The mind of our making

 Thought is powerful. By nurturing a positive thought, we can face life bravely.

I remember as a child, I used humorous poems and rhymes to distract me in moments I might’ve felt some fear. As I grew up, I learnt to face difficult  situations by reading powerful books, meditating, doing lots of outdoor activities etc. I also learnt that every trial is an awakening call. I realized that by changing perceptions in a productive way, one can face life better.

For many years, scientists believed that the brain was a static structure and after a certain age, it cannot be changed.

But now medical research from Harvard medical school, University of Illinois and others have shown that the structural brain and its ability to form new neural pathways are two very different things. While it’s true that there are structural changes in the brain just as there are in the body, it doesn’t mean that it can’t ’grow’ new capabilities. This ability of the brain to change, offers  hope to anybody at any stage of life. It is proved that brain is not fixed, it is dynamic and adaptable. It is known today as ‘Neuroplasticity’.  It means the brain can change,  grow capabilities, reorganize its structure and connection throughout life, by learning and gaining new experiences. 

Plasticity means to be flexible, to rewire. And neuroplasticity refers to that quality.  It is indeed a great discovery of modern science. 

The ancient system of Yoga, which is a combination of Asana (physical postures) , Pranayam (life force control) and Meditation ( concentration of mind) help to rewire our brain in a unique and powerful way. Physical postures enhances blood flow and rebalances the nervous system, and also improves balance in the body. Pranayama regulates life's energy and makes our energy body whole. Meditation creates mental clarity and enriches our perceptive capacity. 

Neuroplasticity may be activated by learning a new language, a new skill like playing a musical instrument, or navigating through new adventures. Also brain games like chess , scrabble etc can improve Neuro plasticity. 

Many ancient practices in Yogic science promote the birth of new neurons in our brain, which are vital for our memories and perception.  

As we all tread on the path to being older , we must try to activate neuroplasticity in our daily lives to retain and develop the one unique capacity that can be shaped outside of the limits of the body. The mind. Unless  we learn to be masters of our own mind, we will always be the victim of circumstance. And aging.

Though Paramhansa Yogananda lived much before this modern term Neuro plasticity entered the main stream, he always believed that only with focused thought and will power, rewiring of the brain power is possible. As he said, "if you want to be sad, no one in the world can make you happy. But if you make up your mind to be happy, then no one on earth can take that happiness from you"

 .As being the flame of infinity, we all have that power. The Neuro plasticity of our mind is in our hands, only we need determination and will power to activate it.

Expressions are born of impressions

While growing up in Santiniketan, I was much inspired by Tagore’s poems on Buddha. 

Remembering Buddha’s consecration ceremony at Sarnath, Tagore dedicated this poem to him. “ O serene, O free in thy immeasurable mercy and goodness, wipe away all dark stains from the heart of this earth “. A big fresco painting of a meditative Buddha, surrounded by demonic figures (depicting anger, lust, greed, hate, etc.), was painted in the main hall of the Chinese study center (China Bhavan) of Santiniketan. My child mind questioned how one can retain calmness and serenity while being threatened by such demonic distractions. 

Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha and grew up in a luxurious life. But at a very young age, upon observing the harsh realities of sickness, aging, and death, he renounced his princely life and embraced the hard life of a monk to find out the truth of life. After becoming an enlightened soul, he prescribed the eightfold path for all to be happy. They are: Right view, Right thought, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right knowledge, and Right meditation.

To remember more easily, these eight steps are grouped in three categories, and they are as follows: Wisdom, ethical conduct, and Mental discipline. Wisdom tells us to see things as they are, to view their impermanence and interconnectedness. Secondly, ethical conduct focuses on right speech (not lying, no harsh words), right action (not stealing, not harming, no sexual misconduct), and it also prescribes right and honest actions to make a living. And lastly, mindfulness prescribes developing the power of concentration and mindfulness through meditation. Buddha’s formula prescribes that only we can save ourselves with our own efforts. 

Appreciating practical and rational approach of Buddhism, Einstein  rightly  said, “If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism “

As a young girl, when I visited Bodh Gaya and was blessed to sit under the cool shade of the same Peepal tree (Bodhi Briksha), where Buddha became an enlightened soul thousands of years  before. The Peepal tree is a unique tree whose branches touch the ground to become secondary roots. The sun and the soil in a singular cycle of energy that powers the long life of the Peepal tree and the luxury of life it affords all in its shade. The universal principles of Buddhism are quite similar in that they can be applied to inner meditative states as much as the outward expression of how to live well in this world. 

These days when I open the morning news paper, or T.V, I find only disturbing news of violence, crimes and wars, which  tell me to open a chapter of Buddhism again. Though Science and technology has brought much comfort in modern life, it has failed to bring peace, harmony and good will. It is time to connect the founding principles of inner peace and clarity with external expressions of it.

The yoga of me and you as one

21st June is celebrated as International Yoga Day. The Sanskrit word “Yoga “ means union. Its relevance seems to be significant in today’s life. 

The first authentic description in “Yoga Sutra”, written by sage Patanjali in 200 B.C. In that book, he wrote about eight essential steps to follow to achieve enlightenment in life. As a flower bud gradually opens its petals to spread its fragrance all around, so too each person has the potential to blossom in many ways in life through the sincere practice of Yoga. 
Those prescribed eight steps are as follows: 1. Yama, practice of social ethics, 2. Niyama, practice of self-discipline, 3. Asana, practice of physical postures, 4. Pranayama, practice of mindful breathing, 5. Pratyahar, the practice of withdrawing the mind from outside stimuli, 6. Dharana, Practice to focus the mind inward, 7. Dhyana develops uninterrupted concentration, 8. In the final stage of Samadhi, one dissolves individual consciousness into Universal consciousness. 

Yoga Science was brought to the West by great saints such as Swami Vivekananda, Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Rama, and many others more than 100 years ago. Western rational mind accepted Yoga only when they saw its miraculous results proved by scientific tests and often with perfect breath control, masters could demonstrate the union of body and mind through meditation, breath control and its manifestation on heart rate, as a starting point . Now Yoga is whole heartedly accepted by all and  many great western Yogis are inspiration for all in today’s world. 

My first encounter with Yoga was through a dramatic performance that lit up a lifelong interest in yoga. As a young girl I went to see a Yoga demonstration by students of the famous yoga Guru Bishtu Ghosh, (his student Manotosh Roy  had become world famous as the first Asian Mr. Universe). In that show, a young student named Reba Rakshit, had an elephant walk over a plank across her chest while she held her breath using pranayama. Also with her powerful concentration, she could pierce a row of balloons hanging a far distance behind her by their reflection in a mirror in front of her.  These are all good, but we must stay focused on the spirit of Yoga and that is to feel oneness with all. That goal is beautifully expressed in these few lines of Tagore’s song, “ I must meet you, not in solitude; you are mine where you are with all. Love spreads like light, and O my beloved, where you belong to every one, there you belong to me “(Geetabitan) .

The superscience of energy

 In the deep silence of night, when we look at the starry sky or sit by the sea, watching the rise and fall of waves in the ocean, our hearts fill with peaceful tranquility, which comes down as blessings from God. Nature always transmits this life-giving energy to all living beings on this earth, helping us live, think, and act in many creative ways.

Throughout the ages, scientists, philosophers, poets, and spiritual masters have tried to understand this mysterious life-giving energy using whatever tools of understanding they had, and to use it in many different ways.

Scientists termed this energy “Electromagnetic energy,” commonly referred to as E.M.E. It was first discovered by a Danish physicist in 1890. Interestingly, in the animal world, sharks have sensors for this energy in their snout, which helps them detect even subtle muscular movements from a long distance and catch their prey easily.

In today’s world, by harnessing this energy, scientists have invented many useful devices that have made life more comfortable in many ways. The list is endless, like smartphones, TVs, microwaves, etc. Even medical diagnostic equipment, like ultrasound, MRI, CT scanners, etc., operates using E.M.E.

All living beings receive this vital energy, free of cost, from nature, like sunlight, pure air, water, earth, and space. that provides this life-giving energy to all living beings on this earth.

Unfortunately, the flow of this vital energy is being disturbed by many faults of our wrong lifestyle. Overpopulation, usage of plastic, emissions of harmful gases, and frequent wars are all causing not only a threat to individuals' existence, but also increasing anxiety and creating vibratory imbalance in the ether and in the whole world.

So time has come to think, how to solve this problem with deeper understanding.

Spiritualist and philosophers suggest that, before trying to change the world, first we must change our own  attitude from negativity to positivity. As each oceanic wave has tremendous unseen power to bring water from mid sea to the shore, like that, every individual, with his positive and constructive thought can bring a significant change all around. We only radiate that energy which we possess. Yogananda righty said, “change your thought if you want to change your circumstances". As a beautiful flowering tree from a tiny hidden seed under the soil, each  positive and constructive thought, energised by Yoga, meditation, and compassion can create wonders around us. Long back, Tagore visualising this disharmony, wrote, “The world today is wild with the delirium of hatred, …crooked are its paths, tangled it’s bonds of greed…, Thou giver of immoral gifts, ..give us the power of renunciation, and claim from us our pride. ..Wipe away all dark stains from the heart of this earth.”(Geetabitan).

May Bengal reclaim it's past glory

Experiences from early life never fade away; often, like a distant fragrance of a wildflower. Though I spent most of my life outside Bengal, the nostalgic memories from my early life there still inspire me. Historically, Bengal was a forerunner in many fields, such as social reform, the freedom struggle, and education. It was a culture steeped as much in science as arts and literature. High intellectualism coexisted with high spirituality. This could be seen in books and inventions as much as it was rendered through folk songs in the 'Baul' tradition. As a great social reformer around India's independence, Gopal Krishna Gokhale once rightly said at the time, “What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow".

Bengal’s history is deeply intertwined with the mother cult. Throughout the ages, it showed profound respect for female divinity as the ultimate source of power. Women were viewed as the manifestation of this divine force. Great saints like Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, and many others worshipped matri Shakti through Durga and Kali pujas. Even young girls were worshipped as manifestations of divine feminine energy. It was a social duty to respect and protect their honour. Unfortunately, over time, Bengal lost its former glory and began to break the norms of a civilized society in many ways. Violence and physical assault on women became rampant, factories closed, the standard of education came down, and as people started migrating to other states to make a living, illegal migration from neighboring countries became rampant.

But as people never lost hope, a beautiful line of Shelley  floated in to my mind, “ If winter comes , can spring be far behind.” Recently , A miraculous change was brought by people, who decided to throw away the present  corrupt government , and replaced  it by  welcoming  a new promising one. I was inspired to read an inspiring story about an insignificant poor woman , reported casually in the daily news paper - Kalika Majhi, the poorest of the poor and a domestic maid, offered her free service for election work towards achieving change in Bengal. Her dedicated, selfless service was noticed, and the political party she volunteered for named her as a local candidate for election, which she won , and is now a member of the legislative assembly. She didn't have the money to buy a new sari to wear and so her kind employer, presented her a beautiful new sari to put on for her auspicious oath taking ceremony. 

Many such inspiring people like her are still there in Bengal - people who can blossom if inspired. In years past, this unbreakable spirit of Bengal was beautifully expressed in the few lines of a patriotic song written by Tagore ,  “ The soil, the water, the air of Bengal may be blessed….Homes , trades, forests and fields of Bengal may be satiated…. The souls, the thoughts of brothers and sisters of Bengal may unite , oh my Lord “

The recent political change in Bengal after decades of corruption and decay inspired me to think again about Bengal’s glorious past, the economic,political, and social turmoil of the present, and also the rainbow of possibility to meet the aspirations of the downtrodden people of Bengal, for a better future that reflects its past.

The technology of peace is truth

All through the ages, wars have been declared by the old and rich, where the young and the poor fight and lose their lives. The damage done can never be fixed later. Wars are never declared out of ignorance, but always to fulfil self interest and greed. It is surely not a pursuit of a civilized mind, where money is spent to invent devices to kill each other and have no time to work on how to bring peace. Referring to this shortsighted mindset, Albert Einstein said that, “ I know not with what weapons world war 3 will be fought, but world war 4 will be fought with sticks and stones.

All through the ages, the cause behind any war is human greed, hatred, and anger. With greater technology and brainpower, men could invent bombs to bring the world to pieces, but were unable to develop the feelings of the heart to bring peace.

Referring to global problems (climate change, inequality, and conflict), the Dalai Lama recently said that they cannot be solved by technology alone and require a shift in consciousness. It is true that with the help of science (artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and other powerful technology), men can live physically much better, but unless human values are not developed from early age, life can never be peaceful. As Buddha said, “Mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred and jealousy. It is a treasure box to keep love, happiness, and sweet memories.”

Ancient Indian civilisation and it’s major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism), always emphasised the balanced development of head and heart, and enshrined as the only way towards the true progress of humanity. Unless these ethical values are imparted to young minds, we can never expect future generations to have a healthy body and mind.
Ancient Indian texts such as the Rig Veda and Upanishad (originated in 1500-800 BCE), also refer to the universal law of Karma. It says every soul is free to make any choice. But whatever energy a person puts in to the world (positive or negative), will become the domain that person person inhabits. Like a mirror, each thought, word and action is reflected back to create our own reality. So it is essential to know the importance of humility and an open heart. Only with money power and superior technology, no nation can progress much, and one must willingly embrace the wisdom of old civilisations to our own benefit. 

Truth is like a pole star that always shines through the ages and doesn't differs based on location and time. As human beings we may be angry sometimes, but it is not okay to be cruel. Abraham Lincoln rightly said, “the best way to destroy an enemy, is to make him a friend “

Life is simpler than we think

There is a Bengali proverb, which says,” people can endure hardship and struggle more, only on a full stomach. “( Pete khele pithe soi). So the consumption of good food is the first priority for a good life. Today's problem isn't having too little food but having too much of it, and perhaps not the healthiest kinds.

Human nature is complex, but food plays a key role in shaping individuals. Someone who is upset will often eat emotionally, typically potato chips, ice cream, chocolate, etc. Foods laden with sugar and simple carbohydrates release glucose immediately, creating a 'high'. A plate of fruits or green salad doesn't quite seem as appetizing to such a person. So the link between our mood and our food choices is quite easy to observe. Constant and abundant consumption of such foods can be a cause of many common ailments of our time - heart disease, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases, early aging, chronic pain, etc., connected to obesity. So, in effect, an unbalanced mind will crave an unbalanced diet, and a mentally unhealthy world is also a physically unhealthy world. 

Medical research has now established a clear link between high intake of red meat and processed meats and increased rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, premature death, etc. At an energetic level, meat retains the vibration of pain and fear of dying animals, and can destroy the equilibrium of the human body, mind, and environment eventually. This is why Buddhists choose to follow a vegetarian diet. Bhagavad Gita establishes that, “in every living being there is spirit soul" (chapter 14 verse 4).  So the view that human life has great value and animal life does not is largely a western idea. It is now well established that natural foods like raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, lentils, dairy proteins, all have a harmonious and strengthening effect on human body, mind, brain cells and intelligence. 

The formula for having good health, depends much on the right combination of proper diet, exercises, (physical and breathing), practice of meditation to increase the power of concentration, and elimination of negative feelings etc.
As body and mind are closely related and are governed by the soul, so they all have to work in harmony. A cheerful , positive and courageous mind  can easily cross over many hurdles of life easily. As another popular proverb says, ”there is no nourishment like happiness” (Khushi Jaisa khurak nahi.).

Hearty laughter is like a sunshine - it brightens any situation and all who are exposed to it. It can drive away gloomy dark cloud instantly. Unfortunately, in today’s high tech world, a hearty laughter is rare to find among an apparently well-connected world. Paramhansa Yogananda says, "when one is joyful within, he invites the help of the inexhaustible power of God....A genuine smile distributes the cosmic currents, (prana) to every body's cells." 

A happy man is less subject to disease.
And the formula to stay happy  and healthy is to live simply. Dream big. Be grateful. Give love, and laugh a lot.