestined. On September 22, I explore the role of my Birth Star Moola, Sagittarius Constellation in the operation of the mechanisms of Predestination.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. My Living Experience of Pain, Humiliation, and Loss of Face is Predestined. On September 22, I explore the role of my Birth Star Moola, Sagittarius Constellation in the operation of the mechanisms of Predestination.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery

Simon Cyrene was predestined to bear the burden of the Cross and follow Jesus Christ on His final journey at the conclusion of His earthly mission to deliver Peace and Freedom to the mankind.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. Behold the Man. “Take my Yoke upon you….For my Yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Book of Matthew 11:28-30.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery . My Dream for Freedom transforms into an ordeal of Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.

On September 22, 1971, I was Taken on Strength (TOS) of Establishment No. 22, Vikas Regiment, Special Frontier Force, a military organization created in response to ‘The Cold War in Asia.’

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan to welcome the first day of Fall Season. Today, I claim that my Dream for Freedom in Occupied Tibet got transformed into an ordeal of Slavery in a nation which abolished Slavery with a presidential proclamation on September 22.

On September 22, 1971, I had the freedom to reject my posting to Establishment 22. I was given the choice to choose or decline rendering military service in support of Freedom in Occupied Tibet.

The choice to serve in Establishment 22 comes with risks for its military mission differs from the military mission of the Indian Army which I joined to defend India from attacks by foreign aggressors.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22

It may appear that I am making my own choices in accepting calculated risks to my life. On September 22, 2026, I am still struggling to reconcile with the choices I made in the past. Now, I must reconcile with the reality of my Slavery while living in a country which sponsored my quest for Freedom in Occupied Tibet.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22

On September 22, 2026, I have no hope that I may arrive at the final destination of my life at the conclusion of my earthly existence. Chakrata in Uttarakhand, India represents the struggle ahead, a struggle waiting for me before I can arrive at the final destination of my life. Jesus Christ cannot set me free for the Yoke of Slavery is predestined.

Simon Cyrene

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.

September 22. This Day in History. What Happened on this Day?

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. The Emancipation Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln has failed to abolish the practice of Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, and Forced Labor. In 1996, these practices of Slavery got resurrected and are introduced into the Union territory by the secular laws enacted by the US Congress which violate the Principle of Equal Protection under Law.

On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than 3 million black slaves in the United States and recasts the Civil War as a fight against slavery.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, shortly after Lincoln’s inauguration as America’s 16th president, he maintained that the war was about restoring the Union and not about slavery. He avoided issuing an anti-slavery proclamation immediately, despite the urgings of abolitionists and radical Republicans, as well as his personal belief that slavery was morally repugnant. Instead, Lincoln chose to move cautiously until he could gain wide support from the public for such a measure.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22: Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln during September 1862. United States has officially abolished the practice of slavery. In 1996, the US institutionalized the practice of Servitude and the Union has transformed from a ‘Free State’ into a ‘Slave State.

In July 1862, Lincoln informed his cabinet that he would issue an emancipation proclamation but that it would exempt the so-called border states, which had slaveholders but remained loyal to the Union. His cabinet persuaded him not to make the announcement until after a Union victory. Lincoln’s opportunity came following the Union win at the Battle of Antietam in September 1862. On September 22, the president announced that slaves in areas still in rebellion within 100 days would be free.

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebel states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” The proclamation also called for the recruitment and establishment of black military units among the Union forces. An estimated 180,000 African-Americans went on to serve in the army, while another 18,000 served in the navy.

After the Emancipation Proclamation, backing the Confederacy was seen as favoring slavery. It became impossible for anti-slavery nations such as Great Britain and France, who had been friendly to the Confederacy, to get involved on behalf of the South. The proclamation also unified and strengthened Lincoln’s party, the Republicans, helping them stay in power for the next two decades.

The proclamation was a presidential order and not a law passed by Congress, so Lincoln then pushed for an antislavery amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ensure its permanence. With the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, slavery was eliminated throughout America (although blacks would face another century of struggle before they truly began to gain equal rights).

Lincoln’s handwritten draft of the final Emancipation Proclamation was destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871. Today, the original official version of the document is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026. MY PASSION FOR FREEDOM IN OCCUPIED TIBET WHICH BEGAN AT CHAKRATA DOES NOT RECONCILE WITH MY SLAVERY OF TODAY. THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF CHAKRATA PLAYED NO ROLE IN THE CHOICE I MADE ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1971.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22

Chakrata is not the final destination of my life. It is just the beginning of a struggle that remains ahead, both in terms of time and location. The quest for Freedom in Occupied Tibet traps me in Slavery. I live in the United Sates as a Slave; I live in a Free Nation that sponsored my Love for Freedom in Tibet.

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.
Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Chakrata Karma – Exploring the Doctrine of Predestination on September 22. September 22–This Day in History–The Journey of Simon Cyrene from Freedom to the Yoke of Slavery. My Quest for Freedom Traps me in Slavery. My Journey to Chakrata and Beyond.

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 76 – The World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

The Problem of Suicide and its Prevention

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026.
Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026.

Yes Indeed, Life is Complicated. The complexity of Life involves not only the problem of shopping for food but also the problem of shopping for the means to put to an end to one’s own existence.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026.

What it is to be a Substance? and What it is to Exist? We need to establish knowledge about the man on a firm basis and the information it provides must be tested for its accuracy and consistency with an external reality. We have to make the fundamental distinction between the living and the non-living matter. The scientific advances of the 19th and 20th centuries reinforced the materialistic position concerning the basic similarity of organic living and inorganic physical matter. The man is viewed as a product of natural evolution and is thought to be subject to the same laws of Physics and Chemistry or mechanistic principles.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026.

We need a methodology to study philosophy and to understand philosophical statements. Logical Positivism, also known as Scientific Empiricism aims to clarify concepts in both everyday and scientific language. It describes analysis of language as the function of philosophy. This analysis of language and of concepts is important to understand questions of belief and ideology which affect what we think we ought to do individually and socially. I use this method of ‘Applied Philosophy’ to analyze the problem of suicide and its prevention.

September 10 is observed as World ‘Suicide Prevention Day’ and September is ‘Suicide Awareness Month’. To promote Suicide Awareness, I promote awareness of the Seven Dimensions of Human Being. These dimensions are 1. Man is a Created Being, and man is constituted as 2. Physical, Mortal Being, 3. Mental Being, 4. Social Being, 5. Moral Being, 6. Spiritual Being, and 7. Rational Being.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026.

Spirit or Soul is the vital, animating principle that operates all living systems. Spirituality is about formulating interpersonal, and intrapersonal relationships based on shared feelings of trust, respect, and commitment.

The Man’s Physical Existence:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

The subjective reality of man’s physical existence is conditioned by his physical, mental, social, moral, spiritual, and rational well-being.

If a man is viewed as a multicellular organism, we may have to ask ourselves the following question. Who or What is the Subject that lives because of the living functions of trillions of individual, independent cells? Man has to explore the biological basis for his own existence in the physical world. The subjective and objective reality of man’s physical existence is conditioned by his physical, mental, social, moral, spiritual, and rational well-being.

Mental Health – The Mind-Body Connection:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

MENTAL HEALTH IS ABOUT FORMULATING HARMONIOUS SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS. SPIRIT OR SOUL IS THE OPERATING PRINCIPLE THAT DEVELOPS FUNCTIONAL HARMONY BETWEEN VARIOUS CELLS, TISSUES, ORGANS, AND ORGAN SYSTEMS OF THE HUMAN ORGANISM.

Mental health is an important component of total positive health when health is defined as not the mere absence of disease, but as a state of man’s physical, mental, social, moral, spiritual, and rational well-being. Physical conditions and ailments affect mental well-being.

Mental health and well-being could have important consequences affecting the physical, and social well-being of the man and may even threaten his ability to maintain the biological integrity to survive as a human organism. Mental health is defined as the capacity in an individual to form harmonious relations with others and to participate in or contribute constructively to changes in the social environment.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – WHOLE DYNAMICS – WHOLE EQUILIBRIUM: IN MAN, HEALTH IS RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF BODY FORM AND FUNCTION WHICH RESULTS FROM ITS SUCCESSFUL DYNAMIC ADJUSTMENT TO FORCES TENDING TO DISTURB IT.

A living organism has a tendency to maintain normal internal stability by coordinated responses that automatically compensate for environmental changes. Claude Bernard explains this concept of ‘Milieu Interieur’ as that of “all the vital mechanisms, varied as they are, have only one object; that of preserving constant the conditions of life.” This concept of homeostasis, maintenance of stability and equilibrium is applicable to man’s existence within a social group. A living thing maintains its individuality while being a member of a social group.

Mental equilibrium and mental tranquility are needed to maintain internal stability and for developing harmonious relationships with others present in the social environment. The different constituent parts of one’s personality should work in harmony so that an individual faces life situations rationally, successfully, and happily. The aim of the positive mental health care is to strengthen and develop well-integrated personality by influencing the behavioral pattern of the individual so that psychological situations are controlled by the individual in a logical, and rational manner. The individual while facing challenging life situations must arrive at solutions without disrupting the physical, mental, or social well-being.

Mental health comprises the well-being of the intellectual and the emotional components of the mind. The intellectual breakdown of the individual deprives him of logical and rational thinking. The decisions taken will be faulty if the individual is not capable of logical and rational thinking. Such faulty decisions tend to affect an individual’s well-being. The intellectual breakdown is always accompanied by an emotional breakdown. Emotional imbalance affects an individual’s reactions. The individual may show an inability to cope with life situations. The inability to withstand the strain and stress of life situations could affect the physical well-being of the individual. The aim of this presentation is to understand the nature of man’s essence and existence in the physical world and to use that information to prevent the problem of suicide.

Stress and Stress Resistance:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

A person with a well-integrated personality acquires high resistance against stress and will be able to react healthily while confronting unwholesome life situations.

Resistance against mental and emotional breakdown is built up by the autonomic process of integration of personality. It is the normal process of the growth of personality within the group environs. An individual with a well-integrated personality acquires high resistance against difficult situations. The individual will be able to react healthily while confronting unwholesome life situations.

A healthy mind and the ability to be molded in an integrated personality depends upon several factors including the physical, social, and psychological environment in which the individual is growing. It also depends upon the cultural patterns and attitudes handed down from one generation to the next. From a very young age, integration of the personality proceeds along with intellectual development and emotional molding. Children must be given a better chance to develop integrated personalities with resistance against stress.

Stress stimuli generate a chain of psycho-physical reactions strong enough to cause manifest effects. Personalities can be divided into 5 types according to their ability to resist strain and stress to master a given difficult life situation without a physical or mental breakdown. The same psychogenic stimulus may not cause a similar reaction in all individuals. Each person reacts in a different manner according to the level of preformed stress resistance.

GROUP I: Highly stress-resistant. These persons have a high level of preformed resistance. They also have the ability to develop resistance within a short time when exposed to stress stimuli. This group comprises of people with well-integrated personalities with dominant will power and power of endurance. They carry out the task even while under great stress without experiencing any negative consequences. They successfully master a stressful and difficult situation. These individuals live in good positive health and may not have a preexisting disease condition or a predisposition to such disease conditions that may undermine the physical and mental aspects of their health and well-being.

GROUP II: These persons have an average amount of preformed stress resistance. They overcome the stressful situation partially. In the attempt to master the stressful situation and to achieve success the person may suffer from precipitation of internal conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and so on when other predisposing factors are also existing. However, the individual completes the task while facing a stressful stimulus. These persons perform better if they maintain good positive health.

GROUP III: These are persons with very low preformed stress resistance. They still have the ability to develop resistance on exposure to a prolonged stressful situation. While performing the task in a stressful situation, they may display psycho-somatic symptoms of overt stress syndrome.

GROUP IV: These are persons with no preformed stress resistance. They have a very low ability to create resistance upon exposure to a stressful stimulus. These individuals are more likely to abandon the task which may have exposed them to a stressful experience. They would try to escape from stress rather than attempting to create resistance to stress stimuli. If they cannot escape, the lack of stress resistance is manifested in a variety of bizarre symptoms.

GROUP V: These are persons who are non-resistant to stress. They have no preformed stress resistance. They are not capable of favorably reacting to situations producing stress. Their biological existence could be threatened if they are exposed to a stressful situation. They may manifest an overt psychiatric illness apart from the inability to perform a task that could generate the stress reaction. Such individuals must be recognized in their childhood and they must be provided the proper environment and psychological counseling.

The part played by stress varies in different individuals according to their basic personalities. The factors that impact the role of stress include environmental influences, community with its varied backgrounds of culture patterns and life habits. Pre-existent resistance against stress reduces the requirement of immediate psycho-physical response. If the problem of suicide is viewed as a stress reaction, the prevention of suicide would require promoting the idea of stress resistance.

The Problem of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

A man’s right to life is a well-recognized principle. Very often, the law would defend a man’s right to life and would condone the act of killing if it is purely intended for purposes of self-defense. Does a man have the right to kill himself or renounce his life? Suicide is condemned by various societies. Major religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam oppose the practice of suicide. Attempts to commit suicide are punishable by law in several countries. In the East, some cultural traditions have glorified acts of self-immolation or of renouncing life to resist the enemy or to defend personal dignity, honor, or as an extreme measure of self-preservation.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

To defend her true nature, to preserve her essence, to resist the violation of her personal dignity and honor, Rani Padmini of Chittorgarh, India had courageously responded to a difficult and challenging life situation by an act of self-immolation. Her physical being was destroyed by fire which she had willingly embraced and yet her spirit has survived. She declares Victory over Death and she lives as an immortal person in the hearts of Indians and gives them a sense of Pride and Identity.

In the West, attitudes have been slowly changing. The law may permit euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide under very special circumstances that affect the quality of life of an individual.

The Problem of Suicide in The Armed Forces:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

While serving as Medical Officer of the Indian Army Medical Corps, I provided Comprehensive Health Care to troops and their families. The concept of Fitness to Fight includes both Physical Fitness and Mental Fitness. The goal is to keep the troops Fighting Fit at all times and under all conditions that may impose physical, psychological, social, and biological Stress. The Indian Tradition always pays attention to the well-being of all aspects of health and it includes the Moral well-being and the Spiritual well-being of the man. During the years I served, the incidence of Suicidal Death in the Indian Armed Forces was minimal.

To members of the Armed Forces, the problem of suicide is of special significance. The Armed Forces as a military establishment have a very challenging and difficult duty to perform. It has to conserve man-power, keep up the morale of its troops, and retain its fighting abilities and capacities at all times, both during peace and during the war. In ethical, and moral terms, Armed Forces believe in the act of killing and accepts the inevitability of causing deaths during the conduct of military operations. Armed Forces also actively prepare its members to overcome the fear of death and willingly exposes its members to the risks of getting killed both for the purposes of training and during actual combat situations.

A soldier is not expected to kill himself to escape from the stress of his military duty and at the same time, he must retain a very high level of motivation to kill the enemy and be willing to get killed in the performance of his task.

Armed Forces select its members with due care and chooses people with preformed stress resistance and further uses training as a tool to build up the stress resistance level of its members. The qualities of valor, duty, and honor define the essence and the Spirit of Service. Armed Forces members must exist to display their essence.

I participated in the military operations that were conducted in the Chittagong Hill Tracts during the India-Pakistan War of 1971. I encouraged men to overcome stress and promoted the value of stress resistance. Kindly refer to my blog post titled ‘The Victory over Death – The Psychology of Warfare.

The Prevalence of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Suicide has become much more common and it ranks as the second or third most common cause of death during adolescence. Suicide is also most pronounced in the older age. The rate of suicide is greatest between the ages of 35 and 75 years with a peak at about the age of 55 years. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in the year 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. Among ages 65 and older, of every 100,000 people, 14.3 died by suicide in the year 2007. This figure is higher than the national average of 11.3 suicides per 100,000 people in the general population.

The Warning Signs of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Suicide constitutes the greatest risk in manic-depressive psychosis. During both depression, and mania, the psychotic individual shows no insight into the abnormal nature of his mood. Depression is a major symptom of neurosis. Attacks of depression are characterized by signs that the person has deep feelings of melancholia (sadness). The sufferer typically looks unhappy, he feels hopeless and worthless, considers his life a torment. The depressed individual may experience a desire to punish himself by self-destruction and may directly or indirectly express such feelings or thoughts.

The American Society for Suicide Prevention posted these warning signs of suicide, and signs of depression:-

Unrelenting low mood, pessimism, hopelessness, desperation, anxiety, psychic pain, inner tension, withdrawal, sleep problems, increased alcohol or other drug use, recent impulsiveness & taking unnecessary risks, threatening suicide or expression of a strong desire or wish to die, making a plan, giving away prized possessions, sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm, obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications, unexpected rage or anger. Changes in attitude, personal behavior could be always discovered and the individual who is at the risk of taking his life could be helped by simple observation.

The Causes of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Current research and thinking on suicide tend to view biological, psychological, social-structural, and social-situational factors as interacting with each other. Sociological theories of suicide usually emphasize the importance of either the social structure or the social situations, and the cultural pressures that individuals face. Psychological theories emphasize personality and cognitive factors.

The Sociological Theory of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Emile Durkheim in his paper ‘Le Suicide’ published in 1897, tries to explain the apparent and purely individual decision to renounce life as a product of social forces or ‘social functionalism’. He introduces the term ‘anomie’ or anomy. Suicide results from the breakdown of social standards that people need to regulate their behavior. A failed society produces in its members a sense of futility, lack of purpose, emotional emptiness, and despair. Anomie is a condition of relative normlessness of a society or social group. It may also mean a state of mind of a person who has no standards or sense of continuity or obligation to maintain his social bonds.

The Personality Theory of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

The desire to escape depression is the most frequently cited motivation to explain suicide. A personality factor could be involved in persons who believe that suicide constitutes a solution to the problems that they may be facing. The suicide victim’s ideas, beliefs, and ways of thinking have a causal relationship with an underlying personality. The way people view their problems can produce a greater or lesser tendency to depression and suicide.

The Quest for Authentic Existence:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Philosopher, Nobel Laureate Jean-Paul Sartre recommends the quest for authentic existence. He claims that Suicide is absurd; it is absurd to get rid of what man is (etre-en-soi) as the true subjectivity of man (etre-pour-soi) disappears at the same time.

The Existentialists suggest that a person must find a situation in which he finds his true significance. In his Existentialist book, ‘Being and Nothingness’, philosopher and Nobel laureate Jean-Paul Sartre divides the being (the existing reality) into two categories. One category is called being-in-itself (etre-en-soi ) and it may describe the essence of the man, the sum of the intrinsic properties without which a thing would cease to be what it is. The second category is being-for-itself (etre-pour-soi) which comprises the being that has thoughts, feelings, and consciousness. The being-for-itself exists only when it is supported by the being-in-itself. Existentialists view the man in terms of his existing thoughts and actions rather than in terms of his essence. According to Sartre, man’s own existence is always attempting to overcome a radical estrangement between man as the object of scientific study or man himself (etre-en-soi ) and the subjectivity man knows in his thoughts and consciousness (etre-pour-soi ). A man’s life in the world and his social transactions often conceal his true subjectivity. A sense of authentic existence is given to each person when he realizes his true subjectivity as a being that is conscious. Sartre claims that suicide is a final act of absurdity. Suicide is absurd; for in getting rid of what man is (etre-en-soi ), the true subjectivity of man (etre-pour-soi) also disappears at the same time.

The Prevention of Suicide:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

There is no single approach that could be expected to succeed in substantially reducing the incidence of suicide. However, it will not be incorrect to claim that suicide is 100 percent preventable. The act of killing oneself or the action called suicide is totally preventable even when suicidal thoughts may not be preventable. If an individual’s mind is engaged in suicidal thoughts, it may not be possible to prevent those thoughts as the thoughts have already originated. I may succeed in preventing the individual from acting upon his suicidal thoughts. As long as a man knows his thoughts, and would not let his thoughts overwhelm him, the man can lead a normal life even when the mind engages in ideas or thoughts about suicide.

Stay Informed and Stay Connected:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Suicide is totally preventable if a man seeks information about his ‘essence’ (true or real Self) and the connection, the bonding, the partnership, the relationship, the association, or the ‘yoking’ with an external agency that supports his existence.

To help prevent suicide, I keep man informed by sharing the following information, and man must reflect on the nature of the ‘connection’ that sustains the man’s existence in the physical world.

Existence Precedes Essence:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Existence is the state of being in the world of actuality. The essence is the most significant part of a thing’s nature, the sum of the intrinsic properties without which a thing would cease to be what it is.

What is the fundamental nature or quality that is important or essential to define the true substance of the man? To understand human essence, a human being must be defined as a physical, mental, social, moral, spiritual, and rational being. The subjective reality of a man’s existence precedes and defines the man’s essence. Existence is the first priority and must be preserved if a man wants to define his nature or essence. To defend human existence, the physical, the mental, the social, the moral, the spiritual, and the rational well-being of the man must be defended.

As I have mentioned before, the Indian tradition honors the man who may define his moral, or spiritual essence by putting an end to his physical existence. That is the only exception to the rule.

The rule is; the human existence does not depend on the contents of man’s thoughts, feelings, desires, emotions, self-pride or ego. The man must always strive to rationally understand and evaluate his thoughts, feelings, desires, moods, emotions, and self-pride and should not act on them to compromise his existence which is truly independent of such factors that impact human life. If I think that I must live for two hundred years, the thoughts about a long life span would not change the basis for my biological existence. Similarly, if I think that I must kill myself, the suicidal thought does not alter the basis for my biological existence. Suicidal thoughts do not describe the human essence. A stress-resistant individual would have the ability to investigate and reflect on his suicidal thoughts and trace the reason for such thoughts. Stress is a problem that is associated with identity and individuality. The human person is a multicellular organism and man must know as to how the human organism establishes its identity and its individuality. While a man seeks to define his essence in terms of his identity, the organism seeks to identify the Individual for whose existence the cells perform the living functions that support the individual’s life.

Identity and Individuality – Two Sides of the Same Coin:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

If Essence describes one facet of the coin, Existence describes the second face of the same coin.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

If Identity is described by one side of the coin, Individuality is described by the second side of the same coin.

Mental health is related to the understanding of identity and individuality. We need to understand as to how identity and individuality are established in the multicellular human organism.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

My mind may define my identity in one manner and my human organism may establish my identity in a different manner. My mind may seek my identity from my thoughts, intellectual information & knowledge, emotions, and false ego. These four aspects of mental activities or functions are named in the Indian tradition as Manas, Buddhi, Chitta, and Ahamkara. These four mental activities are together named as Mano Chatushtayam (the Four Dimensions of Mind) or AntaHkarana. The Indian tradition asks people to recognize that the true identity of the individual does not pertain to these four aspects of human brain activities.

The attempts by a man to establish his identity on the basis of his morphological appearance, anthropomorphic data, biometric information, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, language, occupation, or nationality/ place of origin are not relevant if strictly evaluated in terms of supporting the existence of that human individual.

Man exists as long as he has the ability to defend his individuality and maintains the integrity of the various physiological/metabolic activities that support the vital functions that impart the quality or condition called Life and keeps the organism living. In the human organism, this functional unity is maintained by an anatomical structure called the Brain Stem. Man lives as an individual while the functions of the Brain Stem are intact and a man dies if functional activity is not found in the Brain Stem. Man can seek any kind of identity if he maintains the individuality that the Brain Stem supports.

The man is free to change his morphological appearance, can change his sexual identity, can change his occupation, can speak a different language, can change his place of residence, can practice a different religion or no religion, and can change the nature of his personal relationships with others while he maintains his individuality as a living organism. A man must always be conscious of his individuality which demands him to exist as a distinct entity from his mind and its mental activities.

A man could be aware of the presence of suicidal thoughts engaged by his mind and yet maintain his separation from those thoughts. A man who seeks to exist as an Individual with Individuality will have no problem in resisting his thoughts, feelings, emotions, and mood changes. Such mental activities would not overwhelm or overpower the person.

The problem of stress will not go away. However, man can become stress-resistant. Such stress resistance from psychogenic stimuli is the key for prevention of suicide. Man who is facing challenging life situations represents just one side of the coin, and on the second side, the same coin represents the man who maintains his individuality as a human organism. This separation of Identity from Individuality gives us the scope to make people stress-resistant and to avoid the psychological compulsions of suicidal thoughts. When this separation is established, a man would not act in ways that could harm him in body or mind. To promote mental health, to prevent the consequences of mental disease, we need to give the tools to people to understand and define Individuality and Identity as two separate aspects of the same coin.

The ‘Self’ and The ‘Knowing-Self’:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE–THE ART OF SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE CONCEPT OF SELF AND THE KNOWING-SELF WILL HELP TO PRACTICE SELF-RESTRAINT, SELF-CONTROL, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.

The living human being could be divided into two categories. One category could be called ‘Self’ that may be compared to Sartre’s being-in-itself or etre-en-soi. The ‘Self’ represents man’s state of existence as Physical, Mental, and Social being. Both Rene Descartes and Jean-Paul Sartre divide man into two categories; 1. a physical or inert substance that has no thoughts, feelings, or consciousness, and 2. the mind that has thoughts, feelings, and is a conscious entity. Sartre further named the second as the Being-for-itself or etre-pour-soi which is capable of making decisions and giving man the freedom to act according to his free will.

I do not subscribe to the views held by Descartes or Sartre and I would not seek the separation of man into two distinct entities called Body and Mind. Man is a multicellular organism; the body cannot exist without a mind/brain and the mind/brain cannot exist without a body which has vital organs like lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. The body and the mind/brain have to function together. I have also stated my view about consciousness. Please visit the page titled, “I AM CONSCIOUSNESS, THEREFORE I AM”

I AM CONSCIOUSNESS THEREFORE I AM

Consciousness is not an exclusive psychological function. Consciousness is a biological function that is shared by all living cells which display the attributes such as recognition, sensitiveness, coordination, cooperation, functional awareness, and awareness of the external and internal environment and condition.

The category that I call ‘Self’ represents the physical self with various tissues and organs including the mental self which represents mental activities associated with thinking, intellect/knowledge, emotions, feelings, moods, and ego or self-pride. The ‘Self’ describes the essence or nature, or identity of man in terms of man’s own mental awareness and the identity attributed to the man by other people in his environment. The second category that I describe is the ‘Knowing-Self’. The ‘Knowing-Self’ is aware or conscious of its state and the fact of its own biological existence. It may not always be aware of its external environment. A man who is in a state of sound sleep, a man who is under the influence of drugs, chemicals, or pharmacological agents like anesthetics, or a person with a head injury loses some components of the function called consciousness. However, a man at all times of his living condition is conscious of his internal condition/environment, maintains the state of equilibrium or homeostasis, and supports the vital functions that define his individuality as an organism. The category called the ‘Knowing-Self’ is related to Individuality and in the multicellular human organism this function is served by the Reticular Formation of the Brain Stem which gives the person the ‘Capacity for Consciousness’. Man needs the ‘Capacity for Consciousness’ to compose the ‘Contents of Consciousness’. In the absence of the ‘Capacity for Consciousness’, man has no ‘Contents of Consciousness’ and could be declared dead if the function called ‘Capacity for Consciousness’ is not sustained.

The ‘Capacity for Consciousness’ is essential for man’s biological existence. The ‘Capacity for Consciousness’ is required for a man to exist as a moral, spiritual, and rational being. Man exists with an intrinsic ability to discern right from wrong and exists because of his spiritual nature which gives him the ability to acquire and manipulate energy for his various metabolic, living functions. The category called ‘Self’ may experience all the difficult, and challenging situations posed by life, and the category called the ‘Knowing-Self’ is not subject to these sensory or mental experiences that impact the ‘Self’.

The God Connection:

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Man must recognize that his biological existence depends on energy acquisition. Man leads an energy-dependent existence and must acquire energy from external sources right from the beginning of his life journey, that is, from the moment of conception. Man does not acquire this energy because of his intellectual effort, or acquired knowledge. The fertilized ‘Egg Cell’ is conscious of its energy dependence and it implants itself into the tissues of the mother who may not be mentally aware of this process called implantation by which the human embryo starts deriving energy from its mother. The embryo grows and develops into a complex, multicellular organism and continues to derive energy from external sources. This ‘Connection’ between the energy-seeker and the energy-provider could be called the ‘God Connection’.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Man has no ability to formulate the kind of energy acquisition capacity called Photosynthesis for his survival in the natural world. Sun is the source of extraterrestrial or Cosmic Power, and the Solar Energy is trapped by chloroplasts found in the cells of all green plants. This energy is further made available to man by the presence of intracellular organelles called mitochondria which are described as the powerhouses of the cells. Man has no direct control on the nature of this ‘Connection’ and its operation. Man simply exists as there is a Provider for his energy requirements.

In good health or ill-health, under all circumstances and conditions, and during all the stages of his mortal existence, man needs Divine Grace, Mercy, and Compassion to keep himself alive. Providence is a supernatural mechanism or a ‘God Connection’ that supports man while he leads his energy-dependent existence. Man who experiences this compassion, mercy, and grace that is sustaining his life derives a sense of joy and experiences the condition called true happiness. A man who discovers true happiness cannot experience a mood called depression.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

It is really hard to kill oneself while man is connected to a source of Happiness. Man must experience this sense of Joy and Happiness and realize its uplifting power to alter any depressed feeling or mood. If pain is an inevitable aspect of human existence, so also compassion is an inescapable aspect of human existence. Just like pain, compassion also provides an equally true life experience.

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

I invite people to find Compassion, Mercy, and Grace of the Divine Providence in their living experience. It would be irrational or absurd to break the God Connection by the act called Suicide. All said and done, man can neither create life, nor destroy life as per the Fundamental Law of Conservation of Matter and Spirit.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Whole Prevention – The Prevention of Suicide. Whole Dude promotes the World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 2026

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 75 – The Phenomenon of Longevity

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY:

Spirituality Science – Aging and Longevity

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: BLAISE PASCAL(1623-62), FRENCH SCIENTIST, MATHEMATICIAN, AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER FOUNDED THE MODERN THEORY OF PROBABILITY AND IN PHYSICS HE DISCOVERED PASCAL'S LAW BY CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTS IN THE EQUILIBRIUM OF FLUIDS THAT LED TO INVENTIONS OF HYDRAULIC PRESS, HYDRAULIC JACK, AND HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR. HIS MENTAL CONCEPTS ARE LIVING GIVING A DIMENSION TO THE CONCEPT OF LONGEVITY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: BLAISE PASCAL (1623-62), FRENCH SCIENTIST, MATHEMATICIAN, AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER FOUNDED THE MODERN THEORY OF PROBABILITY AND IN PHYSICS, DISCOVERED PASCAL’S LAW BY CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTS IN THE EQUILIBRIUM OF FLUIDS THAT LED TO INVENTIONS OF HYDRAULIC PRESS, HYDRAULIC JACK, AND HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR. HIS MENTAL CONCEPTS ARE LIVING GIVING A DIMENSION TO THE CONCEPT OF LONGEVITY.

I pay my tribute to Blaise Pascal who shared his views about man and human nature; “Man is a nothing in comparison with the Infinite, an All in comparison with the Nothing, a mean between Nothing and Everything.” Since he is infinitely removed from comprehending the extremes, the end of things and their beginning are helplessly hidden from him in an impenetrable secret; he is equally incapable of seeing the Nothing from which he was made, and the Infinite in which he swallowed up.”

Since man (the Human Species) exists as a Mortal Being, man has a natural tendency to investigate the Beginning of Life and the End of Life and seek a better understanding of the natural processes liking Aging that propels man to travel and reach the destination termed ‘Death’ without any choice.

Aging is a widespread biological phenomenon and all living things display a natural tendency towards a decline of biological functions and a time-related disability to adapt to metabolic stress.

I ask my readers to note that the ‘Protoplasm’, the living substance that makes up both the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm appears to be potentially immortal. The term ‘Longevity’, the length or duration of a life or lives, must be interpreted in the context of the potential ability of Protoplasm to survive while individual members of species take birth, live, and die after a period of time. The term Life-Span describes the longest period of time that a typical individual can be expected to live. Similarly, Lifetime is the period of time that someone lives, or that something lasts, functions, or is in effect.

Human beings have the unique ability to use their Lifetime to create a legacy that can endure giving an aura of immortality to that specific human individual who may have finished his or her mortal existence.

The Phenomenon of Longevity:

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: THIS IMAGE OF DIVIDING YEAST CELLS DESCRIBES A REAL POTENTIAL IMMORTALITY IN SIMPLE ORGANISMS THAT ARE SINGLE-CELLED AND REPRODUCE BY ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION CALLED FISSION.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: THIS IMAGE OF DIVIDING YEAST CELLS DESCRIBES A REAL POTENTIAL IMMORTALITY IN SIMPLE ORGANISMS THAT ARE SINGLE-CELLED AND REPRODUCE BY ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION CALLED FISSION.

The concept of Life-Span implies that there is an individual whose existence has a definite beginning and end. Within the Phylum Protozoa, organisms that consist of a single cell, are numerous species that reproduce by fission which is a form of asexual reproduction in which the parent organism divides into two or more approximately equal parts, each becoming an independent individual. In such organisms where it is not easy to establish the beginning and end of an individual organism, the growth seems to continue indefinitely and a potential immortality can be observed.

In organisms that use sexual reproduction, the limits of the life-span of each species appear to be determined by ‘Heredity’ which refers to the transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring by means of genes in the chromosomes. Each individual member of any given species has a life-span during which something of that individual lasts when transmitted to offspring as heritable information. The term heredity and the Laws of Inheritance and the Science called Genetics will have validity if, and only if some biological characteristics survive in spite of the death of any individual member of a species.

It is very interesting to observe that there are several species of living things which have continuously lived for exceptionally long periods of time retaining their species-specific identity. Such organisms can be claimed to be immortal as they appear to be fully capable of surviving indefinitely. This faculty has been attributed to some insects, some simpler forms of invertebrate marine life (such as Tube Worms, Jellyfish, Clams, and Lobsters), certain fishes and reptiles which appear to be capable of unlimited growth.

As the complexity of an organism increases, the internal changes associated with the aging process contribute to senescence and death of the organism. Even under the most favorable external conditions, there is a predetermined age beyond which a given individual of a species may not be able to survive. The Maximum Life-Span is often an estimate based on the longest lived organism of its species that is known to date. The Average Life-Span is a statistical concept that is derived by the analysis of mortality data for populations of each species. The Average Life-Span is related to Life Expectancy, the statistically probable length of time that a typical individual of any given species can be expected to live. Life Expectancy varies as it depends on the changing death rate over a period of time. Even species that have very slow-growing rates can experience higher than natural death rates due to external factors and may even face the threat of total extinction.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: COCKROACHES ARE AMONG THE OLDEST INSECT GROUPS HAVING SURVIVED BASICALLY UNCHANGED FOR 300  TO 350 MILLION YEARS(CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD).
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: COCKROACHES ARE AMONG THE OLDEST INSECT GROUPS HAVING SURVIVED BASICALLY UNCHANGED FOR 300 TO 350 MILLION YEARS (CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD).
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: ANTARCTIC SPONGE(PHYLUM- PORIFERA) CAN LIVE FOR CENTURIES, THE OLDEST KNOWN LIVING SPONGE COULD BE 1,550-YEARS OLD.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: ANTARCTIC SPONGE (PHYLUM- PORIFERA) CAN LIVE FOR CENTURIES, THE OLDEST KNOWN LIVING SPONGE COULD BE 1,550-YEARS OLD.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: TUBE WORMS(PHYLUM-ANNELIDA) SUCH AS LAMELLIBRACHIA LUYMESI LIVE ON THE FLOOR OF ATLANTIC OCEAN NEAR HYDROCARBON VENTS. THEY TAKE 170-250 YEARS TO GROW.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: TUBE WORMS (PHYLUM-ANNELIDA) SUCH AS LAMELLIBRACHIA LUYMESI LIVE ON THE FLOOR OF ATLANTIC OCEAN NEAR HYDROCARBON VENTS. THEY TAKE 170-250 YEARS TO GROW.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: GEODUCKS(PHYLUM-MOLLUSKA) DATE BACK TO CAMBRIAN PERIOD OR 500 MILLION YEARS AGO, FOUND IN THE US COASTAL SEA WATERS OF PUGET SOUND. ONE OF THE OLDEST ANIMALS IN THE WORLD. IT CAN LIVE FROM 140 TO 160 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: GEODUCKS (PHYLUM-MOLLUSKA) DATE BACK TO CAMBRIAN PERIOD OR 500 MILLION YEARS AGO, FOUND IN THE US COASTAL SEA WATERS OF PUGET SOUND. ONE OF THE OLDEST ANIMALS IN THE WORLD. IT CAN LIVE FROM 140 TO 160 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY:  OCEAN QUAHOG(PHYLUM-MOLLUSKA) ARCTICA ISLANDICA, SALTWATER CLAM CAN LIVE FOR CENTURIES, ESTIMATED AGE 400 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: OCEAN QUAHOG (PHYLUM-MOLLUSKA) ARCTICA ISLANDICA, SALTWATER CLAM CAN LIVE FOR CENTURIES, ESTIMATED AGE 400 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: SEA URCHIN(PHYLUM ECHINODERMATA), STRONGYLOCENTROTUS FRANCISCANUS LIVES IN PACIFIC OCEAN. IT CAN LIVE FOR ABOUT 200 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: SEA URCHIN (PHYLUM ECHINODERMATA), STRONGYLOCENTROTUS FRANCISCANUS LIVES IN PACIFIC OCEAN. IT CAN LIVE FOR ABOUT 200 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: THIS UNIQUE SPECIES OF JELLYFISH(PHYLUM-COELENTERATA-CNIDARIA) AN INVERTEBRATE SEA CREATURE WITH STINGING CELLS KNOWN AS TURRITOPIS NUTRICULA USES A CELL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS CALLED TRANSDIFFERENTIATION AND IT CAN REVERT FROM A MATURE ADULT STAGE TO AN IMMATURE POLYP STAGE AND HENCE MAY HAVE NO NATURAL LIMITS TO ITS LIFE-SPAN OR IT BEHAVES LIKE AN IMMORTAL BEING BY REVERSING ITS AGING PROCESS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: THIS UNIQUE SPECIES OF JELLYFISH (PHYLUM-COELENTERATA-CNIDARIA) AN INVERTEBRATE SEA CREATURE WITH STINGING CELLS KNOWN AS TURRITOPIS NUTRICULA USES A CELL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS CALLED TRANSDIFFERENTIATION AND IT CAN REVERT FROM A MATURE ADULT STAGE TO AN IMMATURE POLYP STAGE AND HENCE MAY HAVE NO NATURAL LIMITS TO ITS LIFE-SPAN OR IT BEHAVES LIKE AN IMMORTAL BEING BY REVERSING ITS AGING PROCESS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: THE WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS, ONE OF ABOUT 350 SPECIES OF CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. SHARKS ARE REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL ANIMALS WITH FEW PARASITES OR DISEASES AND ALMOST NO ENEMIES EXCEPT OTHER SHARKS. THEY ARE LIVING ALMOST UNCHANGED FOR ABOUT 350 MILLION YEARS SINCE THE END OF THE DEVONIAN PERIOD.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: THE WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS, ONE OF ABOUT 350 SPECIES OF CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. SHARKS ARE REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL ANIMALS WITH FEW PARASITES OR DISEASES AND ALMOST NO ENEMIES EXCEPT OTHER SHARKS. THEY ARE LIVING ALMOST UNCHANGED FOR ABOUT 350 MILLION YEARS SINCE THE END OF THE DEVONIAN PERIOD.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: CROCODILES ARE LARGE AMPHIBIOUS REPTILES THAT ORIGINATED DURING THE LATE TRIASSIC PERIOD, 200 MILLION YEARS AGO. DURING THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD, ABOUT 120 MILLION YEARS AGO, LARGE CROCODILES(40 FEET OR MORE) THAT EXISTED MAY HAVE PREYED ON DINOSAURS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: CROCODILES ARE LARGE AMPHIBIOUS REPTILES THAT ORIGINATED DURING THE LATE TRIASSIC PERIOD, 200 MILLION YEARS AGO. DURING THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD, ABOUT 120 MILLION YEARS AGO, LARGE CROCODILES (40 FEET OR MORE) THAT EXISTED MAY HAVE PREYED ON DINOSAURS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: TORTOISE IS THE LAND-LIVING TURTLE SPECIES. THEY ARE IN EXISTENCE FROM THE TRIASSIC PERIOD, ABOUT 200 MILLION YEARS AGO. THIS GALAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE(TESTUDO ELEPHANTOPUS) CAN LIVE UPTO 177 YEARS. THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE NAMED ADWAITA LIVED FOR 250 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: TORTOISE IS THE LAND-LIVING TURTLE SPECIES. THEY ARE IN EXISTENCE FROM THE TRIASSIC PERIOD, ABOUT 200 MILLION YEARS AGO. THIS GALAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE(TESTUDO ELEPHANTOPUS) CAN LIVE UP TO 177 YEARS. THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE NAMED ADWAITA LIVED FOR 250 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: SEA TURTLES ARE REPTILES, AMONG THE OLDEST LIVING GROUP OF REPTILES WHICH HAVE NOT CHANGED IN THEIR APPEARANCE FOR NEARLY 200 MILLION YEARS. IF THEY ARE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED, THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONTRIBUTED BY AGING OR NATURAL LONGEVITY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: SEA TURTLES ARE REPTILES, AMONG THE OLDEST LIVING GROUP OF REPTILES WHICH HAVE NOT CHANGED IN THEIR APPEARANCE FOR NEARLY 200 MILLION YEARS. IF THEY ARE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED, THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONTRIBUTED BY AGING OR NATURAL LONGEVITY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: TUATARA(SPHENODON PUNCTATUM), NATIVE OF NEW ZEALAND IS NOT A LIZARD. THIS SPECIES IS IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 225 MILLION YEARS. IT IS A VERY RARE, MEDIUM-SIZED REPTILE WHICH BELONGS TO THE ORDER SPHENODONTIA. ALL OTHER SPECIES OF THIS ORDER BECAME EXTINCT 60 MILLION YEARS AGO. IT IS CALLED A LIVING FOSSIL. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS MAY LIVE FROM 100 TO 200 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: TUATARA(SPHENODON PUNCTATUM), NATIVE OF NEW ZEALAND IS NOT A LIZARD. THIS SPECIES IS IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 225 MILLION YEARS. IT IS A VERY RARE, MEDIUM-SIZED, AMPHIBIOUS REPTILE WHICH BELONGS TO THE ORDER SPHENODONTIA. ALL OTHER SPECIES OF THIS ORDER BECAME EXTINCT 60 MILLION YEARS AGO. IT IS CALLED A LIVING FOSSIL. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS MAY LIVE FROM 100 TO 200 YEARS. IT HAS A WELL-DEVELOPED THIRD EYE AND A ROW OF SPINES ALONG THE BACK.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: "KOI" ARE ORNAMENTAL, DOMESTICATED VARIETY OF THE COMMON CARP, CYPRINUS CARPIO. THESE FISH HAVE RECORDED LIVES OF 150 TO 226 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: “KOI” ARE ORNAMENTAL, DOMESTICATED VARIETY OF THE COMMON CARP, CYPRINUS CARPIO. THESE FISH HAVE RECORDED LIVES OF 150 TO 226 YEARS.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS, ORNITHORHYNCHUS ANATINUS, A MONOTREME, AN EGG-LAYING MAMMAL OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA. IT IS SEMIAQUATIC, HAS A DUCK-BILL SHAPED MUZZLE WITH NO TEETH, FEET ARE WEBBED, NO EARS, AND COVERED WITH DARK-BROWN FUR. COMBINES FEATURES OF A DUCK, BEAVER, AND OTTER. THEY HAVE SURVIVED SINCE AUSTRALIAN PLEISTOCENE, ABOUT 2 MILLION YEARS AGO.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS, ORNITHORHYNCHUS ANATINUS, A MONOTREME, AN EGG-LAYING MAMMAL OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA AND TASMANIA. IT IS SEMIAQUATIC, HAS A DUCK-BILL SHAPED MUZZLE WITH NO TEETH, FEET ARE WEBBED, NO EARS, AND BODY COVERED WITH DARK-BROWN FUR. COMBINES FEATURES OF A DUCK, BEAVER, AND OTTER. HAS MILK GLANDS TO NOURISH THE YOUNG. THEY HAVE SURVIVED SINCE AUSTRALIAN PLEISTOCENE, ABOUT 2 MILLION YEARS AGO.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - AGING AND LONGEVITY: THE BOWHEAD WHALE OF ALASKA. RIGHT WHALE OR BALAENA MYSTICETUS ORIGINATED IN THE EARLY TERTIARY OR UPPER CRETACEOUS PERIOD ABOUT 70 MILLION YEARS AGO. IT IS THE LONGEST LIVING MAMMAL AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE RECORDED 150 TO 200 YEARS OF LIFE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AGING AND LONGEVITY: THE BOWHEAD WHALE OF ALASKA. RIGHT WHALE OR BALAENA MYSTICETUS ORIGINATED IN THE EARLY TERTIARY OR UPPER CRETACEOUS PERIOD ABOUT 70 MILLION YEARS AGO. IT IS THE LONGEST LIVING MAMMAL AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE RECORDED 150 TO 200 YEARS OF LIFE.

The issue of Life-Span of plants and trees and of Human Life-Span need special consideration. In all animals, where the organism is formed by sexual reproduction, the beginning of life is defined by the formation of the fertilized egg cell or zygote. Very often, physical birth is considered to be the beginning of the Life-Span. The end or death of an organism is reflected in its inability to support its structural and functional organization that gives it a distinctive physical identity. This generation of Life by the union of an egg and sperm is a most remarkable event. In the entire Animal and Plant Kingdom where the organisms achieve reproduction sexually, the Generative Mechanism remains the same and is unchanged over millions of years. This Generative Potential of Sexual Reproduction is unaltered and it describes a most creative process that is involved in the beginning of all living creatures. In my view, the immutability of Life’s beginning is dependent on the Unchanging Principle called Soul or Spirit.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

The Material Basis of Spirituality Science. Aging vs Longevity. Reflections on Life and Death

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 74 -Spiritualism vs Panpsychism. The Unity of Science and Humanities

The Concept of Whole Monad

Spiritualism vs Panpsychism: The Unity of Science and Humanities

What it is to be a Substance? and What it is to Exist? We need to establish knowledge about Man (the Human Species) on a firm basis and the information it provides must be tested for its accuracy and consistency with an external reality. We have to make the fundamental distinction between the living and the non-living matter. The scientific advances of the 19th and 20th centuries reinforced the materialistic position concerning the basic similarity of organic living and inorganic physical matter. Man is viewed as a product of natural evolution and is thought to be subject to the same laws of Physics and Chemistry or mechanistic principles.

We need a methodology to study philosophy and to understand philosophical statements. Logical Positivism, also known as Scientific Empiricism aims to clarify concepts in both everyday and scientific language. It describes analysis of language as the function of philosophy. This analysis of language and of concepts is important to understand questions of belief and ideology which affect what we think we ought to do individually and socially. I use this method of ‘Applied Philosophy’ to analyze the concept of Spiritual Optics, the Spiritual Connection between Energy and Life.

The Laws of Thermodynamics are important unifying principles of Biology. The First Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Spiritual Optics accounts for the capacity of photoreception and the term Spiritual Light refers to the creation of Light by God to begin the designing of Matter described by Physics and Chemistry. I may not be able to discover the Purpose in my Life if I exist in Spiritual Darkness.

Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad:

Spiritualism vs Panpsychism. The Unity of Science and Humanities

The word ‘monad’ means a unit, something simple and indivisible, and refers to unity. In Biology, monad refers to any simple, single-celled organism specifically a simple type of flagellated protozoa or protist. In Biology, the term monad is also used to describe any of the four nuclei formed at the completion of Meiosis, the process of cell division in which gametes such as ovum or sperm cell are produced. In Chemistry, monad refers to a monovalent atom, element, or radical. In Philosophy, monad is an entity or elementary being thought of as a microcosm or ultimate unit. Monadism is the theory that the universe consists of monads.

WholeDude - WholeDesigner - Whole Monad: In Biology, the term monad refers to any simple, single-celled organism such as protozoa like Amoeba proteus. This monad is conscious, and performs intelligent actions. In its structure and function, the harmony is achieved by the vital, animating principle called Spirit or Soul.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad: In Biology, the term monad refers to any simple, single-celled organism such as protozoa like Amoeba proteus. This monad is conscious, and performs intelligent actions. In its structure and function, the harmony is achieved by the vital, animating principle called Spirit or Soul.
WholeDude - WholeDesigner - Whole Monad: In Biology, the term monad refers to any simple single-celled organism such as Chlamydomonas.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad: In Biology, the term monad refers to any simple single-celled organism such as Chlamydomonas.
WholeDude - WholeDesigner - Whole Monad: In Biology, the term monad is used to describe any of the four nuclei formed at the completion of cell division called Meiosis which is the most creative mechanism used during sexual reproduction to create Egg Cells or Sperm Cells which are Monads and have to unite to produce a new, complete human being who will always exist as unique, distinctive, one of its own kind of individual with a genome that never existed before, and will not exist in future.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad: In Biology, the term monad is used to describe any of the four nuclei formed at the completion of cell division called Meiosis which is the most creative mechanism used during sexual reproduction to create Egg Cells or Sperm Cells which are Monads and have to unite to produce a new, complete human being who will always exist as unique, distinctive, one of its own kind of individual with a genome that never existed before, and will not exist in future.

Monadology – The Metaphysical Doctrine of Leibniz:

WholeDude - WholeDesigner - Whole Monad: Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz(1646-1716), German philosopher and mathematician. His theory of monads is shared in his work  'Monadology'(1714).
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad: Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716), German philosopher and mathematician. His theory of Monad is shared in his work ‘Monadology’ (1714). According to Leibniz, the world is composed of atoms of energy that are psychic.

Leibniz is associated with the philosophical theory called ‘Panpsychism’ (from Greek – pan – all and psyche – soul) which asserts that a plurality of separate and distinct psychic beings or minds constitute reality. Panpsychism is distinguished from ‘Pantheism’ (everything is God). According to Leibniz, the world is composed of atoms of energy that are psychic.  These basic elements or atoms are named monads. These monads have different levels of consciousness; in inorganic reality they are sleeping, in animals they are dreaming, in man they are waking. Further, Leibniz asserts that God is the fully conscious monad.

In the metaphysics of Leibniz, the basic constituent element of physical reality is an indivisible, impenetrable unit of substance. Monadology is a metaphysical system proposing that the universe is made of fundamental, indivisible, immaterial, and mind-like units called monads. Because they have no parts, they lack spatial extension, size, or shape, and cannot be divided, created, or destroyed by natural means. Monads are entirely self-contained. Leibniz famously wrote that monads “have no windows through which anything could enter them or depart from them”. Nothing physical or causal passes between them. Each monad is dynamic and reflects the entire universe from its unique viewpoint. They operate via perception (the internal representation of the external world) and appetite (the internal drive or desire to move from one perception to another).He describes a basic order of three things; 1. created monads, 2. souls with perception and memory, and 3. spirits or rational souls. The degree of perfection in each case corresponds to their psychic abilities. Bare/Simple monads: Have only unconscious, obscure perceptions (found in inanimate objects and plants). Souls: Possess conscious awareness and memory (found in animals). Rational Souls/Spirits: Possess self-consciousness, reason, and apperception (found in humans). At the apex of all monads is God, the supreme monad.

Leibniz argued that God programmed every monad from the beginning of time to act in perfect synchronization with all other monads, creating the illusion of direct interaction and mind-body causation. Leibniz tried to reason that everything exists according to a reason and everything which exists has a sufficient reason to exist. He tried to solve the problem of mind-body dualism introduced by Rene Descartes who thinks that the ‘soul’ is distinct from the physical body and its nature is to ‘think’.Leibniz speaks of pre-established harmony that can solve the mind-body problem.

Leibniz opposed John Locke’s theory that the mind is a “tabula rasa”(blank tablet) at birth and humans learn only through the senses. John Locke defined consciousness as a psychological condition. It is described as the perception of what passes in a man’s mind. Consciousness is viewed as a form of relationship or act of the mind towards objects in nature.

Leibniz is regarded as a universal genius and is regarded as a founder of modern science. He anticipated the development of symbolic logic and, independently of Newton invented the Calculus with a superior notation. He attempted to build an institutional framework for the Sciences in central Europe and Russia. At his urging the Brandenburg Society (The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities) was founded in 1700. The purpose of the Academy is that of bringing unity between Natural Sciences and Humanities.

Mind vs Body – The Unity of Science and Humanities:

WholeDude - WholeDesigner - Whole Monad: The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities founded by Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz in 1700. We have yet to establish and describe the reality using words to which a definite meaning is attached.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad: The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities founded by Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz in 1700. We have yet to establish and describe the reality using words to which a definite meaning is attached.

Due to a lack of unity between Natural Sciences and Humanities, we are not able to describe the reality of man, and have failed to describe the reality of this universe using words to which a definite meaning is attached. The universe is build using units such as Matter, Energy, Space, and Time. Man is composed of molecules of matter that is constituted by atoms, and chemical elements like any other form of physical matter. The difference is that of the nature of existence. The physical, non-living matter requires no supply of energy from an external source to maintain its physical existence. The living things that include all “monads” apart from man need continuous supply of energy from the external environment to sustain existence. The atoms and chemical elements of man do have mass and energy and yet that energy is not available for maintaining the living condition.

WholeDude - WholeDesigner - Whole Monad: I would like to describe the fertilized Egg Cell or Human Ovum called Zygote as a "Whole Monad." The entire human organism including the mind, and body is derived by the multiplication of this Single Cell, Single Unit, or Single Element. It is 'Whole' for it has Spirit or Soul that establishes the structural and functional harmony between the cells, tissues, and organ systems of the human being.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Whole Monad: I describe the fertilized Egg Cell or Human Ovum called Zygote as a “Whole Monad.” The entire human organism including the mind, and body is derived by the multiplication of this Single Cell, Single Unit, or Single Element. It is ‘Whole’ for it has Spirit or Soul that establishes the structural and functional harmony between the cells, tissues, organs and organ systems of the human being.

The term ‘Soul’ and ‘Spirit’ is often associated with attributes such as intelligence, consciousness, and mental activity such as thinking and discernment.

The term ‘intelligence’ should not be limited to the cognitive and discerning abilities of mind or brain. If the term intellect refers to the ability to perform intelligent actions, we must consider that all living functions have the characteristics of intelligent actions as compared to mechanical or transitive actions that could be performed by non-living physical matter.

I define the word ‘intellect’ as the intuitive ability with which each individual living cell performs very complex, sequential, guided, purposeful, and goal-oriented selective functions to maintain its own living condition. Knowledge is implanted in the substance called living matter to give it the ability to perform intelligent functions. Leibniz did not recognize the ‘dynamic’ nature of this basic ground or corporeal substance that constitutes Living Matter. This substance maintains its constant, unchanging nature while undergoing a change during its entire period of existence. Life is a dynamic process that involves the repair or replacement and breakdown of its constituent organic molecules and taking immanent action that is called Growth and Development. This dynamic process is influenced by the operation of Time and manifests itself using the dimension called Space.

I describe Lord God Creator as a Whole Artist, Whole Architect, Whole Planner, and a Whole Designer who uses the building blocks of Matter, Energy, Space, and Time in a creative manner to establish the experience of reality such as the man while imposing illusion to conceal the harsh realities of the world using the Force/Power/Energy called The Great Grand Illusion or Maya in the Indian language Sanskrit.

Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Matter and Spirit: If materialism is about the influence of money and material wealth, I would like to use the Power/Force/Energy called Money to talk about Life and Death. The Law of Conservation is applicable to both the living, and the non-living physical matter. For that reason, It can be claimed, Life is neither created nor destroyed. If any person can refute my claim using valid, scientific information, I would give the person a US $1,000 bill as a reward.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

The Material Basis of Spirituality Science. Spiritual Optics. The Unity of Science and Humanities. The Elementary Particles described by Quantum Physics have no consciousness.

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 73 – The Art of Whole Knowing – Whole Intuition vs Whole Mysticism

Which comes First? The Chick or the Egg?

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING THYSELF: WHICH HAS COME FIRST? THE CHICK OR THE EGG? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.

Spirituality Science – The Art of Knowing Thyself:

When I write about Man as a Spiritual Being, the concern is not about glorifying people as saints. The issue is about man’s true or real nature. My theory of Spirituality is about “The Art of Whole Knowing” that can provide tools to all people to know themselves in an objective manner. This is a simple challenge that can be accomplished without forcing people to attend Church or any other place of worship. The Art of Whole Knowing does not involve what most people tend to recognize as spiritual practices such as Prayer, Meditation, Yoga, or Mysticism. The Art of Whole Knowing simply involves training people to know what they know about others or about themselves. It must be noted that Life is essentially a state, a condition, or an act of knowing.

Whole Intuition VS Whole Mysticism:

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : HENRI BERGSON(1859 - 1941), FRENCH PHILOSOPHER, WAS AWARDED THE 1927 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE. HE DESCRIBED INTUITION AS THE HIGHEST FORM OF KNOWING.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: HENRI BERGSON (1859 – 1941), FRENCH PHILOSOPHER, WAS AWARDED THE 1927 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE .  HE DESCRIBED INTUITION AS THE HIGHEST FORM OF KNOWING.

Henri Bergson, French philosopher, Professor at the College de France, was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature. His famous works include Time and Free Will (1889) and The Creative Mind (1934). Bergson’s dualistic philosophy holds that the world contains two opposing tendencies, the life force and the resistance of matter against that life force. The individual knows matter through intellect but through intuition perceives the life force and the reality of time, which is not a unit of measurement but duration in terms of life experience. Bergson considered intuition to be the highest state of human knowing and  held that mysticism is the perfection of intuition. Bergson emphasized the value of intuition in scientific thinking and argued that reality is beyond rational understanding. He formulated a Theory of Knowledge in which intuition plays a central role.

Bergson contended the expansive and creative thrust of Life explained by Darwinian mechanism. Bergson claimed that ‘Evolution’ is creative and is not based upon mechanistic principles. For similar reasons, I shared my arguments to oppose Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. I formulated my theory of ‘The Law of Creation and Individuality’ for all known living things primarily exist as Individuals with Individuality and they have no choice other than that of existing as Individuals. In this article, I would like to recognize “Knowing” as a basic cognitive function and this biological characteristic can be attributed to a popular term called ‘Spirit’ or ‘Soul’. In this context, I would like to interpret Bergson’s views about Knowing, Intuition, Mysticism, and the Reality of Time.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE -  THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DO PLANTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ???  PLANTS KNOW ABOUT LIGHT, THE LENGTH OF DAY, AND THE DURATION OF DARKNESS CALLED NIGHT. THERE IS NO "INTELLECT" INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF KNOWING. THE ABILITY OF KNOWING LIGHT OR PHOTORECEPTION IS EXPLAINED BY PHOTOCHEMISTRY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: HOW DO PLANTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW? PLANTS KNOW ABOUT LIGHT, THE LENGTH OF DAY, AND THE DURATION OF DARKNESS CALLED NIGHT. THERE IS NO “INTELLECT” INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF KNOWING. THE ABILITY OF KNOWING LIGHT OR PHOTORECEPTION IS EXPLAINED BY PHOTOCHEMISTRY.

Intuition provides immediate understanding and it describes the ability to perceive or know things without conscious reasoning. Intuition is about direct knowing or learning of something without using the faculties of mind such as Intellect. The doctrine of Intuitionism claims that things and principles are truly apprehended by Intuition. The doctrine called Ethics describes that fundamental moral principles or the rightness of acts is apprehended by Intuition. In Biology, I would like to use the term Intuition to things apprehended by ‘Innate Knowledge’, the Knowledge that is inherent and not acquired, the Knowledge that is implanted in the Substance or Material called Living Matter. Plants know Light not because of intellectual ability but on account of an innate ability or intuitive power.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, LIFE AND LIVING IS ABOUT KNOWING MATTER AS SELF OR NON-SELF. THIS IDENTIFICATION OF MATTER INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE MOLECULES OF MATTER . TO LEARN THE ART OF KNOWING, MAN HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR EXISTENCE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, LIFE AND LIVING IS ABOUT KNOWING MATTER AS SELF OR NON-SELF. THIS IDENTIFICATION OF MATTER INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE MOLECULES OF MATTER. TO LEARN THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING, MAN HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR EXISTENCE .

To learn the Art of Knowing, man has to know that the physiological basis for existence is dependent upon Innate Knowledge with which the human organism recognizes matter (such as molecules of Oxygen, or energy-yielding molecules of food substances) and further exploits matter and energy to support and maintain its living functions. To the same extent, the human organism defends its own existence by recognizing the molecules as Self or Non-Self. The immune defense mechanisms that the human body uses to recognize viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and other foreign antigens involve the recognition of molecules.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF LIFE ??? CAN MYSTICISM HELP TO KNOW THE HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE ??? WHAT IS THE MYSTICAL INFLUENCE OF TIME THAT DRIVES THE AGING PHENOMENON ???
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF LIFE? CAN MYSTICISM HELP TO KNOW THE HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE? WHAT IS THE MYSTICAL INFLUENCE OF TIME THAT DRIVES THE AGING PHENOMENON?

What is the Mystery of Life? Can Mysticism help to know the hidden truths about Life?  Mysticism is the doctrine about knowing reality through intense contemplation and other secret practices that involve mental concentration. Mysticism is found in several religions of the world. The criteria and conditions for mystical experience vary depending on the cultural traditions, but there are three common attributes of Mysticism : 1. The experience is immediate and overwhelming, divorced from the common experience of reality, 2. The experience or the knowledge imparted by it is self-authenticating, without need of further evidence or justification, and 3. The experience is ineffable, its essence incapable of being expressed or understood outside the experience itself. The focus of Mysticism is not about the physical reality called existence but it is about a direct and immediate experience of the sacred, or the knowledge derived from such an experience. Mysticism is about the practices of those who are initiated into the mysteries, the practice of putting oneself into direct relation with God, the Absolute or any Unifying Principle of Life.  Mystics believe that it is possible to achieve communion with God through their mystic practices. There are two general tendencies in the practice of Mysticism; 1. To regard God as outside the ‘Soul’ which rises to God by successive stages, and 2. To regard God as dwelling within the ‘Soul’ to be found by delving deeper into one’s own reality. Mysticism is extended to Magic, Occultism, and the Esoteric. Magic may involve the use of charms, spells, and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events or govern certain natural and supernatural forces. Occultism is about hidden, concealed, and secret information that could be beyond human understanding. The Esoteric is about confidential, private, or withheld information that is intended for or understood by only a chosen few and as such the knowledge or information is beyond the understanding of most people. The rituals of Mysticism include meditation, prayer, and a variety of ascetic disciplines. If Mysticism is about Knowing the Secrets of Life, it does not demand the learning of Human Anatomy or Human Physiology, or any of the principles of Biology.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DOES THE HUMAN ORGANISM KNOWS ABOUT ITS OWN LIFETIME ??? THE AGING PHENOMENON IS RELATED TO MAN'S PERCEPTION OF TIME. HOW IS TIME CONTROLLING OR OPERATING LIFE EXPERIENCE ???
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: HOW DOES THE HUMAN ORGANISM KNOWS ABOUT ITS OWN LIFETIME? THE AGING PHENOMENON IS RELATED TO MAN’S PERCEPTION OF TIME. HOW IS TIME CONTROLLING OR OPERATING LIFE EXPERIENCE?

Bergson claimed that the Reality of Time is not a Unit of Measurement but duration in terms of life experience. How does the human organism knows about its own lifetime? The human organism experiences the Aging Phenomenon which is related to man’s perception of Time. How is Time controlling or operating life experience? The physical reality called existence is controlled, is operated, or is directly influenced by events in man’s external environment, and the most important change in the environment is the alternating periods of light and darkness called Day and Night.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : THE HUMAN ORGANISM RUNS ITS LIVING FUNCTIONS AS IF OPERATED BY A PRECISE TIMEKEEPING DEVICE OR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK. MAN'S EXPERIENCE OF TIME IS RELATED TO SUN'S APPARENT MOTIONS IN THE SKY. MAN KNOWS THE REALITY OF TIME BECAUSE OF AN ILLUSION THAT CAUSES DAY AND NIGHT GIVING MAN THE PERCEPTION OF SUN'S APPARENT MOTION WHILE CONCEALING THE REALITY OF SUN'S MOTION IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: THE HUMAN ORGANISM RUNS ITS LIVING FUNCTIONS AS IF OPERATED BY A PRECISE TIMEKEEPING DEVICE OR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK. MAN’S EXPERIENCE OF TIME IS RELATED TO SUN’S APPARENT MOTIONS IN THE SKY. MAN KNOWS THE REALITY OF TIME BECAUSE OF AN ILLUSION THAT CAUSES DAY AND NIGHT GIVING MAN THE PERCEPTION OF SUN’S APPARENT MOTION WHILE CONCEALING THE REALITY OF SUN’S MOTION IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.

Bergson may have used the term life force to describe the vital, animating Principle called Spirit or Soul. In my view, Soul is an animating Principle for it is fundamentally related to the functional ability called Knowing. Soul is a vital Principle for it is fundamentally related to the functional ability called Nutrition, the power of a living organism to exploit matter found in its external environment. The functional attributes of Soul are related to Knowledge that is inherent or Innate and not acquired as learned experience. Soul describes man’s intuitive ability to know the fact of his own existence in a given environment and to maintain that existence while experiencing the aging process under the external influence called Time.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : BLAISE PASCAL(1623 - 1662), FRENCH SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER CLAIMED THAT MAN IS INFINITELY REMOVED FROM COMPREHENDING THE EXTREMES ; THE END OF THINGS AND THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE HIDDEN.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF WHOLE KNOWING: BLAISE PASCAL (1623 – 1662), FRENCH SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER CLAIMED THAT MAN IS INFINITELY REMOVED FROM COMPREHENDING THE EXTREMES ; THE END OF THINGS AND THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE HIDDEN .

While writing about The Art of Knowing, I would like to remind my readers that certain things could be hidden from the human perception and man has no ability to know things even if he knows the reality of those things. Blaise Pascal, the French scientist who founded the modern Theory of Probability claims: “Man is a nothing in comparison with the Infinite, an All in comparison with the Nothing, a mean between Nothing and Everything. Since he is infinitely removed from comprehending the extremes, the end of things and their beginnings are hopelessly hidden from him in an impenetrable secret; he is equally incapable of seeing the Nothing from which he was made, and the Infinite in which he swallowed up.”

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE ART OF KNOWING : WHICH HAS COME FIRST ??? THE CHICK OR THE EGG ??? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING THYSELF: WHICH HAS COME FIRST? THE CHICK OR THE EGG? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.

Which came first, the Chick or the Egg? Spirituality Science is not about knowing the Beginning or the Ending of things. Spirituality is about things that exist in the ‘Present’. The Physical Reality of Man’s Subjective and Objective experience of his lifetime is a functional attribute of Soul or Spirit which gives Man the cognitive ability called Knowing. If Devotion is used as a scientific method of Inquiry, ‘The Art of Knowing’ is about Knowing Man as a Spiritual Being. The concern is not about unknown past or future reality. The ‘Truth’ in any given statement must always have correspondence with present external reality.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Amoeba proteus and The Cognitive Science of Spiritualism. To understand the human person as a Spiritual being, we need to know and understand the Spiritual nature of Living Matter or Living Substance and describe its Cognitive abilities.

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 72 – Pain and Compassion

Look Beyond Your Own Pain to experience Compassion

Lord Gautama Buddha states that the experience of sorrow or ‘Dukha’ is unavoidable. If the experience of pain is inevitable, the experience of Compassion is also inescapable. The experience of Compassion gives us the sensation of Sweetness called ‘Madhurya’.

Lord Gautama Buddha claims that pain, suffering, and the experience of sorrow (‘Dukha’) is implicit in Human Existence. There is no escape from sorrow. Fortunately, there is hope. When a man recognizes pain or sorrow in the lives of others, it spontaneously arouses the feelings of compassion, which is described in the Sanskrit language as  Karuna, or Krupa. If pain is a part of human existence, compassion is an instinctive response generated by human nature.

The problem is, man unfailingly recognizes his own pain and sorrow and may ignore the pain and sorrow that is being experienced by others. When I recognize my pain or feelings of sorrow, I may generate a feeling of self-pity and not that of compassion.

Compassion acts like a physical force, power, or energy. It has the ability to uplift man from pain and the experience of sorrow. However, self-pity has no such uplifting power. As a human, I can only use compassion to serve others and not for promoting my escape from pain or mental misery. People who do not recognize this Divine Force of Mercy, Grace, and Compassion often live in a state of self-pity. The instinct of compassion comes into play when man reacts to pain that he witnesses and responds to it. I can only use this force of compassion to serve others and not for securing my own well-being.

Philosophy of Medicine

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

I define Philosophy of Medicine as a systematic study of Physical, Mental, Social, Moral, Rational and Spiritual Dimensions of Man’s well-being in relation to health and disease using reflective methods characteristic of Philosophy.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

Philosophy of Medicine is a systematic study of Man as a Physical, Mental, Social, Moral, Rational and Spiritual Being. I am concerned with the Status of Man in the universe, in his natural environment, in his community, and as an ‘Individual’. Man has come into existence as an Individual and he exists as an Individual according to the Law of Individuality. Man’s existence is defended by his Immune System that deploys unique molecules (polymers) that display Molecular Individualism.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

Unlike Gautama Buddha, I explore the problems of human suffering from my definitions of health and disease. If desire is a causative agent of pain and suffering, I would also explore that connection.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

My philosophical insights would help to make inferences about the purpose and meaning of human life. Philosophy of Medicine is not a ‘Mantra’ or a Magical Word. I am not superhuman. I do not promise miracles.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

Since the human body is constituted by building blocks called Cells, the understanding of Life demands the use of microscope. Philosophy of Medicine while exploring the nature of human existence provides the understanding of the vital connections that establish, maintain, and sustain human existence. Such understanding provides a sensory experience called ‘Madhurya’, a sensation of Sweetness which enables man to function better and overcome obstacles.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

I maintain that Philosophy of Medicine accounts for a bodily experience called ‘Ananda’, a sense of Perfect Happiness, Pure Joy, Bliss, and Contentment. The goal is not Enlightenment or Nirvana. The purpose is that of improving the quality of life and gain the experience of Whole Life.   

What do I get if I respond with compassion?

Any act of compassion, or an act of kindness gives the performer an experience of Joy or Sweetness. It is a physical, and a mental experience. It is a whole body experience. A person who responds to an instinctive impulse generated by the force of compassion accomplishes his task of serving another person without the experience of physical or mental fatigue. The burden of providing assistance becomes light and the task itself provides a sensation of Joy or Sweetness as it is being performed or accomplished. The mind, and body collectively share this experience.

Prayer to acknowledge Compassion:

THE LORD OF SPRING SEASON – LORD MADHAVA WITH GODDESS MADHAVI: In the Divine Song called Bhagavad Gita, Chapter X, ‘The Infinite Glories of the Ultimate Truth’-‘VIBHUTI VISTARA YOGA’ that describes the LORD God Creator’s Infinite Divine Attributes, in verse # 35, Lord Krishna describes Himself as The Lord of Spring Season – The Flowery Season: “Rtunam Kusumakarah.”

Prayer is an acknowledgment of God’s Power/Force/Energy of Compassion, Grace, and Mercy. There is no human existence in the absence of this Energy. All living organisms and entities lead an energy-dependent existence. We exist as energy seekers and we exist because of an Energy Provider. In  good health or sickness, and at any stage of human existence, from conception until death, man is energy-dependent and he has no other choice apart from this Divine Providence. The following is a hymn in Sanskrit language that acknowledges the immense power of compassion:

The “Mukam Karoti Vachalam” is a famous Sanskrit shloka that praises the boundless grace of Lord Krishna (or Madhava) and the spiritual master (Guru), showing how divine mercy makes the impossible possible.

Sanskrit Text

मूकं करोति वाचालं पङ्गुं लङ्घयते गिरिम् ।
यत्कृपा तमहं वन्दे परमानन्द माधवम् ॥

Transliteration (English)

Mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ, paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim |
Yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande, paramānanda-mādhavam ||

Word-by-Word Meaning

Mūkaṁ: A dumb or mute person

Karoti: Makes

Vācālaṁ: Eloquent or able to speak well

Paṅguṁ: A lame or physically disabled person

Laṅghayate: Makes leap or cross

Girim: Mountain

Yat-kṛpā: By whose mercy or grace

Tam ahaṁ vande: To him, I offer my respectful salutations/bow down

Paramānanda-mādhavam: Lord Madhava (Krishna), who is the embodiment of Supreme Bliss.

Overall Meaning

“I offer my humble salutations to that Lord Madhava, the embodiment of Supreme Bliss, by whose Grace a mute person becomes eloquent in speech, and a lame person is able to leap over mountains.” 

The person described as mute (Muukam), and Disabled (Panghum) in this prayer is not me. It is the other human being whom I recognize as mute, or handicapped. I can recognize the pain, the condition, or the physical state of this person even while he is speechless. I am empowered to gain information as if the mute person is able to communicate fluently the information about his condition. In practical terms, the mute person is transformed into a person who can speak effortlessly (Vaachalam). Similarly, the handicapped person who cannot walk or climb, overcomes all obstacles and will be able to cross over the hills (Girim). The man afflicted by disability need not walk. I am empowered by compassion and I would lift him and move him over the obstacles in his path. This prayer motivates me to use the uplifting force of compassion. While I am not physically strong or powerful, the energy of compassion lightens my physical burden and makes the task easier for me to complete without over stretching myself. The Divine Providence is identified as ‘Paramananda Madhava’. Ananda means Joy or Happiness. Paramananda means Great Joy or Perfect Bliss. The Lord gets the name of Madhava as the personification of His Energy of Compassion is described as Madhavi. Madhavi is a word derived from ‘Madhu’ which means honey, nectar, or sweetness. The Lord is always accompanied by His Energy, His Consort Madhavi. When Lord Madhava applies this Force called Madhavi, the experience would impart a sensation called ‘Madhurya’ or Sweetness in the person who is the beneficiary and also in the benefactor who is acting on behalf of the Lord in response to the instinct called compassion.

During Indo-Pak War of 1971, in the conduct of military operations in Chittagong Hill Tracts, we had experienced a sense of Joy called Madhurya. Myself, and a team of about 65 soldiers had medically evacuated our battle wounded soldiers carrying them in improvised stretchers. We had covered a total distance of over eighty miles in less than 24 hours which included a night halt. None of us had experienced sore feet, leg cramps, muscle fatigue, or mental anxiety or irritation. The patients also remained in a stable condition in spite of blood loss, and painful injuries.

Pain tolerance and Pain resistance:

The Art of Battlefield Medicine demands adequate Pain management. Pain aggravates circulatory collapse/SHOCK caused by blood loss. Transportation of critically injured battle wounded persons also aggravates the pain sensation. By providing care and comfort, by treating wounded persons with kindness, and compassion, I had recognized that I could manage their pain with minimal use of narcotics or other medications used in pain relief. Compassion exerts a positive influence and alters the perception of the pain sensation. Under the influence of compassion, man learns pain tolerance.

People have various degrees of pain tolerance. I have practically experienced that by providing care, and comfort, by treating people with kindness and compassion, I can increase their physical capacity to tolerate pain. The beneficiary, and the benefactor who serves with compassion, both equally experience a sense of Joy and tend to become Pain Tolerant and Pain Resistant. Compassion has a quality and it gives the man a capacity to tolerate and resist  a far greater amount of physical, mental, and emotional pain as compared to an individual who has not experienced the force of compassion.

Advantages of Pain tolerance and Pain resistance:

King of Pop, Michael Jackson died unfortunately as a consequence of an inappropriate use of a pain killer. His pain was not managed in a manner that could have avoided this tragedy.

The person who is Pain Resistant or Pain Tolerant would not need high doses of pain killers. Such Pain Tolerant persons would not use drugs to alter mood or to elevate mood. The Pain Resistant person would not use recreational drugs like alcohol, tobacco, or other chemical substances. He is not prone to the problems of Drug Addiction or Drug Abuse and Drug Dependence. He would not need drugs to relieve Anxiety, or Depression as he is not likely to be susceptible to states of mental anxiety or mental depression. He would not routinely use drugs for pain relief as the body has made psychological adjustments for its level of pain perception . We need to know people who depend on drugs to live their lives. If Michael Jackson is alive, he would tell us about his drug-dependent human existence. There are millions of such human beings who live using drugs and they would be only experiencing self-pity. If we recognize the Force of Divine Providence called Compassion, we could help people and help them to live a life without drugs.

The difference between Self-Gratification and Compassionate Service:

Self-gratification would provide a man with an experience of sensual pleasure. It is a pleasing and enjoyable experience while it lasts. The problem is that of addiction. The mind, and body would demand more and more of such sensual pleasure experience. Without further self-gratification, man becomes miserable. The experience of Joy or Sweetness associated with Compassion is not addictive. It would not lead to compulsive behavior and would not contribute to Behavioral Disorders. We need to address this issue of pain and its experience. Our aim should not be that of providing maximal pain relief using drugs. We need to serve people experiencing pain invoking the force of compassion and transform their lives and make them pain tolerant and pain resistant while enjoying the sense of Pure Joy and Sweetness inherent in service with Kindness and Compassion.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 71 – The Whole Experience called Life

Whole Experience – Pain and Joy are Two-Sides of the Same Coin

SIDDHARTHA – GAUTAMA BUDDHA ( c. 563 to c. 483 BC ):”Whatever is born, produced, conditioned, contains within itself the nature of its own dissolution.”

This Lesson is dedicated to Lord Gautama Buddha known as Siddhartha (“He who will Accomplish”)   

( The photo image of Lord Gautama Buddha belongs to Ms. Ewa Serwicka. www.dalekoniedaleko.pl

Prince Siddhartha got married at age 16 leading a life of luxury and comfort in a royal palace. While he took a fateful chariot trip outside the palace, for the first time in his life, the young prince witnessed irremediable suffering in the form of physical disability, sickness, old age, and death. He left the palace at the age of 29 leaving behind his young wife and an infant son. After 6 years of ascetic life, while meditating under a pipal tree (later called ‘Bodhi’ or Tree of Enlightenment), he became Supreme Buddha (c.528 BC) and preached his first sermon at Sarnath and continued his preaching until his death 49 years later. The Full Moon Day of the month of May or Vaisakh is celebrated as ‘Buddha Purnima’. He outlined his doctrine of the Four Noble Truths; 1. Suffering or Dukha, the experience of grief is implicit in Existence.

My Philosophy of Medicine reviews the Buddhist Doctrine of Dependent Origination of Pain and Suffering

2. Suffering has a cause – the Doctrine of ‘Dependent Origination’ – suffering is the result of one’s desires for pleasure, power, and continued existence.

My Philosophy of Medicine reviews the Buddhist Doctrine of Dependent Origination of Pain and Suffering

3. Suffering can cease (stop desiring). 4. Cessation of suffering can be brought about by the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path; Right Views, Intentions, Speech, Conduct, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration. Buddha preached to his followers, known as ‘Sangha’, the True Law or Dharma. He described a three-part scheme of Buddhist life which combines 1. Initial Faith or Saddha, 2. Training in concentration or meditation called Samadhi, and 3. Ethical and Disciplinary practices called Sila. Unlike Jesus Christ, Buddha never performed miracles. He was not superhuman. He did not restore life to any dead person. He did not restore vision to any blind person. He did not restore the hearing ability of any deaf person. He did not restore the ability of speech of any mute person. He did not miraculously heal any sickness or cured bodily disabilities or infirmities.

Gautama Buddha believed that the greatest miracle was to explain the truth and to make a man realize it.

Philosophy of Medicine. The experience of joy, happiness, or ananda is as real as the experience of pain, suffering, grief and misery.

In my analysis, Gautama Buddha did not realize the truth about man and the world in which he exists. Apart from suffering or dukha, the experience of grief, the experience of Joy, Ananda, Happiness, and Bliss is implicit in human existence. The nature of dependent or conditioned existence does contribute to feelings of sadness, fear, anxiety, and depression. But, man does derive satisfaction, satiation, and contentment in his living condition and does experience joy, particularly when he recognizes that his mortal existence is made possible because of his unity or yoking with an Everlasting Principle.

Pain is unpleasant sensory and emotional experience but serves as a protective mechanism

Philosophy of Medicine. Gautama Buddha’s Doctrine of Dependent Origination of Pain is fundamentally flawed for it fails to recognize the usefulness of pain sensation to protect human existence.
My Philosophy of Medicine reviews the Buddhist Doctrine of Dependent Origination of Pain and Suffering. The Sensory Experience of Pain, the neural pathways.

Gautama Buddha’s doctrine of dependent origination to account for pain, suffering, and the experience of grief or human misery is fundamentally flawed.

Philosophy of Medicine. Medical interventions investigate the underlying causes and mechanisms of the pain sensation reported by man.

Most medical interventions investigate the underlying causes and mechanisms of pain sensation experienced by man and successfully reduce the pain or even totally eliminate it depending upon its cause.

Philosophy of Medicine. Gautama Buddha’s recommendation to stop desiring continued existence is flawed for it goes against the fundamental characteristics of Living Matter or Living Substance which perpetuates its own existence using its powers of motion, nutrition, and reproduction.

Gautama Buddha’s recommendation to stop desiring to treat the problem of human pain, suffering, and misery goes against the fundamental characteristic of all living things. All living things have the desire to exist and perpetuate their living condition using the power of motion, nutrition, and reproduction. Since the time of its origin, Life has never ceased to exist and continues to exist in spite of the various recorded major and minor extinction events.   

Philosophy of Medicine:   

I define Philosophy of Medicine as a systematic study of physical, mental, social, moral, rational and spiritual aspects of man’s well-being in relation to health and disease using reflective methods characteristic of Philosophy.

I define Philosophy of Medicine as a systematic study of Physical, Mental, Social, Moral, Rational and Spiritual dimensions of Man’s well-being in relation to health and disease using reflective methods characteristic of Philosophy.

I define Philosophy of Medicine as a systematic study of physical, mental, social, moral, rational and spiritual aspects of man’s well-being in relation to health and disease using reflective methods characteristic of Philosophy.

Philosophy of Medicine is a systematic study of Man (Human Species) as a Physical, Mental, Social, Moral, Rational, Spiritual, and Created Being. I am concerned with the Status of Man in the universe, in his natural environment, in his community, and as an ‘Individual’. Man has come into existence as an Individual and he exists as an Individual according to the Law of Individuality. Man’s existence is defended by his Immune System that deploys unique molecules (polymers) that display Molecular Individualism.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

Unlike Gautama Buddha, I would explore the problem of human suffering from my definitions of health and disease. If desire is a causative agent of pain and suffering, I would also explore that connection.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

My philosophical insights help to make inferences about the purpose and meaning of human life. Philosophy of Medicine is not a ‘Mantra’ or a Magical Word. I am not superhuman. I do not promise miracles.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

Since the human body is constituted by building blocks called Cells, the understanding of Life demands the use of microscope. Philosophy of Medicine while exploring the nature of human existence provides the understanding of the vital connections that establish, maintain, and sustain human existence. Such understanding provides a sensory experience called ‘Madhurya’, a sensation of Sweetness which enables man to function better and overcome obstacles.

Pain and Compassion – Philosophy of Medicine

I maintain that Philosophy of Medicine accounts for the bodily experience called ‘Ananda’, the experience of Perfect Happiness, Pure Joy, Bliss, and Total Contentment. The goal of Philosophy of Medicine is not Enlightenment or Nirvana. The purpose is that of improving the quality of life and gain the experience of Whole Life.   

“VAIDYO  NARAYANO HARI”   

Philosophy of Medicine. The natural healing process is a divine gift.

Physicians are able to provide preventive, curative, restorative, and rehabilitative services because of the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. The repair process by which body heals itself is described as Inflammation and Repair. Human existence is possible because of these valuable, protective, natural healing mechanisms. This process and these mechanisms are not under a man’s voluntary control.

Philosophy of Medicine. The natural healing process is a divine gift.

Indian thinkers claim that the Physician (Vaidya) is equal to Lord God known as Narayana, or Hari. It does not imply that a physician could be superhuman or could perform miracles. A physician understands the natural mechanisms that assist healing and he could use them and manipulate them to provide a remedy or cure. Physician could aim to get connected to the divine gifts of healing that already exist and could seek a better outcome while treating a sick or injured person. The mechanism and the natural process could be identified as Divine.   

Medicine  and  Faith:   

LORD RAMA – Indian Tradition claims that His name acts like a Medicine to cure the sickness or problems associated with Human Existence.- “Sareere jarjaree bhuuthe, vyaadhigraste kalebare, Aushadham Jahnavee toyam, Vaidyo NarayanO Hari.”

The problems of disease, sickness, and disability associated with human life should not come as a surprise. The verse quoted in the above caption states that human body naturally experiences age related decay, deterioration of function, and is prone to infirmities.  The verse further mentions that human body is subject to sickness or disease. Medicine is viewed as the equivalent of the sacred waters of Ganga or River Ganges. Indian Tradition believes that the waters of Ganga are holy and could wipe away man’s sins and cure his spiritual sickness. Similarly, the Doctor of Medicine could administer medicine or provide medical intervention invoking the Divine Power of Ganga and qualify himself to be known as Lord Narayana or Hari. It suggests that the Physician should seek positive motivation while prescribing a medicine and the patient should be inspired to believe in the efficacy of that medicine. In any case, the avoiding or preventing a negative outcome would be of equal importance in real life. When the natural healing process is considered as a divine gift, all medical interventions begin with a prayerful thought to invoke the blessings of healing.  

The threats and challenges to human existence:   

Adi Shankaracharya cautions people, when Death knocks on the door, be prepared for the inevitable consequences :”Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Muudha mate; Sampraptey Sannihitey kaale, nahi, nahi Rakshati dukrun karane.”

The threats and challenges to human health and well-being come from several directions. Tragically, very healthy individuals may sometimes succumb to injury or sickness. The causative factors of several diseases still remain a mystery. There are several medical conditions which are well-known and well understood but they have no proper remedy or cure. There are medical situations where the only choice that is available would be that of seeking Divine Mercy, Grace, and Compassion to tolerate pain and suffering with patience while supporting other living functions. 

‘Sarve Santu Niramaya’ –  Freedom From Disease and Sickness:   

The Motto of Indian Army Medical Corps is 'SARVE SANTU NIRAMAYA' - MAY EVERYBODY LIVE IN PERFECT HEALTH AND BE FREE FROM SICKNESS.
The Motto of the Indian Army Medical Corps is ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya’ – May all people live in Perfect Health seeking Freedom From Sickness. The Motto seeking Freedom From Sickness and Grief for all practical purposes aims to overcome the Buddhist Doctrine that emphasizes the inevitability of experiencing Pain and Grief as a consequence of Human Birth.  

The Motto of the Indian Army Medical Corps is ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya’. This is an idea expressed in the Upanishads. The hymn appears as a benediction to invoke ‘Peace’ and hence it is known as a ‘Shanti Mantra’. The Motto seeking Freedom From Sickness and Grief for all practical purposes aims to overcome the Buddhist Doctrine that emphasizes the inevitability of experiencing Pain and Grief as a consequence of Human Birth.  

The Motto seeking Freedom From Sickness and Grief for all practical purposes aims to overcome the Buddhist Doctrine that emphasizes the inevitability of experiencing Pain and Grief as a consequence of Human Birth.  

May everybody be blessed with happiness (Sukhinah), May everybody live in perfect health free from sickness (Niramaya), May everybody be assured of well-being , lead a life that is safe and secure (Bhadrani), and May there be no mental thought that could arouse sorrow or grief (Dukh bhaag).   

The Motto seeking Freedom From Sickness and Grief for all practical purposes aims to overcome the Buddhist Doctrine that emphasizes the inevitability of experiencing Pain and Grief as a consequence of Human Birth.  

Philosophy of Medicine will explore all these concepts and arrange the information into a meaningful pattern and interpret it to describe the reality of the health status. The purpose of Medical Science is to describe and codify observations and experiences. My service in the Indian Army Medical Corps provided me the insights to understand and define Good Health and my goal is to keep people in Positive Health.   

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Philosophy of Medicine. The diagnosis of good and positive health is more important than the diagnosis of ill-health.

 

Philosophy of Medicine – Lesson. 70 – The Phenomenon of Illumination

The Source of Illumination + The Object of Illumination + The Observer of Illumination

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - LIGHT OF LIGHTS - THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE LIGHT IS THE SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION. THE KNOWLEDGE IS THE OBJECT OF ILLUMINATION. THE MIND IS THE OBSERVER OF ILLUMINATION. THERE IS UNITY BETWEEN THE SOURCE, THE OBJECT KNOWN, THE KNOWER TO MANIFEST THE PHENOMENA OF KNOWING.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE LIGHT IS THE SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION. THE KNOWLEDGE IS THE OBJECT OF ILLUMINATION. THE MIND IS THE OBSERVER OF ILLUMINATION. THERE IS UNITY BETWEEN THE SOURCE, THE OBJECT KNOWN, THE KNOWER TO MANIFEST THE PHENOMENA OF KNOWING.

I am pleased to share an article titled “Light of Lights” published by Dr. Sarvepalli Anantha Padmanabha Rao, M.S. who served for many years as a Professor of Surgery, and as the Director of Medical Education in the Government of Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Services.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS: THE KNOWER – THE KNOWING-SELF : TO KNOW MAN, THE SELF, SOUL, SPIRIT, OR ATMAN AS THE KNOWER OF BODY IS THE FIRST STEP IN MAN’S INQUIRY ABOUT SELF. THE KNOWLEDGE WILL HELP AND GUIDE MAN TO REACH HIS DESTINATION USING HIS BODY LIKE A CHARIOT.

It is important to know the views shared by traditional thinkers of India. In my analysis, the Indian Schools of Thought such as Advaita (Non-Dualism) have formulated their theories about true or real identity of Self (Atman) without considering the physiological or biological basis for hosting a thought about “Self” (Atman) that may have an independent existence while it is totally detached from the Body, and Mind of its thinker. While Mysticism is a part of various religious traditions, I am asking my readers to seek “Whole Illumination” by investigating and by exploring the basis for man’s existence in the natural world. Any such investigation, explanation, or clarification would come to a conclusion to assert that man needs association, partnership, relationship, bonding, cooperation, assistance, patronage, Yoking, or Unity with a source of Energy that exists in man’s external environment. Man cannot maintain the fact or the reality of his physical existence using introspection, meditation, or contemplative prayer which could be of use in illuminating man’s “Inner World” and provide him “Inner Vision”, a vision or illumination that describes the Identity of man’s true or real “Self” (Atman) and its perfect, complete, and wholesome Divine Nature.

The Phenomenon of Illumination – The Phenomenon of Knowing:

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - LIGHT OF LIGHTS - THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE ILLUMINED MIND KNOWS THE KNOWER, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE ILLUMINED MIND KNOWS THE KNOWER, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.

The term illumination describes lighting or light. It is often used as the act or process of making something clearer or brighter or as a device for doing so. The word ‘illuminating’ or ‘illuminated’ is often applied to a clarification or explanation that sheds light on a subject that needs careful interpretation of information. In Physics, illumination is about the intensity of light per unit of area; the luminous flux per unit area at any point on a surface exposed to incident light. It is also called ‘Illuminance’. However, in Biology, the phenomenon of Illumination requires the study of Optics, Photoreception, and Photochemistry. The biological processes that involve the response of a living thing to the Light stimulus need to be stated as Photochemical Reactions which is energy dependent and involves the use of chemical energy provided by molecules of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

The Phenomenon of ‘Illumination’ in Biology requires the operation of three conditions; 1. The Source of Light or Lighting, 2. The Object that is Illuminated, and 3. The Observer who has the Sensory Perception called Vision, or the ability called Photoreception to acknowledge the phenomenon that is observed. Using the nature of photochemical reaction that is observed, living things can be broadly classified into two kinds; 1. Plants that respond to Light stimulus to trap its radiant Energy but have no Sensory Perception called Vision, and 2. Animals (man included) that have the Sensory Perception called Vision but do not have the ability to trap the Light  Energy. For human existence, we need all those three conditions, 1. The Sun as the Source of Light, 2. The Plants that trap the radiant energy of Sunlight using their ability called Photoreception, and 3. Man or Purusha who uses the ability called Sensory Perception or Vision and interprets that Light is God.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - LIGHT OF LIGHTS - THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : FOR MAN TO DESCRIBE HIS EXPERIENCE CALLED VISION, OR INNER VISION, APART FROM A SOURCE OF EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL LIGHT, NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE VITAL FUNCTION CALLED BREATHING(PRANA) THAT ESTABLISHES MAN AS A BREATHING LIVING THING(PRANI OR PRANAVANTA).
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : FOR MAN TO DESCRIBE HIS EXPERIENCE CALLED VISION, OR INNER VISION, APART FROM A SOURCE OF EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL LIGHT, NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE VITAL FUNCTION CALLED BREATHING (PRANA) THAT ESTABLISHES MAN AS A BREATHING, LIVING THING (PRANI OR PRANAVANTA).

The above picture image of a verse from Brihadaranyak Upanishad 4:5:11 helps us to understand the nature of the vital function of Breathing and Respiration which is the physiological mechanism that man uses to oxidize food substances and derive energy which he further uses for his physical and mental work.

If Vedas and Holy Scriptures are seen as the Source of knowledge, the transmission of that Knowledge involves the use of Breathing. If “Knowing” is compared to the phenomenon of ‘Illumination’, the act of Knowing will only be possible if there is Unity between God, the Source of Knowledge, Knower, the Individual called “Jeeva” who performs all his living functions because of the Knowledge implanted in his substance that makes him a Sentient or Sensible Thing, or establishes him as the “Knowing-Self.” The natural phenomenon of Life and Living can be defined as ‘Knowledge in Action’.

In Indian tradition the “Self” or “Atman” is the source of Inner Light that illuminates the entire human body. I am suggesting that the Light called Self or Atman illuminates by making it possible for a man to maintain his connection with an external source of energy present in the environment even while man may find perfect Identity with God through the process called Inner Vision, Introspection, Meditation, or Contemplative Prayers with an attitude of “Whole Detachment” with all things present in the external world.

I like the presentation “Light of Lights” for it nicely explains the thoughts of Shankara. However, I have noticed that the author did not provide clarification, or explanation for the final sentence, “Tat Asmi PrabhO.” It simply describes the Unity (Asmi) between Man or Real Self (Tat) and Lord (Prabhu).

The man’s ability of Sensory Perception called Vision, and the ability of Inner Vision are of secondary importance as Existence depends directly on the act of Breathing and the Lord or Prabhu provides Knowledge for performing that act of Breathing. The True Self or Atman illuminates me if it is connected to Lord or Prabhu, the Original Source of Light.

Cellular respiration is a set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and then release waste products.

Dr. Rudranarasimham, Rebbapragada, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Father’s Name: R. Suryanarayana Murty, M.A., B.Ed.,

Sri Venkateswara University, M.B.B.S. Class of April, 1970

Andhra Pradesh Medical Council Medical Registration Number: AMC5282; Date of Registration: September 16, 1971

Light of Lights, by Dr. S.A. Padmanabha Rao, M.S., Former Director of Medical Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Services

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS - THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : DR SARVEPALLI ANANTHA PADMANABHA RAO, M.S., PROFESSOR OF SURGERY, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : DR SARVEPALLI ANANTHA PADMANABHA RAO, M.S., PROFESSOR OF SURGERY, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

http://advaita-academy.org/blogs/sarvepalli.ashx#

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE - LIGHT OF LIGHTS - THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE DIVINE SONG CALLED THE BHAGAVAD GITA ILLUMINATED THE MIND OF PRINCE ARJUNA WITH KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOURCE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE DIVINE SONG CALLED THE BHAGAVAD GITA ILLUMINATED THE MIND OF PRINCE ARJUNA WITH KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOURCE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE.

Light illumines manifold objects in varying degrees of darkness; that is its property. Sources of such light may be external or internal to us. Examples of the former class are well-known, such as Sun, moon, fire, various kinds of lamps etc; The latter class, the internal, would be the psychic apparatus of man, comprising the sense organs, intelligence, intuition and above all the transcendental ‘Oversoul’ of R W Emerson the American philosopher. Vedanta too subscribes to such a transcendental super-conscious entity, illumining all, comprehending all and all-encompassing supreme Brahman. Flashes of intuition reveal discoveries which remain obscure prior to such overpowering experiences. Archimedes, crying out ‘eureka – eureka’ and Newton, when the apple fell and the law of gravitation revealed are instances of such intuitions . A deeper mental cloud prevents one from knowing who one exactly is in the ultimate analysis.

There is, in Greek mythology, a river named ‘Lethe’ whose waters, when drunk, would make the drinker profoundly forgetful.. One would forget, who one was, the ‘whence and wherefore’ of one’s own very self. A great philosopher likened our human predicament, to such a state of congenital amnesia, in which we lost our moorings, our “original innocence” as it were. Nescience is the technical term used for this state of primordial ignorance, which is said to cover one’s wisdom, ‘like smoke shrouds the fire or as dust sullies a mirror or as the womb envelops an embryo’ as th bhagavadgiitaa puts it. This is the ultimate darkness which needs for its dispelling, no less a light than that of the ‘Lord’, quoted in the GITA chapterXI-12 ever so stunningly – “if the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth in the sky all at once, that might resemble the splendour of that exalted Being” – nothing short of an ‘apocalypse’, as it were, a revelation, of something not previously known or realized. Oppenheimer, the nuclear physicist, whose name is associated with the first atom bomb and who was a witness to its detonation.was so awe-struck at the sight that this line of the gItA chapter XI-32 flamed in his mind ” I am the full-blown, the all-destroying Time “. It was an indubitable intimation from the depths of his being and not much later, his intuitive insight was proved right, by the nuclear holocaust, the mayhem and the destruction at Hiroshima and Nagasaki it was cataclysmic in proportion

To Sankara, that transcendental spiritual genius, is ascribed a one-stanza poem, by name, ‘ekashlokI’. In it, is encapsulated the pith, the quintessence of the celebrated “mahAvAkya’s or the four great Vedic statements, called as such in the Advaita Vedanta. They are culled one from each of the four Vedas those statements or rather ‘truths’ are

a) ” praGYAnam Brahma, (Rigveda) pristine consciousness is Brahman.

b) ayam aatmaa Brahma (Atharva veda) – consciousness in all its apparent transformations is Brahman,

c) “tat tvam asi” (Samaveda)- You are, in essence, that consciousness, the eternal nitya, the unsullied shuddha, the fully awakened buddha, and unfettered – mukta ; the corollary follows that you are not the ignorant embodied jiiva, which you imagine you are.

d) (“aham Brahma asmi ” (Yajurveda) I am indeed that all-encompassing consciousness

It is with considerable trepidation that I have dared to translate the ‘mahaavaakya’s for fear that they may suffer the ‘noble transmutation from gold to lead’, in the process.

The order in which they are recounted here is not the temporal order in which they occur in the veda but they seem, to me, to be the order adopted by Sankara in this small ‘upadesha’ work, namely, the ekashlokii ’ As will become clear in the sequel, what is attempted here is not a word-for-word translation of the Sanskrit texts, not even a paraphrase but rather an unfolding of the traditional thought couched in the highly compressed poem.

Before reproducing the Sanskrit verse, a short anecdotal account of the poignant scenario in which it is set, would be well in order, One might be tempted to ask ‘why only one verse-an ‘ekashlokI? Had not Sankara composed his shatashlokI of hundred verses and his upadesha sAhasrI of thousand teachings ? After all, what were the extenuating circumstances? As though in answer to such questions, a story is recounted thus: Sankara, on one of his peregrinations, chanced upon a spiritual aspirant who was in the throes of death. bemoaning his fate of his having to die before he could get his ‘beatitude’. The compassionate master had empathy with the man’s plight and knowing well the shruti declaration that “he who departs from this world without realising the ‘axara‘, the Imperishable entity, is a veritable wretch a ‘kRRipaNa“, the master devised for him the shortest discourse and the ‘ekashlokI was the result. The verse was composed in a frisky meter named ‘shArdUla vikrIditam’ which has four quarters of 19 syllables each, to enable him to pack all the punch at his command, in a single stanza. This imaginative story illustrates the truth that, when an exceptional master and a pupil desperately thirsting for the ‘saving wisdom’ come together, spiritual enlightenment can not be far behind.

The poem runs as follows :-

Spirituality Science – Light of Lights – The Phenomenon of illumination
kiMjyotistavabhAnumAnahanimeraatraupradiipAdikaM.
syAdevaMravidIpadarshanavidhaukiMjyotirAkhyaahi me.
cakShustasyanimiilanAdisamayekiMdhiirdhiyodarshane.
kiMtatrAhamatobhavAnparamakamjyotistadasmiprabho.

Unless the composition is split up at the right places, it would seem baffling at the first sight, to a beginner. The piece is in the form of a catechism or what in modern pedagogy would be called a ‘one on one’ interactive session. There are five question-answer pairs, one affirmation and one authoritative live-wire exhortation of the teacher and a final total concurrence, by the disciple, after his instant transformation. We shall now proceed with what may, euphemistically, be termed an exegesis of the verse. As will be seen in the sequel, what is attempted here is not a word-to-word rendering in to English, nor even a mere paraphrasing of the work; it is rather an attempt to enter to, and to bring out the traditional import of this Vedantic composition, to the extent my limited faculties permit. Much pertinent digression from the text has been indulged in, in the exposition.

The break up of the verse, is as follows :-

Q 1 :kim jyotih tava ? – what is your illuminator? By this question, the teacher is trying to ascertain a ‘baseline’, as it were, of the pupil’s understanding so as to lead him thence to higher levels. This was a well established methodology of spiritual instruction in the days of yore. It may be noted here that the question is a general one with no adjuncts of time or place specified. The student however thinks the question pertains to daytime and to things within his visual range.

A: bhhaanumaan ahani me – The daylight of the Sun sir. This answer establishes that the seeker has his vision riveted on the external objects – the out-going vision, the so-called ‘paraak pasyati’ concept of the KaThopaniShad.

Q 2 : raatrau ? what after Sun-down ? what illumines then ?

A: pradiipa aadikam– light of the various kinds of lamps which includes illumination from the moonlight, bonfires, lighted torches et cetera; it may be noted that the field being covered is still the outer world.

Affirmation : syaad evam. rightly so my dear; here the guru seems to be saying to himself “ Oh my! your answers are correct as far as they go; but they do not go very far. Here is the next question:

Q 3 Ravi diipa darshana vidhau kim jyotih ? Akhyaahi me – Now tell me what enables you to visualize the objects so illumined by the Sun, the lamps etc.Here the preceptor is shifting focus from the outer to the inner world of the mind. Even the sun, the lamps etc. stand in the relation of visible objects to the perceiving eye.

A: caxuH– “My eye, sir, is the perceiving light in this context” Now the student is made to understand the eye as the window to his inner cognitive apparatus – the mind.

Q4 : tasya nimiilana adi samaye ? If your eyes are shut, what then? The reasons for the shut-down may be many; one may choose to turn a blind eye like Nelson or to give a more noble example, one may actually be blind like Helen Keller. ‘ The word aadi’ in the Sanskrit original in the above question may include a legion instances The guru is taking the student in to deeper waters here, to turning his mind’s eye inward and enable him to watch the gyrations of his own mind

A: dhiiH, sir, it is my intellect that provides me the illumination necessary for my purposes, I can think thoughts that would navigate the scenes for me

Q 5: dhiyaH darshane (kim) ? you are right again my son! But thought is like a spring or a fountain. There must be some faculty to get to its mainspring its source as it were What ultimate light is it that stands as a ‘witness’ or ‘sAxI’ as it is technically termed, to your cognitive equipment?

A: ‘tatra aham ’ sir, Shorn of the baggage of all acquired accretions, appurtenances and appearances – in short, of all objective super-impositions I stand in all my majestic aloofness, and isolation (kaivalya). as ‘Myself’.

The great spiritual warrior in Sankara has finally drawn the bitterest foe of his pupil -‘the beginning-less spiritual ignorance’ to the edge of the precipice. with a view to pushing it over to its final annihilation. With a solemn and apocalyptic, coup de maître – a masterstroke, he is going to deliver the final push the student would be led to his beatitude meaning perfect blessedness or happiness. In devising this stepwise instruction Sankara has trodden the path of the ancient sages, established for ages. The famous dialogue between the sage YaaGYavalkya and Janaka the king in the BRRihadaaranyaka Upanishad chapter iv-3, the kaTha Upanishad III-10 as also the Bhavadgiitaa chapter III-42 have laid down the same rising hierarchical levels of consciousness viz – sense objects, sense organs, intelligence, intellect and the highest of all the PuruSha- the non plus ultra, higher than Which there can be nothing. To use the those very Sanskrit words pregnant with proven meaning – proven to mystic seers of all creeds and climes in their deepest visions down the millennia – saa kaashThaa, saa paraa gatiH. THAT is the summum bonum the last post

And what may that stupendous, staggering declaration be ? Let us see that in the next line:-

THE FINAL PUSH: ataH bhavaan paramakam jyotiH Therefore my child, you are verily that Light of lights, which the Vedanta asserts in stentorian voice and peremptory tone- tat tvam asi – THAT THOU ART. It is not the denoted dictionary meanings of the words of the scriptural testimony that will bring the peace that passes understanding but the inner experience of the truth which is transforming in nature.

The finish : tat asmi prabho !!! Oh my master I am indeed that Light of Lights because I have just experienced that ecstatic mystic state, by your bounteous grace. It is another matter that the experience of that state can communicated in words only after descending somewhat from those Olympian heights. But at all events he has been raised to that dizzy altitude of sage-hood, the memory of which shall stamp its hallmark on every thought word and deed ever-after.

LIGHT OF LIGHTS – “TAT ASMI PRABHO” – FIFTH MAHA VAKYA BY DR. SARVEPALLI ANANTHA PADMANABHA RAO.