When I write about Man as a Spiritual Being, the concern is not about glorifying people as saints. The issue is about man’s true or real nature. My theory of Spirituality is about “The Art of Knowing” that can provide tools to all people to know themselves in an objective manner. This is a simple challenge that can be accomplished without forcing people to attend Church or any other place of worship. The Art of Knowing does not involve what most people tend to recognize as spiritual practices such as Prayer, Meditation, Yoga, or Mysticism. The Art of Knowing simply involves training people to know what they know about others or about themselves. It must be noted that Life is essentially a state, a condition, or an act of knowing.
WHOLE INTUITION VS WHOLE MYSTICISM :
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HENRI BERGSON(1859 – 1941), FRENCH PHILOSOPHER, WAS AWARDED THE 1927 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE . HE DESCRIBED INTUITION AS THE HIGHEST FORM OF KNOWING.
Henri Bergson, French philosopher, Professor at the College de France, was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature. His famous works include Time and Free Will(1889) and The Creative Mind(1934). Bergson’s dualistic philosophy holds that the world contains two opposing tendencies, the life force and the resistance of matter against that life force. The individual knows matter through intellect but through intuition perceives the life force and the reality of time, which is not a unit of measurement but duration in terms of life experience. Bergson considered intuition to be the highest state of human knowing and held that mysticism is the perfection of intuition. Bergson emphasized the value of intuition in scientific thinking and argued that reality is beyond rational understanding. He formulated a Theory of Knowledge in which intuition plays a central role. He contended that the expansive and creative thrust of Life explained by Darwinian mechanism. Bergson claimed that ‘Evolution’ is creative and is not based upon mechanistic principles. For similar reasons, I shared my arguments to oppose Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. I formulated my theory of ‘The Law of Creation and Individuality’ for all known living things primarily exist as Individuals with Individuality and they have no choice other than that of existing as Individuals. In this article, I would like to recognize knowing as a basic cognitive function and this biological characteristic can be attributed to a popular term called ‘Spirit’ or ‘Soul’. In this context, I would like to interpret Bergson’s views about Knowing, Intuition, Mysticism, and the Reality of Time.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DO PLANTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ??? PLANTS KNOW ABOUT LIGHT, THE LENGTH OF DAY, AND THE DURATION OF DARKNESS CALLED NIGHT. THERE IS NO “INTELLECT” INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF KNOWING. THE ABILITY OF KNOWING LIGHT OR PHOTORECEPTION IS EXPLAINED BY PHOTOCHEMISTRY.
Intuition provides immediate understanding and it describes the ability to perceive or know things without conscious reasoning. Intuition is about direct knowing or learning of something without using the faculties of mind such as Intellect. The doctrine of Intuitionism claims that things and principles are truly apprehended by Intuition. The doctrine called Ethics describes that fundamental moral principles or the rightness of acts is apprehended by Intuition. In Biology, I would like to use the term Intuition to things apprehended by ‘Innate Knowledge’, the Knowledge that is inherent and not acquired, the Knowledge that is implanted in the Substance or Material called Living Matter. Plants know Light not because of intellectual ability but on account of an innate ability or intuitive power.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, LIFE AND LIVING IS ABOUT KNOWING MATTER AS SELF OR NON-SELF. THIS IDENTIFICATION OF MATTER INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE MOLECULES OF MATTER . TO LEARN THE ART OF KNOWING, MAN HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR EXISTENCE .
To learn the Art of Knowing, man has to know that the physiological basis for existence is dependent upon Innate Knowledge with which the human organism recognizes matter( such as molecules of Oxygen, or energy-yielding molecules of food substances) and further exploits matter and energy to support and maintain its living functions. To the same extent, the human organism defends its own existence by recognizing the molecules as Self or Non-Self. The immune defense mechanisms that the human body uses to recognize viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and other foreign antigens involve the recognition of molecules.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF LIFE ??? CAN MYSTICISM HELP TO KNOW THE HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE ??? WHAT IS THE MYSTICAL INFLUENCE OF TIME THAT DRIVES THE AGING PHENOMENON ???
What is the Mystery of Life ??? Can Mysticism help to know the hidden truths about Life ??? Mysticism is the doctrine about knowing reality through intense contemplation and other secret practices that involve mental concentration. Mysticism is found in several religions of the world. The criteria and conditions for mystical experience vary depending on the cultural traditions, but there are three common attributes of Mysticism : 1. The experience is immediate and overwhelming, divorced from the common experience of reality, 2. The experience or the knowledge imparted by it is self-authenticating, without need of further evidence or justification, and 3. The experience is ineffable, its essence incapable of being expressed or understood outside the experience itself. The focus of Mysticism is not about the physical reality called existence but it is about a direct and immediate experience of the sacred, or the knowledge derived from such an experience. Mysticism is about the practices of those who are initiated into the mysteries, the practice of putting oneself into direct relation with God, the Absolute or any Unifying Principle of Life. Mystics believe that it is possible to achieve communion with God through their mystic practices. There are two general tendencies in the practice of Mysticism; 1. To regard God as outside the ‘Soul’ which rises to God by successive stages, and 2. To regard God as dwelling within the ‘Soul’ to be found by delving deeper into one’s own reality. Mysticism is extended to Magic, Occultism, and the Esoteric. Magic may involve the use of charms, spells, and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events or govern certain natural and supernatural forces. Occultism is about hidden, concealed, and secret information that could be beyond human understanding. The Esoteric is about confidential, private, or withheld information that is intended for or understood by only a chosen few and as such the knowledge or information is beyond the understanding of most people. The rituals of Mysticism include meditation, prayer, and a variety of ascetic disciplines. If Mysticism is about Knowing the Secrets of Life, it does not demand the learning of Human Anatomy or Human Physiology, or any of the principles of Biology.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DOES THE HUMAN ORGANISM KNOWS ABOUT ITS OWN LIFETIME ??? THE AGING PHENOMENON IS RELATED TO MAN’S PERCEPTION OF TIME. HOW IS TIME CONTROLLING OR OPERATING LIFE EXPERIENCE ???
Bergson claimed that the Reality of Time is not a Unit of Measurement but duration in terms of life experience. How does the human organism knows about its own lifetime??? The human organism experiences the Aging Phenomenon which is related to man’s perception of Time. How is Time controlling or operating life experience ??? The physical reality called existence is controlled, is operated, or is directly influenced by events in man’s external environment, and the most important change in the environment is the alternating periods of light and darkness called Day and Night.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : THE HUMAN ORGANISM RUNS ITS LIVING FUNCTIONS AS IF OPERATED BY A PRECISE TIMEKEEPING DEVICE OR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK. MAN’S EXPERIENCE OF TIME IS RELATED TO SUN’S APPARENT MOTIONS IN THE SKY. MAN KNOWS THE REALITY OF TIME BECAUSE OF AN ILLUSION THAT CAUSES DAY AND NIGHT GIVING MAN THE PERCEPTION OF SUN’S APPARENT MOTION WHILE CONCEALING THE REALITY OF SUN’S MOTION IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
Bergson may have used the term life force to describe the vital, animating Principle called Spirit or Soul. In my view, Soul is an animating Principle for it is fundamentally related to the functional ability called Knowing. Soul is a vital Principle for it is fundamentally related to the functional ability called Nutrition, the power of a living organism to exploit matter found in its external environment. The functional attributes of Soul are related to Knowledge that is inherent or Innate and not acquired as learned experience. Soul describes man’s intuitive ability to know the fact of his own existence in a given environment and to maintain that existence while experiencing the aging process under the external influence called Time.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : BLAISE PASCAL(1623 – 1662), FRENCH SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER CLAIMED THAT MAN IS INFINITELY REMOVED FROM COMPREHENDING THE EXTREMES ; THE END OF THINGS AND THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE HIDDEN .
While writing about The Art of Knowing, I would like to remind my readers that certain things could be hidden from the human perception and man has no ability to know things even if he knows the reality of those things. Blaise Pascal, the French scientist who founded the modern Theory of Probability had claimed : “Man is a nothing in comparison with the Infinite, an All in comparison with the Nothing, a mean between Nothing and Everything. Since he is infinitely removed from comprehending the extremes, the end of things and their beginnings are hopelessly hidden from him in an impenetrable secret; he is equally incapable of seeing the Nothing from which he was made, and the Infinite in which he swallowed up.”
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : WHICH HAS COME FIRST ??? THE CHICK OR THE EGG ??? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.
Which came first, the Chick or the Egg ??? Spirituality Science is not about knowing the Beginning or the Ending of things. Spirituality is about things that exist in the ‘Present’. The Physical Reality of Man’s Subjective and Objective experience of his lifetime is a functional attribute of Soul or Spirit which gives Man the cognitive ability called Knowing . If Devotion is used as a scientific method of Inquiry, ‘The Art of Knowing’ is about Knowing Man as a Spiritual Being.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION :
WHOLE SPIRITUALITY – WHOLE ILLUMINATION: TRIBUTE TO DR. SARVEPALLI ANANTHA PADMANABHA RAO, M.S., PROFESSOR OF SURGERY AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
Light is the source of illumination. Mind is the observer of illumination. Knowledge is the object of illumination. The phenomenon of Knowing involves Unity between source, object known and its Knower.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : LIGHT IS THE SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION. KNOWLEDGE IS THE OBJECT OF ILLUMINATION. MIND IS THE OBSERVER OF ILLUMINATION. THERE IS UNITY BETWEEN SOURCE, OBJECT KNOWN, AND KNOWER TO MANIFEST THE PHENOMENA OF KNOWING.
I am pleased to share an article titled “Light of Lights” published by Dr. Sarvepalli Anantha Padmanabha Rao, M.S. who served for many years as a Professor of Surgery, and as Director of Medical Education in the Government of Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Services. It is important to know the views shared by the traditional thinkers of India. Indian Schools of Thought such as “ADVAITA”(NON-DUALISM) have formulated their theories about the true or real ‘essence of man or “SELF”(ATMAN) that may have independent existence while it is totally detached from the Body, and Mind of its thinker. While MYSTICISM is a part of various religious traditions, I am asking my readers to seek “WHOLE ILLUMINATION” by investigating and by exploring the basis for man’s existence in the natural world. Man needs connection, association, partnership, relationship, bonding, cooperation, assistance, patronage, or UNITY with a source of ENERGY that exists in the man’s external environment. Man can use introspection, meditation, or contemplative prayer in illuminating man’s “Inner World” or seek “Inner Vision”, a vision or illumination that describes Identity of man’s true or real “SELF'(ATMAN) and its perfect, complete, and wholesome Divine Nature.
THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION – THE PHENOMENON OF KNOWING:
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE ILLUMINED MIND KNOWS THE KNOWER, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.
The term illumination describes lighting or light. It is often used as the act or process of making something clearer or brighter or as a device for doing so. The word ‘illuminating’ or ‘illuminated’ is often applied to a clarification or explanation that sheds light on a subject that needs careful interpretation of information. In Physics, illumination is about intensity of light per unit of area; the luminous flux per unit area at any point on a surface exposed to incident light. It is also called ‘ILLUMINANCE’. However, in Biology, the phenomenon of Illumination requires the study of Optics, Photoreception, and Photochemistry. The biological processes that involve the response of a living thing to the Light stimulus need to be stated as Photochemical Reactions which could be energy dependent and involve the use of chemical energy provided by molecules of Adenosine Triphosphate(ATP). The Phenomenon of ‘ILLUMINATION’ in Biology requires operation of three conditions; 1. The Source of Light or Lighting, 2. The Object that is Illuminated, and 3. The Observer who has the Sensory Perception called Vision, or the ability called Photoreception to acknowledge the phenomenon that is observed. Using the nature of photochemical reaction that is observed, living things can be broadly classified into two kinds; 1. Plants that respond to Light stimulus to trap its radiant Energy but have no Sensory Perception called Vision, and 2. Animals(man included) that have the Sensory Perception called Vision but do not have ability to trap the Light Energy. For human existence, we need all those three conditions, 1. The Sun as the Source of Light, 2. The Plants that trap the radiant energy of Sunlight using their ability called Photoreception, and 3. The man or Purusha who uses the ability called Sensory Perception or Vision and interprets that Light is God.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : FOR MAN TO DESCRIBE HIS EXPERIENCE CALLED VISION, OR INNER VISION, APART FROM A SOURCE OF EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL LIGHT, NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE VITAL FUNCTION CALLED BREATHING(PRANA) THAT ESTABLISHES MAN AS A BREATHING LIVING THING(PRANI OR PRANAVANTA).
The above picture image of a verse from Brihadaranyak Upanishad 4:5:11 helps us to understand the nature of the vital function of Breathing and Respiration which is the physiological mechanism that man uses to oxidize food substances and derive energy which he further uses for his physical and mental work. If Vedas and Holy Scriptures are seen as the Source of knowledge, transmission of that Knowledge involves the use of Breathing. If “Knowing” is compared to the phenomenon of ‘ILLUMINATION’, the act of Knowing will only be possible if there is Unity between God, the Source of Knowledge, Knower, the Individual called JEEVA who performs all his living functions because of the Knowledge implanted in his substance that makes him a Sentient or Sensible thing, or establishes him as the “Knowing-Self.” The natural phenomenon of Life and Living can be defined as ‘Knowledge in Action’. In Indian tradition the “SELF” or “ATMAN” is the source of Inner Light that illuminates the entire human body. I am suggesting that the Light called SELF or ATMAN illuminates by making it possible for man to maintain his connection with an external source of energy present in the environment even while man may find perfect Identity with God through the process called Inner Vision, Introspection, Meditation, or Contemplative Prayers with an attitude of “Whole Detachment” with all things present in the external world. I like the presentation “LIGHT OF LIGHTS” for it nicely explains the thoughts of Shankara. The author concludes his presentation with a final statement, “TAT ASMI PRABHO.” It describes the Unity(ASMI) between man(TAT) and the LORD(PRABHU). Man’s ability of Sensory Perception called Vision, and the ability of Inner Vision are of secondary importance as Existence depends directly on the act of Breathing and the LORD provided Knowledge by performing that act of Breathing.
Rudranarasimham Rebbapragada Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162, USA BHAVANAJAGAT.ORG
LIGHT OF LIGHTS
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : DR SARVEPALLI ANANTHA PADMANABHA RAO, M.S., PROFESSOR OF SURGERY, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE DIVINE SONG CALLED THE BHAGAVAD GITA ILLUMINATED THE MIND OF PRINCE ARJUNA WITH KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOURCE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE.
Light illumines manifold objects in varying degrees of darkness; that is its property. Sources of such light may be external or internal to us. Examples of the former class are well-known, such as Sun, moon, fire, various kinds of lamps etc; The latter class, the internal, would be the psychic apparatus of man, comprising the sense organs, intelligence, intuition and above all the transcendental ‘Oversoul’ of R W Emerson the American philosopher. Vedanta too subscribes to such a transcendental super-conscious entity, illumining all, comprehending all and all-encompassing supreme Brahman. Flashes of intuition reveal discoveries which remain obscure prior to such overpowering experiences. Archimedes, crying out ‘eureka – eureka’ and Newton, when the apple fell and the law of gravitation revealed are instances of such intuitions . A deeper mental cloud prevents one from knowing who one exactly is in the ultimate analysis.
There is, in Greek mythology, a river named ‘Lethe’ whose waters, when drunk, would make the drinker profoundly forgetful.. One would forget, who one was, the ‘whence and wherefore’ of one’s own very self. A great philosopher likened our human predicament, to such a state of congenital amnesia, in which we lost our moorings, our “original innocence” as it were. Nescience is the technical term used for this state of primordial ignorance, which is said to cover one’s wisdom, ‘like smoke shrouds the fire or as dust sullies a mirror or as the womb envelops an embryo’ as th bhagavadgiitaa puts it. This is the ultimate darkness which needs for its dispelling, no less a light than that of the ‘Lord’, quoted in the GITA chapterXI-12 ever so stunningly – “if the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth in the sky all at once, that might resemble the splendour of that exalted Being” – nothing short of an ‘apocalypse’, as it were, a revelation, of something not previously known or realized. Oppenheimer, the nuclear physicist, whose name is associated with the first atom bomb and who was a witness to its detonation.was so awe-struck at the sight that this line of the gItA chapter XI-32 flamed in his mind ” I am the full-blown, the all-destroying Time “. It was an indubitable intimation from the depths of his being and not much later, his intuitive insight was proved right, by the nuclear holocaust, the mayhem and the destruction at Hiroshima and Nagasaki it was cataclysmic in proportion
To Sankara, that transcendental spiritual genius, is ascribed a one-stanza poem, by name, ‘ekashlokI’. In it, is encapsulated the pith, the quintessence of the celebrated “mahAvAkya’s or the four great Vedic statements, called as such in the Advaita Vedanta. They are culled one from each of the four Vedas those statements or rather ‘truths’ are
a) ” praGYAnam Brahma, (Rigveda) pristine consciousness is Brahman.
b) ayam aatmaa Brahma (Atharva veda) – consciousness in all its apparent transformations is Brahman,
c) “tat tvam asi” (Samaveda)- You are, in essence, that consciousness, the eternal nitya, the unsullied shuddha, the fully awakened buddha, and unfettered – mukta ; the corollary follows that you are not the ignorant embodied jiiva, which you imagine you are.
d) (“aham Brahma asmi ” (Yajurveda) I am indeed that all-encompassing consciousness
It is with considerable trepidation that I have dared to translate the ‘mahaavaakya’s for fear that they may suffer the ‘noble transmutation from gold to lead’, in the process.
The order in which they are recounted here is not the temporal order in which they occur in the veda but they seem, to me, to be the order adopted by Sankara in this small ‘upadesha’ work, namely, the ekashlokii ’ As will become clear in the sequel, what is attempted here is not a word-for-word translation of the Sanskrit texts, not even a paraphrase but rather an unfolding of the traditional thought couched in the highly compressed poem
Before reproducing the Sanskrit verse, a short anecdotal account of the poignant scenario in which it is set, would be well in order, One might be tempted to ask ‘why only one verse-an ‘ekashlokI? Had not Sankara composed his shatashlokI of hundred verses and his upadesha sAhasrI of thousand teachings ? After all, what were the extenuating circumstances? As though in answer to such questions, a story is recounted thus: Sankara, on one of his peregrinations, chanced upon a spiritual aspirant who was in the throes of death. bemoaning his fate of his having ro die before he could get his ‘beatitude’. The compassionate master had empathy with the man’s plight and knowing well the shruti declaration that “he who departs from this world without realising the ‘axara‘, the Imperishable entity, is a veritable wretch a ‘kRRipaNa“, the master devised for him the shortest discourse and the ‘ekashlokI was the result. The verse was composed in a frisky meter named ‘shArdUla vikrIditam’ which has four quarters of 19 syllables each, to enable him to pack all the punch at his command, in a single stanza. This imaginative story illustrates the truth that, when an exceptional master and a pupil desperately thirsting for the ‘saving wisdom’ come together, spiritual enlightenment can not be far behind.
Unless the composition is split up at the right places, it would seem baffling at the first sight, to a beginner. The piece is in the form of a catechism or what in modern pedagogy would be called a ‘one on one’ interactive session. There are five question-answer pairs, one affirmation and one authoritative live-wire exhortation of the teacher and a final total concurrence, by the disciple, after his instant transformation. We shall now proceed with what may, euphemistically, be termed an exegesis of the verse. As will be seen in the sequel, what is attempted here is not a word-to-word rendering in to English, nor even a mere paraphrasing of the work; it is rather an attempt to enter to, and to bring out the traditional import of this Vedantic composition, to the extent my limited faculties permit. Much pertinent digression from the text has been indulged in, in the exposition.
The break up of the verse, is as follows :-
Q 1 :kim jyotih tava ? – what is your illuminator? By this question, the teacher is trying to ascertain a ‘baseline’, as it were, of the pupil’s understanding so as to lead him thence to higher levels. This was a well established methodology of spiritual instruction in the days of yore. It may be noted here that the question is a general one with no adjuncts of time or place specified. The student however thinks the question pertains to daytime and to things within his visual range.
A: bhhaanumaan ahani me – The daylight of the Sun sir. This answer establishes that the seeker has his vision riveted on the external objects – the out-going vision, the so-called ‘paraak pasyati’ concept of the KaThopaniShad.
Q 2 : raatrau ? what after Sun-down ? what illumines then ?
A: pradiipa aadikam– light of the various kinds of lamps which includes illumination from the moonlight, bonfires, lighted torches et cetera; it may be noted that the field being covered is still the outer world.
Affirmation : syaad evam. rightly so my dear; here the guru seems to be saying to himself “ Oh my! your answers are correct as far as they go; but they do not go very far. Here is the next question:
Q 3 Ravi diipa darshana vidhau kim jyotih ? Akhyaahi me – Now tell me what enables you to visualize the objects so illumined by the Sun, the lamps etc.Here the preceptor is shifting focus from the outer to the inner world of the mind. Even the sun, the lamps etc. stand in the relation of visible objects to the perceiving eye.
A: caxuH– “My eye, sir, is the perceiving light in this context” Now the student is made to understand the eye as the window to his inner cognitive apparatus – the mind.
Q4 : tasya nimiilana adi samaye ? If your eyes are shut, what then? The reasons for the shut-down may be many; one may choose to turn a blind eye like Nelson or to give a more noble example, one may actually be blind like Helen Keller. ‘ The word aadi’ in the Sanskrit original in the above question may include a legion instances The guru is taking the student in to deeper waters here, to turning his mind’s eye inward and enable him to watch the gyrations of his own mind
A: dhiiH, sir, it is my intellect that provides me the illumination necessary for my purposes, I can think thoughts that would navigate the scenes for me
Q 5: dhiyaH darshane (kim) ? you are right again my son! But thought is like a spring or a fountain. There must be some faculty to get to its mainspring its source as it were What ultimate light is it that stands as a ‘witness’ or ‘sAxI’ as it is technically termed, to your cognitive equipment?
A: ‘tatra aham ’ sir, Shorn of the baggage of all acquired accretions, appurtenances and appearances – in short, of all objective super-impositions I stand in all my majestic aloofness, and isolation (kaivalya). as ‘Myself’.
The great spiritual warrior in Sankara has finally drawn the bitterest foe of his pupil -‘the beginning-less spiritual ignorance’ to the edge of the precipice. with a view to pushing it over to its final annihilation. With a solemn and apocalyptic, coup de maître – a masterstroke, he is going to deliver the final push the student would be led to his beatitude meaning perfect blessedness or happiness. In devising this stepwise instruction Sankara has trodden the path of the ancient sages, established for ages. The famous dialogue between the sage YaaGYavalkya and Janaka the king in the BRRihadaaranyaka Upanishad chapter iv-3, the kaTha Upanishad III-10 as also the Bhavadgiitaa chapter III-42 have laid down the same rising hierarchical levels of consciousness viz – sense objects, sense organs, intelligence, intellect and the highest of all the PuruSha- the non plus ultra, higher than Which there can be nothing. To use the those very Sanskrit words pregnant with proven meaning – proven to mystic seers of all creeds and climes in their deepest visions down the millennia – saa kaashThaa, saa paraa gatiH. THAT is the summum bonum the last post
And what may that stupendous, staggering declaration be ? Let us see that in the next line:-
THE FINAL PUSH : ataH bhavaan paramakam jyotiH Therefore my child, you are verily that Light of lights, which the Vedanta asserts in stentorian voice and peremptory tone- tat tvam asi – THAT THOU ART . It is not the denoted dictionary meanings of the words of the scriptural testimony that will bring the peace that passes understanding but the inner experience of the truth which is transforming in nature
The finish : tat asmi prabho !!! Oh my master I am indeed that Light of Lights because I have just experienced that ecstatic mystic state, by your bounteous grace. It is another matter that the experience of that state can communicated in words only after descending somewhat from those Olympian heights. But at all events he has been raised to that dizzy altitude of sage-hood, the memory of which shall stamp its hallmark on every thought word and deed ever-after.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE LIGHT IS THE SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION. THE KNOWLEDGE IS THE OBJECT OF ILLUMINATION. THE MIND IS THE OBSERVER OF ILLUMINATION. THERE IS UNITY BETWEEN THE SOURCE, THE OBJECT KNOWN, THE KNOWER TO MANIFEST THE PHENOMENA OF KNOWING.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE DIVINE SONG CALLED THE BHAGAVAD GITA ILLUMINATED THE MIND OF PRINCE ARJUNA WITH KNOWLEDGE AND THE SOURCE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : DR SARVEPALLI ANANTHA PADMANABHA RAO, M.S., PROFESSOR OF SURGERY, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : THE ILLUMINED MIND KNOWS THE KNOWER, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – LIGHT OF LIGHTS – THE PHENOMENON OF ILLUMINATION : FOR MAN TO DESCRIBE HIS EXPERIENCE CALLED VISION, OR INNER VISION, APART FROM A SOURCE OF EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL LIGHT, NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE VITAL FUNCTION CALLED BREATHING(PRANA) THAT ESTABLISHES MAN AS A BREATHING LIVING THING(PRANI OR PRANAVANTA).
WHOLE SPIRITUALITY – WHOLE ILLUMINATION: TRIBUTE TO DR. SARVEPALLI ANANTA PADMANABHA RAO, M.S., PROFESSOR OF SURGERY AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Photoreception is the biological response of organism to stimulation by light. Such responses to environmental stimuli demonstrate the presence of consciousness, the awareness of an organism of the fact of its own existence in a given external environment.
Photoreception is the biological response of an organism to stimulation by light. It is not the same as the Photoelectric Effect which non-living matter such as metals can exhibit. Among living things, the presence of consciousness is displayed by their biological responses to environmental stimuli.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception:
In plants the primary photoreceptive response is described as photosynthesis, a photobiological process which leads to the conversion of carbon dioxide and water to the essential nutritive elements of all life using the energy of the Sun.
Photoreception is the mechanism by which animals receive sensory information transmitted by light of different qualities and wavelengths. Just like photosynthesis, the function called vision is a vital photobiological process that is required to support existence. At a fundamental level, the visual function is concerned with supporting existence. Visual clues assist in finding food, to avoid threats to existence, and help to achieve reproductive success.
Almost all organisms derive their food directly, or indirectly from the organic compounds formed within plants during photosynthesis. The stored chemical energy in those organic compounds is essential for growth, repair, reproduction, movement, and other vital functions. In animals, the ability of photoreception is dependent upon the chemical energy provided by organic molecules called Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP that is produced by intracellular organelles called mitochondria which use the chemical reaction called oxidation-reduction to oxidize the organic molecules created by plants using photosynthetic energy.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: God is viewed as the Creator of Light.
Thus photoreception is the fundamental photobiological process that maintains life on planet Earth. If God is viewed as the Creator of Light, Photoreception could be stated as the most important feature of a Whole Design to establish life on planet Earth.
For man has the capacity called vision, he should be able to visualize the Whole Design used by the Whole Designer, or Whole Architect, a Master Planner. Man gained insights about photoreception and the photosynthetic process over several centuries of careful observations and scientific experimentation.
Photoreception and Plant Growth:
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Aristotle, 384-322 B.C. Greek philosopher and Father of Science thought that plants grow by obtaining all the components from the soil. For several centuries his view remained unopposed.
It will be interesting to note that Aristotle, 384-322 B.C. Greek philosopher held the view that the plants grow by obtaining all the components from the soil.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Jan Baptist van Helmont (1579/1580-1644), Belgian chemist, physiologist, and physician identified the gas carbon dioxide. He conducted experiments and proved that water provided the material for growth of plants.
Johannas(Jan) Baptista van Helmont (1580-1644), Belgian chemist, physiologist, and physician conducted experiments to show that water provided the growth material to plants. He studied gases, and identified carbon dioxide.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Stephen Hales (1677-1761), English botanist, physiologist, clergyman pioneered quantitative experimentation in plant and animal physiology. First to note the relationship between plant growth and Sunlight.
Stephen Hales studied plant growth, plant transpiration, and found that air is necessary to the food-making process in plants. He was the first to note the relationship between the process of plant growth and Sunlight.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Joseph Priestly (1733-1804)English theologian and scientist used techniques to study gases. He discovered that plants release “dephlogisticated” air, the gas that Lavoisier later named as Oxygen.
Joseph Priestly, during 1774 studied gases and found that plants produced a gas that he called “dephlogisticated” air. He stated that the most important equations for living things are mutually inverse. In terms of gases exchanged, the respiration of humans represented the reverse of what plants do. He had concluded that some of the mass of plants comes from the air.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794), French chemist & physicist, Founder of Modern Chemistry named the gas discovered by Priestly as Oxygen. Lavoisier discovered the chemical composition of water and discovered the concept of Oxidation, a fundamental chemical reaction that characterizes living functions.
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier had correctly identified oxygen and discovered the chemical composition of water. He had described the role of oxygen in respiration.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Jan Ingenhousz (1730-1799), Dutch-born British physician is best known for his discovery of the process of Photosynthesis.
Jan Ingenhousz discovered that light plays a major role in the process by which green plants in Sunlight absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. In 1779 he published his study on the chemical effects of plant physiology: “Experiments Upon Vegetables, Discovering Their Great Power of Purifying the Common Air in Sun-shine and of Injuring It in the Shade and at Night. He found that light is necessary for the restoration of air quality, only the green parts of the plant actually perform photosynthesis while all living parts of the plant damage the air by respiration.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Jean Senebier (1742-1809), Swiss botanist, and naturalist. He had confirmed the findings of Jan Ingenhousz. Green plants consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen under the influence of Sunlight.
Jean Senebier had published several papers on plant physiology: 1782 – Physico-Chemical Memoirs on the influence of Light; 1783 – Research on the Influence of Sunlight; 1788 – Experiments on the Action of Sunlight on Vegetation; and 1800 – Plant Physiology. He had established that Light is the agent responsible for the fixation of carbon dioxide and that oxygen is liberated only in the presence of carbon dioxide.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Nicolas Theodore de Saussure (1767-1845), Swiss chemist and plant physiologist proved Stephen Hale’s theory that plants absorb water and carbon dioxide in Sunlight and increase in weight
Nicolas Theodore de Saussure was a student of Jean Senebier. His published articles include; 1797 – Articles on carbonic acid and its formation in plant tissues; 1804 – Chemical Research on Vegetation; and 1808 – Biochemical Reactions in Plant Cells. He proved Stephen Hales’ theory that plants absorb water and carbon dioxide in Sunlight and increase in weight. He had also demonstrated that plants are dependent upon the absorption of nitrogen from soil.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Hugo von Mohl (1805-1872), German botanist did research on the anatomy and physiology of plant cells. In 1837 he had observed tiny, green organelles called chloroplasts that are found in the plant cells.Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Julius Robert von Mayer (1814-1878), German Surgeon and scientist recognized that plants convert solar energy into chemical energy. Oxidation is the primary source of energy.Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Julius von Ferdinand Gustav Sachs (1832-1897), German botanist had greatly advanced the knowledge of Plant Physiology. He had discovered that Starch is produced in Chloroplasts which were exposed to Sunlight.
Julius von Sachs during 1865 proved that Chlorophyll was not generally diffused in all the tissues of a plant but instead was confined to special bodies within the cell which were later named Chloroplasts. His research during 1862-64 proved that the starch present in the chloroplasts is a product that results from the absorption of carbon dioxide, and starch is the first visible product of Photosynthesis.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Richard Martin Willstatter (1872-1942), German chemist received the 1915 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He studied the structure of plant pigments and found that Chlorophyll is a mixture of Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b. He had discovered the similarity between blood pigment Heme and Chlorophyll.
Richard Martin Willstatter studied the structure of Chlorophyll and other plant pigments. He found that the blood pigment Heme bears a structural resemblance to the Porphyrin compound found in Chlorophyll. He had also discovered the structure of many of the pigments of flowers and fruits.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Robert Hill also known as Robin Hill (1899-1991), British plant biochemist demonstrated “Hill Reaction” of Photosynthesis proving that oxygen evolved during the ‘Light’ phase of photosynthesis.
Robert Hill made significant contribution to the understanding of the photosynthetic process. During 1937, he had established the concept of light-activated electron-transporting photosynthetic chain to release oxygen from water.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Otto Heinrich Warburg (1883-1970), German chemist won the 1931 Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology. He had the unique distinction of getting recommended for a second Nobel Prize during 1944. He researched cellular respiration and had also studied Photosynthesis.
In this story on Photoreception, I must mention the name of Otto Heinrich Warburg who had investigated Photosynthesis and demonstrated that the process consists of several distinct steps and found that a variety of molecules are involved in the photoreaction.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Melvin Ellis Calvin (1911-1997), American chemist received the 1961 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He discovered the Path of Carbon in the entire cycle of Photosynthesis.
Melvin Elvis Calvin worked with Andrew Benson, and James Bassham to trace the path of carbon molecule during the entire process of Photosynthesis.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Starting from 1930s attention is focussed upon the nature of biological electron-transport molecules involved in Photochemical reactions.Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: The membrane proteins are important to make use of the function called Photoreception. Chloroplast is 4 to 6 microns in length, 1 to 2 microns in width, discoid or ellipsoid in shape. It is surrounded by two lipoprotein membranes. Inside the membranes form lamellae in a granular fluid known as stroma. The lamellae form disk-like structures called Thylakoids which are stacked to form structures called grana. The two phases of photosynthesis, 1. Light phase (absorption of light energy) and 2. Dark phase (Carbon fixation) take place inside the Chloroplast. Whole Dude – Whole Design – Photoreception: Electron micrograph of Chloroplast.Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Electron Transfer System of the Photosynthetic Photochemical Reaction.Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Light Harvesting System to establish Photoreception as a biological function.Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: The membrane proteins of pigments involved in Photoreception involve the characteristics of intelligent functions or immanent actions that are distinct from mechanical actions.
Photoreception – Vision:
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception
The photochemical events in vision involve the protein Opsin and the isomers of Retinal. Nerve impulses are generated by changes in the shape of proteins. The activation of visual pigment called Rhodopsin causes the nerve impulse. The photoreceptor cells of eye absorb light through a layer of pigment and convert it into a stimulus directed toward the nervous system where it is recognized. The pigment responsible for nerve excitation consists of the chemical compound Chromophore which absorbs light, and a protein complex known as Opsin. The Chromophore contained in all visual pigments is nearly identical. Variations in the range of wavelength reception by different pigments are the result of differences in the structure of animal proteins. To describe very briefly, the process of photo or light reception involves the conversion of the light stimulus into a nerve response which is caused by changes in the electrochemical equilibrium of cell membranes.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photoreception: Photoreception by human eye requires energy and the energy is acquired by oxidation of organic molecules created during the Photosynthetic process. Plants have the ability called Photoreception and yet they do not have the capacity called Vision. Man has the ability called Photoreception and performs the sensory function called Vision and yet he directly, or indirectly depends upon the photorecognitive abilities of plants that cannot see the products of their photosynthetic function.
Photoreception is an intelligent function that leads to immanent actions in which the living thing senses, grows, and develops performing those actions. Photoreception in living things is unlike the mechanical action performed by a camera made by man. Photoreception is created to synchronize the existence of the two major systems of life; plants and animals perform their living functions to complement the functions and actions of each other. Hence Photoreception could be described as the spiritual basis for all kinds of existence on planet Earth.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Johann Heinrich Schulze or Schultz (1687-1744), German Professor of Anatomy had discovered in 1727 that the phenomenon of darkening of silver salts was caused by light and not heat. He used those effects to capture temporary photographic images.
Photochemistry is the study of chemical processes that are exclusively brought about by the interaction of light with matter. The term design describes the action to make a plan, a pattern and carry out the execution by artistic arrangement in a skillful way. Artists, Designers, and Architects are persons who make plans, patterns, the artful scheme for the arrangement of parts, the details, the form, the substance, the color, etc., so as to produce an artistic unit.
The study of Photochemistry helps us to recognize the artistic work of a Whole Designer, a Whole Architect, and a Whole Artist who may have used Light, Matter, Color, Space, and Time to create living systems which are interdependent, interrelated, and interconnected.
The existence of two major systems of Life, plants, and animals is perfectly synchronized and each performs its living functions to complement the living functions performed by the other. Photochemistry establishes the fundamental basis for this spiritual relationship among living systems.
I am pleased to narrate my story about Photochemistry sharing the images of a number of chief players who contributed to the understanding of the design that formulates the interaction between the Laws of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology to generate this amazingly wonderful artistic unit called planet Earth which provides the home to all living things.
The Law of Photochemistry:
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Theodor von Grotthuss (1785-1822), German chemist in 1817 stated the first law of PhotochemistryWhole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: John William Draper (1811-1882), American chemist, physician, photographer conducted research in Photochemistry. He produced the first clear photograph of human face. He had confirmed the claim made by Grotthus; only light that is absorbed by a system can cause a photochemical reaction.
Grotthuss – Draper Law of Photochemistry: Light must be absorbed by a chemical substance in order for a photochemical reaction to take place. Photochemical reactions are chemical processes initiated by the absorption of energy in the form of visible, infrared or ultraviolet radiation. Johann Heinrich Schulze had discovered in 1727 that silver nitrate darkens upon exposure to light. The darkening of silver salts is a phenomenon known since the 16th century and possibly earlier and the effect of light on chemical substances was not understood. The art and science of Photography is based on a photochemical process, the action of light on grains of silver chloride, or silver bromide.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857-1894), German physicist while experimenting on electromagnetic waves, discovered the Photoelectric Effect in which light falling on special surfaces can generate electricity.
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz who expanded James Clerk Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory discovered the Photoelectric Effect in 1887. His research contributed to the development of radio, television, and radar.
The Photoelectric Effect:
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Albert Einstein (1879-1955), American theoretical physicist received the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics particularly for his work on Photoelectric Effect.
Photoelectric effect describes the emission of electrons by substances when light falls on their surface. Light energy is transferred in discrete packets, or photons. The energy of each photon is equal to the frequency of the light multiplied by Planck’s Constant “h”. Light imparts energy to a charged particle when one of its photons collides with the particle. In a photochemical process, one atom or molecule absorbs a single quantum of light energy called photon. The immediate consequence of the absorption of one photon by one atom or molecule is called the primary photochemical process. The basic process by which light is absorbed by matter was first proposed by Albert Einstein (1905). His Theory of Light has established that a beam of light is a beam of photons, or quanta (energy packets) of electromagnetic radiation.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: The Photoelectric Effect describes the emission of electrons by substances when light falls on their surface.WholeDude – WholeDesigner – Photochemistry: The energy change initiating a photochemical process always involves excitation of one electron from a state of low energy to a state of higher energy. The energy content of light depends upon its frequency.
When a quantum of light energy (a photon) is absorbed by a molecule, the direct consequence of this interaction is that the molecule is raised to an electronically excited state. The electronically excited state can be viewed as a molecule in which the distribution of the electrons about the atoms that compose the molecule is changed relative to the normal, or ground state of the molecule. Because the electronic distribution affects such properties as bond strengths and molecular geometry, many changes can take place in an electronically excited state that may not occur in the normal, or ground state. The consequences of the absorption of light by a chemical molecule and the subsequent formation of an electronically excited state can be grouped into two main classes; 1. Physical processes, and 2. Chemical processes. In a Photophysical process, a molecule undergoes no direct change in its chemical identity. Examples: Fluorescence, Phosphorescence, and the Photoelectric Effect. In Photochemical processes some change takes place in the bonding arrangement of the atoms in the molecule. Simple photochemical reactions involve the breaking or rearranging of a chemical bond, or both. Visible light and Ultraviolet light are intrinsically energetic enough to break several types of chemical bonds. Photochemistry differs from most other aspects of Chemistry in one regard. If an atom or molecule absorbs energy from a beam of light, it gains far more energy than it ever could by other methods; eg. from ordinary heating. Consequently, photochemical processes are sometimes extremely efficient for the conversion of energy from light into Chemical energy. The most important photochemical process for living systems is the process of Photosynthesis.
Photoelectric Cell:
Photoelectric Cell or Photocell is a device whose electrical characteristics vary when light is incident upon it. Three different kinds of Photoelectric Cells exist that use the three different forms of the Photophysical reaction called the Photoelectric Effect. 1. The Photoconductive Cell, known as a Photoresistor is the sensor that scans codes on grocery items in Supermarkets at Checkout Counters.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Photoconductive Cell or Photoresistor is popularly used in Supermarkets to scan the codes on grocery items at Checkout Counters.
2. The Photoemissive Cell; Phototubes, “Electric Eyes” that trigger the automatic opening of doors are examples of the Photoemissive Cells.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Photoemissive Cells. A common example is the Electric Eye that triggers the automatic opening of doors.
3. The Photovoltaic Cell used in Fiber Optics technology, and the Solar Cells are common examples of Photovoltaic Cells which convert light energy into electric energy. For Solar Cells, Solar Energy, or Sun is the source of light and it has several applications.
Whole Dude – Whole Designer – Photochemistry: Photovoltaic Cell, Solar Cell uses Sunlight as the source of energy and converts it into electric energy.
Photochemical reactions that play a vital role in biological systems are called Photobiological processes. Photochemistry establishes relationship between the laws of Physics, and Chemistry with the living functions to synchronize the interactions between Light and Matter that is important for Life to exist on planet Earth.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Cyanobacterial chains (Blue-Green Algae) appear Blue-Green as the Green pigment is masked by the presence of other pigments. They could be some of the oldest living organisms of planet Earth. Their use of photosynthesis to convert Carbon Dioxide into organic compounds with the release of Oxygen into atmosphere serves a basic purpose to support the existence of other living organisms that depend upon Oxygen.Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: These filaments of Cyanobacteria are thought to be algae in the past. We speak about the Theory of Evolution and in reality the Chlorophyll molecules have retained their molecular structure over billions of years without any apparent modification.Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Chlorella vulgaris, spherical, unicellular organisms with Chlorophyll pigment have no capacity called visual perception. However, man can easily recognize the green coloration and can look for the presence of Chlorophyll. In the final analysis, the function of the design is not simply a matter of producing visual satisfaction.
The word Chlorophyll is derived by combining two Greek words; Chloros means green, and Phyllon means a leaf. It refers to the green pigment found in the Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green algae), and in the chloroplasts of Grass-Green algae, and plant cells. Chlorophyll occurs in five forms; especially Chlorophyll a, and Chlorophyll b. Chlorophyll a is the most widely distributed form in nature.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: This simple, unicellular, flagellate organism called Chlamydomonas, Grass-Green algae, Division Chlorophyta, contains the photosynthetic pigments Chlorophyll a and b, and Xanthophyll in the same proportions as those seen in other higher plants.Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll pigments are found in all green plant cells and they are the most important biomolecules in nature.
The pigments of biological tissues that reflect or transmit light are known as biochromes. Apart from causing, or generating color, biochromes play a pivotal role in metabolic processes. Chlorophyll is a nitrogenous biochrome, an organic molecule that contains nitrogen. It is the only substance in nature that has the ability to trap and store the energy of Sunlight. It absorbs light most strongly in the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum followed by the red portion. It is a poor absorber of green and near-green portions of the spectrum. The green portion of the spectrum is reflected and thus Chlorophyll appears green.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Pierre Joseph Pelletier (1788-1842), French chemist worked along with Joseph Bienaime Caventou (1795-1877) at Ecole de Pharmacie Paris and first isolated Chlorophyll in 1817. They established the basis for Alkaloid Chemistry. They paved the way for the use of chemical compounds found in the nature.WholeDude-WholeDesigner-Chlorophyll: Joseph Bienaime Caventou (1795-1877), French chemist was the first to isolate Chlorophyll and shares this credit with Pelletier.
French chemists, Joseph Bienaime Caventou and Pierre Joseph Pelletier get the credit for first isolating Chlorophyll in 1817. They paved the way for research on natural organic compounds and had established the foundation for Alkaloid Chemistry. They isolated several plant alkaloids like Quinine, Strychnine, Emetine, and Caffeine. The general molecular structure of Chlorophyll was first described by Hans Fischer, a German chemist in 1940. Fischer investigated pigments in blood, bile, and Chlorophyll in leaves. He was awarded 1930 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Hans Fischer (1881-1945), German chemist investigated Chemistry of Pyrrole compounds from which the pigments found in blood, bile, and leaves are derived. He was awarded 1930 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Pyrrole describes a class of organic compounds of the heterocyclic series characterized by a ring structure composed of four carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. In Chlorophyll, four Pyrrole rings (Tetrapyrrole) are joined in a larger ring system known as Porphyrin. Porphyrins are a group of water-soluble, nitrogenous Pyrrole derivatives that combine with either Iron, or Magnesium. Chlorophyll has a Porphyrin ring (Chlorin ring) coordinated to a central Magnesium ion.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Chlorin ring, Tetrapyrrole Porphyrin Ring called Chlorophyll with central ion of Magnesium.WholeDude-WholeDesigner-Chlorophyll: Robert Burns Woodward (1917-1979) American chemist who worked at Harvard University published a total synthesis of Chlorophyll molecule in 1960. He synthesized many complex natural products. He was awarded 1965 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Robert Burns Woodward, American chemist who worked at Harvard University determined the structure of organic compounds such as Penicillin, Terramycin, and Aureomycin. During 1940s, he had synthesized many complex natural products including Quinine, Cholesterol, Cortisone, Strychnine, Lysergic Acid, Reserpine, Cephalosporin, and Colchicine. He was the first to synthesize Chlorophyll during 1960.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Three-dimensional view of Chlorophyll molecule.Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: The light absorption spectra of chlorophyll molecules a and b.
The Chlorophyll molecule is the active part that absorbs the Sunlight. In order to do this job called photo reception, Chlorophyll needs to be attached to the backbone of a very complicated protein. This protein may look haphazard in design, but it has exactly the correct structure to orient the Chlorophyll molecules in the optimal position to enable them to react with Carbon Dioxide, and Water molecules in a very efficient manner. The Chlorophyll photosynthetic pigments performs the light harvesting function because of Chlorophyll-Protein Complex that is part of the Thylakoid Membrane of the Chloroplast, the disc-like structures in which the pigment is found.
Whole Dude-Whole Designer-Chlorophyll: Thylakoid Membrane bound proteins form a Complex with Chlorophyll pigments to perform the photosynthetic function.
Whole Designer – Whole Architect:
Whole Dude – Whole Designer -Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll molecule is the green pigment found in the Chloroplasts of plant cells is uniquely capable of converting active light energy into a latent form(Glucose or Sugar)using the photosynthetic mechanism. Carbon is the central or key element in the compounds of which organisms are composed; the Carbon is derived from the Carbon Dioxide found in atmospheric air or dissolved in water. Plants incorporate Carbon into Carbohydrates and other complex organic molecules. During Respiration or Oxidation, Oxygen combines with portions of Carbohydrate molecule, releasing Carbon in the form of Carbon Dioxide and Water.
Chlorophyll is not simply about generating coloration in plant leaves. It describes the work, the imagination, the inspiration used by a Master Architect who uses matter, energy, time, space, and color in a very creative manner.
The green pigment called Chlorophyll is the only substance in nature able to trap and store the energy of Sunlight. The light absorbed by Chlorophyll molecules is mainly in the red and blue-violet parts of the visible spectrum; the green portion is not absorbed but reflected, and thus Chlorophyll appears Green. The function of Light and Color is that of Creation of Life.
Whole Dude – Whole Colors: The green pigment called Chlorophyll is the only substance in nature able to trap and store the energy of Sunlight. The light absorbed by Chlorophyll molecules is mainly in the red and blue-violet parts of the visible spectrum; the green portion is not absorbed but reflected, and thus Chlorophyll appears Green. The function of Light and Color is that of Creation of Life.
Spiritualism – The Science of Optics – Spiritual Light – Spiritual Optics – God is Light:
WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE OPTICS: SPIRITUALISM, SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND SPIRITUAL OPTICS INVOLVES A SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF LIGHT OR OPTICS. GOD IS LIGHT OR GOD CREATED LIGHT, LIGHT IS ENERGY, LIGHT IS ENERGY OF LIFE, AND COLOR IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE USE OF IMAGINATION TO FORMULATE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ENERGY DEPENDENT LIFE AND ENERGY PROVIDING SUPREME BEING.
Optics is the scientific study of Light and the study of Light should be concerned with the genesis, nature, properties of Light and its purpose and role in the establishment of life and interactions among living things.
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Light is the sign of divine operation in the world of chaos and darkness
The first recorded utterance of God in the Bible is, “Let there be Light.” (The Old Testament, The First Book of Moses, The Book of Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 3.)
Light is the sign of divine operation in the world of chaos and darkness. Light brings order to the world. Without a source of Light, a primary source of external energy, Life is impossible on planet Earth. Further, it can be stated that Light is essential for Life; for the synchronization of life’s living functions, and to generate the experience of peace, harmony, and tranquility in the living condition, or state.
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Light is associated with the experience called happiness.
Thus Light is associated with the experience called happiness. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (The New Testament, The Epistle of Apostle James, Chapter 1, verse 17)
WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE COLORS: The most important function of Light is not that of providing visual sensation. Light performs several non optical functions. Plants do not have the visual ability to see Light. But, plants have the ability to use light energy to perform biochemical reactions such as Photosynthesis which is a creative mechanism to trap light energy and convert it into chemical energy that living things can further use to perform a variety of their living functions. Hence Light is Divine Providence to transform non living matter into Living Organisms which can be identified by their color, and appearance.
What is Color and What is Coloration?
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Human interest in coloration led to biological studies by the Moravian abbot Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884), the botanist who studied inherited characteristics that established the science of Genetics, using visual clues from the coloration of plant flowers.
The term ‘color’ refers to the spectral qualities of emitted or reflected light. The term ‘coloration’ is a dynamic and complex characteristic that has captured human interest and attention for a long time. Human interest to coloration ranges from purely aesthetic to the rigidly pragmatic. Human interest in coloration led to biological studies by the Moravian abbot Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884), the botanist who studied inherited characteristics that established the science of Genetics, using visual clues from the coloration of plant flowers.
WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE COLORS: Human interest in Coloration lead Gregor Mendel to conduct his famous studies that established the science called Genetics. He conducted experiments studying the white or pinkish flowers of Pea (Pisum sativum) plants.
Biological Coloration:
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Display Coloration of Cock of the Rock (Rupicola rupicola of Peru).
Biological Coloration refers to the general appearance of an organism as determined by the quality and quantity of light that is reflected or emitted from its surface. This Coloration depends upon several factors:
1. The integrity and deployment of the structural units and features involved in the generation of color,
2. The color and distribution of the organism’s pigments, and the relative location of differently colored areas,
3. The shape, posture, position, and movement of the organism,
4. The quality and quantity of light striking the organism, including the seasonal light and temperature variations,
5. The psychological, behavioral, hormonal, and other physiological conditions associated with the use of color,
6. The visual capacity of the viewer.
The optical and non optical functions of Coloration:
Whole Dude-Whole Optics: Display Coloration. Courtship Coloration of male Mandrill (Mandrillus sphynx).
In plants and animals, coloration serves the function of communication. Plants do not have the ability called visual perception and yet they can transmit optical signals to attract the attention of pollinators to achieve reproductive success. Coloration such as ‘advertising coloration’ may emphasize optical signals and thereby enhance communication. Organisms use such communication to modify biotic interactions with other members of their biological community. The coloration may repel, or attract another organism. However, coloration could also be used to suppress optical signals or to specifically create incorrect signals and thereby reduce communication. Thus coloration contributes to adaptive interactions; and the deceptive coloration serves to lessen detrimental or maladaptive interaction with other organisms.
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Display Coloration, Flash Colors of male frigate bird (Fregata minor) with red throat patch inflated to attract a female.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Display Coloration. Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) uses color for species recognition.Whole Dude-Whole Optics: Alluring Coloration. The blue-tailed skink (Eumeces skiltonianus) can shed its tail at will and uses it to distract potential predators.Whole Dude-Whole Optics: Display Coloration. Peacock, the male peafowl (Pavo cristatus) displays a stunningly beautiful array of colors to attract the attention of female.
Coloration may affect an organism in ways other than its interaction with other organisms. Such non optical functions of coloration include physiological roles that depend on the molecular properties (e.g., strength and type of chemical bonds) of the chemicals that create color.
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Structures called Chloroplasts found inside the cells of green plants contain the green pigment known as Chlorophyll is the only substance in nature able to trap and store the energy of Sunlight. The light absorbed by Chlorophyll molecules is mainly in the red and blue-violet parts of the visible spectrum; the green portion is not absorbed but reflected, and thus Chlorophyll appears Green. The function of Light and Color is that of Creation of Life.
Chlorophyll is a green pigment which has the exclusive ability of trapping solar energy. Other examples include, dark hair is mechanically stronger than light hair, and dark feathers resist abrasion better than light feathers. Coloration may play a role in organism’s energy budget because biochromes create color by the differential reflection and absorption of solar energy and can contribute to maintain thermal equilibrium. Color pigments like melanin work as a barrier against the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays of Sunlight. It is the mechanism for the absorption of heat in cold environments by small cold-blooded animals. Pigments found in the eye limit the incidence of beams of light entering the eye by absorbing scattered light within the eyeball that allows greater visual acuity. Coloration or its pattern affects an animal’s own vision. Surfaces near the eye may be darkly colored to reduce reflectance that interferes with vision. Emitted light or Bioluminescence forms a portion of the coloration of some organisms. It serves as a light source in nocturnal species or in deep water marine animals such as Pinecones Fishes which have bright photophores or bioluminescent organs.
Whole Dude-Whole Optics: Bioluminescence is a non optical function of Coloration as seen in this deep water fish Monocentris japonicus.
Coloration can result from accumulation of by-products of metabolic processes. The abnormal coloration called ‘jaundice’ or ‘icterus’ describes the greenish-yellow condition of the skin, urine, and eyeballs from increased amounts of bile pigments in the blood and it often indicates a diseased condition like hepatitis, a liver disorder. Similarly, Cyanosis describes a bluish or purple coloration of skin, lips, fingers, eyes, and other mucous membranes caused by lack of oxygen, the presence of desaturated hemoglobin, or abnormal hemoglobin in the blood.
Whole Dude-Whole Optics: Coloration may reveal an underlying diseased condition. This yellow discoloration of eyes and face is called ‘Jaundice’ or Icterus often caused by Liver inflammation.Whole Dude-Whole Optics: The bluish skin coloration of this baby is called Cyanosis and the presence of this coloration helps to diagnose the condition of the baby.
Spiritual Light – Spiritual Optics:
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: SPIRITUAL LIGHT – SPIRITUAL OPTICS: This Vedic Hymn called Gayatri Maha Mantra describes the Spiritual Nature of Light and Spiritual Optics involves the illumination of human mind with true or real Knowledge.
Light is the source of Life. The establishment of Light on planet Earth is a creative process that uses light energy to recreate the spectral colors in the lives of individual organisms.
The Biological Coloration is the most compelling evidence of the fact of creation. Animals, and plants do not have the ability to generate colors by simply depending upon spontaneous, random, and unguided mutations. Biological Coloration requires complex synchronization of morphological appearance, biotic interactions and behavior of living organisms that share a given environment. Light is the primary source of external energy to support the existence of all living things. The principles of Physical Optics, Geometrical Optics, Physiological Optics have to operate in conjunction with Spiritual Optics to generate the experience of peace, harmony, and tranquility that is fundamental to existence.
Life is a manifestation of order to replace disorder, or confusion that could be caused if Light does not provide the stimulus called illumination that drives away darkness. It is no surprise to note that the major Biological Rhythm is called the Diurnal, or Day, or Solar Rhythm.
The Colorful images of Whole Optics:
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: TARANTULA SPIDER – Poecilotheria metallica. Spider of Southeast India, and Sri Lanka. What is Color? What generates the Color?Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Naja naja. The Indian snake Cobra with warning coloration on its hood.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing and Disruptive Coloration of Tiger.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Disruptive Coloration of Zebras – Equus burchelli.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing and Protective Coloration – Shadow pattern – Odocoileus virginianus – Mottling of the fawn’s coat.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Protective Coloration – Counter-shading – Kobus – Kobus – kob – thomasi of Uganda.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Ceylon leaf insect – Philium.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Walking stick insect – Phasmatidae – Phraortes illepidus.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration – Leaf Butterfly – AnaeaWhole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Thorn treehopper – Umbonia spinosa.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Black Swallowtail Butterfly – Papilio.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Pleuronectiformes – Flatfish.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Right-eyed Flounder.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Scolopax rusticola. European Woodcock.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Disruptive and Concealing Coloration. Blacksmith Plover. Vanellus armatus.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing and Disruptive Coloration. Willow Ptarmigan. Lagopus lagopus.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Disruptive and Concealing Coloration. Moorish Idol. Zanclus canescens.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Concealing Coloration. Orchid Mantis of Malay peninsula. Hymenopus coronatus.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Disruptive and Protective Coloration. Emperor moth. Saturnia pavonia.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Protective Coloration. Startle Markings. False eye. Butterfly fish. Chaetodon capistratus.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Warning Coloration. Puss moth caterpillar Cerura when threatened, raised head and tail thorns displayed.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Protective Coloration. Startle markings. False eyes on Noctuid moth. Noctuidae. Donuca orbigera.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Adaptive Coloration. Octopus vulgaris can blanch and change its coloration.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Adaptive Coloration. Anolis carolinensis can gradually change its coloration from green to brown to match its background.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Batesian Mimicry. Non-venomous Scarlet King snake mimicking of the venomous Coral snake. Both have colored rings encircling their bodies. Coral snake has black-yellow-red-yellow ring order, and Scarlet snake has black-yellow-black-red ring order. Its predator has no perfect discrimination ability and gets easily confused about its identity.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Mullerian Mimicry. The black-and-yellow coloration of bees and wasps is an advertising, warning coloration to warn the third-party of dangerous or inedible qualities of the organism. This is not deceptive coloration. Potential predators easily learn and generalize this optic signal.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: Warning Coloration. Yellow and black markings on Poison frogs. Mimic of Ranitomeya summersi.Whole Dude – Whole Optics: What is Color? What generates the Color? The Colors of Eugenes fulgens. It is the radiating Spiritual Light that is reflected and is recognized by the viewer.
Light is the source of Life. The establishment of Light on planet Earth is a creative process that uses light energy to recreate the spectral colors in the lives of individual organisms.
Whole Dude – Whole Optics: The Superb Tanager. Tangara fastuosa. What is Color? What generates the Color? This Superb creature is known for its Tyndall Blue Color. It needs structural elements and pigments to generate these alluring colors it displays.
THE COLORS OF SPIRITUALISM: Color plays an important role in every aspect of life. Human civilization has developed taste in color and has attached values and functions to the colors it visualizes. A sense of fitness has been acquired concerning the use of color. The spectral array of colors exhibited by a rainbow is a glorious sight that cannot be improved by the omission of one or more of its components.
GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN :
The Colors of Spiritualism: The Rainbow Covenant.
The Colors of Spiritualism: The first recorded Covenant between God and Man. The Book of Genesis, Chapter 9, verses 12-16.
God’s covenant with all living creatures is described in the First Book of Moses, The Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapter 9, verses 12, 13, and 16. And God said, “This is the sign of the Covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a Covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the Covenant between Me and the Earth…. Whenever, the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting Covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the Earth.”
In the Bible, the rainbow is the first of the Covenant Signs. The record of Noah’s life mentions the rainbow as the Covenant Sign. The rainbow in the clouds speaks to man from God. The rainbow is the Lord’s Promise made visible in a display of colors.
Rudra N. Rebbapragada, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,
Organization: The Spirits of Special Frontier Force.
Whole Dude - Whole Concept 