TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations 8. Six Sigma Spirituality - - PDF document

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations

• 8. Six Sigma Spirituality - An Eastern Methodology

Gazal Mathur, Sohang Mathur The recent Hollywood blockbuster ‘Interstellar’ – addresses a concept which we are still grappling with – reality beyond our physically perceived dimensions. Where the third dimension

• ffers a sense of comfort – the fourth dimension comes with greater perceptual challenges. The

dimensions beyond that of course seem far beyond our conceptual ability. Yet we now believe them to be the realm of reality. It however stands to reason that if it is real, then it must be

• perceivable. A physicist may be able to offer a logical rationalization of the existence of

innumerable dimensions but an enlightened sage may be able to give you an experiential account

• f them. Thus the amalgamation of science and spirituality seems to be not only a probable but

beneficial eventuality. This paper addresses the need to engage with the internal without defacing the external. It offers a methodology by which one can come full circle - realize higher dimensions and as seen from the Eastern philosophical perspective – attain higher spiritual levels

• f consciousness as well as being a contributive member of society.
• 13. Hemodynamic Effect of meditation on blood pressure, Heart Rate, Oxygen Level,

Temperature and Energy Level Jyoti Arora, Ravindra Bhardwaj Meditation is a technique of achieving harmony between the physical mental intellectual and spiritual personalities of man. The technique of meditation where a flow of thoughts is encouraged thus using mind in a natural way. Meditation has number of positive effects on the physiology of human body. The aim of this study is to highlight the hemodynamic effect of meditation on blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, temperature, energy level. Data was collected of 26 meditators from meditation centre for 9 days and mean value was calculated of each individual meditator. It has shown to reduce the diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and heart rate to reduce the coronary artery disease. This paper discusses topics including brain-mind reality consciousness, Sense of self, meditative mind, and meditative brain. Thus, meditation can emerge as one of the important non pharmacological method of prevention

• f heart diseases.
• 16. Patanjali Yoga Practice and its Effect on Mental Health and Moral Judgment: An

Empirical Research amongst Juvenile Delinquents Dayal Sandhu, Suman Kumari, Archana Kapoor Research awareness and involvement in yoga for health-related results are growing worldwide. Patanjali Yoga relieves stress and fatigue which haves turned into one of the few major challenges confronting the medical fraternity in present times. Yoga lets go the body from any type of muscular or chronic strain and rejuvenates the body from exhaustion, body aches, stress, aids to ease the body and mind, enhances concentration and alertness, and frees the soul. It helps

• ne to create integrity amongst his outward self as well as his innermost self. If the practices are

followed meticulously then Patanjali Yoga develops a constructive effect both in the inward and

• uter selves of an organism. Patanjali’s yoga practice aims to bind the individual self with the

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations Ultimate One and one can achieve this union by regulating and discarding the ever-arising ‘vrittis’ or amendments of the mind. With Patanjali Yoga, mind can be balanced through the exact kind of discipline and training. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of Patanjali Yoga practice on mental health and moral judgment of experimental group of juvenile delinquents.

• 17. Consciousness at birth :- Spectral Analysis of the First Cry

Anjoo Bhatnagar, Nihar Srivastav, Phool Chand Bhatnagar, Vijai Kumar, Devendra Chaturvedi The first cry at birth of a newborn declares that he or she is alive and conscious. Crying at birth is almost a unique feature of the human newborn and maybe viewed as a distinct state of

• consciousness. Animals do not cry at birth. What does this cry mean and why every human

newborn cries at birth? Is there just a physical reason to expand the lungs and get the breath of life? Or is it a psychological reason that the baby is not happy with the environment outside the mother’s womb, or is it more subtle deeper spiritual cause: a change in plane of consciousness which it might be experiencing. This paper converges western science and eastern philosophy and presents the results of the spectral analysis of first cry.

• 18. Scientific Investigation of Mystical Experiences & Pure Consciousness Events

Sona Ahuja Mysticism is as enigmatic as the term itself. It is expressed in terms of subjective experience. There is no consensus till now in the procedure adopted by mystics to experience pure consciousness events (PCE). Then the following problem is of measurement of such experience. It is possible to experience one’s own conscious states through varied procedures but difficult to examine or observe the conscious states of others (Searle, 1998). Mystical experiences occur in solitude and hence third person account is not possible pragmatically. The underlying problem in using first person approach is the use of language or expression of experiences and hence these are called ineffable. The problem is as hard as is that of consciousness. The scientific investigation requires the objective measure. For objectivity in studying mystical experiences, the instrument has to be subtle as a system of higher frequency can observe the system of lower

• frequency. The instrument can be none other than the mystic himself. Thus, the mysticism can be

studied from within. The investigator should evolve subtle senses so that they can vibrate and

• reverberate. To understand abstract mathematics, symbols should be meaningful to the examinee
• r he cannot study it at all. Similarly, for disciplined examination of mysticism, the tester should

be a subject who can comprehend the subjective mystical phenomena. Harmonics can be at same

• wavelength. It is important to integrate inner experience with scientific investigations and

develop what one might call inner science or experiential science or phenomenological science (Satsangi, 2012). Thus, experiential science can give insight into underlining the extra ordinary content of PCE and can possibly solve the mystery of mysticism.

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations

• 19. Determination of State of Consciousness with Indian Classical Music Ragas and Color

Pritam Pyari, Saran Pyari Roy, Sant Saran, Sukhdev Roy In this paper, we extend our previous study reported in TSC-2014 by studying the combined effect of Raga and color to design a musical test to ascertain the consciousness state of an

• individual. Four 5 minute instrumental flute compositions of Alap form of Ragas, namely, Ahir

Bhairav, Jaijaiwanti, Bhupali and Darbari that affect the Anahata (heart), Vishuddha (throat), Agnya (third eye) and Sahasrara chakras respectively, were carefully chosen. Two groups of subjects of different ages were made to listen to the Raga compositions. The order of the Ragas was not in the progressive order of the chakras. The responses were recorded through a questionnaire by noting their order of preference and the qualitative effect in terms of feelings, imagination, color etc. The subjective experience pertaining to the perception of feelings and colors in most of the individuals corresponded to that attributed to the different Chakras. The study highlights the impact of Ragas and color on the consciousness of an individual and the usefulness of designing musical consciousness tests to ascertain consciousness levels. Such a test can be invaluable for illiterate individuals and better suited to obtain direct honest responses than through purely written psychometric questionnaires. It would not only help in measurement but also to tune consciousness to higher levels. The results of a correlational study with frequencies generated during the musical test using a SQUID based Magnetoencephelogram (MEG) will also be presented.

• 20. Can Mind comprehend Mind ?

Sant Saran, Sukhdev Roy In this paper, we question the capability of mind to comprehend mind itself. It is necessary to have a perspective from within and without to understand any entity. We argue that it is necessary to study (i) the mind from within that would necessarily require subjective experience to be recognized as a valid mode of scientific enquiry; (ii) the condition when all mental functions are withdrawn, a state of complete self-absorption, to successfully understand its functionality and the process of conscious experience; and (iii) to take inspiration from Eastern Spiritual traditions that have perfected practical meditation techniques to access such a state and have time tested exhaustive experiential accounts through the ages. The above integration of East-West approaches to consciousness is urgently needed for progress in consciousness research.

• 22. Brahma Vidyā : A Visionary Light to Supreme Consciousness with reference to the

Rath-Rathi Rupak of Kathopanishad Namita Bhatia, Soami Das Bhatia The Upanishads are the concluding portion of the Vedas and deal with the philosophy and realization of Brahma. The Kathopanishad is one of the older Upanishads commented upon by

• Shankara. It may be regarded as the most appropriate introduction to spiritual life in general. The

story of Nachiketa, with which it begins, provides the proper foundation for commencing a study

• f the higher science of the life of man. Brahma-Vidyā or Para-Vidyā, by which the Immortal

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations Ātman is known, is the most wonderful science. Knowledge of the Ātman is unique. The man who is able to expound and comprehend the Self is great. The Ātman, subtler than the subtle, greater than the great, is seated in the heart of each living being. He who is free from desire, with his mind and the senses composed, beholds the majesty of the Self, and becomes free from pain and sorrow.

• 23. The Concept of Stress - An Indian View

Sumitra Srivastava This paper is an attempt to interpret the modern concept of stress and its phenomenology from the perspective of classical Indian thought. It studies the ideas of stress and coping as discussed in the Sankhya, the Gita, Buddhist philosophy and the ideas propagated by the lineage of saints - “Santmat”, which presumes that there is an inner force which operates at the subliminal level while the sensory apparatus is occupied by the mundane activities of life. This concept can be compared to the Freudian concept of Id forces which attempt coming out to the conscious level. A person can get an occasional glimpse into the real purpose of life and then strives to achieve

• this. The paper documents the difference in approach to coping with stress between the Indian

and western thought. It attempts to suggest methods and techniques which help to move from non-cognition to awareness of higher goals and move towards achieving these goals.

• 24. Spiritually-Inspired Quantum Dynamics of Consciousness

Sukhdev Roy Considering the spirit entity under covers of mind and matter to be in a bound state, we present a powerful analogy with the particle in a potential well problem in quantum mechanics. Embodied consciousness gets conditioned and mind-based manifesting in a variety of discrete vibrational mental states, forms and modes and we perceive qualia through resonance. Considering consciousness and qualia to have a non-local field character, focused attention leads to attachment that generates harmonics in the form of desires causing action, volition and thoughts, leaving traces in the mind in the form of vibrational patterns (samskaras) that fuel more thoughts. This results in qualia dynamics, i.e., transformation and generation of qualia through complex feedback loops of energy and information with the environment. Applying the principle of conditional forward causation, we consider propensities as vibrational dispositions, with the spirit generating intention (impulse) to give rise to mental propensities that make us perform actions. We consider mind to predispose physical/physiological potentialities in a quantum-like manner. The consequence of the spirit-mind uncertainty relationship leads to an expansion of awareness in the spiritual domain on reducing the spread in the mental domain by

• meditation. The capability to attain higher states of consciousness in the embodied state is akin to

the possibility of having bound states in the continuum, proposed by von-Neumann and Wigner that have also been recently experimentally demonstrated. The theory not only opens up prospects of understanding the dynamics of consciousness, but also explaining meditation, cognitive anomalies, parapsychological phenomena and healing.

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations

• 25. The beauty of mathematics and eastern mysticism

Shiroman Prakash While an East-West forum will naturally focus a great deal on the neuroscience of meditation, we would like to discuss a recent experiment by the group of Semir Zeki et. al. (2014) regarding the perception of mathematical beauty. The subjects of the experiment were 16 mathematicians, whose brains were scanned while they were presented with several mathematical equations of varying degrees of beauty. They found that the experience of mathematical beauty correlates with activity in part of the medial orbito-frontal cortex (mOFC) -- the same area of the brain activated by other forms of beauty, such as artistic beauty. Indeed many beautiful ideas in mathematics -- Riemannian Geometry, Yang-Mills Theories, etc. later found their way into physics; and many theoretical physicists have expressed the idea that beauty is a guide to truth. For example, take the following quote of Dirac: “If one is working from the point of view of getting beauty into one's equation, ... one is on a sure line of progress.” The idea that mathematics can be beautiful, and that its beauty is somehow related to its truth or relevance to understanding the laws of nature is certainly a mystical idea; though many of its proponents (e.g., Dirac) may have been non-religious. Ultimately, the perception of beauty, whether in mathematics, art or elsewhere, is an inner (i.e., subjective) experience and should be studied systematically using the methodology of Price and Barrell.

• 30. Unraveling The Mystery of The Observer Through Sampling Theorem

CM Markan, Priti Gupta According to the recent Quantum Consciousness theory by Penrose and Hameroff, the brain seems to be governed by two different kinds of information processing. Classical information processing at the level of neurons and Quantum information processing at the level of subtler

• microtubules. While the classical information processing is limited by the frequency at which

neurons can operate, at the quantum level, processing is at a much higher frequency now reported to be of the order of KHz, MHz and even GHz by Anirban Bandopadhyay’s group. An interesting analogy for such a system, where subsystems operating at different frequencies interact closely, can be drawn from the principle of sampling in digital communication. According to the sampling theorem a signal can be truly observed and understood if the

• bserving signal has a frequency that is more than twice its own frequency. In the last TSC, we

had proposed that in the brains of highly evolved species with large brains, the frequency of quantum processing (collapses) (T=h/E) becomes much faster than the classical processes and therefore in these species an observer gets created. This observer has mind like qualities and allows the species to observe its own actions and place itself in past or future and take actions according to prior experiences. As multiple sub-systems working at different frequencies interact, it is possible to have a hierarchy of observers where higher frequencies observe the lower frequencies and this approach could possibly lead to an understanding of the Mind-Brain and the Spirit-Mind-Brain interactions.

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations

• 32. Pharmacology of Consciousness

Seema Bhat, Laxminarayan Bhat The scientific evaluation of consciousness phenomena has become one of the thrust areas of biomedical research due to its important role in the spiritual, physical, mental and social wellbeing of mankind. There are several spiritual practices described in the religious literature to achieve higher levels of consciousness but widely practiced methods are prayer, meditation and

• yoga. The biggest challenge in the scientific evaluation of consciousness phenomena is that the

reproducibility of the consciousness effect in individual spiritual practitioners regardless of the spiritual methods practiced. To date, all literatures related to the scientific studies of consciousness phenomena are focused on the evaluation and measurement of pharmacodynamic effects of spiritual practices, and they can be broadly classified in to the following four groups: (1) environmental correlates, (2) neural correlates, (3) physiological correlates and (4) psychological correlates. It is evident that the magnitude of pharmacodynamic effects of consciousness phenomena is directly proportional to the levels of consciousness attained by the individual spiritual practitioners. However, the pharmacology of consciousness to explain the pharmacodynamics effects has not been reported in any scientific literature. We present the pharmacology of consciousness and provide the scientific rationale for molecular or receptor level interactions between cosmic waves and human body. The receptors that regulate the key neurochemicals/neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine appear to be the primary interaction sites between the cosmic waves and human body. We discuss in this paper the pharmacological mechanism for consciousness and also, role and expression of the key receptors involved in the consciousness phenomena.

• 33. Frequency Domain Analysis of the Lights and Sounds of the Religion of Saints

Prakash Sahni Scientific methods rely on objective models of the phenomena which they wish to explain. A physicist will try to explain light of a certain color in terms of the wavelength (or mixture of wavelengths) present in it. The different wavelengths are attributed to the energies of the photons present in the light. Sound is explained in terms of the frequencies present in the elastic waves which travel through a media. So for temperature measurements in terms of the randomness of the molecules and chemical reactions based on the structure of the molecules that form

• matter. Human perception of various phenomena such as light, sound, taste and smell, hotness

and coldness depend on the sensory organs to perceive these phenomena and transmit the neural impulses to the brain. Although physiologists have been able to explain a great deal about the way the sensory organs work, practically nothing is understood about why the brain perceives things the way it does. For example, why does light of 590 nm produce yellow and light of 760 nm produce red. Such is the case for other phenomena like registering of sound, coldness or

• taste. Empirical data has been gathered to show relate phenomena with the sensations. However

it is impossible to relate them using the structure of molecules or the energies of the particles or

• waves. For example there is nothing yellow in the electron which emits the light, or nothing

bitter about the chemical which produces a bitter taste. In eastern philosophies, such as the Religion of the Saints, and the Upanishads, various metaphysical phenomena are described.

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations These include the journey of the soul after death, or the possibility of gaining spiritual experiences during one's lifetime. The descriptions given correspond to real world experiences which we all are familiar with. A soul which has good karma may experience being on a space

• dyssey or a trek through pristine mountains and water bodies. More subtle experiences include

the sensation of music from an orchestra and light of various hues.Science may not attempt to classify what is good karma, and what is pleasurable, however, similar to the approach taken to analyze the sensory perceptionswe analyze the sounds and lights in terms of the constituent frequencies and their relations to each other. The sounds are analyzed in terms of the harmonics present in them and the lights in terms of its intensity and the frequencies which may be present in it.

• 34. Frequency and Energy as Neuro-correlates of Beauty in Maths, Science and Art

Dayal Pyari Srivastava, Vishal Sahni, Prem Saran Satsangi Beauty as a concept or subjective experience has been widely described in various ways by philosophers, psychologists and litterateurs apart from may others. However, it has rarely been associated with mathematicians. In a seminal work by Semir Zeki, et. al. (February 2014), an attempt has been made to identify the region of the brain responsible for appreciating beauty in

• Maths. To many of us, mathematical formulae appear abstract and unreal (abstruse) but to a

mathematician, an equation can embody the quintessence of beauty. The motivation comes from Eastern philosophy where Spanda Shastra emphasizes the role of frequency. According to Spanda Shastra, the whole universe in all its states and aspects is nothing but a system of vibratory movement. The ultimate movement takes place inside the Supreme consciousness. We have begun conducting experiments on various students belonging to different subject- classes by studying the response of their brains while trying to observe beauty in different subject areas (maths, science and art). We identified the peak resonant frequency of each individual brain which was stimulated by the piece of mathematics, science or art in order to respond with evaluation of beauty ranging from most beautiful to ugliest. Their brains were scanned with the help of magneto-encephalogram (MEG). This helped us in identifying the level

• f consciousness of each one of them. We saw some trend towards high frequency being linked

with discovery of truth, i.e. true knowledge while perceiving beauty. From the data collected by us, we were able to evaluate the (1) mean grade point average, (2) standard deviation, (3) mean energy level, (4) standard deviation of the mean energy level and (5) mean frequencies. As an example of the experiment conducted in the field of maths, we took a certain group of students belonging to a particular class and showed them a certain set of equations which they could understand. The students were then asked to grade the equations on a scale of -5 (ugliest) to +5 (most beautiful). As they were grading the equations, their brains were scanned. In the physical plane, we have used frequency as the stimulus for identifying or perceiving beauty as a cognitive response. In the cognitive domain of mind, we respond with knowledge or consciousness of beauty, while in the highest spiritual domain, we can identify it as a beauty, truth or ultimate reality.

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations

• 48. Meditation and its Stages (from an Eastern Perspective)

Chhavi Gupta, Gopi Chand Gupta In the attainment of ultimate freedom or Nirvana, meditation contributes to spiritual progress, to quiet the mind and to diminish the impact of ills and sorrows but meditation is not an end in itself but only a means for the attainment of the highest end. According to Arahanta Upatissa, (in his Vimuttimagga), "concentration means that one has purity of mind, endeavors steadfastly, dwells with the truth having the benefit of tranquility and is not distracted. This is called

• concentration. And again, it means not allowing one's mind to be bent by the strong wind of
• passion. It is comparable to the unflickering flame of the lamp behind the palace." Among the

benefits produced by concentration are mentioned 'pleasant dwelling in the happiness of truth in the present life, enjoyment of all objects through investigation, acquisition of worldly knowledge, and the attainment of perfection.

• 49. Impact of Daily Spiritual Experiences on Life Satisfaction in School Students

Anoop Srivastava, Dayal Pyari Srivastava, Karan Narain, Mukti Srivastava There is no single definition of the term “spirituality” that may be acceptable to all. However, experiences, feelings and emotions that can be ascribed to some faith in supernatural power, during the course of daily life, afford relatively wider acceptability. The Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) developed by Lynn Underwood is a 16 item self report measure to assess ordinary experiences from which a connection with the transcendent can be inferred. The scale has a high degree of psychometric reliability and validity, which makes it an important tool for scientific research. According to Abraham Maslow, satisfaction is derived from the fulfillment of a hierarchy of needs, which range from basic necessities of life to self-actualization and self- transcendence. Since higher order needs such as self-actualization become more relevant towards the later part

• f one's life, measurement of life satisfaction of students at the school level using the Brief

Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale – PTPB Version (BMSLSS - PTPB) has been found to be relevant and reliable. The BMSLSS-PTPB is a 6-item instrument used to measure Life Satisfaction of students by addressing three dimensions : intrinsic, social, and external. Participants can answer each item on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 4 (very satisfied). This paper attempts to study the correlation between the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) and life satisfaction. The main hypothesis is that students with a higher DSES score have a higher score in BMSLSS, implying a higher degree of Life Satisfaction.

TSC 2015 East-West Forum Oral Presentations

• 50. Mindfulness and Consciousness: A Correlational Study

Prem Pyari, Anoop Srivastava Mindfulness is a key factor behind human behavior. Difference in the degree of absence or presence of mindfulness can change the behavior of the same individual at different times. For this reason, mindfulness or mindlessness is studied more often as an important state characteristic rather than as a personality trait. However, there are practitioners who train the interested individuals to pay more attention to the present moment, especially to cope with mental stress. In this context, if one remains mindful of what he/she does more often than not, mindfulness can be regarded as his/her personality trait. Though mindfulness and consciousness may find usage as synonyms in a limited sense, mindfulness refers to paying non-judgmental attention on purpose in the present moment (Jon Kabat-Zinn, 2013), whereas consciousness has much wider connotation. According to Brazdau (2009), consciousness is understood to encompass six dimensions, viz., Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Social and the Self. In the present study, the authors have attempted measurement of mindfulness using Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) developed by Bryan and Ryan (2003) and consciousness using Consciousness Quotient Inventory (CQI) developed by Brazdau (2009) to study the correlation between the two. The correlation coefficients of subjects practicing yoga/meditation have also been compared with the control subjects.