Spiritual practices for the advancement of the Mental Sheath is like the bloody Mahabharat war wherein one wards off the taints and distortions that have entered our intellectual arena. Along with this is conjoined the firm resolve (Sankalp) to establish Ram’s rule or a righteous world government.
With reference to this it is apt that we give due thought to discipline and self control. In ancient times, wind, bile, phlegm, indigestion, blockage of feces, change in weather, attack of venomous germs etc. were thought to be causes of various diseases. But modern research says that the mental center fully controls our body and it further elaborates that diseases based on external causes are nothing but the desire of the life force of our body. Thus with common remedies these diseases can be cured. Intense diseases are generally a result of mental distortions. These diseases cannot be cured merely by medicines and that mental purification is most required in such cases.
This is the chief cause not only of bodily diseases but also of mental illnesses. An individual, who executes vile actions due to a vile intellect, not only faces bodily diseases but also undergoes mental illnesses. Maybe such a person does not turn mad yet because of a certain amount of imbalance, he remains semi-agitated. They undergo pain for no reason and for no reason they inflict pain on others. Such a person’s mental state is indeed pitiful. Even if one merely sees such a person, one feels intense turmoil. In comparison to people with bodily diseases, not only is the number of people with mental taints infinitely more, but that the pain too is more severe. The method of curing such illnesses does not lie in hospitals but is dependent on purification of the mind. The cures can take place in other ways too yet on the basis of Spiritual Science it can be more successfully overcome via sanctification of the Mental Sheath and other spiritual practices.
Students of Anatomy know fully well that nerves conjoined to the brain are spread out in the entire body. It is through these nerves that such an intricate ‘machine’ i.e. the brain functions aptly. The action power, experiences of the sense organs open up in the brain. The sense organs (apparatus) can only gather information and send it to the brain center. When one undergoes mental agitation, the entire body loosens itself and one’s power of actions too lags behind. One’s face becomes sad when one faces fear, worries, sorrow, despair etc. and the entire body tends to collapse. If one studies the body language of a person who is extremely furious, it is clear that all his bodily parts get excited and agitated with great intensity. Bang opposite to this a man full of joy and serenity who always experiences good health and thus lives a long life. But a person full of agitation keeps losing bodily weight and is seen to die at a very young age. These facts clearly tell us that more than the influence of food, rest, water etc. on our body, it is the influence of our mental state that is infinitely more intense.
In the body via muscular groups and tubeless glands, sentiments are active. Our entire body is full of muscular networks. Ordinarily muscles are white in color and are gross like wires. All our organs work with the help of muscles. The main muscle that reaches every organ is as gross as a rope. Its branches and sub-branches become more and more thin. Many sub-branches are as thin as a cotton fiber.
Every muscular network has 2 parts 1) Voluntary 2) Involuntary Via actions of moving, bending, swerving, picking up objects etc. we move our hands / legs as per our wish. This in turn is due to voluntary muscles. But we cannot function thus with involuntary muscles. They carry out tasks of our inner organs like heart beats, exhaling / inhaling etc.
The center of the involuntary muscles lives in the brain and is called hypothalamus. It is this hypothalamus that controls the male and female glands. Also an enzyme called dopamine oxidase, despite being scattered in the entire body, is more concentrated in the central muscular system. Hypothalamus is known to activate the pituitary gland. From this various hormones are secreted which are reactions of our sentiments and causes of other new sentiments. When new circumstances are created, the tubeless glands are pressurized and thus they secrete new hormones. These hormones react variedly in the body and based on this, new sentiments manifest. For e.g. suppose the pituitary gland secretes a hormone due to the pressure of a germ of a disease, it will result in intense turbulence in the body. Such a person becomes uneasy and thus falls down on the bed. Now in this state of illness, all the sentiments hoarded in the sub-conscious mind start manifesting externally. As a result one sees varied reaction based symptoms in the body.
When we say that the Mental Sheath is present in the brain, we mean that it is its central action office. But its subtle parts i.e. its branches and sub branches are spread all over the body. The cells of the brain are more wise and experienced than cells of other organs. Hence they are called the leaders of all cells of the body. When these leader cells move in a particular direction, the other cells follow suit. In order that the entire subtle body remains healthy, joyful, zealous and progressive, it is most required that the brain too is of that stature. If the leader keeps despairing and experiences anguish, how can one aspire for advancement? The state of a leader whether positive or negative, definitely influences his /her followers.
Dr. Fenkel, a psychologist of Vienna opines that the mental state influences one’s bodily health. The cause of mental balance is the true achievement of one’s life. Hence he advanced the method of “Logotherapy”. Dr. Fenkel believes that if a person is unaware of the true goal of life and its activities, he can never remain healthy. The basis of a blissful life is attainment of the true goal of human life. Dr. Fenkel’s Logotherapy encompasses discussion of topics liked/disliked by his patient so as to inspire him to walk on the path of the true goal of human life. As soon as a person understands the true goal of human life, he concentrates his mind on the energies present within him. Thus he imbibes steadfast faith in himself and starts regaining good health. If the mental state is healthy, it can help the physical body to regain good health.
A definite and clear cut reaction is seen on the gross/physical body due to the movements of the subtle body. The cause of nervous system disorders is the suppressed vile thoughts of our psyche. Even anatomists opine, that merely on the basis of mental imprints, many bodily diseases manifest. Dr. Tuk, the author of the book “Influence of the Mind upon the Body” writes – “Diseases like turmoil, indolence, bodily organs becoming handicapped, bile, leprosy, hair loss, decrease of RBC, fear, kidney diseases, distortion of the bodily organ of a fetus in its mother’s womb, skin diseases, boils, eczema etc. are the result of mental agitation and vile thinking.” Mental turmoil, vile sentiments, undesirable thinking are distortions of the subtle body which clearly influence our physical body. In the same way a sacred viewpoint, healthy thinking, idealistic thought flow etc. radiates our subtle body and this great influence is seen on the gross body too.
In the proposition of the extraordinary importance of positive thinking based on high ideals, Dr. Benett has put his own case in front of us. Up to the age of 50 years Dr. Benett lost good health due to despair and undesirable thinking. When he read about the good influence of positive thinking, he started imbibing it in his own life. He renounced the inertness of his mind along with mental distortions so as to fill his heart with faith based on sacred aspirations. Thus his life overflowed with bliss and serenity. Dr. Benett who had lived a life of bliss for 20 continuous years, printed photographs of himself when he was 50 years and another one when he was 70 years, in his book. The photograph when he was 50 years was indeed crestfallen and withered but the photograph when he was 70 years old was so full of bliss. Where had the withered face disappeared? This is because at the age of 70 years, he looked youthful and oozed with zest for life.
Up till now all research studies of this sort indicate that if one’s mind / intellect are agitated, that person too experiences pain. Hatred, jealousy, greed etc. definitely affect a person in a big way. When the intellect experiences bliss, all bodily cells too rejoice. All these cells experience oneness between themselves. If one cell experiences pain /joy, other cells too get influenced. They share their joys and sorrows. Their mutual relationship of oneness is amazing. There are rare examples of true friendship, intense oneness and sympathy for one another. Imagine that one particular individual is extremely hungry. In front of him is a plate of delicious food items. At that moment he gets a phone call that a beloved one has died. Immediately his mind is crowded with thoughts of his beloved kin. The mind experiences oneness with the kin. The cells of the brain get agitated. This agitation is immediately passed on to the entire body. The tongue starts drying up. Those cells which were previously screaming for food due to hunger were now silenced. The heart and other organs too slump. The heart sinks, the eyes are covered with darkness and the body slumps. Thus the entire body is influenced by this mental turmoil. It is very clear that the state of the brain cells influence the state of the bodily cells.
The famous scientist cum author Dr. Bennett in his book “Old Age – Cause and Prevention” writes about a very entertaining and educative incident. A 16-year old French girl decided to marry a young man of American origin. Because the young man was poor, it was decided that he would first earn wealth in America and then return to France to get married. Within three years the young man earned a lot of wealth but as luck would have it, he was involved in a court case and thus could not return to France for 16 years. After 16 years when he returned to France, he was amazed to see that the health and beauty of his fiancée remained unchanged and hence even now at an advanced age, she radiated beauty of a 16 year old girl.
While analyzing the above incident Dr. Bennett writes – Mother Nature controls the human body in such a manner that every cell of the body, which lives for 90 days is disposed off from the body via bodily dirt, just as the dirt in the sea is taken to the shores by flow and ebb of tides. Old age means the activity of cell transformation which gets depleted as one starts aging. But in the above incident, Mother Nature’s influence of aging was warded off. Why was it so?
Dr. Bennett induced the woman to give an answer and she said – Every day I stood in front of a full length mirror and stared at myself. I would keep thinking that I am exactly as I was yesterday. My body could not be influenced by the day’s changes. This steadfastness of my will power, kept me joyous and zestful everyday. This is the very reason why I am looking like a 16 year old girl despite being actually 34 years old.” He clearly understood the value of purification of the subtle body, elevation of our thinking and one’s power of resolve (Sankalp-Shakti) after reading the book written by a great spiritualist, Dr. Marden called “An Iron Ball”. Dr. Marden writes “If only man reforms his thinking and raises the level of his character, he can also transform his physical body.” These precepts became a medicinal herb for him which gave a new life to millions of humans. If one imbibes love for all, friendship, compassion and generous thinking, anyone can benefit immensely.
Based on one’s emotions the network of veins in our brain either spread out widely or shrink in size and thus manifest sensitive reactions.
It is unhealthy thoughts that give rise to bodily diseases. Right from an ordinary headache to an intense one called migraine, it is emotional tension that is its root cause. As a result the veins contract and thus the headaches start all over again. Today it has been observed that the cause of 85% of headaches is sentimental tension.
Because of sentimental tension and that of the network of veins people after partaking their meals, experience that their heart is heavy and the food refuses to move downwards. Due to excessive tension, one feels nauseous and the heart gets agitated.
Muscular diseases that are a result of emotional tension, show symptoms of belching, stomach heaviness, wind based distortions along with those of the skin, eczema, itching etc.
Today regarding hip pain it is said that majority of them are due to emotional stress.
Despite knowing that majority of today’s diseases are the result of emotional stress, a major question arises as to how does one tackle emotional stress? The answer is simple – imbibing a wise viewpoint in ones’ daily routine. Without practice this wise viewpoint can never be fully imbibed. It is only via practice that one looks upon life as a joyous game and that it is not like a heavy burden carried by an aging mule. The true royal path to be followed encompasses understanding of our limitations, making apt use of our bodily/mental energy, warding off our selfish ego, shouldering responsibilities and always advancing one’s creative thoughts in one’s daily living.
Ordinarily we wrongly look upon harshness, anger, fights etc. as a synonym of energy whereas a psychologist labels all this as “childish tantrums”. These are in fact symbols of weakness. A truly powerful person is humble and steadfast in ideals. Anger and an argumentative attitude is the creation of weakness. Practice of simplicity/ self-control is the fount of energy. But remember that futile anger vented against one’s own weakness, too is not beneficial. Because vile imprints in one’s psyche have gathered slowly over a long period of time, it becomes apparent that to uproot them, one should patiently work hard in a slow but sure manner. The best method is intense, ceaseless practice to uproot vile imprints of the mind. One should always remember that the basis of diseases is vileness of the mind and unethical activity. Thus it is easy to overcome them by imbibing purity of mind, love, compassion and working for the welfare of the entire world.
It is also possible to wash / clean the intellect via scientific methods. Yet spiritual methods are more powerful and capable. Its influence is infinitely more supreme.
According to the technique of Electrical Stimulation of Brain (E.S.B.), many Asian Universities have partly succeeded in brain washing. This has so far been experimented on lower species like rats, monkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats etc. They completely forget to show liking for food, enmity, friendship, fear, attacking others etc. and instead behave in a very strange manner. A cat was made to confront a rat, yet instead of attacking the rat, the cat got scared and started hiding out of fear. Further experimentation showed them attacking one another in a bloody manner, embracing one another in the very next moment etc. due to electrical influence. This electricity was aimed at the brain cells. This holds true for human beings too. Man’s brain is more sacred. It has a greater power of reacting and hence in order to change it, more effort shall have to be made. It will take time to attain total success but the clear principles unearthed via research opines that even man can be induced to think in a certain manner, made to believe in certain ideals and instigated to imbibe a specific mode of action.
The spiritual practices pertaining to the Mental Sheath not only cleans the brain but also makes it more advanced, cultured and sacred.
The Mental Sheath encompasses the entire bodily and psychic arena. It influences both these areas. Because it is in a disarranged and distorted state in the psyche, its reaction is in the form of a destructive influence on the bodily and psychic area. When our individuality is turbulent, our viewpoint and actions too get tainted. As a result our activities turn vile. It is thus clear that under these circumstances, only agitations and strife will be witnessed. Many obstructions will crop up. Chaos and danger will attack us. Our entire life will be converted to hell. None can save us from this hell because even if out of ignorance, we point fingers at others for our downfall, the fact remains that it is we ourselves who are responsible for it. The precept of the mental state manifesting as external circumstances is so clear that none can refute it. Without transforming our inner character, we cannot come out of this hell-like situation. Without overcoming obstacles in our daily lives, we cannot elevate ourselves. We cannot overcome external circumstances without changing our minds.
The Mental Sheath blesses us with various types of skills and successes. Sometimes certain special people have extraordinary mental capabilities. The memory of certain people is so advanced that others can only be wonderstruck. Some people manifest skills at a very young age and thus gain immense name and fame. The answer to this extraordinary talent is that the Mental Sheath of such individuals is highly activated. From their previous births they have collected so much talent that it is manifesting at a very young age in this birth. As per the Theory of Karma (Action) man comes into this world with psychic imprints (Sanskars) of innumerable past births. Hence it could be that the Mental Sheath of such talented people is more evolved.
Behind all these amazing events, the secret is that the scattered mind gets focused. Coincidences of these types are based on certain cosmic laws. Attainments of past births play a major role in such causes. Man enters this world along with psychic imprints (Sanskars) of innumerable births. Amongst them one could be intellectual evolution. This evolution is not just the result of school education or teachings of close relatives. In fact this is just an increase in informative knowledge. If the flow of electrical energy of a powerful brain turns in the direction of a weak brain, an intense change takes place in its sharpness and this can be seen as a rise in the measure of special proteins of the brain. For intellectual nourishment, proximity of thinkers with an advanced consciousness is very useful. Their powerful vital force can fulfill the lack of a weak brain. In laboratories normal electricity is directed towards special cells of the brain and for a certain time span, the nature of these creatures can be transformed. The vital force of radiant people can influence the mental state of weak-minded people in a permanent manner.
Yale resident Dr. George Delgodo, a brain specialist has proved via his researches that the brain can either be activated or made more latent by directing external electricity towards it. Thus such a person can be induced to carry out various tasks and commands.
The audience was wonderstruck when Dr. George publicly exhibited his experiments. His hands had an electrical apparatus and in certain parts and certain number of the brain region of various creatures, electrodes were placed. Thus a radio type communication was set up between the machine and a living creature. On the basis of induced instructions, a creature acts in such a manner which is bang opposite to his otherwise normal nature. Peace loving beings became ferocious and ferocious creatures became astonishingly calm. Under the influence of this external electric treatment, buffalos, monkeys, rats, cats etc. behaved in a manner which was totally unexpected by the layman.
These experiments have been carried out on human beings too and by controlling their powers of will, wisdom and action, they were forced to think and act in a desired manner.
The rare quaality of memory power is so advanced in certain individuals, that one can only be amazed. Raivi Elija of Lithunia was well-known for memorizing 2 thousand books. He was tested in various ways and always came out with flying colors. The French political leader Lian Gaiswata was very fond of Victor Hugo’s writings. He had memorized many pages of these books and time and again he quoted them form his sharp memory. Not one word was out of place. In fact he knew which line was written on which page number.
Richard Porsan, a Greek scholar, memorized many books which he had read. What he read today could be quoted by him even after one month passed by and he would recite it as though he had just read it a few minutes back. Harry Nelson Pilsbury an American citizen called the Magician of Chess could memorize the moves of 20 chess players and could simultaneously direct them. All this was carried out with zeal and zest. Many players were taught by him and thus the game moved on speedily. German’s famous librarian Maithurin Besiray could impeccably repeat what others said once only. He had the amazing capacity to repeat flawlessly, conversations with others in languages that were totally alien to him. Once 12 people, speaking 12 different languages were conversing. And Maithurin flawlessly repeated their conversation one by one. An 8-year old son of Burmans called Jera Colburn would give answers of extremely difficult mathematical problems without calculating them with pen and paper. He amazed all great Mathematicians of London with his superb mathematical skills. Even John Martin Des of Hamburg was well-known for answering mathematical problems orally. In those days his mathematical brain was so advanced that even today’s advanced mathematical computers fail to match his skills.
The great biologist Holger Heider of Gottenburg University, after analyzing the strange movements of the brain based on Molecular Biological studies, concluded that the educative and thinking tasks that make the intellect alert, augments the proportion of certain chemicals in the brain cells. Thus they become more sensitive and make widespread, the area of intelligence.
This proves that the act of evolving the area of the brain not only purifies the brain area but that other areas too can be influenced. Intelligence and radiance are 2 sides of mental alertness. This mental alertness can be seen right from birth itself, as a result of spiritual capacities gathered form innumerable previous lives. Further it can be augmented by undergoing spiritual practices. By imbibing the spiritual practice of purification of the Mental Sheath, one can enter this area.
There was a translator in U.S.S.R. who could translate one source language into 4 target languages at one and the same time and this he would do by dictating the translated matters to 4 stenographers for 4 different languages.
When a philosopher called Jeremy Benthem was 4 years old, he could speak correct Latin and Greek. Germany’s Mathematician called Javarious amazed everyone by mentally adding numbers that had 200 digits. A garage mechanic of U.S.A. could memorize innumerable car number plates and on seeing any car, he could describe how it had been repaired previously.
When John Francis of Columbia University was appointed as a Professor of Natural History, his age was only 16 years.
Once Oxford University made extra arrangements for mathematical training of a 4 year old girl called Babel Thompson. This girl has mastered Numerology, Trigonometry and primary Material Sciences at a very young age. How can one educate a girl who has not undergone the curriculum of primary education? To solve this problem, a special panel of top educationists has been set up.
Madras Music Academy announced a special scholarship for a 2½ year old boy called Ravi Kiran for his outstanding singing skills. Not only did Ravi Kiran master the art of playing various musical instruments but that he would immediately point out errors on the part of other musicians.
A Japanese citizen called Hanava Hokaishee was born in the year 1722 and he died at the age of 101 years in the year 1823. At the age of 7 years he became blind. Yet despite being blind, he alertly heard what others said and thus imbibed knowledge. He would very skillfully hear others and log it into his brain. As a result his brain was so radiant that people were wonderstruck. Later in Japan a book of 2820 chapters was published on the basis of Hanava’s knowledge. Up till today this is the biggest book in the world.
An 8-year old child of Vermont called Jera Colburn, without studying mathematics systematically and without any calculations using pen and paper, answered very difficult mathematical questions and thus he amazed other great mathematicians. When a difficult mathematical problem was given to other great Mathematicians, they would take some time to solve them but Colburn would answer the same problem in a flash of a moment. Thus people were wonderstruck because Colburn had never studied various theorems, riders, laws etc. of Mathematics.
Once a Mathematician called Jodia Wallston was immersed in a mathematical problem which was very difficult. One day he met John Martin Des who possessed a powerful intellect. Des solved that problem in a few seconds. This was because Des was famous everywhere for solving difficult mathematical problems in a flash.
Sir John Fielding was a Judge in England. Although he was blind, his ears were so alert that he could recognize the voice of 3000 criminals whose case he had heard. He could easily identify them and name these criminals. After many years when the case was over, they would come to meet Sir John who would with the help of his sharp hearing capacity, identify those criminals. This radiant memory of Sir John was revered by all for a great time span.
A famous poet called Francisco Mairiya Garibaldi was born in the 14th century. He was an Italian. He was blessed with the art of writing poems with both his hands simultaneously. One poem he wrote in Latin and the other in ancient Greek.
The chief pastor of Canterbury, Thomas Fracker created a rare record by memorizing the Bible in only 3 months. He was born in the year 1724 and died in 1812. The well-known poet of Scotland, Duncan Mac Intayar was famous not only in his country but in entire Europe. But he neither knew how to read or write. He had evolved his skills only by listening and understanding.
A Greek called Porson had memorized all poems written by Milton and he could recite it not only straight but in a reverse manner too.
Once Lokroj, amazed his audience due to his powerful memory. He first heard 12 poetries of 12 different languages which he had never studied before and the very next moment, he repeated these poems with precision.
The director of the National Library of Munich, Joseph Bernard Duncan had a powerful memory. He not only studied 6 different languages but mastered them too. He would ask 6 stenographers of 6 different languages to take dictation in those 6 languages. It is thus very rare to find so much knowledge in the intellect alongwith a powerful memory.
An Indian lady called Shakuntala Devi who was called Wizard of Mathematics, once gave a show on London T.V. At that time one person asked her to solve a difficult mathematical problem. In a flash she answered, that the problem asked itself was incorrect. This question had been constructed by great Mathematicians of Britain. Hence everyone wondered how could this question be wrong? But when the B.B.C. crew members got this question analyzed, they found that truly this mathematical problem / question was incorrect. They also accepted that, “the power and capacity of the brain is much more than how much we actually understand.”
University of New South Wales in Sydney (Australia) had a computer that weighed 20,000 pounds. This computer functioned with the help of electricity and was operated by the great Mathematicians, R. G. Smart and Barry Thornton. When a question of Mathematics was fed into the computer, it took some time in answering it but Shakuntala Devi answered it in a flash before the computer gave its answer. Everyone was amazed that Shakuntala Devi’s answer was cent percent correct.
With reference to the amazing powers of the mind, scientists have carried out various research studies and The Psychological Research Committee has published all the data in a book called “The Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death”. In this book examples of small children have been published, who were so skilful in fields like mathematics, music, art etc. that even their teachers could not match them in their talent. Adi Shankaracharya too had amazed his preceptor with his radiant intellect. When a 5 year old boy possesses a very radiant intellect without undergoing primary education, means that he has gathered this brilliance from his past births. The attainments of past lives are proof of the independent existence of the soul.
Two hundred years back, a boy called Harris Hanenken was born in Germany. When he was 3 years old, he memorized thousands of Latin sayings. He could easily add, subtract, multiply, divide numbers. At this tender age he decided to study French and Geography. The creator of “Cybernatics”, Weiner was 5 years old. He started taking interest in Science just like 18-year old students. Gateux wrote poems at the tender age of 6 years. Byron, Scott and Darwin who gained fame for the Theory of Evolution were very brilliant even as small children. The first scientific study of Pascal was published at the age of 15 years and in it, he had proved more than 100 scientific problems.
America’s material scientist, Dr. Stevenson has gathered 600 examples in which children up to the age of 14 years have given proof of the events of their past births. Out of these 170 were Indian children.
A 3 year old talented boy of Germany called Hamen Ken was a leader in research of the brain. Not only did he study advanced scientific texts at that age, but he could also analyze them in detail.
The principle of attainments via spiritual practices works in all areas of life. Everyone knows that hard work reaps rich dividends. People take up various tasks in this world only because they are convinced that any action will definitely give fruits. This holds true for spiritual practices too. If it is based on spiritual precepts and carried out systematically, one will definitely reap rich fruits.
In order to awaken/purify the Mental Sheath, concentration and meditation are given a lot of importance. As a result of this, one’s Sankalpa(power of resolve) becomes steadfast and that we focus intensely on our goal. Benefits like advancing of the intellect and activation of brilliance in one’s character too are attained.
