“The most beautiful and most profound experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms – this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness. ( Albert Einstein – The Merging of Spirit and Science) — ”
Thank you manav, for sharing this. It’s beautifully put by a person who’s brain is under constant study by scientists all over the world. But maybe Einstein accessed his equations from a source much higher then his own individuality, his own brain ? Is creativity the ability to access a source of universal consciousness ?
Hello Shekharji,
When I was 16 I had seen “Bandit Queen” first time in 2001 and I had a discussion about film with my mummy next day. As we are middle class small town family it was big thing for me at that time to discuss about story,screenplay and person who directed that film at that time. U are always amazed personality for me. At that age i could not understand the person the way film was made by him because after some days i saw some rushes of “Elizabeth”. And I again surprised how Indian film maker could manage to make Britain based historical film, as the film was very nicely shot. Now I am 24, i can understand some techincal things about film making. But now I am eagerly waitng ur next film “Pani”.
I am software engineer in MNC but I am stil finding my career options as some what u were at age of 22.
I love fims and its techanical thing, lets see where’s my hobbies and passion drives me to.
I hope u will give me reply…
Want to meet u once in a life…
Nisarg
Dear Shekhar,
You would definitely enjoy reading this book Creativity Unleashing the Forces within by Osho.
ISBN-0312205198
Yes, it answers your Question 😉
Dear Shekhar:
There are those who are strictly working on the premise that every event, no matter how much it may be steeped in the mystical and the inexplicable, can be explained away by the intellect. Then there were men such as Einstein who realized that there is a force at work that infinitely transcends the cognitive capability of even the finest human mind. In the final analysis we do not know whether Einstein believed in an all encompassing deity or in a power that is made up of all the energy of the universe and the collective strength of the human mind and then some. His sense of religiousness most probably vastly transcended the quaint assumptions of a god in heaven who is the final arbiter of our existence. His believe system and his thought processes that gave the world an equation without which our search for the infinite would be so much more arduous, must have moved in spheres accessible only to a few enlightened souls. He sure was one scientist who had become ever increasingly more humble the more he realized the existence of a vast order that even the most fertile intellect could no longer comprehend. I strongly believe that creativity is not only a measure of someone’s ability to merge their own thoughts with the myriad of impressions our world offers, it is much more the aptitude to see, hear and open the mind to the wondrous sensations of the mystical.
Einstein obviously possessed an incredibly formidable mind but I strongly believe that this alone would not have allowed him to leave the orbit of conventional thinking. Something else must have kicked in to let him see what few, if any have seen. To ascribe it to universal consciousness is for sure a very encouraging beginning and it may very well be a promising key to the mystery of Einstein. He must have glimpsed the creationary process but found it too elusive for the human mind to corral. And yet, those moments obviously lasted long enough to endow future generations with an equation that allows them to keep reaching for an answer we may never really get.
With kind regards.
Horst
every person will have a key
how to unlock
is the key
there is one point in every person
that has to be unlocked
does universal consciousness has a key?
or natural laws which we have still not decoded?
Hi Shekhar! Manav thank you for sharing that quote with us..very true. Einstein has always fascinated me for being a scientist who believed in the power of higher consciousness and wanted to science to integrate with spirituality..unlike other most other scientists who were sceptical and went by logic, proof, equations and didnt believe in universal consciousness or the supreme being or whatever it is one might call it.
shekhar, you have hit the nail on the head. creativity is indeed the ability, the flexibility and the intuitivity to connect to a higher source. to a source which has all the answers. once our wavelength matches, we are in. checkmate.
i feel einstein was as much a mystic as a scientist. he used both halves of his brain almost equally. both the male and female side.
creativity is when we allow nature to tune us to its rhythm.
love, shivani
dude…
ability- is from others perspective…world of human mind is relative…otherwise it is not relative… unless MIND will not make it relative it will not appear…
Consciousness is EGO…because MIND too is a part of SOUL…Consciousness is the MIND of Nothingness…
Very true said Sir.
I have always strongly felt and followed in the tag “UNCONVETIONAL IN THE WILLFUL WAY” which always leads to CREATIVITY 🙂 In my own little, humble and hopeful way i do in all the tiny things of daily Life..
Dear Shekhar,
I have enjoyed your movies greatly (especially Masoom, the Bandit Queen and Mr India) and admire the candidness you bring to your blog. Your concern with things metaphysical makes me wonder if you are aware of this strand of spiritual inquiry: the Radha Soami Satsang (Beas), http://www.rssb.org/ Apologies if this is not entirely to your taste,
Best wishes for your future work,
Samiksha
Introspection is a path towards creativity.
shekhar, can you share and write about some of those experiences….of “moments of extreme simplicity and clarity…beyond analysis and understanding, in the realm of experiencing” ?
Wonderment is the most profound experience. And to my mind it should be savoured:)
So, Shekhar Sir, u agree with Late Mr. Einstiens’ logic that, the human beings are like dogs who sniff the stones & not the one who had hurled them.
Well!! I feel these are re-engineering thoughts. If, Albert Einstien had accessed the higher up server for equation. Then, waht about inductive electricity or telephone inventions. They’ve been 2+2 put together. Isn’t it?
To say, your so called universal consciousness or Religiousness points to God in the layman’s terms. And although that God does show us the electricity but apparently doesn’t use a phone except in the, The stupid novel of Mr Bhagat.
The hitching of inventions & discoveries to the almighty’s favours does relax us from the work of, from trying to explore new avenues.
Just because some western scientist referred somewhere to God (since his time was running out!!), we Indians need not hop upon the thought… Like, see, we had said so…..
Are those words and formulae from Einstein any better than a dog barking? The dog may experience those states without any equations or formula. The dogs bark comes from the same source as those worthless formulas.
Is there such a thing as ‘intelligence’ embedded not in the brain but in the depths of an unseen, perhaps undiscovered, sacred space within one’s own self?…is creativity then the ability to penetrate this space, knowingly or unknowingly, & creation one that comes alive from the depths of this space, intrinsically charged with potent vibrations and “radiant beauty” that transmits, vibrates, envelopes and energizes those around and one with it — be it an idea, an action, an equation, writing, music, poetry, any other creative output…even the ‘bark of a dog’ or song of a nightingale. like a charged natural spring that explodes with energy from the core of the earth, to reach out and touch the skies. The worth of each of these creative outputs has potential to be as profound and sublime, based on the ‘intelligence’ from which they emanate. no?
The challenge then to nurture and retain this gifted intelligence, in a world that largely judges, values and rewards intelligence and output based on rationality and logic, is one of choosing to create, and then rationalize (vs. rationalize, and then create) and integrate it with the realities of everyday life?
Does your intelligence, decision-making, creativity first emanate from knowledge and learning or, from a subtler realm of the self? beyond the realm of logic and rationality, from within the realm of sensing and intuition?
Human Arrogance and its sister , Human Ignorance leads people like Shekhar to believe that Einstein is a genious and that creativity is somehow a preserve of Human Beings.
A spider weaves a wonderful structural engineering feat that would require Mechanical Statics, Bending Moment and Truss Static design by a good quality Civil/Structural Engineer.
The spider’s intelligence is so creative that it can weave a web in the most in-accessible places.
The list is endless.
The question is how many beings have MIND ? How much of Intelligence and Creativity requires MIND ?
The Japanese Samurais stirve hard to attin that state of Mind-less ness which Kriya Yogis strive for.
The real question is : What is thought ?
Any answers?
without a doubt – all the greatest inventions/ discoveries etc. have happened/ happen when the individual self is connected to the Universal Self…that’s when one becomes a channel for Universal Wisdom/ Creativity/ Love, etc
Is creativity the ability to access a source of universal consciousness ? is the question.
The query itself bounds to take one of the sides which is paradoxical & ironical in itself. Isn’t it? More so for the concept of creativity…
Regarding, maybe Einstein accessed his equations from a source much higher then his own individuality, his own brain ? So the answer could be yes, no or don’t know?
If yes, then, the equation (Worthless formulas would be the coining of a person, who would find his daughter to be only a female…Half wise is a half fool & a full wise is a full fool, well!!) should be termed as a discovery. Since the graffiti is being directed to confirm to Mr Einstein’s writing of religiousness. The discovery option suffices the best. So the unified theory of energy is as good as finding or discovering hidden fleas in the fur of one’s favourite dog. So if u lay down with dogs u get with fleas….
Rudra, no answers, only attempted thoughts…
Is ‘thought’ what happened in your mind on reading the original post? And what you wrote, an expression of that?
the perception that “who’s brain is under constant study by scientists all over the world….” = “leads people to believe that Einstein is a genius”….and an assumption that reference to Einstein in this specific context, inherently excludes other ‘beings’ in the canvas of one’s broader thinking, signifies the duality of a ‘mindful’ thought (vs. a ‘mind-less’ thought). Any thoughts?
Was yours a creative expression?
to kavitha,
what is thought..may be its power of mind which we waste..:)
to brahmastra,
your last paragraph, may be both are true..I think when he is creating then it may be coming from a subtler realm of the self, which is beyond the realm of logic and rationality, from within the realm of sensing and intuition. And when he is explaining,advising communicating then first emanate from knowledge and learning
Wish you the best …
IIFA Awards 2009
I was looking for your nomination
Can’t find it !!!
Bay Area Indo American
http://www.bayareaindoamerican.com
and the Community is looking forward for the succesful showcase of India and its great talent
I have tried to get the best possible answers to some of the questions taken above…All the questions have relevance if asked in the right context., which means not driving conclusions at it comes, but by being neutral and self analysis, talking to somebody who has done that before, knowing from the experience and reading… lots of reading.
PLEASE read a book by James Allen..(As a man Thinketh so is he )where Allen insists upon the power of the individual to form his own character and to create his own happiness. Thought and character are one, he says, and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state. This does not mean that a man’s circumstances at any given time are an indication of his entire character, but that those circumstances are so intimately connected with some vital thought element within him that, for the time being, they are indispensable to his development. And thus Allen teaches two essential truths: today we are where our thoughts have taken us, and we are the architects – for better or worse – of our futures.
Man is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with Godlike thoughts. An ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued harboring of groveling thoughts.
Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.
Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this – that man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.
As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.
Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state; but in his weakness and degradation he is the foolish master who misgoverns his “household.” When he begins to reflect upon his condition, and to search diligently for the Law upon which his being is established, he then becomes the wise master, directing his energies with intelligence, and fashioning his thoughts to fruitful issues. Such is the conscious master, and man can only thus become by discovering within himself the laws of thought; which discovery is totally a matter of application, self-analysis, and experience.
Manav
All Rules of The Game (LIFE) are pre-definded …
Destiny is pre-planned …
Goals pre-set …
Actions (good/back) bring results
… what we see in future …
Death is decided at the moment of birth.
Living, actions shows the results.
Creator gives each one a goal and scope to reach the goal …
Its discovering, knowing which takes time for humans …
God luck everyone …
With love, to all those inclined to debunk science and scientists…and all those inclined to debunk art and artists, read on…
http://blog.ted.com/2009/06/science_and_art.php
Rudra – your question is a Self serving one as is any other thought.
Thought,in purpose is another of the many ways in which You recognize YourSelf.It is not greater or lesser than any others .They may seem to dominate the experience – i.e. as long as there is an identification with them.
Science is a petty servant of the Spirit. These present day scientists spend lifetimes to figure something out that the ancient (and present-day) yogis could discover in a moment by delving in their deep Self.
It is quite right, the human ego can learn from careful observation of the natural intelligence of other creatures which at times seems far superior than any human genius. This awareness is a stepping stone to the states professed in the Gita and such doctrines where ‘God’ is seen in every being.
Is Einstein’s source of thoughts superior to the source of a dog’s bark? Doubt it. There is nothing mystical, fascinating or romantic about it and it is a whole lot closer than the mind would like to think.
Now did you know this: Zen is a school of Mah?y?na Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chán. Chán is itself derived from the Sanskrit Dhy?na, which means “meditation”
Synopsis of relevant comments:
Choices:
Yes or No or Don’t know
Q=But maybe Einstein accessed his equations from a source much higher then his own individuality, his own brain ? ==Is creativity the ability to access a source of universal consciousness ?
22}AJ=Yes
21}Manav=No
3}Horst Vollmann=Yes
4}Koizen=Don’t know
5}ginak=Yes
6}shivani singh=Yes
7}kedar=Yes
8}Rachana Shakyawar=Yes
10}HOBO(nickname)=Yes
11}kavitha=Yes, Yes, Yes, fencesitter
12}mee=Yes
13}Jacknap Ednavrack= it’s case sensitive#
14}brahmastra=Yes
16}Rudra=Yes
17}suneet=Yes
Majority also fails as proved by the failure of the communism thoughts(creations!!) So many ‘yes’ need not be right.
Also a complete wave off of a No may not be right as there are many a hidden secret forces acting or inactive by acting not, as our dear earth is rolling in a casino perpetually.,
I feel it’s case sensitive such as a hit movie or craft as such doesn’t’ve a formula.,
waht say…?
@rudra:
Thought is assimilated past projecting into future denying the PRESENT.
” Lo Raaz ki baat aaj ek batate hain
hum haskar apne gum chupaate hain,
Tanha hote hain to ro lete ji bhar kar
sar-ae -mahfil aadatan muskuraate hain.
Koi aur honge rutabe ke aage jhukne waale
hum sir bas khuda ke dar per jhukaate hain
Maa aaj phir tere aanchal me mujhe sona hai
aaja badi hasrat se dekh tujhe bulaate hain.
Ise zid samjho yaa humara ssauq”o”Hunar
chiraag hum tez hawaayon me hi jallate hai
tumne mahal”ao”minar,daulat kamaai ho beshaq
par ghair bhi pyaar se mujhko gale lagaate hain
sharafat hameshaa nazar jhukaa kar chalti hain
hum nigaah milaate hain nazre nahi milaate hain
Ye mujh par upar waale ki inaayat hain”Deepak”
wo khud mit jaate jo hujh pe nazar uthaate hain
“?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ???
?? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ???,
????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??
??-?-????? ???? ?????????? ???.
??? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????
?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ???
??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??
??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??? .
??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? “? “????
????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ??
????? ???”?”?????,???? ???? ?? ????
?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???
????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???
?? ????? ?????? ???,????? ???? ?????? ???
?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? “???? ”
?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???
@Kavi Deepak Sharma
http://www.kavideepaksharma.com
http://kavideepaksharma.blogspot.com
Kavita, Deepak ,
thanks for being stimulated by my poser – however the context makes my question both rhetorical and direct.
Kavita , thought is not just ‘whatever happened when you read the original post’.
the English language forces us to use thought – both as a noun and as a verb and sometimes used as a collection of mess – as in communist ‘thought’ or nihilist ‘thought’.
We have two problems to deal with – language as afforded by english , and definitions.
Deepak – I dont understand how according to you thought is ‘self-serving’ ? you must mean more than thought when you refer to hierarchy of importance – which is irrelevant to what we are discussing – an attempt to define Thought.
so the question remains – what is thought ?
Well, you have touch based on a very important facet. Does Science finally lead us to philosophy?
Einstein got his noble price for his photo electric effect, but he became famous for his general theory of relativity. Unfortunately his equation was not all complete. Till the time he lived he believed that the universe is in a state of constant expansion and contraction. Based out of this belief he made an equation, which till his death didn’t hold true. He famously once said ” God doesn’t play dice” and believed that the universe is in a phase of constant creation and destruction. Just that till today we only know that it expands!
Isn’t it amazing sitting inside something like a size of electron we are trying to measure up the whole world. When I was a kid my grand parents used to say, we all have parts of stars inside us! It took me 20 years to understand it literally.
Liked your writings as always! 🙂
A great paradox is that the theory of relativity comes from a place of no relativity. Einstein will have to unlearn all his theories in the end..LOL
Jacknap Ednavrack 🙂
🙂 Interesting analysis!
Mind in action
or
Mind in reaction
=
Thought
Shekhar,
I was just reading Buddha by Deepak Chopra.
I feel Buddha takes us where we can recognise the oneness within and lose the seperateness.
Einstein keeps us where we can tap the oneness add to it from our seperate reservoir of thoughts and feelings and keep a balance between the spiritual and material.
There is someone like Nanak who says ‘Ek Omkar’ where he takes us to oneness and then further exhorts us to impact this oneness positively by constantly releasing positive thoughts(mantras) of “Nanak Naam Charhdi Kala Tere Bhanne Sarbat da bhala”(May the oneness bless and benefit everybody and everyone)
Then there is the potbellied mythical God which consists all Gods(eastern and western) within him-Ganesha who stands for vegetarianism and ‘Unity in Diversity’.Ganesha stands for the infinite possibilities of the Universe.
Prehaps the only difference between the ‘laughing Buddha’ and ‘Ganesha’ is that Ganesha is a vegetarian devouvring sugarcane and laddoos.
——-
Maybe the west too can be looked through this prism of Unity-in-Diversity.Maybe they needed a Jesus Christ to take away all their sins so that they could unabashedly conquer the whole world and prepare the pitch for globalisation and put rules and laws in place.
Thought is always random and so is it’s creation. We are debating on something that has to be controlled by us only…nobody else. EVery comment is GREAT in it’s own sense.. that is why it is important to know it’s origin and the context it is originated to conceive from.
What we feel is different in the morning and different in the evening. Thought is a random image created from that feeling… How it can be debatable ? but it is good that we are all contemplating on it …..
The way it is … is the way..
there is no other way to control and direct.
How we sit, talk, sleep, act and respond is the WAY.. the very essence of our being.. BUT how wonderful it is !!!
Brahmastra , Seeker ,
Both of you capture a bit of what ‘Thought’ is .
Seeker :
Assimilated past projecting into the future … hmm , I wonder which force does that ? how and why does past project into the future ? you seem to agree ont eh inevitability of time – a relative concept.
what does past gain by projecting into the future ? I am afraid , i have to dismiss your sentence is a random conjecture with no logic.
Brahmastra :
Theory of Relativity came from a place of no relativity . Hmmm , I wonder if you mean to say that the ‘theory of relativity’ is ‘absolute’ in itself ?
Or that the mind that conceived it is beyond relative phenomena ?
Sorry but Mind is relative , as are mind’s attributes – thats why the same Einstein’s mind kept searching for a ‘ Unified Theory’ beyond relativity.
Relativity Theory has has one limiting ‘absolute’ – i.e . the speed of light , and the concept of a ‘relative’ observer.
Both are limitations that String Theory and Multi Dimentional Physics reject.
So I wonder what is this ‘ absolute’ part of Einstein’s mind you find so fascinating ?
If you feel so strongly about sri lanka..wat do u think is the solution to kashmir ?
Speed of light, sound…
Anyone know what the speed of thought is?
some people stumbles upon the boundaries of the unknown …………are scientists
but those who go there by prescibed methods ……..are yogis
Sir,
I want 2 assist u. want 2 b part of ur direction team. I have experience as a 1st and 2nd Ad in film and tv series. Do write screenplay. Have done Diploma in film direction. Good in scheduling and Short Division. M a hardworking guy, very passionate about film making. A die hard fan of ur style of film making.
Ps give me n opportunity , i must meet ur expectation.
Thanks n Regards
Manoj Mohanty
9920845060
manoj_hmohanty@yahoo.com
Hi Mr. Kapur
Hope you are well. I just find it intriguing that whenever I happen to visit your website it almost always has a post that’s somehow in synergy with my thought process ( its perhaps the same with other readers and contributors). Maybe that’s why I am intuitively guided to visit your website at certain instances without even realizing it.
We recently saw the culmination of Asia Consciousness Festival here in Hkg around the same time as IIFA was happening on the other side of the harbour. The Consciousness
Event was a massive gathering of renowned scientists, medical researchers, spiritual teachers, healers, qunatum physicists, media professionals, creatives, academics, activists, environmentalists, members of holistic community, etc. Its was an exploration of consciousness ( as the name suggests), what it means, its evolution, higher and lower ramifications, how it works at individual and collective level and how we could achieve
a higher consciousness, and what are the implications and lots and lots more. Ofcourse the role of media in influencing consciousness, how it can help its
evolution. What was interesting is the scientists, healers, spiritual teachers, creatives were all saying the same thing albeit in a diifferent language and so it also got a bit repetitive and overwhelming for me after a while. But it did reaffirm my belief that most great art, activism, healing, scientific theories, creativity,
comes from the same source. A consciousness higher than what we are regularly able to tap into. And somehow what comes from that source is positive, restorative and generative. Its almost never destructive. And when it comes from that source, what ever form it takes- science, arts, activism,academic etc- it serves a higher purpose of reshuffling, reshaping, regenerating, reorienting. And most great people are known to tap into this consciousness (through their Crown Chakras) to create whatever they are creating, sensing what they might not be able to see. Like Yourself ( and Einstein).
I don’t know how to describe it but I feel a commonality running through science, arts, spirituality, great political
thinking ( not what politics is currently)
Wonder if any of this makes sense. Its 3 am and I am drowsy. ZZZZZZZZ
Kind Regards
Mani
Cinda ,
Your simple question makes more sense than all the combined drivel on this blog ,by all of us !
Speed of thought – i am not sure but in my experience the speed is a notch higher if you are female – you can take it as a compliment , but it is not necessarily one 😉 heh heh..
the speed of thought is infinite , if you measure it in psychological time and completely random in chronological time 😉
do i make sense ?
Rudra,
In the deep Self, there is no need for speculation and theories, all is spontaneously arising. It is not the mind that is beyond relative phenomena, but the Self. That is why the elimination of relative thinking, which also forms a major part of the judgmental faculty, is a comforting by-product of self-realization.
brahmastra,
cool ! but when you qualify this destruction of realtivity aka judgemental faculty as ‘ comforting’..whats your basis ?
comforting for whom ?
does it mean after all that journey of trying to merge in the absolute , the ‘enjoyer’ of this ‘comfort’ is still alive ?
does it mean then , that mind is destroyed but the I remains ?
Mind is not necessarily Relative – the poor thing has gained a lot of flak from the ‘enlightened’ , especially in their books and works.
Of course all this is Vedanda – something you dont get to investigate in any other ‘organised religions’.
Veda is the highest path of the Aryans ( i.e. indians) which is based on keen investigation.
and the funny thing is it requires the inquirer , the seeker to be ‘pure’ , or be possessed of a ‘pure mind’.
Now , no one can dare fake a ‘pure mind’. You can fool the world with saintly talk and robes and gain self-pity by elaborate crucifictions and martyrdoms , but the question is ‘ is there a pure mind in the inquirer’ ?
pure mind then becomes a means to reflect the absolute. Relativity exists for the ego – and in anycase I think the mind remains after the ego is dissolved , or we would never know if we are enlightened !!
Secularists , Communists , practicing Xtians and Muslims – stay out of this discussion, for your own sakes – you’ll lose your mind ;)..hehehehe.
Rudra,
Yes, that is the core of it. ‘Comfort’ was used as an adjective for the Self. The “I” thought or doership has to go eventually..dissolve into all and nothing. There is no such thing as a pure mind. The benevoence of this universal program gives us supportive constant glimpses of this state in the form of sleep and childhood. All theories and thoughts have to wither away, and in the state when the Self alone remains, commands arise spontaneously as needed (from the ajna they say). It is true that esoteric Vedic teachings channel this wisdom in the most potent form on this planet through scriptures and living gurus, and it is not for everyone but for the most ripe souls. Most other religions, including some ritualistic Hinduism are breeding grounds of duality which is also necessary to keep this Maya machine going.
What universal consciousness Mr. Kapur? That is only us and we are but a teensy weensy part of the Universe. Even if the universe has a consciousness because of us, why is it a wonderful thing beyond the wonder you should feel for us having consciousness in the first place??
Interesting thread and trends of thought – I will focus on the second part of the question.
“”””Is creativity the ability to access a source of universal consciousness?””””
My thinking is creativity is one of the keys/abilities, but probably it might not have been the case with Einstein. A musician creates sequences of notes with time gaps. I believe all of us can touch upon most of those notes one-off but only few of us can sing. More importantly, only rare ones can create. In such moments of comprehending and feeling the notes, the silences between the notes, and the transitions – not only from this note to that note but from this particular silence to that particular silence- we can feel that consciousness within self. The unique blend of “feeling and comprehending” must form the individual consciousness. Perhaps experiencing this consciousness by the individual self is more crucial than accessing the ultimate consciousness. The reason: the core nature of consciousness is connectivity, to find its way to other forms of consciousness, and higher forms of consciousness, ultimately leading to the universal consciousness. All of us feel and comprehend something transcendental with a musical creation even as a listener, do not we? That might be the glimpse of consciousness with the root in creativity. Hence, for me the answer to Sekhar sir’s question is a Yes. However, Einstein might have gotten his consciousness through other route than creativity.
“””To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms – this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.””””
Between the lines, I got a feel that Einstein is awe-stuck with our own “consciousness” and the nature of its connectivity to that universal consciousness in this observation. This consciousness of our own can originate in creativity, in intellect, and in any pure positive emotions, like compassion. The most difficult birth of individual consciousness probably occurs in the intellect or mind. The extreme of comprehension/intellect which touches the intellectual boundaries will be needed for that consciousness. When something is not reducible to their mind/intellect then that consciousness probably starts to forge up automatically. Maybe for this reason not many intellectual minds except people like Enstein, monk Matthieu Ricard etc acquire that consciousness. On the other hand, the consciousness that finds its origin in positive emotions comes so easily, so effortlessly, so abundantly – maybe the ego is not there, maybe the comprehension is not there at all. It occurs just through feeling/experience. It just connects. The path of positive emotions to experience the consciousness at the surface may sound ironic. I tend to think that it is the most powerful key of all the three keys. The consciousness that finds its origin in creativity probably is a middle way where both comprehension and feeling is needed but none of them is needed to the extremities. Einstein’s source/key of his consciousness must have been “intellect” more than creativity or positive emotions. Although we might experience all three sources of our own consciousness in varying degrees, at various times, some of them might be better or dominant path – and maybe there is some path dependency in each individual’s case as Buddhism puts it.
Shekhar sir, I would remind you here one incident and ask you to share your experience with us with regard to your own question and about the three possible keys. You are one of the most qualified persons to answer your question. When you called that little disabled baby who was showing you her talent in India’s got talent you could not help yourself and started crying. And millions other did, as I did along with you. For us it was inside a room, but for you it was in front of millions of people – obviously your ego was not there, your comprehending brain/intellect was absent. Did you experience your own consciousness getting connected with the ultimate consciousness or not? Have you felt the same when you come up with some creative pieces or not? And has your intellect helped you to consciousness? If your answer is yes to all three, which one do you think you found more profound, more lasting and more powerful origin?
In physics a new theory was developed in last century called quantum physics which moves beyond the limitations of 2d explanations of phenomenon. There are physicists who no more believe in ever finding the smallest indivisible original particle, because there really is none . Heisenberg in the early 20’s had proposed the uncertainity principle which states that anything that is observed gets disturbed by the interaction of the observer with the observed and explained it through mathematical formulae.
Reality being the perception of the individual and continually created by the interplay of different entities.
Many of these scientists (including einstein) have been heavily influenced by eastern philosophies particularly the Bhagvad Gita.
…and yes True creativity are moments when human has quietened its mind and allowed the excellence of the ‘source’ to shine forth through, its form.
I second AJ’s comment on As a Man Thinketh, it’s a great book. Check out http://www.thinkingisthelink.com to read and listen to it online!