The 20th century has been an age of science.
Since H.P.B. wrote Isis Unveiled and The
Secret Doctrine in the latter part of the
19th century, there have been major revisions
in nearly all departments of modern science. Though
the time-tested Occult teachings remain the same,
modern science. is in a state of flux. It is important
for students of Theosophy to know in what direction
the race-mind is tending and how the leaven of
Theosophy has been working, transforming the world
of thought. In this column, a small attempt is
being made to acquaint readers with what the scientists
and thinkers of today are saying and doing.
The Natural Science section in the journal The
World and I keeps nonspecialist readers abreast
of developments in the field of science. In its
May issue, the essay "Milestones of Twentieth-Century
Science and Technology" offers a schematic
overview of some of the important advances made
during the past century and their impact on our
lives. V. V. Raman, emeritus professor of physics
at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester,
New York, dwells on the idea that knowledge of
and control over nature that humanity has gained
can have profound consequences for both benefit
and harm:
The twentieth century will be remembered for
consciousness-raising and scientific/technological
breakthroughs. This century made racism a shameful
practice; recognized gender oppression as a
social evil; proclaimed human rights as transcending
race, caste, and religion; pleaded for international
economic justice; began to celebrate diversity
and to care for the disabled; and condemned
exploitation of the young. It released millions
from colonial shackles and established world
organizations in which free nations join to
solve problems of food and health, promote trade
and education, and resolve political differences
through discussion.
The twentieth century also made more scientific
discoveries, introduced more technologies, and
launched more assaults on the environment than
all previous time spans combined.
The author's bird's-eye view of some of the milestones
in science and technology include: changing concepts
of space and time, of matter and energy; the undisputable
evidence of multiple billions of stars strewn
throughout the vastness of space; understanding
DNA and the secrets of the gene, which has opened
up undreamed- of possibilities for manipulating
organisms; penetrating the innermost depths of
matter and coming upon a whole new microcosmic
world of atoms, electrons, quarks and the like;
identifying the specific roles of different parts
of the brain; seeking to unscramble the mystery
of consciousness. So much for pure science. Milestones
of science in action include not only the use
of countless cars and trucks and jets, but also
the development of rocketry and missions both
to distant planets and beyond our solar system.
Advances in telecommunication made possible telegraphy,
radio, TV, videos, computers, artificial satellites,
lasers, etc. Efforts to prevent and cure diseases
have led to the discovery of new drugs. Harnessing
of nuclear energy has proved a double-edged sword.
Computers and the Internet have transformed civilization.
With all this, the twentieth century has also
created stupendous problems and a perilous passage
lies ahead, warns the author:
A population explosion in the face of diminishing
oil reserves and farmable land, environmental
pollution through automobiles and industrial
effluents, perilous nuclear wastes, depletion
of the rain forests: These are challenges of
great magnitude. Then there are social and human
problems, ranging from ethnic hatred and religious
bigotry to poverty and malnutrition. So, though
there is much to look forward to in terms of
new technologies, increasing economic opportunities,
interplanetary adventures, and possible cures
for deadly diseases, we will be living in a
fool's paradise if we are indifferent to the
problems that will face mankind in the decades
ahead.
The possibilities are immense and unpredictable,
for the good and the bad….Recognizing these
possibilities, let us join hands in our efforts
to induce the positive and snub the negative
potentials. Now, as never before in human history,
we feel we are all passengers in the only spaceship
we have. Fortified by the knowledge and power
that come from the science, we may build on
the finer values and wisdom of the ages and
make our planet an even more rewarding place
to be.
Knowledge and power wisely used can prove beneficial
to humankind; misapplied, they can bring destruction
and misery in their wake. Only the future will
reveal what direction it will take.
The philosophy of Epictetus,
as presented in his Manual, is simple and
direct-e.g., his psycho-spiritual analysis of
the nature of happiness and the way to attain
it. Arvind Nagarkar writes in The Times of
India (May 23):
Is true happiness attainable in this world
of strife? Yes, says Epictetus, provided the
mind is trained by rigorous discipline to adhere
to certain basic spiritual principles.
According to Epictetus, happiness is the "ongoing
dynamic performance of worthy deeds." The
secret of happiness lies in having an enlightened
attitude and response to external events and
people's behaviour. The springs of happiness
are, therefore, not outside of us but lie within
us.
Happiness is built on the fundamental knowledge
of what is within our control and what is not.
On analytical reflection we find that the mind
alone can be brought under our control. Everything
else, the world of events and people's behaviour,
is beyond the scope of our control. Any confusion
between the two results in misery. We will be
less miserable if we learn to come to terms
with the truth that what is beyond our control
will happen, whether we like it or not-so it
is better to recognize this and remain unperturbed,
fully cognizant that there are certain things
in this world that we cannot exercise control
over.
It then becomes our paramount duty to control
the mind and practise total unconcern to externals.
"When something happens," says Epictetus,
"the only thing in your power is your attitude
toward it; you can either accept it or resent
it." To accept an event is to rise above
it; to resent is to be overpowered by it. With
acceptance comes happiness; with resentment,
misery.
Acceptance of an event is not to be mistaken
for a life of passivity or submission to fatalism
characterized by laziness and a sense of helplessness.
"Simply doing nothing does not avoid risk,
but heightens it." Epictetus exhorts us,
therefore, to brave the storms of life with
planned action born of clear thinking….
We are advised to look for lessons even in
painful events. We have inner wells of strength
from which we can freely draw to meet any adverse
situation, and thereby turn a negative happening
to a positive character-building experience.
Epictetus says, "Your will needn't be affected
by an incident unless you let it. Remember this
with everything that happens to you."
No man is an island. No one live in isolation,
and social interaction is unavoidable. But no
matter how others behave, we have to maintain
our inner tranquility, with unwavering attention
on keeping to our own higher purpose. For, we
are told:
The way of inward peace is in all things to
conform to the pleasure and disposition of the
Divine Will. Such as would have all things succeed
and come to pass according to their own fancy,
are not come to know this way; and therefore
lead a harsh and bitter life; always restless
and out of humour, without treading the way
of peace. ("Musings on the True Theosophist's
Path": U.L.T. Pamphlet No. 36, p.
1)
In New York Times Magazine (May 7) Andrew
Delbanco presents another way of defining and attaining
happiness. In our times, he says, pursuit of happiness
has become an overwhelmingly private and personal
undertaking. Personal growth is for many the aim,
while terms like commonweal, public good and private
obligation are considered archaic.
The surest way to promote one's private happiness
is "to do publicly useful actions."
It was believed at one time that
Happiness could be attained only if and when
one could look back on one's life and see that
it had good effects on the lives of others.
To believe this was not merely to wish that
virtue should be its own reward. It was to make
a universal claim that human beings are born
with a "moral sense," an impulse to
altruism that atrophies if it is not exercised.
People, as the cybernetic metaphor now has it,
are "hard wired" to do good in order
to enhance their own happiness. In its 18th-century
version, this theory about the inner life paralleled
emerging scientific theories about the outer
world: it said that a happy person existing
alone without exchanging the energy of benevolence
with other people is inconceivable, like a celestial
body orbiting around nothing.
Even today not all are self-seekers. That happiness
can best be found in selfless service remains
a driving motive in many lives. "When people
spin faster and faster in the pursuit of merely
personal happiness," observes Delbanco, "they
become exhausted in the futile effort of chasing
themselves."
The year 2000 has been declared as the International
Year of the Culture of Peace. But what is peace?
There can be no lasting peace in the outside world
unless individuals are at peace within themselves.
It is said that "wars begin in the minds of
men." So each one has first to work in and
on himself. As stated in Purity (June 2000):
The original state of the inner self is peace.
However, individual peace gets disturbed when
actions become motivated by negative values,
attitudes and emotions, such as anger, greed,
ego, jealousy, prejudice and selfishness. The
statement applies to the individual, the community
and the state. The manifestation of these practices
is conflict, violence, abuse, crime, discrimination,
exploitation, war destruction and moral degradation.
Human being affected by these conditions start
living under severe stress, with constant tension.
Stress-related diseases and conflict in relationship
create unhappiness in the family and the neighbourhood,
whether they are materially well provided for
or are poor. In these circumstances, people
lose their peace of mind and cannot find their
way back. On the other hand actions which are
based on positivity and motivated by such values
as humanity, love, understanding, respect, tolerance,
co-operation, simplicity, humility, generosity
and non-violence, lead to solidarity, equanimity,
contentment, wisdom, fairness and altruism.
In this way, one is able to sustain peace and
stability. If one's actions are sometimes negative
and sometimes positive, then both the depth
of peace and its stability world be reduced.
Thus the promotion and development of a culture
of peace must encourage individuals to live
by positive values in their thoughts, words,
deeds, attitudes and relationships.
The attainment of a lasting peace will depend
on how much the individual is prepared to accept
shortcomings and be dedicated to reform and
change. The best way by which we can remove
the ills of society and bring about reform for
a culture of peace, is by reforming our own
thinking, speaking, doing, looking and relating
to others. This would then attract others to
follow similar reforms, to change their lives
and move towards a more peaceful and contented
state of mind. The examples of personal reform
of leaders and the institutions which they control
along with the positive changes of betterment
and wellness would be the greatest catalyst
towards the establishment of a culture of peace….
It is said that there were more wars and acts
of violence in the twentieth century than in
the previous 19 centuries put together. With
the rapid advancement in science, technology
and information systems, it should be possible
to change from a culture of war and violence
to a culture of peace and non-violence in 20-30
years, provided there is enough global will
and determination….A culture of peace is
not a dream; it will become a reality.
Nalin Nirula, a practitioner of alternative medicine,
believes in understanding the whole gamut of events
in a patients's life, his relationships and beliefs,
his struggles and aspirations, before attempting
to heal him. In an interview with him reported in
The Times of India (June 2), he said:
Our inner universe manifests itself outwardly
in sickness and health, in joy and sorrow, and
in peace and stress. If we want to change externally,
it must first take place within us. Otherwise
it is only a mechanical patch-up job. External
repair is also needed, but it is more important
to bring about radical inner change. The desire
for change should come from within….
Much of modern medicine involves correcting
the chemical conditions within the body. This
approach is of limited use because before any
chemical or pathological changes take place,
there is a mental or emotional condition bringing
about these conditions causing organic disorder
or disease pathology….
As we think, emotions are generated within
us and as we feel certain emotions they filter
down to the body and affect it. If the emotion
is negative, for example, arising out of anger,
hatred, etc., then some corresponding biochemicals
are released into the body. These biochemicals
convey the quality of that particular emotion
to the body and if the emotion is of a negative
nature, then the quality is embodied in those
biochemicals and conveyed to the various body
parts. These elements accumulate in our bodies
and are not digested, eliminated or discharged.
Accumulation of toxic biochemicals originating
from unhappy negative thoughts then leads to
disease.
Medical drugs that have a potency to heal can also
harm if taken indiscriminately. Doctors and health
officials have been warning for years that disease-causing
bacteria are developing resistance to even the strongest
antibiotics. A World Health Organization (WHO) report
on infectious diseases states: "If people do
not stop misusing antibiotics, new 'superbugs' that
resist all drugs could take the world back to the
time when minor infections killed." Dr. David
Heymann, executive director for communicable diseases
at WHO, called on the world "to mobilize a
massive effort to make better use of these powerful
weapons before the window of opportunity closes
and before we move further towards the pre-antibiotic
age." If people use antibiotics when they
do not need them, as, for instance, to treat a
viral infection such as influenza, the bacteria
naturally present in their bodies develop resistance
and can spread. In some countries, patients have
strains resistant to the most powerful medicines
used to treat diseases like tuberculosis.
This is disturbing news. "Of the so-called
exact sciences," said H.P.B., "medicine,
confessedly, least deserves the name." New
drugs are not going to solve the problems raised
by the old drugs. Are medical practices being
resorted to that will perhaps affect the bodies
of the race in such a way that the future generations
will suffer? Our responsibility is great. The
fixation on drugs is so strong that the severe
limitations of drug therapy are often overlooked.
We may remind ourselves that if it were within
man's power to remove all the illness in the world
today, the root of illness would not be affected.
The whole man, including his mental- emotional
nature, has to be taken into consideration and
treated.
PROPONENTS of holistic health believe that the time
has come to give serious consideration to the spiritual
dimension and to the role this plays in health and
disease. Spiritual health, in this context, refers
to that part of the individual which reaches out
and strives for meaning and purpose in life….It
includes integrity, principles and ethics, commitment
to something higher, and belief in concepts that
are not subject to "state of the art"
explanations.
For a discipline that has in recent time promoted,
in theory and practice, an excessively gross and
physical view of human health and thus, of the
human being himself, this realization of the importance
of the spiritual dimension in modern medicine
is indeed a welcome change. However, this is only
a small beginning and there is a long way to go.
-World Health Forum (Vol.17,
No.4)
(International Journal of the W.H.O.) |
