Consciousness is a state of matter

At the beginning of the 20th century,

a group of young physicists embarked on a quest 

to explain a few strange but seemingly small anomalies 

in our understanding of the universe. 

In deriving the new theories of relativity and quantum mechanics, they ended up changing the way we comprehend the cosmos.

original research publication: http://arxiv.org/abs/1401.1219

Max Tegmark, a theoretical physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, he shows how the question of consciousness can be formulated in terms of quantum mechanics and information theory.

Tegmark’s approach is to think of consciousness as a state of matter, like a solid, a liquid or a gas. “I conjecture that consciousness can be understood as yet another state of matter. Just as there are many types of liquids, there are many types of consciousness,” he says.

The new approach to consciousness has come from outside the physics community, principally from neuroscientists such as Giulio Tononi at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

In 2008, Tononi proposed that a system demonstrating consciousness must have two specific traits. First, the system must be able to store and process large amounts of information. In other words consciousness is essentially a phenomenon of information.

And second, this information must be integrated in a unified whole so that it is impossible to divide into independent parts. That reflects the experience that each instance of consciousness is a unified whole that cannot be decomposed into separate components.

Tegmark points out that any information stored in a special network known as a Hopfield neural net automatically has this error-correcting facility.

(courtesy share:https://medium.com/the-physics-arxiv-blog/why-physicists-are-saying-consciousness-is-a-state-of-matter-like-a-solid-a-liquid-or-a-gas-5e7ed624986d)

Universe is a hologram in Indian mythology

The Hindu trinity is of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They are respectively the creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe.

The Trimurti (trinity) of Hinduism 
at Elephanta Island in Mumbai. 
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Each God in the trinity has his consort. To Brahma is Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge. For Vishnu is Lakshmi, the Goddess of love, beauty and delight. For Shiva is Kali (Parvati) , the Goddess of power, destruction and transformation. These are the three main forms of the Goddess, as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the three main forms of the God.(thankfully shared from:http://www.hindunet.org/god/trinity/)
The "Trimūrti" is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver and Shiva the destroyer or transformer." These three gods have been called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great Trinity", often addressed as "Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara." 
(thankfully shared from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimurti)

Vishnu, the sustainer of the universe: Vishnu is the All-Pervading One. His name is derived from “vis’ in Sanskrit which means both ‘to spread’ and ‘to be present everywhere’.

Vishnu exist as the total energy of universe: Even when there was Nothing, there was Vishnu, present as a nameless, formless, dormant energy. In this un-manifested (nirguna) state, even Vishnu was not aware of his own being. He just was. Just because he was not perceived, does not mean he did not exist.

Universe as the dream of Vishnu: In this Nothingness, when the first ripple of awareness stirred , spontaneously and of its own will, the formless energy became Vishnu, the Supreme Being, Parabrahman.
As Parabrahma, Vishnu lies in a dream like state on the serpent Adisesha Ananta who is Time, without beginning or end. Ananta floats for all eternity on the waters of the Ksheer Sagar (the ocean of Cosmic Consciousness).

Vishnu's dream world
pic credit: http://mesosyn.com/hindu-5.html

When Brahma begins the process of Creation, it is Vishnu who expands into everything and becomes part of everything. Now he is Brahman, the Cosmic Consciousness.

As if he is seeing a dream, Vishnu watches Brahma create the Universe. By the act of watching his dream, Vishnu sustains the Universe. When Vishnu wakes from his dream one cycle of Creation ends.

From the Nirguna Brahman (formless energy) Vishnu thus becomes Saguna Brahman, a God with forms and attributes. Vishnu is now the Supreme Lord, Parameshwar.

At times, when world descends into total chaos, Lord Vishnu comes to its rescue in the form of an Avatar, or incarnation.
The ten incarnations of Vishnu in the physical world are:
Matsya (fish), Kurma (turtle), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama (warrior-priest), Rama ( man who was like God), Krishna (God who was born as man), Buddha (the enlightened one), Kalki (horseman, who has not yet appeared)(thankfully referred/shared from:http://www.allabouthinduism.info/2013/03/08/vishnu-the-protector/)

Universe is a hologram

Modern physics’ most enduring problems: The apparent inconsistencies between the different models of the universe as explained by quantum physics and Einstein’s theory of gravity.

The two new scientific papers are the culmination of years’ work led by Yoshifumi Hyakutake of Ibaraki University in Japan, and deal with hypothetical calculations of the energies of black holes in different universes. (http://www.nature.com/news/simulations-back-up-theory-that-universe-is-a-hologram-1.14328#/b1)

Not a matrix like illusion: The idea of the universe existing as a ‘hologram’ doesn’t refer to a Matrix-like illusion, but the theory that the three dimensions we perceive are actually just“painted” onto the cosmological horizon – the boundary of the known universe.

This model of the universe helps explain some inconsistencies between general relativity (Einstein’s theory) and quantum physics. Although Einstein’s work underpins much of modern physics, at certain extremes (such as in the middle of a black hole) the principles he outlined break down and the laws of quantum physics take over.

Leonard Susskind, a theoretical physicist regarded as one of the fathers of string theory, added that the work by the Japanese team “numerically confirmed, perhaps for the first time, something we were fairly sure had to be true, but was still a conjecture.”
(share courtesy:http://themindunleashed.org/2014/05/physicists-discover-clearest-evidence-yet-universe-hologram-2.html) 
For more information on this research, click here to read the original release.

Sterilisation tragedy, banned drugs and Baiga tribe of India

After the death of 13 women in the botched up sterilisation camps in Bilaspur district, 

the Chhattisgarh Government has imposed ban on six suspected medicines. 

The medicines were used in Pendari sterilisation camp in Bilaspur district. 

The Director, Health Services have instructed chemist shops not to sell these drugs.

According to official information, the quality of these medicines was suspected and hence the decision was taken. The samples of these drugs will be sent to Central Drugs Laboratory, Kolkata for quality check.Controller, Food and Drug Administration Department has released batch number and manufacturer names of the banned drugs.

The drugs manufactured by M/s Technical Lab and Pharma Pvt. Ltd Haridwar, M/s Mahavar Pharma Pvt. Ltd. Khamardih Raipur, M/s Regan Laboratories Hisar, M/s Hampton Industries Sanjay Nagar Raipur and M/S G Pharma Indore have been banned in the State, the Press release stated.

(http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/six-drugs-used-in-botched-sterilisation-camp-banned.html)

Khelan Bai, the grandmother of a deceased victim, who died after she underwent a sterilisation surgery at a government mass sterilisation camp, mourns in her house at Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh November 14, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

Indra Bai, the mother of a deceased victim who died after she underwent a sterilisation surgery at a government mass sterilisation camp, holds a child as she mourns in her house at Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh November 14, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

A woman, who underwent a sterilization surgery at a government mass sterilisation "camp", sits in hospital bed at Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) hospital in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, November 13, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

Narain, 8, holds a photo of his 30-year-old mother Phoolbai, who died after she underwent sterilisation surgery at a government mass sterilisation "camp", at his home in Aamsena village in Bilaspur district, in Chhattisgarh, November 13, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

Policemen stand outside Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) hospital where several women, who underwent a sterilisation surgery at a government mass sterilisation "camp", are treated in Bilaspur district, in Chhattisgarh, November 13, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

Government mass sterilisation camp of Chhattisgarh: On November 8, about 83 women had undergone surgeries at a sterilisation camp. Later, almost all of them, aged below 32, were hospitalised after they developed post-operative complications.
The doctor who conducted sterilisation surgeries on 83 women at government orgainsed camp held at Nemichand Jain Cancer and Research Centre at Pendari village in Takhatpur, Chhattisgrah has been taken into police custody.

The Chhattisgarh government has suspended the sale of six drugs used in tubectomies in the government-organised sterilisation camps in Bilaspur district.

These drugs are tablet Ibrufen-400 manufactured by M/s Technical Lab and Pharma Ltd, Haridwar, tab Ciprosin- 500 (M/s Mahawar Pharma Pvt Ltd, Khamardih Raipur), injection Lignocaine and Lignocaine HCL ((M/s Regain Laboratories, Hisar), Absorbent cotton wool (M/s Hampton Industries, Raipur) and Zielone lotion (M/s G Pharma, Indore), it added.
(http://www.lokchetna.in/chhattisgarh-sterilisation-tragedy-death-toll-at-13-doctor-arrested.html)

Spurious drugs: Drugs that were found to be contaminated were Ciprocin-500 (made by Mahawar Pharma) and Ibuprofen-400 mg (made by Technical Lab).
As a result manufacturing licenses of for those drugs given to two companies - Mahawar Pharma Pvt Ltd, Raipur and Technical Lab and Pharma Pvt Ltd Haridwar - were suspended by the State Drugs Controller of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
(http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/poor-drug-quality-may-have-caused-chhattisgarh-surgery-deaths/)

Drug sample report confirms presence of rat poison: A drug sample report has confirmed the use of sub-standard medicines and the presence of zinc phosphide used as rat poison in the Ciprocin-500 tablets allegedly given to the victims in the tragedy.
(http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-sterilisation-deaths-government-concedes-medicines-contained-rat-poison-624652)
(http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/chhattisgarh-sterilisation-deaths-drug-sample-report-confirms-presence-of-rat-poison/345815)

Protected tribe Baiga were sterilised: Despite the government prohibiting the sterilisation of people belonging to this tribe, many Baiga women have been sterilised in the interior villages of Bilaspur over the years.

pic credit: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22010/22010-h/22010-h.htm

The Baiga tribe is among the most primitive in central India, confined to just a few forested hamlets in the border districts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Although the government has spent several crores on schemes of their welfare, they continue to be among the most deprived communities.

Most news papers covered in depth report
Dainik Bhaskar/Bilspur edition/16th November 2014

The women don't know that they have been notified as a protected tribe and their sterilisation is prohibited. All of them claimed that they had not received any cash incentive for undergoing the operation, as mandated by the government.
(http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/many-women-of-protected-tribe-sterilised-they-got-no-cash-only-5-eggs-half-kg-dal/)

#author expresses his sincere thanks for sharing news items from referred sources and picture credit to REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee 

As a result, the manufacturing licenses for those drugs given to two companies — Mahawar Pharma Pvt Ltd, Raipur and Technical Lab and Pharma Pvt Ltd, Haridwar — were suspended by the State Drugs Controller of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/poor-drug-quality-may-have-caused-chhattisgarh-surgery-deaths/#sthash.slUC1qva.dpuf

Drugs that were found to be contaminated were Ciprocin-500 (made by Mahawar Pharma) and Ibuprofen-400 mg (made by Technical Lab). - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/poor-drug-quality-may-have-caused-chhattisgarh-surgery-deaths/#sthash.slUC1qva.dpuf

Drugs that were found to be contaminated were Ciprocin-500 (made by Mahawar Pharma) and Ibuprofen-400 mg (made by Technical Lab). - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/poor-drug-quality-may-have-caused-chhattisgarh-surgery-deaths/#sthash.slUC1qva.dpuf

Drugs that were found to be contaminated were Ciprocin-500 (made by Mahawar Pharma) and Ibuprofen-400 mg (made by Technical Lab). - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/poor-drug-quality-may-have-caused-chhattisgarh-surgery-deaths/#sthash.slUC1qva.dpuf

Lead me from darkness to light (तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय)

We failed our self in passed years:

We all had a glowing wish for the year 2013 (1)* and for enlightened days ahead in 2014.

pic credit: Reuters

But in all those numerous days passed, we failed our self badly.

Some Anja (2)*, Jason (3)*, Luke (4)* tried to show us pictures of our bloody nature.

In these passed months and days we have killed our own kind with ruthless parallel no where, massacred children, burned books and teachers alive.

Sometimes it indicates of a plausible clue for the failure of our own civilizations in the past !!
We humans might have been the cause behind extinction of our past glorious civilizations, while we search factors outside with nature (Mayan (5)*, Andean (6)*, Nazca (7)* Indus valley (8)*.

Are we humans are a killer and devastator species or else?So far, 66 journalists were killed, 119 journalists were kidnapped and 178 journalists were imprisoned worldwide because of their line of work, and the year has not ended yet (as of 22nd December 2014). According to the report, almost half of those killed died in Syria (15), Palestine (7), Iraq (4), and Libya (4) – making the top deadliest five countries for journalists this year in addition to Ukraine (6). 
In our all 200,000 years of earthly existence, about 77,000 years ago we traveled out of the Africa continent on our global journey (9)* to settle in other parts of the earth.
But proven for sure that we are  failed global citizens.(graphic courtesy:http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/206817-hints-earlier-human-exit-africa.html)


Lead me from darkness to light (तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय):
We all need that light which shall lead us in all our darkness.

That light is a universal unbiased education for all, irrespective to the caste, color, creed, race, religion, sex, socio-economic levels and all that kind of every prejudices we humans have created.


Let there be light: The UN’s 68th general assembly proclaimed 2015 an official “International Year of Light” (10)* that will focus on the science and applications of light, and seek to raise global awareness of how optics and photonics can have a positive impact in fields as diverse as energy, education, agriculture and health.

New light to illuminate the world: The Royal Swdish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2014 (11)* “for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources” 

Scientist have tried quantum teleportation (12)*, converting light into matter (13)* reading and writing brain with light (14)* successfully so recently.
 
Fireflies (15)* used rapid light flashes to communicate. Scientist have planned to take this "bioluminescence", an intriguing phenomenon, for many potential applications, from drug testing and monitoring water contamination, and even lighting up streets using glow-in-dark trees and plants.

A prayer for all: As our old seers have sought the well being of all, that is the call of the day, with a prayer to move from darkness into light.

pic credihttp://www.survivalinternational.

org/tribes/pygmies

Universality in our approach, that is the Mantra of the day, to survive and grow together with all our beauty to which we ignorantly call our differences.

A verse from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 

which beautifully captures the goal of both 

science and spirituality.

pic courtesy:http://www.spiritualbee.com

असतो मा सद्गमय |
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ||
मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय |
ॐ शांति शांति शांति ||




Asato maa Sat gamaya
Tamaso maa Jyotir gamaya
Mrityor maa Amritam gamaya
Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti

Lead me from the Unreal to Real,
Lead me from Darkness to Light,
Lead me from Death to Immortality,
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.
(This shloka is extracted from Brihad-aaranyaka-upanishad (1.3.28), contained within Shatapatha-braahmana, belonging to shukla-Yajur-Veda)
*reference of related blog post of the same author.