Extraordinary Potentials of Our Brains -I

The brain processes its functions with the help of a complex network of nerve cells - neurons. There are about 10¹⁰ (thousand billion) - which is almost double the total human population on the earth! - Neurons in this network. The connecting nerve fibers and insulating materials are also filled within the skull. The neurons are scattered in the brain like a galaxy of billion-trillion stars (sources of energy), which instead of gravitational attraction, are connected by synaptic fibers. The diameter of a neuron is lesser than one thousandth part of an inch and its weight is of the order of six thousand billionth parts (6x10¹⁰) of an ounce. The bio-electrical currents flowing between the neurons via the nerve fibers carry the information in the form of signals (impulses) from the sense organs to the axon of a neuron is a tiny fiber like structure, which is connected with the other neurons. The functional brain is a complex network of the synaptic connections between the neurons.

The gigantic collection and networking of the thousand billion neurons posses astonishing powers of a divine giant……. The tiny neurons despite their negligible size and weight contain the potentials of a complete human being. Humans could be dull, careless or inactive but, the neurons are not - they are never waned or weakened in their normal lifetime, nor do they leave their efficient processing. Some portions of the neuronal network store - like microfilm, the memories of the ages. Even, what might appear to be a forgotten matter at the superficial level of our active memory, is actually not lost from the registers of the brain.., its inscriptions remain stored in growth of grass, the flashes of the forgotten matters or events are revived in the active memory as and when an opportunity arrives by the stimulation of the  associated portion of the neuronal network. Dr. Penfield - neurologist of Canada had activated some memory cells of a patient by transmitting electrical impulses. To his surprise, the patient narrated the story and songs of a film as if he has just seen it, though in fact, he had watched that movie about twenty years ago.

Examples of extraordinary memory of some people often illustrate the immense power of the human brain. The sharp intellect and spontaneous decision making in some people is so remarkable that they appear like "super humans". People having extraordinary talents are not some exceptional beings who are endowed with such divine gifts. In fact, the seed of such faculties lies in the brain of every human being. In some people it is inherently sprouted and grown significantly to manifest supernatural talents. However, it might blossom in the others too if cultivated by dedicated efforts.

Dr. Penfield's research on human brain has shown that it has the normal capacity of storing (memorizing) as many bytes of knowledge as could be contained in over 20,000 printed pages of a journal. On an average, a person views about hundred thousands scenes of visual objects. Along with the visual perceptions, his brain also helps in the recording and recognition of the shape, color, pattern, sound, smell and tangible features of the corresponding objects and transpires associated feelings in the mind. Whatever we observe or read in a day, most of it appears to have been forgotten by us the next day although, all of it remains stored in back of the brain. This is because of the lack of our concentration and the dirt of our abrupt or malign thinking that we insulate our conscious mind from the deeper layers of the brain.

We often do not pay much attention to cleanup and fine-tune this divine machinery by purifying and controlling our thoughts and emotions and protecting our brains from excitations at the level of sensory and motor activities. Sincere and disciplined practices of Swadhaya - aiming at the uplifting of the self and the society as an integral part of progress, offers adept guidance and support for proper conditioning of the mind. Practices of Yoga and meditation are also used in training the brain and refining its intellectual faculties. Our careless attitude towards Swadhaya and mediation, irregularities in our life, ignorance about our internal world is largely responsible for waning the awaken potentials of our brain and dumping its inherent talents in a dormant state forever.

If we model the 'on' (excited) and 'off' (inactive) states of a neuron as the 0 and 1 bits of a computer memory, the basic storage in the memory of the human brain would be analogous to so many bytes that even a magnetic tape of area equal to that of the earth's surface would be insufficient to record this huge amount of information. Specific pieces of this grand stock of information are processed by the functional coding sequences of DNA and RNA. Dr Holgar Hyden of Sweden has shown that the structural state of human brain is not rigid. Its capacity and potentials can be varied with the help of specific (bio) chemicals.

The human brain has much more complex and developed structure as compared to that of any other creature. Its resistance against external treatments also is high. However, the experiments of above kind have made a section of scientific community believe in principle that the tendencies and behavior of humans could also be controlled with the help of electrical and chemical treatments. If this becomes possible then one day a dictator or whimsical ruler would virtually convert the people of his kingdom as his slaves by forcing them to drink a chemical which would change their mind as per his will …! What will be the use of intellectual activities of reading, writing, thinking, etc. if a handful of scientists would be able to uplift the mental faculties of people by certain electrical or chemical treatment? Then the generations of warriors, scholars, farmers, artists etc will be produced by appropriate treatment of the brains of the offspring's in the laboratory!

Whether we are awaken or asleep, the brain continues to regulate various functions of our body with the help of its neurons and the nerves connected with the other components of the body through the spinal column. This bulk of the brain, weighing only about three pounds, needs about 20 watts of electrical power for performing the routine nonstop tasks, this energy is obtained  from the stock of glucose and oxygen available in the body. According to modern scientific understanding, each thought, desire, emotion, every kind of experience or perception corresponds to specific electrical impulses and biochemical processing inside the brain. The techniques like EEG (electroencephalograms) help visualize the electrical activities inside the brain.

Most of the investigations in neuroscience are at present aimed at medical treatment of the physical and mental abnormalities due to the imbalance or damage in the harmonious functioning of the brain. Deeper understanding of the brain - especially the unconscious and subtler mind might help the researchers to find the methods of improving one's mental faculties and elevating the level of thoughts and emotions.

Nor only the exceptional memory, the strong willpower of some people also sets live examples of the internal strength of the human brain. Dr. Ralf Alexander had demonstrated this power publicly in Mexico City several years ago. The viewers of this show included the representatives of leading newspapers and magazines, groups of scientists, intellectuals and elite of the society along with the general public. Dr Ralf had planned to demonstrate how the clusters of clouds could be formed in a desired shape and moved in the sky at one's will.

The show began as per schedule. The sky was clear at that time. After a short while, the demonstrator - Dr. Ralf 'brought' clouds there on public demand. With the help of his strong willpower, he could change the shapes, scattering patterns and movements of the clouds as per the demand of the viewers. The news of this exciting exhibition of the remote influence of willpower had then appeared under bold headlines in almost all newspapers of America.

Renowned scientist Allen Epragate had written a detailed article in the magazine 'Psychology' with reference to Dr Ralf's demonstrations. He had commented that - the willpower of a human is a special kind of (electrical) energy current by which one can influence the activities of nature in the targeted space. This is a scientific method of triggering high energy aura; such demonstrations should not be regarded as magical shows.

The above discussed are few illustrations of the extraordinary capabilities of the human brain. In the deeper depths of this ocean of consciousness there lie more amazing potentials which are still beyond the reach of modern (material based) sciences. The science of spirituality is much advanced in this regard. It offers the methods of internal evolution, realization and control of the brain without using any external means. It also contains the key of sublime transformation of the physical, mental and spiritual levels of all human beings.