| Communion
and Connectivity-Science Presents Some Examples:
An experimental brain implant, the size of a peanut, has allowed
a monkey to control a computer cursor by thought alone
- a link between mind and machine. The new device
uses a special mathematical formula to translate signals from
a few motor neurons on the surface of the monkey's brain.
The monkey was able to move the cursor `instantly' with almost
as much control as if it were using a computer mouse or a
joystick, said researcher Dr Serruya. They substituted `thought
control' for `hand control'. It would work for anything you
can imagine doing by pointing and clicking. Or imagine an
on-screen keyboard that someone can use to type sentences
or issue commands, Dr Donoghue said. The system is so small
that any future device developed for human use could easily
be made wireless. In 1998, neuroscientists at the University
of Teubingen in Germany tested an experimental cursor control
device in humans as did researchers at Emory University in
Atlanta.
(Shahjahan
Akhtar,"Monkey think, computer do", The Dawn, March
29, 2002).
The `voice
recognition' computers work with voice command, `iris and
finger-print recognition' are some of the examples of biometrics,
and bionics help the blind see with cameras through the implanted
`stimulator'. If a little stimulation of a small neuron can
create cordless communication of mind with machine,
then why it may be difficult to have communion and connectivity
of mind with its Maker and Operator? The great significance
of the Quran, being itself a Miracle, is that it leads a person
from a mere belief in the Existence of God
to a state where he actually experiences His very Presence.
Neale Donald Walsch in his `Conversations with
God’, Book-I, says: "One can talk to God, sure,
but not with God. I mean, God is not going to talk back, right?
At least not in the form of a regular, everyday kind of conversation!”…
God "talks to everyone. All the time.
He does talk, but who listens?....Let's exchange the word
`talk' with the word `communicate’..” He goes
on to express his experience. “Then this book happened
to me. And I mean that literally. This book was not written
by me, it happened to me."
"And
it was not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that
(It is not fitting for a man that)
Allah should speak to him
unless by revelation or
from behind a veil, or
He sends a Messenger
to reveal what He will by His leave.
Lo! He is High Exalted, Ever All-Wise." 42-51
"No vision can grasp Him (Allah),
but He grasps all vision." 6-103
Another translation
of this verse:
“Eyes
can’t reach Him (Allah), but
He reaches the eyes.” 6-103
The `Gnostics'
(Aarifiin), accept the existence of The Creator `by other
than empirical or scientific process'. They perceive the truth
by intuition and not by intellect. But the most authentic
knowledge in this respect is that provided by the Divine Revelation.
Even otherwise not only Existence but Presence
of God is all the time perceived and felt by the God conscious
person in His constant communication and inner closer contact.
Scientists
Can’t Even Raise All Questions: Philosophy
basically concerns nature of universe, nature of human beings
and relationship between the two. In this process it theorizes
and raises more questions than it can solve. Same is the case
with science, but with many more limitations, in dealing with
issues pertaining to existence, life and their inter and intra
actions. It can’t even raise all questions! Science
at the most may answer only some of those questions that scientists
can ask, and which they are technically able to investigate.
But it is impossible to know what questions are worth
asking or can be asked for which answers are possible, unless
one really is already omniscient. So we can never know everything
that might be relevant, or needs to be known. Although so
far possibility is concerned, there is no limit.
”Of
knowledge it is only a little, that is communicated to you”
17-85
We have been
talking about consciousness, connectivity, communication,
etc. Philosophers and scientists have completely misconstrued
or even confused possibility of understanding of nature of
universe, life and consciousness. There are many questions
which we don’t even know, because we don’t know
the reality. But those we raise are not all answered. All
the answered ones are not final. They are either partial or
continue to remain progressively under review. In many cases,
instead of answers, more questions are thrown up. Is the brain
simply a computer? Is `consciousness' merely a feeling? Does
one think himself or he is logged on to some central system?
Is `consciousness' a `primary component of the universe',
which the brain can latch on to, like a radio receiver? Since
are `conscious’, we assume other people to be like us.
But this can only be an inference. An imitation of consciousness
does not necessarily denote consciousness. It is perceived
simply to be an `emergent property', where matter and its
organization, both count. Yet consciousness is not just a
matter of computational complexity. It partakes of physical
principles, not yet understood. Computer might imitate the
brain, but it can not emulate it.
There are three main views in this regard: "One
is the `dualism' of Rene Descartes, which says the universe
has two components - matter and mind. The second is the modern
orthodox idea - that only matter `exists', and that mind (including
consciousness) is just an `epiphenomenon'; something that
seems to emerge when matter is suitably organized. The third
is reflected most starkly in the idealist philosophy of Bishop
Berkeley, that only thought is real, and matter is an illusion..
But the emerging modern view says that matter and consciousness
are not separate entities, as Descartes supposed, but are
complementary aspects of the universe. Both exist but neither
is primary. Each is the observer of the other, like two sides
of a coin.. It also reopens channels between science and theology.."
("New view of consciousness turns science upside
down", Colin Tudge, Dawn/The Guardian News Service,
February 6, 2003).
Science
and Signs Within:
“We (Allah) will show them
Our Signs
in the universe,
and in their own-selves,
until it becomes manifest to them, that
this is the Truth.” 41-53
The physical
world is under such a veil that we easily ignore the abstract
and the inner realities. The physical mechanism hides it like
a screen. Behind it is something much more abstract in the
form of knowledge that cannot be seen or touched. It is a
powerful force that has not really come under our control.
Let us consider some wonders of medical science within a living
body.
Dr Deepak Chopra in `Quantumn Healing’ says:
“Healing is alive, complex and holistic
(approach that includes the mind and body together or mind-body
connection). Every doctor realizes that it is nature who cures
disease, a statement first written by Hippocrates, two thousand
years ago. Dr Chopra himself asks, then why one disease is
cured automatically and the other is not, or not cured even
with the intervention of a doctor? “What is the difference…
between nature’s ordinary form of healing and unusual
or ` miraculous’ healing?” He goes on to answer:
“Perhaps the difference is small and exists only in
our heads. If you…cut your finger… (it) heals
by itself, and obviously you are not wonder-struck, because
the process of healing – the clotting of the blood to
close the wound, the formation of a scab, and the regeneration
of new skin and blood vessels – seems altogether normal.”
The Quran tells us that Ibrahim (Peace be upon
him) said:
“And when I am ill,
it is He (Allah) Who cures me”.26-80
It
is not only that we ignore the Signs in nature but even where
we make an effort, there also either our approach is inadequate
and / or the process is not perfect due to limitations of
technology and know-how. Not only this, our method is also
faulty. The first sign or evidence, that is destroyed in our
research, in the laboratory, is the delicate fabric or net
work of intelligence that binds the body together. Then how
can we capture the glimpse of this wonder at work? In `Quantumn
Healing’, these have been discussed in detail.
A blood cell rushes to a wound site and undertakes
repair work, e.g. one of the first things it begins to form
a clot. It has not traveled there at random. It actually knows
where to go and what to do precisely, and more surely than
a doctor. It acts completely spontaneously and without any
element of randomness. Even if we break down its knowledge
into finer and finer bits, looking for the secret in some
minute hormone or messenger enzyme, we will not find a protein
strand labeled `intelligence’, and yet there is no doubt
that intelligence is at work.
The outer membrane of a cell, i.e., the cell wall,
is fitted with numerous sites called receptors. The cell wall
itself is smooth, but the receptors are `sticky’ –
they are made of complex molecular chains whose last links
are open-ended, each one waiting for another molecule to come
along and bind with it. In other words, the receptors are
like keyholes into which only precisely matching keys can
fit. For a drug to work, it must precisely fit into the chosen
receptor on the cell wall and none else. We can’t see
the `intelligence’ itself, but we may only be able,
partially perhaps, to see its manifestations (works). The
critical element of intelligence is present; otherwise, the
drug’s action is not possible.
Living body is the best pharmacy man can ever
create or even imagine. It produces much more and far better
than everything manufactured by the drug companies. It dispenses
and administers the dosage that is always right and
given on time. Side effects are minimal or nonexistent. Directions
for using the drug are included in the drug itself, as part
of its built-in intelligence. Hormones, enzymes,
and other biochemicals produced by our bodies have superb
knowledge about which receptors they have to fit into. The
molecules themselves actually are able to choose from amongst
various sites. They make a beeline to where they are needed.
Also, the body can release hundreds of different chemicals
at a time and orchestrate each one with every other and all
as a whole. All this activity takes place at a furious pace,
while all effects everywhere in the body, are coordinated
by the brain intelligently. Dr Chopra remarks “(but)
we deal with it on our own limited terms…When something
strange happens, as when an advanced cancer suddenly and mysteriously
vanishes, medical theory is baffled. I didn’t think
(happenings like these healings) were miracles; I thought
they were proof that the mind can go deep
enough to change the very patterns that design the body. It
can wipe out mistakes off the blueprint, so to speak, and
destroy any disease – that has disturbed the design.”
Earlier we raised a question whether consciousness
is an independent and primary component of the universe. Similarly
from above remarks, a question arises whether `mind’
is an independent entity or component? Whether it is individual
or collective? In both cases questions of common ground, like
connectivity and centrality of the system arise! If this is
so, and it is logically and scientifically so, then miracles
of the `mind’ mentioned above, are manifestations of
the Super Intelligent Master Mind controlling all functions
of His creations.
Allah forgives
and cures:
"Say! O my servants!
who have transgressed to your own hurt,
despair not of God's Mercy;
for all sins doth God forgive.
Ever All-Gracious, Ever All-Merciful is He"
39-53
The Quran
reminds:
“And (remember) Job,
when he cried to His Lord-Master-Sustainer (Allah),
`Truly, distress has seized me; but
You are the Most Merciful of those that are merciful”.
(83)
“So We (Allah) listened to him,
We removed the distress,
That was on him,
And We restored his people to him, and
doubled their number,
as a Grace from Ourselves,
and a thing for commemoration,
for all who serve Us.” (84) 21-83 &
84
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