The placement of the brain at the
top of the human body matches with the superiority of its role as compared to
the other organs. It sits at the head of the body as if Lord Shiva divine glory
is present on the sacred Kalish peak of the Himalayas. The strong fort of the
skull protects it from pollution, harmful radiation, and effects of weather fluctuation
and also prevents it from being hurt due to external stroke or hit. Further,
the outer walls of this fort are also in contact with the external environment
so as to allow important cosmic signals to reach the brain, this organization
is most suitable for the healthy functioning of the brain as well as the body.
As infants brain weights only
about 12 ounces. In a grownup youth it becomes about 3 pounds. Its functional
capabilities increase at exponential rates as compared to the growth of its
size and weight during this period. With the help of microfilms, we can store
huge volumes of books in a tiny pocket. A healthy and normally developed human
brain can store the amount of knowledge, which if printed, would require
billions of huge volumes of books. Moreover, nature has endowed it with the
potential to even double this capacity as and when required.
If one half of the brain is
damaged or hurt due to some accident or similar causes, the remaining half
fulfills the tasks of both. We normally have two hands, two legs, two eyes, two
ears, two lungs, two kidneys etc. If one of these is lost, the normal functions
of the body continue without much trouble because, the other member of the pair
can compensate to a large extent for the lost or failed one. The brain does so
despite being a single organ. It continues to perform its essential duties
efficiently even if half portion becomes useless.
During the Second World War,
about sixty-two soldiers had to undergo major surgical operations in which half
portion of the brain was removed because of concussion. It was feared at that
time that even if they survived, the memorizing capacity and efficiency of
their brains would also be halved after such an operation. However, such
apprehensions were found to be baseless as the half-brains of these soldiers
worked normally like the complete ones.
Size, weight or physique of the
body might be a good measure of its physical strength to some extent. However,
that is certainly not the case with respect to the potentials of the brain. The
brain of an elephant weight about 10 pounds and that of a human only 3 pounds.
But, we all know that an elephant is not intelligent at all as compared to a
normal human.
Intelligence is found to be associated with
the connectivity of the neurons in the cortex. More the number of active
connections among these neurons, the higher will be the efficacy of information
transmission and retrieval through them. The principle of cooperatively assures
progress in every field of life. That it is also the basis of intelligence -
can be easily seen in the structure and functional adaptability of the
interconnected neurons.
The human brain controls every
activity of life. The domain of its regulatory tasks ranges from the
body-functions to mental faculties and from the wonderful creations of
imaginations to the depths of sentiments and subtler fields of emotions and
acumen. Every kind of experience is stored in its memory. Only the intelligent
machinery of the brain performs the functions of reasoning, planning and
decision making. Whatever be the external structure, appearance and activities
of the body, the basic source of control of each and every component and
function of the body lies in the brain (mind). All the macro and micro level
physiological, biochemical, cellular and molecular activities inside the body
are conducted under its regulatory mechanism. It is the core of the origin,
cultivation and culmination of the endeavors and tendencies of inclination
towards philosophy, science, business, technical skill, art, music, adventure
etc. What is the present level of one's personality and what it would become in
near future - this can be deciphered by the elucidation of his/her mentality
and emotional propriety.
The amount of material substances
in brain is very less but its structural complexity, flexibility, storage
capacity and functional adaptation fro, the hidden stock of its memory almost
instantaneously and its parallel processing at ultra fast speed make it a
supreme computer. These together with the unbound intelligence of the human
brain challenge that none of the advanced information systems, super computers
or other man made artificially intelligent machines could ever match the
functioning or human brain in Toto.
Man made devices perform only the
particular tasks for which they are fabricated. Their power and efficiency
depends upon their design. Such is not the case with the natural 'instruments'
like the human body and brain. The brain automatically controls its own
development and can expand its capacities, potentials, activities and
efficiency beyond any limit. It begins to grow on its own since the time of
birth of the fetus and continues to perfect its development till the time of
death along with performing its duties towards the other organs without any
pause. In this respect, it may be likened to a teacher, who besides teaching
regularly in the school, also continues his own studies and gradually passes
higher grades of examination to expand his own scholarly talents.
Recent developments in
neurosciences have revealed many features of the structure and function of the
human brain. The facts known till date are so starling that this organ appears
to be superior to the collective accomplishments of the most advanced
technologies. What remains to be known about it could be more astonishing. Many
layers of this majestic Pandora's Box still remain closed. As stated earlier,
in normal case a large number of neuronal connections remain inactivated
throughout the life of a human being unless some extra efforts are made - for
instance, by Yoga practices and other experiments of spirituality to stimulate
them. Rousing of these latent centers of consciousness can bestow supernatural
faculties. Then, an ordinary human can enhance his physical power to compete
with that of a giant and develop divine talents and potentials at the mental,
intellectual and spiritual levels too.
Regular physical exercises and
massaging etc. are practiced in order to energize the functional centers, which
maintain physical health. The metabolic activities are maintained by eating
pure, nutritious and digestive food in balanced quantities. Such practices
ensure happy and healthy survival of the body in normal cases. However, extra
care is essential for the refinement of mental capabilities and talents. The
food intake of a person engaged in such a endeavor should be pure and austere
and should also be 'charged' by subtle energy. The latter helps stirring and
arousing the reservoir of consciousness existing in the brain.
The food of one's own refined
thoughts, sentiments and inner strength catalyses the actions of the subtle
energy. The external means useful in this regard consist of - dedicated
endeavors (Sadhanas) of practicing truth, austerity and penance in every aspect
of life, ascetic contemplation and Swadhyaya coupled with the Sadhanas of
spiritual elevation. Meditation (Dhyan) is the simplest kind of Sadhana, which
sublimated the flow of subtle energy in the brain.
Focusing of sunrays on a convex
lens results in generation of thermal energy and ignition, channelizing of
steam in a single direction triggers motion of a steam engine, targeted attack
of cannon gives rise to an explosion. These examples demonstrate the power of
concentration .A large number of bio-electrical impulses and energetic currents
continuously flow in the human brain … focusing these to refine and strengthen
specific quality of mind - is accomplished by a Dhyan Sadhana. This also
results in rousing the willpower and mental strength along with sharpening of
the intellect.
The inner strength of the mind is
more important than the might physical power of the body, the power of wealth
and external resources or the impact of education and talents etc.. One can
rise up to those heights of development which are unimaginable in today's world
and gradually culminate the personality with the help of the awakened inner
strength of the mind
