Qur’an: The Cow

Reference: Religion
Reference: Qur’an: The Opening

[NOTE: I am not blogging about Islam. I am blogging about knowledge in the tradition of JNANA YOGA (the yoga of knowledge). My interest is to interpret Qur’an from the viewpoint of knowledge that is useful to mankind. I shall be interpreting this knowledge as consistent with my view of God as unknowable. If there is any historical, religious or cultural inconsistency in this material, I shall point it out as such. ~ Vinaire]

QUR’AN:  THE COW

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL
(2 – 20)

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This book, without doubt

has guidance in it for the conscientious;  

those who believe in the unseen,

and steadily practice prayer,

and give of what We have provided them,

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COMMENTARY:  This book (Qur’an) consists of the guidance that would bring prosperity to individuals, families, and societies and even to the mankind. Those who are conscientious and think of the survival of everybody and not just their own self, would, no doubt, instinctively follow this guidance.

These laws and principles are quite abstract and they are not very obvious at first glance. However, those who are conscientious would apply them anyway for the good of all. With diligent study and steady practice, they would in time come to appreciate what is in this book.

Giving is always holier than receiving. Those who are conscientious would share their prosperity and help others improve their condition.

NOTE: God is unknowable. There is no person out there providing us with material prosperity, and handing down this guidance. Actually, these are intuitions arrived at by keen observation. 

Prayer is not a mere supplication for relief. Prayer is practicing the principles of Qur’an correctly. Prayer consists of giving rather than receiving.

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and those who believe

what has been sent down to you

and what was sent down before you,

and are certain of the Hereafter.

They follow guidance from their Lord,

and they are the happy ones.

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COMMENTARY:  Those who are conscientious can see the consistency of the truths (laws and principles) revealed in Qur’an with those revealed earlier in the Torah and the Gospel. They know that it is the consequences of their own actions that determine the future. Such people humbly follow the guidance given in Qur’an, and thus achieve success and happiness in their lives.

NOTE: The use of the word “Lord” is poetic. It is not to be taken literally. God is unknowable. Man controls his own destiny. He is his own lord.

Qur’an is describing the characteristics of a SOCIAL PERSONALITY. The social personality naturally operates on the basis of the greatest good for all. The social personality wants to survive and wants others to survive, whereas the ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY (as described in the subsequent verses) really and covertly wants others to succumb.

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As for the ungrateful who refuse,

it is the same to them

whether you warn them or not;

they do not believe.

God has sealed their hearts

and their hearings,

and covered their eyes;

for them there is a great torment.

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COMMENTARY:  There are some who are ungrateful even when they are helped. Such people do not care for this guidance even when it is explained to them how indispensable it is for survival. Such people really have no feelings in their heart for others. They do not want to hear about doing anything good to others. They do not want to see any good being done to others. For such people there is a great torment.

NOTE: Qur’an is describing here the characteristics of an ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY. The antisocial personality really and covertly wants others to succumb.

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And among humankind

are those who say

they believe in God and the Last Day

but they do not believe.

They try to deceive God

and those who believe,

but they do not deceive anyone

except themselves,

although they do not know it.

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COMMENTARY:  Unfortunately, such people do exist among humankind. They say that they believe in the welfare of all, and that, like anybody, they too are responsible for their actions, but they don’t really mean it. Such people think that they would survive better if others don’t do so well. So they only pretend to help without really helping. But they don’t deceive anyone except themselves, and they do not even know it.

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There is a sickness in their hearts,

and God has made them sicker;

and theirs is a painful torment,

because they were in fact lying.

And when they are told not to make trouble on earth,

they say they are only doing good.

Is it not that they are in fact

the troublemakers,

without even knowing it?

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COMMENTARY:  Such people are actually sick to their core. They lie and they are tormented by the thought of being found out. Thus, they become sicker. Such people only make trouble even when they say that they have only the best of intentions.  Their actions always lead to trouble but they can’t see it.

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And when it is said to them,

“Believe as the people believe,”

they say, “Shall we believe

as imbeciles believe?”

No, it is they,

they who are the imbeciles,

though they do not know.

And when they encounter

those who believe,

they say, “We believe.”

But when they are alone

with their obsessions,

they say,

“We are in fact with you;

we were only joking.”

 

COMMENTARY:  Such people look down upon those who want people to do better. They consider any helpful attitude to be foolishness.  But it is they who are fools without knowing it. Such people do not express their contempt openly.  Outwardly, they pretend to agree with the idea of everyone working for the common good, but when they are with their own kind they mock the idea of working for anybody’s welfare.

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God will make a joke of them,

amplifying their outrages

as they wander astray.

They are the ones

who have bartered

guidance for error:

thus their trade does not profit

and they are not guided.

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COMMENTARY:  The irony is that such people do not do well but actually suffer greatly in their ignorance. They shun any guidance and go their own stubborn way. Thus, being trapped in their own lies, they are not guided by good sense.

NOTE:  This is a sad commentary on the duplicity of human nature.  It is not easy to make such people see the error of their ways.  Such people have put themselves beyond the pale by despising those who can help them.  It is indeed a daunting and frustrating task to handle the blindness of such people.

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What they are like is one who lit a fire,

and when it illumined everything around,

God took their light

and left them in darkness,

unseeing.

Deaf, dumb, and blind,

they will not get back.

Or like a rain cloud from the sky,

in it darkness, thunder,

and lightning.

They put their fingers in their ears

against the peal

in fear of death:

yet God surrounds the ungrateful.

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COMMENTARY:  It is as if everyone around them can see but they can’t see even when a situation is as plain as daylight. They have become deaf, dumb and blind due to their own considerations. There is little chance of them recovering from their condition. Enlightenment comes from courageously facing the stark realities of life however frightening and dangerous they might appear to be.  However, such people are so terrified that they keep on running away.  Yet they have the potential within them to face the truth if they want to.

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The lightning nearly

takes away their vision.

Every time it sheds light for them,

they walk in it;

and when it grows dark upon them,

they stand still.

And if God willed,

God could remove

their hearing and seeing:

for God has power over all things.

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COMMENTARY: When such people are forced to face the truth they do so but with little sense of responsibility. And as soon as they are left to themselves, they become deaf, dumb and blind to truth again. But it is just that they have chosen to be so. There is nobody else to blame. But if they want they can recover from this condition.

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August 13, 2012 – 7:52 PM Categories: Islam | Comments (14)

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Mindfulness in Feelings (old)

See: Exercises: Discerning the Mind

Reference: The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness

After one has established mindfulness with regard to the activities of the body, one may start focusing on feelings to establish mindfulness with regard to them. One locates a feeling that is uppermost in the mind and then immerses oneself completely in it. One looks at the nature of the feeling whether it is worldly or spiritual, whether it is pleasant, painful or neutral. One closely observes significance mixed with that feeling and acknowledges it non-judgmentally for what it is.

Here are some excerpts from Satipatthana Sutta: The Foundations of Mindfulness.

“And how, monks, does a monk live contemplating feelings in feelings?
“Herein, monks, a monk when experiencing a pleasant feeling knows, ‘I experience a pleasant feeling’; when experiencing a painful feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a painful feeling’; when experiencing a neither-pleasant-nor-painful feeling,’ he knows, ‘I experience a neither-pleasant-nor-painful feeling.’ When experiencing a pleasant worldly feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a pleasant worldly feeling’; when experiencing a pleasant spiritual feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a pleasant spiritual feeling’; when experiencing a painful worldly feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a painful worldly feeling’; when experiencing a painful spiritual feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a painful spiritual feeling’; when experiencing a neither-pleasant-nor-painful worldly feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a neither-pleasant-nor-painful worldly feeling’; when experiencing a neither-pleasant-nor-painful spiritual feeling, he knows, ‘I experience a neither-pleasant-nor-painful spiritual feeling.’
“Thus he lives contemplating feelings in feelings internally, or he lives contemplating feelings in feelings externally, or he lives contemplating feelings in feelings internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination factors in feelings, or he lives contemplating dissolution factors in feelings, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution factors in feelings. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought, ‘Feeling exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness, and he lives detached, and clings to nothing in the world. Thus, monks, a monk lives contemplating feelings in feelings.”

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EXERCISE

PURPOSE:   To practice mindfulness with regard to feelings and sensations.

  1. At all times be aware of your feelings.

    In the words of Buddha:
    • Know when you experience a pleasant feeling, ‘I experience a pleasant feeling’;
    • Know when you experience a painful feeling, ‘I experience a painful feeling’;
    • Know when you experience a neutral feeling, ‘I experience a neutral feeling’;
    • Know when you experience a pleasant worldly feeling, ‘I experience a pleasant worldly feeling;
    • Know when you experience a pleasant spiritual feeling, ‘I experience a pleasant spiritual feeling;
    • Know when you experience a painful worldly feeling, ‘I experience a painful worldly feeling;
    • Know when you experience a painful spiritual feeling, ‘I experience a painful spiritual feeling;
    • Know when you experience a neutral worldly feeling, ‘I experience a neutral worldly feeling;
    • Know when you experience a neutral spiritual feeling, ‘I experience a neutral spiritual feeling;

  2. Look at the feeling that is uppermost in your mind. Look at what is right there associated with it. Do not go digging for information by trying to remember.

  3. See if that feeling has a location in, or on, some part of the body. The feeling may appear not to have any location, or it may appear to be throughout the body. Sometimes the feeling may appear to have a location in the space around the body. In any case, spot the location if there is one.

  4. If there is some medical condition associated with the feeling, make sure you are following the proper medical procedures.

  5. Become thoroughly immersed in the feeling  at its location and feel it unconditionally. The feeling may seem to move to different locations. Thoroughly feel it at whatever location you find it.

  6. If any thoughts or considerations appear during this process notice them mindfully, and accept them for what they are.

  7. If a picture appears during this process then look at it for what it is. You may make a copy just like it and place it next to it. You may even make more copies until you feel you have enough. Then simply dispose of all these copies in any manner you wish. If some part of a picture is still remaining then repeat this step.

  8. Continue experiencing the feeling without resistance as long as it is there. Be mindful of the thoughts, considerations, pictures, ideas, etc., that flow along with the feeling. The feeling will finally reduce and go away as you practice mindfulness.

  9. Continue with the next feeling that is now uppermost in the mind from step 2 forward. If there is no specific feeling to take up then simply go back to step 1.

  10. Continue contemplating feelings internally and/or as observed externally.

  11. Be mindful of the origination factors in feelings, and/or the dissolution factors in feelings.

  12. Be mindful that feelings exist to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness.

  13. Live detached, and cling to nothing in the world.

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Further references: KHTK Mindfulness

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July 29, 2012 – 4:47 PM Categories: Self-Improvement | Comments (3)

The Self and the Soul

In physics, the center of mass  is the weighted average location of all the mass in a body or group of bodies. Various important calculations in mechanics become simplified when quantities are referenced to the center of mass, or when the entire mass of a body is treated as if it is concentrated at the center of mass.

We may regard the Self and the Soul in a similar manner.

A SELF is a weighted average location of all physical and mental energies and forces related to a person, much like the “center of mass.” 

So, underlying this concept of self there is an actual structure of energies and forces. This may be what Buddha was describing as summarized in The Structure of “I”.

If we look at a soul as something left after the body dies then we may describe it in a similar manner as follows:

A SOUL is a weighted average location of the mental energies and forces, remaining after the death of the physical body,  much like the “center of mass.”

By definition, spirit is the essence of something. It also refers to the mental energies and forces remaining after death. Therefore these mental energies and forces remaining after death constitute the spirit of a person. Spirit is not different from the mind.

As it is obvious from the above interpretation, a soul is what remains of the self after the removal of physical energies and forces. The soul does not have the same characteristics as the self. Soul does not behave the same way as the self did.

A soul is pretty much frozen until it creates a new self by becoming part of a new born baby. The last thought of the old self is the first thought of the new self. There are no “in-between life” after death and before birth. Ideas about “in-between lives” seems to be the projections of live self.

The new self of the baby has only certain elements of the old self. This  may explain the inexplicable talents and memories from some other life. But there is no “self” that continues from one body to the next.

We are not talking about reincarnation here. There seem to be no heaven or hell where souls may be stored indefinitely after death. There is recycling in nature.

Here we are looking beyond hopes and expectations. We are looking at physics on the plane of metaphysics.

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July 29, 2012 – 8:39 AM Categories: KHTK | Comments (46)

Granting of Beingness & Space

In my opinion, Granting of Beingness would be letting something (or somebody) be what it is, and making no efforts to alter it by adding or subtracting to it.

You are not giving it life. It is what it is.

You are not creating energy. What is there is already there.

You are simply becoming aware of it.

By granting beingness you are not changing anything out there. You are simply becoming less judgmental.

Self is merely a label for a combination of locations, movements, particles and considerations. Such label may be applied to other combinations of locations, movements, particles and considerations.

Looking at something as ‘self’ is one step away from seeing what is really there. It is being judgmental to some degree.

There is simply this process of looking and becoming aware of what is there. ‘Who is looking’ is an idea and ‘what is being looked at’ is also an idea. One may use the label ‘orientation point’ for who is looking. and ‘symbol’ for what is being looked at. These things may be considered points or locations in the “space” of awareness. As far as locations go, they are all relative to one another.

Just like there are locations in space, ‘Orientation point’ and ‘symbol’ are points within awareness. There is no absolute point outside of awareness. Locations, or points, orient themselves to one another in a mutual fashion and become aware of each other.

And therefore,

  1. Space is simply there. It is also awareness. So awareness is simply there.

  2. Awareness may focus, or concentrate, itself at any point within itself, and call that an ‘orientation point’.

  3. Awareness may also focus, or concentrate, itself on another point within itself, and call that a ‘symbol’.

  4. Awareness may then differentiate between these two points, and call that a measure or ‘dimension’.

  5. Awareness, or space, shall then consist of points (locations) and measurable properties (dimensions). This may be represented mathematically by scales.

  6. But the awareness, or space, is already there. It is not created. It simply focuses and concentrates upon itself in various ways.

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July 28, 2012 – 7:28 AM Categories: KHTK | Comments (112)

IITK Campus 1964

At the top is the freshly completed dormitory where we were housed when we first arrived on the IITK campus in the fall of 1963. IITK stands for the ‘Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur’.

At the bottom is my then newly made friend Virendra Tarneja. We had common interest in art. Virendra organized exhibitions of his paintings on the campus, while I just dabbled along.

I shall love to have my IITK friends talk about their experiences here. But non-IITians are welcome to join in to talk about their college experiences.

I shall keep this section aside for discussing any experiences, which took place during the school and college years. Maybe we can go earlier as far back as Kindergarten.

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July 24, 2012 – 5:17 PM Categories: Pictures | Comments (1)

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