Understanding "Understanding" - The Myth and the Mystical

Previous Posts:
The How and What of Brain

The Myth and the Mystical:

A fundamental question remains unanswered. While we have mentioned earlier that along with ego and identity, consciousness of existence too arises very much in the brain. So what is Consciousness?

I shall summon the well respected Philosopher J. Krishnamurti for the answer. Consciousness as he would define is nothing but Content. The degree of consciousness gives us awareness. The extent to which we are aware helps us in observation and therefore detail. If we can negate our conditioning and continue to exist in a state of perennial consciousness, now that is Being Siva, The Lord from the Indian Myth. I am reminded of a quote in the film, Karate Kid,

 There is a difference between being Still and doing nothing.

Many people attribute being still as being lazy. There is a disorder called "akinetic mutism" where the subject suffers from blankness with no thoughts and frozen in time. They detach themselves from any kind of work and totally lack concentration and focus. But Being Still is an altogether different business. There is constant negation of conditioning and this process is totally different from denial or neglect. There is continuous perception and each perceived thought is received as objectively as is by negating the conditioned reasoning of our intellect. There is no conception of thought out of conditioning and is negated by the same way as it is done for perception. Everything can be accepted and raised to that state by constantly negating our conditioning thereby our limited ego and identity. Please note that, Intelligence from experience and Know-How is not negated. 

Consciousness certainly evolved as organisms evolved. Darwin would attribute it to random mutation where as Wallace, the twin scientist and the less known Founding fathers of evolution would argue, how random can the traits for intricate arts, Complex Mathematical abilities could have evolved? The genes get mutated in random is an assumption and is commonly accepted. May be the assumption is wrong and everything happens in a deterministic fashion yet elusive to Human Mind.

Such is how common moral imperatives evolved into law of the land. To quote Thomas Henry Huxley,

"What we call rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify our instincts"

In any art, there is a sense of elevated consciousness in the performer and admirer. There is no objective minute by minute calculation, yet the archer hits the bull's eye by just focusing on the mind. Everything and Every action must be elevated to this highest state of complete action. Just in tune with the rhythmic tune of universal consciousness. In other words, in sync with the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja.

Conclusion:

I was surprised to find out that apart from neglect and denial, the most surprising defense mechanism of our brain is Humor. Grimace, A little smile evolved for threatening and asserting control and to negate the same, Humor evolved. It eases the tension and provides a amicable environment for the group to function.

Brain holds onto the illusion of control on the self and group to assert, lead, manage. But, the notion is just to satiate the ego and provide coherence. You can train yourself to accept the decontrolled objective reality of human insignificance in this grand cosmos and yet function with 100% efficacy. In fact, that is the only way to attain 100% efficacy.

Brain is amusing and magical because even when some circuits are poorly developed, it allows to provide some thing else in abundance that makes the whole world drop their jaws in awe and wonder. For example, take Savants who suffer from deteriorated Mental and physical health yet stand out unique in some of their talents.  Refer Top 10 most fascinating Savants in the world

It is very difficult yet only reasonable cosmic purpose is that the universe in it's process of creation have blessed us with consciousness to comprehend the universe and stand as a witness to it's grandeur. Just like looking ourselves in a mirror and admiring, Universe is looking at itself through us. We must raise ourselves to look ourselves in the Universe and Universe in us.

All Said, Living is jolly good fun for living's sake. There goes a famous quote by our well known Anonymous Philosopher,

"Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun."

So, Don't miss it.!


References:

Phantoms in the Brain by V.S Ramachandran
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman
A Wholly Different way of Living by J.Krishnamurti
Theory of Everything by Stephen Hawking
Philosophy: Who needs it? by Ayn Rand
What do you say after you say Hello ? by Eric Berne
Introducing Carl Gustav Jung by Maggie Hyde and Michael McGuiness
God does not Play dice by David A Shiang
Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra
Code name God by Mani Lal Bhaumik