Unification, the predictive consequences of our individual and collective vibrational make up.

We are superficially diverse but we are fundamentally unified at our source. While experiences shape our individual lives, this unification at our source also contributes to the expansion of our cumulative experiences. By reviewing Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s book, The Science of Being and Art of Living, we examine suffering, positive thinking, and karma in relation to emotions and contemporary scientific theories supporting the predictive consequences of our individual and collective vibrational make up.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a trained physicist who became a meditation teacher under the direction of his Guru Dev, and later introduced the Transcendental Meditation technique. During Transcendental Meditation, the practitioner experiences bliss consciousness, where our natural state of peace, harmony, and clarity directly infuses with our everyday activities. Maharishi explains the two aspects of the technique as first taking the mind out of the gross relative field of life’s experience, to a quiet space at the source of your thoughts and the experience of un-manifested “Being”, then brought back to the relative field of existence well-infused with the state of Being. This natural state of Being, is accessed at the transcendental field and brought out into the relative, ever changing, field of direct experience or existence. The technique is taught by a certified teacher, where the student learns to access a deeper space of awareness where this natural state of Being unfolds spontaneously in Transcendental Consciousness, (Maharishi, 2011, Art of Being, para. 8).

In Science of Being and the Art of Living, Maharishi uses the term science to align traditional systemized objective knowledge with the importance of adding subjective direct experiences. Maharishi states this approach “enlarges the conscious capacity of the mind to infinite values and therefore functions not only as the basis for the great expansion of knowledge in every field of science, but also brings to man a direct way to fulfillment” (Maharishi, 2011, Introduction, para. 17). By including subjective experiences in the pursuit of deeper systematized knowledge, we can begin to correlate predictive consequences impacting both individual and collective experiences.

Desire, innate in the human experience, bridges the intellect and mind into manifestation. The vibrational variance between our desires and where we are can be measured in our emotions and associated suffering (Abraham, Hicks, & Hicks, 2007). Cultivating our innate and natural state of positive Being through the practice of Transcendental Meditation helps to strengthen the conscious mind and stabilize the nervous system. In this state, the dullness and inefficiency associated with negativity, past karma, and suffering is neutralized and the ability to see opportunity in both negative and positive life experiences increases (Maharishi, 2011, The Art of Performing Action to Yield Maximum Results, para. 13).

Contemporary science is researching the Unified Field and supporting string and superstring theories. According to string theory, all particles arise from the vibrational states of tiny strings.  Researchers from top universities across the globe are using mathematical solutions to define reality through equations that have the same matter particles that exist in our universe, including algebraic geometry, to connect string theory to the observable universe (Ananthaswamy, 2019).

John Hagelin, Ph.D., renowned quantum physicist and president of Maharishi International University, discusses the Unified Field and superstring theory during the 2015 Science and Nonduality conference, available on YouTube. In his talk, “Is Consciousness the Unified Field?”, Dr. Hagelin explains the particles in superstring theory that create the material universe are the “inevitable predicted consequence” of the natural states of vibration resulting from reverberant frequencies that rise and strike different tones of the Unified Field (Quantum-Mind, Oct 22, 2015).

The desire of human consciousness to know itself is experienced through the natural state of transcendental consciousness, where pure consciousness knows itself as the observer, observed, and the process of observing. When experiencing positive or negative thinking, suffering, karma or emotions, we are in tune with the great energy we carry within ourselves, and the distance to the absolute bliss we naturally possess (Maharishi, 2011, Purpose of Life, para. 11). Maharishi reminds us that no matter the distance between our desires and our current experiences, to make full use of all the surroundings we have created, “When we build a house, we make full use of the surroundings that we have created in it. If we plant a garden outside, we enjoy it, but if we do not plant a garden, we enjoy the warmth of the living room” (Maharishi, 2011, How to Make Full Use.., para. 8).

Together, we are co-creating a universe based on our vibrational imprints reverberating from our response to life. By accessing transcendental consciousness, we not only benefit from increased self-confidence, self-actualization, and improvement in mental and physical health as evidenced through extensive scientific research (Maharishi, 2011, Appendix A, para. 12), we are better equipped to bring alignment into our lives and our world.

References:

Abraham, Hicks, E., & Hicks, J. (2007). The astonishing power of emotions. London: Hay House.

Ananthaswamy, A. (2019). Found: A Quadrillion Ways for String Theory to Make Our Universe. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/found-a-quadrillion-ways-for-string-theory-to-make-our-universe/

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (2011). Science of Being and Art of Living [MUM Press. Kindle Edition]. Retrieved from Amazon.com

Quantum-Mind. (Oct 22, 2015). Home [YouTube Channel]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/PZkO2e98Z

Practiced Thoughts Perpetuate Suffering...Not Problems or People

It is said that all suffering is self inflicted. While this blanket statement has a lot of room for discussion around varying levels of emotional wounds or trauma, the idea is that our own ruminating thoughts are the driving force that perpetuates suffering, instead of the hands of another person or experience. 

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi discusses this concept in relation to individual behavior in his book, The Science of Being and the Art of Living. Maharishi was a trained physicist who became a meditation teacher under the direction of his Guru Dev, and later introduced the Transcendental Meditation technique. In his book, Maharishi describes the impact that harboring negative thoughts about someone else’s behavior has on our own suffering. If someone treats us improperly, our tendency is to respond with an equal or stronger reaction that will likely be received negatively. Maharishi explains this response doesn’t allow that person the opportunity to improve their relations with us, which will also add to our suffering. He adds that even if this person was acting with ill intention toward us, we can still choose to include love in our following interactions with that person that will benefit the both of us long term, “Even if he does harbor ill-feelings toward us, we will benefit him and ourselves if we still behave toward him with love and tolerance.” Maharishi explains how the “doubting or unkind mind” perpetuates suffering in the individual when “even if there have been reasons for the doubts in the past, [the doubting or unkind mind] fails to enjoy the joyfulness and sincerity of the other. Thus, it is not the present behavior of the man that is causing the other to be doubtful; rather it is the state of his own mind”, Maharishi, 2011, The Art of Behavior...Behavior and Surroundings, para. 6-10.

Through the practice of Transcendental Meditation, the practitioner experiences bliss consciousness, where our natural state of peace, harmony, and clarity directly infuses with our everyday activities. This technique is taught by a certified teacher, to ensure the integrity of the teaching as well as the understanding of the student. Through instruction, the student is drawn to a quiet space at the source of thought, accessing a deeper space of awareness where our natural state unfolds spontaneously. Through this system for accessing one’s integrated self, “we vibrate a good influence of life and peace, harmony and joyfulness, around us”, Maharishi, 2011, The Art of Behavior...Behavior and Surroundings, para. 11.

This helpful reminder helps clarify the momentum that is found in negative thinking (all thinking really). When we fuel negative thinking with more “air time”, they become more powerful and influence not only how we feel or act toward this person in the future, but inevitably in the participation of our own suffering. 

References:
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Science of Being and Art of Living. MUM Press. Kindle Edition.

Karma and Epigenetics, East Meets West

The concept of Karma refers to a widely held spiritual principle of cause and effect, whether in this lifetime or in future existence. This curious, yet widely held acceptance of “as you sow, so shall you reap” parallels current biomedical research and findings in the field of epigenetics. 

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a physicist who became a meditation teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique also encouraged scientific research to study the impact of meditation on mind and body. In his book, “The Science of Being and the Art of Living” Maharishi explains the action of Karma can impact an individual in this lifetime or at some point in the future. Maharishi also explores resolving the impact of Karma through the process of Transcendental Meditation. Transcendental Meditation is a technique for inner peace and wellness that is both preventative and curative by providing a means for preservation of mental and physical health (2015, February 17). Through Transcendental Meditation technique, one can access a state of quiet stillness free from thought or mental activity, a transcendent state of Being. The force of Karma can be leveraged from this state, and assist evolution toward the experience of bliss consciousness, where doing highest good for oneself compliments maximum benefit for humanity. (Maharishi, 2011, Karma and the Art of Being, para. 45-50).

Through the study of epigenetics, scientists are discovering that while our genetic makeup defines physical traits and the potential for certain diseases, how those genes express may be more influential on our day to day health and even more interesting is that epigenetic expressions seem to be capable of being passed down to future generations. Similarly, Maharshi states “If an action is performed now of which the influence will reach the doer in a thousand years, that influence will reach that soul wherever in the universe it may be” and if the doer is no longer alive, his nearest living relative will attract the karma, “Blood affinity is the agency through which the reaction reaches the doer” (Maharishi, 2011, The Art of Being, Karma and the Art of Being, para. 10).

Today the impact of meditation on the physiology is more widely accepted and the ability to change biomarkers of predictive health are more explored than ever before. After attending a recent conference where the two worlds of science and sacred knowledge combined, one of the areas explored was around neuropsychology and epigenetics. During the panel discussion, experts expressed that while 5% of our genetic make up is set and unchanging, it is possible up to 95% is dependent upon how our genetic make-up is expressed at any point in time, and can be influenced by direct experiences in life. Also important to note is that 95% could include imprints made during the lives of our ancestors. One example was a person living today could be influenced by the trauma experienced by their ancestor who was a holocaust survivor, even if they had never met. This epigenetic inheritance may influence our current state of health based on the behavior, diet and environment of our ancestors and can be impacted through changes in our current behaviors (Siegel & Tanzi, 2019).

Perhaps Karma and epigenetics represent another parallel between objective science of the west and the subjective inquiry of the east, both supporting the impact of current environmental factors on physiology and overall health.

Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash

References:

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Science of Being and Art of Living. MUM Press. Kindle Edition.

Siegel, D. & Tanzi, R. (2019, November) Neuropsychology & Epigenetics Panel. Panel discussion presented at the 2019 Sages & Scientists Symposium, Bentonville, AR.

(2015, February 17). The Science of Being and Art of Living by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Retrieved from: https://tmhome.com/books-videos/science-of-being-art-living-maharishi/