Thursday, December 27, 2007

I. What we mean by the word "SUPERMAN"

Dear Friends,

It will take a few paragraphs before I can make you understand the subject. So, be patient and you will be rewarded amply! Each paragraph will take you into the subject matter from a different angle and finally will converge into total understanding.

(1) This blog wants to help you along into your journey to your future. Yes, we really mean your 'future'. Let me explain. To-day (on 27th December, 2007) I am stationed in Varanasi, India. This is my space-time coordinate at the moment of writing this. So also, you have a space-time coordinate while reading this. O.K?
(2) Next, let me explain the terms 'Space' & 'Time' from the yogic point of view.(I am sure science will also explain the same way). This explanation is with reference to a human being on planet Earth.
(3) Is it possible to seperate the time sense from the space sense in us? Normally, the answer is NO. For example, we say that I am at a particular place at a particular time. This statement will make a full sense. Suppose you say "I was in London", then I can encounter you with the question "when?". To make a full sense we require both the components of time & space. This question is relevant in a subject-object environment. You as an "object" explain and somebody as a "subject" understnds it completely. In a relational world we require an expression of space-time parameters to make full sense of what we talk.
(4) Now, let us come to the "subjective" world. This subjective world is not relational, because you are alone encoutering yourself. Now, the question is "Which part of us is encountering which part? The answer is " Your 'consciousness' is perceiving the 'rest' of you". In the relational world, it is the same consciousness which was encountering the objective world. But, now, it is encountering/observing the 'rest' of you.
(5) Modern physics will tell us that there are three components in this relational world. They are (1) Consciousness, (2) Energy & (3) Substance/Matter. The human being is composed of all these three components.(Though 'consciousness' is not fully understood by Science, they agree that it is there and plays a major roll in our daily life) For short we may call Consciousness=C, Energy=E and Matter=M. Coming to our previous explanation, we may say the C is observing the entity E+M.
(6) At the human level, we have two levels of C. One is 'sense' C and the other is 'intelligence&reason'. As per Indian Vedic knowledge, sense C = 'manas' (Sanskrit term) & intelligence C = 'buddhi' (Sanskrit term). The dinstinction between human and animal is that humans have Buddhi as an independant faculty, whereas animals depend mainly on manas and in them the buddhi is involved in the manas. Through evolution, from animal to man, this buddhi has evolved out of the manas and has become an independant faculty in the humans. So to claim that you are an evolved human being, you should make certain that your buddhi is managing your life and your manas. In other words, in you, the senses are under the control of your buddhi.
(7) If you look at the evolution in our planet from mineral > plant > animal > Humans, we can observe that the major characteristic is the evolution of consciousness with substance/matter as the base. In the mineral, life and all the levels of consciousness are involved but they are not manifest, perhaps due to lack of instruments. First, 'life' emerges in dead matter. The form of the substance in which life evolves changes its substance structure to allow the flow of life through it. What we call 'Plants' come into existence. In the living substance of the plants, consciousness emerges. Most of the plants are 'sensible' to conduct their own life and exchange energies with Nature. In them the sense C is rudiment but manges their life. In further evolution, through the aniaml, this sense C becomes an independent faculty. The animal lives by 'instinct' which is the main manifestation of sense C in the animal. The 'intelligence is rudimentary in the animal and is involved in its manas.
(8) When evolution reaches the stage of the human being, the buddhi involved in the manas evolves into an independant faculty. So also, the form changes, from animal to human, which allows an independant action of the buddhi.
(9) Taking the evolution forward logically, 'is there any faculty involved in buddhi which awaits evolutionary manifestation?' The answer is a big "YES"
(10) We call this consciousness as "Superman Consciousness" and the being which will manifest it is called "Superman". (The real technical terms will be expalined later)
(11) Please remeber, we are talking about the further evolution of human being on planet Earth (us). This evolution will embrace all three components in the human being, the C, E & M. For the first time in the evolutionary history of Earth, the 'being' can collaborate in its own evolution! This is because the human is a self-cinscious being and he can collaborate in his evolution. How to do this, we will deal with later.
(12) Has Sri Aurobindo given any indication of this new type of being who will succeed the humans? The answer is YES. In fact the work was carried forward by The Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram. And she has given the following indications regarding the new being- 'The Superman'
a) The major difference is that in Superman, the animality can't exist. The reproductive & digestive systems are dropped in his being.
b) His body will have the same shape as of the humans
c) His working consciousness will belong to higher ranges above the Budhi
d) He will be drawing enregy(for sustenance) directly from higher ranges
e) The 'matter' with which he is made will not be the current 'atoms' (as we know it)
f) A new type of body 'cells' will evolve to make his body
g) He will come into existence by materialising a body ( and not through procreation by parents)
h) Also the process of 'How this evolution will take place' & also, "how an individual human can collaborate in his own evolution" is also indicated by The Mother.
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(13) This is the direction of your 'future'. If you want Mother Nature to evolve you into this possibility, then wait for a million years. Or, if you want to participate, collaborate and accelerate it, then you can start the process in this life itself.
(14) You have established your coordinates for this purpose when you read this, now. Do you want to continue in the current space & time (Natural Evolution) OR enter the new time & space as relevant to Superman? For each human being this option is open.
(15) The mineral has no perception of Time&Space(T&S) because there is no degree of consciousness manifest in it. The plant has a category of perception as relevant to the C in it. The animal has a perception of T&S as per the manas. The humans have a perception of T&S as per buddhi. Hence, it is the degree (shall we say quality) of C which decides the quality of perception. The higher the qulity of C, the higher the quality of perception. Let us remember an example: > For the humans, the sense perception compels him to believe that the Sun is going around the Earth. But the Buddhi corrects it and tells that the Earth is going around the Sun. Now, hold on: the same phenomenon is viewed from a consciousness higher than Buddhi. And what do they say "Neither the Sun nor the Earth moves". Just as an animal perception will not accept the intelligent perception of the Buddhi in this matter, so also, our intellect may not accept this verdict of the higher C. (More details on this later)
(16) Belive me, if you can. The arrival of the Superman is certain and inevitable. The best thing you can do is to become that (Superman)
(17) This is the revelation of Sri Aurobindo and he has paved the way for this to take place for the humans.
Are you ready for this adventure of Consciousness?
Sincerely Yours,
Narayanan
.....await my next posting......

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Respected Sir,
Namaste.
Nice to see your article "evolution of Man to Superman". Your approach with examples has made this topic very convenient to understand. Since I am familiar with this concept so there is no difficulty in accepting your words. It is quite appreciable that you have maintained flow very well and each point is connected to the precious one.

You have very nicely introduced the concept of "Consiousness" by giving examples of Relational and Subjective worlds. On further classification of "C" at human level, I find "Sense C" and "Intelligence and Reason C". You have mentioned Sense C as Manas. what is sixth sense which we normally speak of? May I translate "Sri Ramcharitmanas" as Sri Ram's Consiousness?
Is is not right to say that the "manas" in sanskrit is more than the sense C? Please let me know if I have misunderstood.

The evolution process from mineral>plant>animal>human is captured very well and describes very logically the prospects of future evolution of human being. In one of the documentary of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry, it was mentioned that "...human being will evolve the body of light.." but here you have mentioned that future being will use matter (M) as well. Assuming light is packets of energy and have no mass. On the other hand if we consider dual nature then light also acts as a particle. Please clarify this point. Also here I see a great jump from man to superman which may not be digested by the person who is following conventional yoga. At best, You can consider my example. I know, how long it took me to understand Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and even today I get confused with the terminology used. Hope you will bring the related connections (links) in your next blog.

Also I strongly recommend you to send this article to the e-magazine "Next Future" published by Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry or any other which is suitable to you because lots of people read those magazines.


With best regards, waiting for your next post.

-Rahul,
NUS, Singapore.

Narayanan said...

Dear Rahul,
I understand the points raised by you. As far as the composition of the physical body of the 'Superman' is concerned, this matter is being worked out in the 'subtle physiacl' realms by Sri Aurobindo & his associates. In the "Mother's Agenda', there is a lot of reference about this subtle physical existence. She describes how some of the sadhaks of the Ashram (both dead & alive at that point of time)were relishing the utilisation of this substance.

Of course, this substance has to penetrate our physical substance, and that is how, the new substance will come into existence in this dimension.

As far as the 'sense C is concerned, please refer to Synthesis for full description

Please check my new posting.
Tank you for your comments

Unknown said...

thanks Sir,
strange and great to know that this matter is being worked out in the subtle plane.
Waiting for the next posting.
Regards,
-Rahul.