Opinion: The significance of Hindu heritage

0
- ADVERTISEMENT -
Share

Lisa Miller’s 2009 article, “We are all Hindus Now” in 2009, former Ohio Senator Niraj Antani recent announcement that the bill to celebrate Hindu Heritage Month in October every year had unanimously passed in Ohio Senate and the House and Governor Mike DeWine has signed the bill, together with the frantic developments in artificial intelligence taking place at lightning speed all underscore the need to unravel the profound wisdom of our Hindu heritage.

The universe came into existence when the nothingness of the void created the incredibly small energy phase of the Big Bang event over 13 billion years ago and then differentiated itself from it. On one side of the energy phase there is this ever-expanding universe, but on the other side there is absolutely nothing, a void. This is the conclusion Amanda Gefter reached in her path-breaking book, Trespassing on Einstein’s Lawn. Theoretical physicist and physician Jim Kowall added that the nothingness of the void cannot be anything else but consciousness. Adds His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the universe may end one day, but consciousness will remain for it is eternal. His Holiness received the Nobel Laureate in Peace in 1989.

See this video clip, The Nature of Ultimate Reality: Chapter 1 How the Universe Came into Existence. Science cannot explain how “nothing” can create “something.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Fast forward several billion years after the Big Bang and a single cell organism has sprung to life here on Earth. Science cannot explain how a lifeless planet gave rise to life. See this video clip (https://youtu.be/Lu2T5lDsbWw) on how consciousness and energy, metaphorically known as Shiva and Parvati, are both required for creation and for life.

Millions of years later, life on planet Earth evolved following the theory of evolution and human beings formed societies in different parts of the world. Hereafter, though, the theory of evolution ceases to be useful where Saamkhya philosophy fills the gap.

Saamkhya philosophy explains that creation comprises five principal elements and three Gunas (attributes of the mindset), S, R, and T.

The principal elements are: Prithvi (Matter), Jal (Water), Agni (Fire, Heat), Vayu (Air, Oxygen) and Aakash (Space – Consciousness and Life-force (Pranic energy in Sanskrit or Chi Energy in Mandarin)).

The S component comprises truthfulness, honesty, steadfastness and equanimity while the R component consists of bravery, ambition, ego, greed and desire to live and the T component comprises lying, cheating, causing injury in words or deed and sleep.

How can inanimate things have the attributes of the mindset?

The S, R, and T components are linked to the two human emotions: Positive emotions include unconditional love, kindness empathy and compassion and negative emotions encompass anger, hatred, hostility, resentment, frustration, jealousy, fear, sorrow, etc.

Positive emotions are strongly linked to S while negative emotions are strongly and positively linked to R and T. Thus, mindset attributes are strongly linked to emotional traits.

The late Sir J. C. Bose, FRS, had proved that inanimate things like metals feel stress and plants feel pain.

The Bhagvad Geeta (https://indiacurrents.com/a-chemical-engineer-learns-new-lessons-from-the-bhagavad-gita/) explains the importance of S, R T components.

Sri Krishna counsels that the S, R, T components of civilizations undergo cyclical transformation over time, inducing repeated rise and decline of civilizations. Rising S levels promote the rise of societies while rising T levels, decline. No one knows why such a transformation of the mindset should occur, but historical evidence is supportive of the transformation theory.

The decline of societies cannot be prevented, but it can be postponed by enhancing the societal level of emotional excellence.

The cultivation of positive emotions at the exclusion of negative emotions is not an intellectual exercise. The required positive changes must come from within.

The S, R and T components cannot be measured but emotions can, and since emotions can be measured, progress can be audited.

To enhance emotional excellence, transcend reason by enhancing the focus of attention as in meditation or prayer.

Our heritage is also suggestive of communal harmony.

Incarnations of various faiths have all counseled to strive for just one thing: To strive for a shift from negative emotions to positive emotions to emerge as better human beings.

The characteristics of incarnations are, Jesus, “Love”; Buddha, “Compassion, Mahavir: Nonviolence, Krishna: Dharma, Shiva and Parvati, Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Values).

Finally, artificial intelligence is developing so fast that humanity is struggling to keep up. It is essential to focus on enhancing the emotional excellence of societies so the AI products they create do not wind up posing an existential threat to their very survival.

May other states decide to pass similar legislation to celebrate the Hindu heritage.

Pradeep B. Deshpande

Pradeep B. Deshpande is Professor Emeritus in and former Chairman of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Louisville. He is also president of Six Sigma and Advanced Controls based in Louisville, Kentucky. He is an author of eight books and over one hundred fifty articles in reputed journals.  pradeep@sixsigmaquality.com.

(The views expressed are solely those of the author)