Dr. Mahavir Raj Gelra
On 14th February, 2003, His Excellency President Sh. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had an audience with Rev. Acharya Mahapragya. The President had driven straight from the Mumbai airport. The President arrived at the Terapanth Bhavan at about 9 p.m. and headed straight into the chamber of Acharya Mahapragya. An epitome in the world of science, Shri Abdul Kalam, with a heart full of faith and devotion, touched the feet of a beacon of spirituality, Acharya Mahapragya. The humility of the First Citizen of the country touched the heart of everyone. The President sat down humbly in front of Acharya Mahapragya, seated on a wooden board, and the conversation began. The conversation centred on several problems facing the country. That important and stimulating conversation is being exactly reproduced below.
President: I am very happy to have had an audience with you today. How are you keeping?
Acharyashri: I'm well.
President: Your life of toil and discipline is continuing! Acharyashri: Yes, that indeed is necessary.
President: Acharyashri! I have read five books authored by you. They are 'Mirror of the Self, 'Mind Beyond Mind', 'Economics of Mahavira', 'New Man, New Society' and 'I and Mine1. They all contain enough scientific analysis of the subjects dealt with.
Acharyashri: Science is your subject.
President: You have discussed sixteen values in these volumes and have emphasized the development of moral, individual, social and national values.
Acharyashri: Yes, a citizen is expected to cultivate these values in his life.
President: Acharyaji! When do you get time to write so prolifically?
Acharyashri: (Smiling) I keep my mind empty and remain in a state of abstract thinking. I note down the ideas that sprout in this state of mind. I believe that if there is single-mindedness, the work, which usually takes eight hours, can be completed in just three hours.
President: I fully agree with you. In your literature, I have come across a detailed analysis of ekant (absolutism) versus anekant (non-absolutism). Anekant, as I understand is the teamwork wherein people with diverse beliefs work together whereas ekant is an individual attitude. Am I right?
Acharyashri: There may be diverse beliefs and diverse thoughts but they should coexist and should not contradict one another. It is quite possible to find the essence of conciliation even in two different streams of thought.
President: I find that more and more people are becoming absolutist in their ideas. How can this absolutist way of thinking be removed? How can one be inclined towards non-absolutistism? Anekant is the most important aspect of Mahavira's philosophy. How can we popularise it?
Acharyashri: The greatest problem we encounter today is related to emotions.
President: Is emotion a barrier in the path of Anekant (non-absolutist way of thinking)?
Acharyashri: Yes, negative thoughts are at the root of the problem. They create absolutist way of thinking and give rise to conflicts. In order to develop the philosophy of non-absolutism, we must see that an individual learns how to control his emotions. Its practice is essential. If we can awaken the right hemisphere of our brain, these conflicts can be ended altogether.
President: What you are saying is right but the difficulty is how we can do it. Is it possible through intellectual development?
Acharyashri: Intellect awakens the left hemisphere of the human brain. In order to awaken the right hemisphere, one has to practice meditation and try to harmonize the nervous system.
President: Is it possible through meditation?
Acharyashri: Yes, it is an established fact that the part of our body on which we meditate is developed. The part through which the vital force (praan) flows becomes active. Medical science has so far unfolded the secrets of the body and mind, but it is still far away from the knowledge of praan-the vital force.
President: Yes, science has not yet succeeded in unraveling the mystery of praan. Acharyaji, many problems are manifesting themselves among students.
The modern student is in the grip of tension and depression. We also find that the minds of many students remain undeveloped. I have a research scholar who is doing research under my guidance. His subject is: "The children with undeveloped brains are a challenge, how can they be cured?"
We have made some experiments in this respect. Two groups of children with developed and undeveloped minds were formed. Each group consisted of ten children. They were all subjected to MRI tests. We tried to find out if there was any difference in their physical structure, but no difference was found. But we discovered a difference in both the function and connection of neurons. The number of neurons in the left hemisphere of an undeveloped child was less. The neurons were also not fully connected. Can we compensate the deficiency of the left hemisphere of human brain by activating the right hemisphere? What measures do you suggest to awaken mind, body, psyche and intellect-all the four major components?
Acharyashri: We must add two more to them, i.e., 'praan' (vital force) and emotions.
President: You are right. Acharyashri! Videh Janak and Mahrishi Ashtavakra had attained the higher level of spiritual consciousness. What is the meaning of their statement - 'I am consciousness and I am in consciousness?'
Acharyashri: Our mind has three parts:
- Higher conscious mind
- Unconscious mind and
- Conscious mind.
Mahrishi Ashtavakra and Videh Janak had already attained the state of higher consciousness.
President: Were they able to establish contact with Brahm the eternal spirit?
Acharyashri: Yes, their pragya (wisdom), intuitive knowledge or insight was awakened.
President: How can we attain this state of mind? Had Mahavira attained super consciousness?
Acharyashri: There is a commonly used word in the Jain spiritual practice i.e. 'veetraag' (one who has transcend passions and desires).
President: (jotting this word in his diary) What does 'veetraag' mean?
Acharyashri: One who is absolutely free from attachment and hatred and is above the feeling of T and 'mine' is 'veetraag'. The spiritual practice of 'veetraagta' or the state of mind free from desires and passions takes a person to a state of higher consciousness.
President: The greatest problem is that of ego - I and mine. How can it be expelled from the human mind?
Acharyashri: The frontal lobe of the human mind is the territory of emotions and feelings. If one meditates upon it, the ego diminishes and the positive emotions become active. There is another part of the brain called 'limbic system'. Hypothalamus is one of its parts. The vibrations emitted by our higher conscious mind influence the hypothalamus. One may be a student or an adult, if we want to transform him, he should be made to meditate on his hypothalamus. Change is inevitable. If a person visualizes bright white colour on' Jyoti-kendra' (centre of mind), his passions, like anger etc. will calm down.
President: Acharyaji, today, the problem is that our country is very big and it is in fact being ruled by arrogance and self-centredness.
Acharyashri: Persons who attain high positions, after undergoing proper training can be transformed, but those who hold the rein of power have not undergone any sort of training, they create problems. If they are trained right from the beginning, such a situation will not arise.
President: We will have to begin the process of training from the children only.
Acharyashri: Yes, wc have identical views. If we concentrate our efforts on the present generation, the future generation is likely to be better. We have made some experiments of 'Jivan-Vigyan' in the tribal area of Jhabuva district and that training has yielded very encouraging results.
President: What types of experiments are made under your guidance?
Acharyashri: We make experiments on meditation, which help the practitioners to control their emotions. We also carry experiments on yogic postures, preksha meditation, contemplative meditation (anupreksha) and willpower. They awaken pituitary and pineal glands and control the adrenaline gland. Not mere theoretical but also practical training is imparted. The entire programme of training is being conducted in a scientific manner.
President: And this is done by means of spirituality?
Acharyashri: Our guru, Acharya Tulsi used to say, "The greatest need of today is the evolving of a spiritual-scientific individual. Mere spirituality is not very useful and mere science can prove to be dangerous. That is why we need to create an individual who is both spiritual and scientific."
President: Both spirituality and science are connected with each other.
Acharyashri: As a matter of fact science and spirituality are not two separate things.
President: yes.
Acharyashri: Both science and spirituality aim at seeking the truth.
President: A spiritual leader can also be a scientist and a scientist is also likely to be spiritual person. But the problem today is a different one, which is, how can a religious person become a spiritual person? Today an individual may be religious but it is not necessary that he is also spiritual.
Acharyashri: What you are saying is true. There was a time when dharma was in the hands of those who practised it. Today, it has passed into the hands of priests and preachers. Mahavira, Buddha, Christ, Nanak, Zoroaster were all devoted to spiritual practice. Today we have mere religious preachers in their names. Today religion is dominated more by plutocracy than by spiritual practice.
President: In India there are millions of people who believe in religion. How can we transform them? How can we mould them into spiritual humans?
Acharyashri: It is extremely difficult, but if we begin from students and mould their minds, we can achieve some success. We are working in this direction. If we can have some representatives from your side, the work can make tremendous progress.
President: I have met about twenty thousand students in a period of two years. Why do I meet them? Acharyaji, it is my mission. I have a strong desire deep in my heart as to how we can make our country spiritually elevated. This is a legacy of our country. It is imperative that we disseminate widely the spiritual legacy bequeathed to us by Mahavira, Buddha and other spiritual leaders.
Acharyaji: I went to Nagaland and met the students of eighth standard. On of the children said, "I want to live peacefully. I want to live a happy, secure and prosperous life. Please tell me when will it be possible? When will our country be beautiful, secure and prosperous with peace prevailing everywhere?" I told him that I would let him know after I have consulted Acharyaji. Guruji Acharyaji, I know how India can be developed and made economically prosperous. We have a potential to take India to the path of prosperity. But, I seek your guidance and views as to how the people of India can make strides in spiritual thinking.
Acharyashri: Send your representatives to me. Let us reflect on it deeply, formulate a plan and make an intensive effort in that direction.
President: The spiritual leaders should join hands and build a bridge.
Acharyashri: It is a very good idea.
President: Do I take it as your blessing?
Acharyashri: Yes, we have established 'Ahimsa Samvaya' (a forum of nonviolence). It too has exactly the same objective. The individuals and organizations working in the field of non-violence and world peace should think over it collectively. Their unified energies will lend strength to this project.
President: Yes, I agree.
Acharyashri: We were in Gujarat some time back. Communal riots hit the state. We invited the main leaders from both the communities - Hindus and Muslims. We had a dialogue with them and explained to them that the violence was not the solution to any problem. We had many meetings. Everyone respected our views. It led to the creation of a peaceful environment. If religious leaders undergo a change, violence generated by sectarian fundamentalism will come to an end.
President: (Smiling). It would be better if you could persuade them to meditate on their 'frontal lobes'.
Acharyashri: If the research scholar who is doing research under your guidance directs his study towards these experiments, his research may lead to some
positive results.
President: I will certainly send him to you.
Acharyashri: It is imperative that this process of thinking between you and me continues. It will not be possible for you to come everywhere but your representative can become the bridge of a dialogue.
President: My friend and eminent scientist, Dr. YS. Rajan will continue to meet you as my representative.
Acharyashri: Your scientific thinking may prove to be highly beneficial to the country. Socrates had said, "A ruler should be a philosopher." Today I want to say in these words, "A ruler should be a scientist. If it is so, he will try to reach the root of the cause. He will also be less egoistic."
President: (Smiling) And, if egoism persists, he can be advised to meditate on the 'frontal lobe'. Is there any role of breathing in it?
Acharyashri: There is an intimate connection of breathing. Long breathing is very important in controlling emotions. An ordinary person completes 15 to 16 breaths in a minute. The number goes up to 30-40, the moment he is excited or when he is in the grip of anger, fear and passions. If the excitement is most intensive, the number of breaths can still be more. In figurative language an emotion can be likened to a king who will not come without an aeroplane. Short breath is his vehicle. If the number of breaths is less, emotions will calm down. Long breathing awakens the right hemisphere.
President: (Turning his attention towards the notes written in his diary). Is it possibleto diminish or lessen ego and anger?
Acharyashri: It is quite possible. In preksha Meditation camps we had many people who practised it and were able to exercise control over it. Send five students who are temperamental and are always angry. We will expose them to the experiments of Preksha Meditation for a period of five weeks. You will yourself notice the wonderful result.
President: I am happy. I have got a new insight, a new light today. I have discovered a new pathway as to how we can mould our people into spiritually elevated humans and how we can succeed in this direction.
Acharyashri: If this process of thinking continues for a longer period, we can succeed in resolving many problems.
President:....Your wise counsel is auspicious not only for me but for the entire country.
