Chapter 15 Science and religion, Chapter 16 What is religion? Chapter 17 Vitals of a nation.

Chapter 15 Science and religion.

We learned about the four stages of the development of human intellect. In the Age of perception or The age of Gazing, we see things but do not ask questions. In the Age of observation, we are asking questions and looking for causes. These causes need not be linked by any logic, they could be mere superstitions. In the Age of scientific inquiry, we find causes that are linked by data, facts, and logic. The final stage is the Age of Contemplation, when we are asking questions beyond what we can link by directly verifiable logic. We start asking questions about the giver of the natural lows and the creator of the Universe etc.

These four stages need not be four periods in history. These stages can coexist as new areas of observations start their journey through these stages at different times.

Chapter 16 What is religion.

Religion is a combination of ritualism and philosophy.  Philosophy gives religion a purpose, a meaning. Ritualism gives religion a structure which makes it possible to pursue its goals. Without its philosophy religion is nothing but superstition.  Without ritualism religion is madness. 

Even other areas such as science have its philosophy, and its ritualism.

Chapter 17 Vitals of a nation.

Economics, scientific progress, and politics form the backbone of a country. However, by themselves they do not define a nation. A nation needs a common cause. A nation needs a sense of discrimination amongst its people towards its actions. Philosophy explores this purpose and when philosophy is translated with practical living it becomes religion.

A nation is comprised of individuals and the nature and texture of their mental equipment determines their nature and in turn the nature of the nation. Religion works on the minds of individuals and by inculcating good values, helps improve the nation.

Blog post contributed by SD

Chapter 14 Harmony and Poise Chapter 10: Mechanism of Action

Chapter 14 Harmony and Poise

Today, human beings live in an age of confusion and tension. External challenges persecute an individual and make life full of agitation and sorrow. Therefore, to bring about success and joy in life, the only way left is to control the subjective confusions and intelligently develop one’s inner equipment to face difficult situations. The life of harmony can be lived by rising above our limited egocentric view, and expanding our mind to accommodate a constant awareness of the totality of the world, the entirety of mankind and the vastness and wholeness of the universal problems. To merge one’s individual life with the resonant cadence of the whole is to bring about a harmonious and happy existence.

-MS

Chapter 10   MECHANISM OF ACTION

Our desires and thoughts are rooted in our vasanas. Our vasanas decide what we pay attention to and what catches our eye. The vasanas determine our actions too. However, human beings have the unique opportunity to override the vasanas with self effort. Vasanas are like etchings on a Gramophone record. The song that comes out is what is already etched out. However , we can erase and recarve the etching , but only with persistent effort.

 The great seers looked inwards and paid attention to minds activity and analysed the source and movement of thought and action. The above image shows the mechanism of action originating.

Sensation/ Contact :  Our senses perceive the world. If we are alive we perceive. We might look at a rasgulla and look at the shape , color etc. We might appreciate that they are well made. Or look at a sunset and appreciate. Nothing wrong.

Thought:  After a fraction of second of gap, thought comes in. It creates an image of us eating and enjoying the rasgulla. Or maybe it comes in creating an image of us enjoying the sunset everyday. 

As soon as the image is formed, desire to fulfill the image is born and ready.

      4. Once the desire is born, it will dictate our actions. It becomes the goal.

If we pay attention we can catch the gap before thought comes in to talk to us or create the image. Just paying attention to it gives us the power to delay the thought. If this happens, then we control the thoughts and hence the desire and not the other way around. Just the experience that this is how desire moves in itself is an achievement. We persistent effort we can extend that gap and not become slave of desires.

Meanwhile our vasanas are the ones that determine how our senses perceive and also how thoughts move. But if we can pay attention and increase that gap, the vasanas will get weaker and weaker. Just like camphor burns itself out to leave nothing but fragrance, our vasanas will burn out leaving the divinity within us.

Contributed by RV