September 8, 2024, 11:52 AM IST
The human pursuit to understand the nature of things has been eternal. Approximately 2,500 years ago, this quest for knowledge split into two disciplines: philosophy and science. At that time, India was the wealthiest country, and Takshshila was the world’s largest university, attracting scholars from all over the world.
The credit given to Thales of Miletus as the father of modern science may be due to Western bias or the result of 1,000 years of oppression in India by invading cultures. Regardless, it is fascinating to note the convergence of modern science and Indian philosophy after 2,500 years. This topic was thoroughly explored by Fritjof Capra in his 1975 book, The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism. I highly recommend it.
In matters of health and psychology, medical science is still trying to catch up with Ayurveda and the teachings of the Upanishads and Geeta. If it weren’t for the greed of the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries, we might have seen the light many decades ago.
The power of prayer has also gained acceptance within the scientific community. That you pray is important; who you pray to is irrelevant. What matters is that your mind becomes flooded with a sense of reverence and gratitude. Feelings of gratitude trigger the release of the oxytocin hormone which decreases blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, and speeds up the body’s healing processes. To illustrate this point, I will share my favorite couplet from Sant Kabir:
“Dukh me sumiran sab karen, Sukh me karen na koi ,
Jo sukh me sumirun kare, dukh kahe ko hoi.”
“Everyone prays when they are unhappy.
No one prays when they are happy.
Those who pray when they are happy
Never experience unhappiness.”
This verse is often misunderstood because we attribute *sukh* (happiness) to material gain, leading to disappointment when those material gains do not materialize. We often forget that we seek material gain only because we believe it will bring us happiness, and its absence will cause unhappiness. Happiness is our true goal. When we pray in the true spirit, seeking nothing but happiness, it comes to us naturally—like a five-year-old who, after feverishly chasing a butterfly, finds it gently resting on his hand once he sits down tired.
My humble suggestion is that when you pray, never ask for material gains; simply ask that the results (outcomes) lead you to the path of happiness. Similarly, if you are blessing someone, wish for them to find happiness in whatever life has in store for them. Do not say, “May your wishes come true,” because in their ignorance, they might wish for material gain, which may or may not bring them happiness.
When we pray with a sense of gratitude, the release of oxytocin in our body brings happiness. This creates a positive feedback loop, encouraging us to pursue this path more strongly. When we change our diet to a plant-based whole food (PBWF) approach, start intermittent fasting, and walk 10,000 steps a day, changes occur not only in our body but also in our psyche. Plant-based whole foods are what Krishna refers to as *Satvic* in the Geeta. Satvic foods bring forth Satvic thoughts, which are positive and promote happiness by releasing the “happiness hormones.”
When we engage in action for the sake of action, without attachment to the outcome, the process of acting becomes joyful because there is no anxiety about the result. Whether we reach the target or not becomes secondary. When our sole focus is on achieving the target and we miss it, we feel disappointed and miserable, which negatively affects our health. This is the essence of the teachings of the Geeta, beautifully summarized in verse 2:47:
“कर्मण्ये वाधिका रस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्म फल हेतु र्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्व कर्मणि॥
Karmanye vadhika raste, Ma phaleshu kadachana,
Ma karma phala hetur bhurma te sangotsva karmani”
“You have a right to work only, but never to any results thereof (fruits of action). You should never be motivated by the results of your actions, nor should you be attached to inaction (laziness).”
When it comes to our children, we often advise them, “Enjoy the game and play your best; it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose.” Yet in our own lives, we often forget this advice.
Power of Concentration
A common question is: why should I meditate? Why should I spend 20 minutes each morning concentrating and thinking about nothing? This is a valid question for a newcomer who has not yet experienced the power of concentration. Professor Martin Seligman, the President of the American Psychological Association 25 years ago, raised a valid question: why are psychologists only studying psychotics, maladjusted people and not well-adjusted, happy people? His work focused on happy people, leading to the development of a new field of psychology called “Positive Psychology.”
Another psychology professor, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, conducted extensive research on this subject and interviewed many of the most successful people across various fields. He wrote a book titled Flow, named after a famous music composer who described a state of “flow” experienced while conducting a challenging symphony. In this state, he became so engrossed that he felt beyond his body, with his hands moving automatically. This book is worth reading, as it explains why deep concentration brings maximum happiness. Coming from Western scientists, this explanation adds validity to the experiences our ancestral masters must have felt when writing the Yoga Sutras, the Geeta and the Upanishads. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, he discussed the eight limbs of yoga, with the sixth limb being *Dharana*, which means concentration. Deep concentration leads to meditation, and deep meditation leads to *Samadhi*, a state of bliss where one’s consciousness transcends the body.
In 1969, when I was at IIT Kanpur, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi came to give talks on Transcendental Meditation and initiated some of us who were interested. It had a profound effect on me and instilled a lifelong habit. Please watch the linked video summarizing some of the benefits of meditation- https://youtu.be/wXsxwIJnUJk
Share and get 15% off!
Simply share this product on one of the following social networks and you will unlock 15% off!