Do we need to redefine science? (continued 2)

Recently I watched a prerecorded video of a well known Yoga teacher of yester-years about how Yoga works. This supposedly Cambridge educated, one time NASA scientist was giving mysterious explanation about how Yoga works. The theory was not something new – the same “opening up of the mystical Sushumna  Naadi by regular Yoga practice so that the dormant Kundalini force gets channeled through it and reaches the Sahasrara – all located in the Pranic body and ‘somehow’ connected to the physical body” and so on.

 

Many people including several well known Yoga proponents put forth this theory. What is amazing is the fact that

1. There is no verifiable evidence that such a body/naadi/force exists and such a process actually takes place.
2. Yoga system of Patanjali talks about none of these. 
3. The theory is neither consistently nor logically defined, let alone its correctness.

In spite of these limitations, how is it that teachers after teachers talk about such mysterious things that can neither be scientifically verified, nor logically concluded, nor supported by ancient texts?

I only hope that the proponents of these theories do some serious scientific research and provide an acceptable explanation. Or suggest ways of extending our current scientific approach.   

                 

Continued

Do we need to redefine science?

Recently (March 2015), the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released a statement concluding that “there is no good quality evidence to support the claim that Homeopathy is effective in treating health conditions”

Though many Homeopathy fans are furious about this statement, the finding is by no means surprising. With its two fundamental principles – (1) whatever causes the disease can itself cure it as well, when administered in small quantities, and (2) more dilute the medicine is, the more effective it is - Homeopathy can easily be brushed aside as unscientific and illogical.

But there are several anecdotal reports claiming miraculous cures by Homeopathy. Even highly qualified allopathic doctors sometimes vouch for the efficacy of Homeopathy. In one of the cases I know, a gynecologist friend of mine who was almost bed ridden due to slip disk problem that needed immediate surgery, claims that she recovered completely by Homeopathy with no surgery. And today she is completely alright and attends to her busy medical practice.

In spite of all illogical principles and lack of concrete evidence, is there something in Homeopathy that science is yet to discover? I keep wondering. Though Homeopathy practitioners are very defensive about their system and attack with emotionally charged words anyone who questions, they seem to offer very little concrete evidence or convincing explanation about the working of their system.

I wish that they do it sooner than later. We need to either forget about Homeopathy and move ahead, or evolve our scientific approach based on new findings. I only hope one of these happens in the near future.

Continued

Mind Magic!!!

Watch a very interesting free video on Mind in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_KpY12AHUc

The Indian Prime minister on Yoga

Today, different body postures (asana) have become synonymous with Yoga, thanks to several renowned  teachers who laid over-emphasis on it for whatever reason.

I was curious to know what the Indian Prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi has to say about it since he is considered to be someone who sincerely practices Yoga. This is what he said during the International Yoga day celebration on 21st June 2015 in New Delhi. (I am giving a simple English summary of what he said in Hindi)

"(Just) body postures (asana) is not Yoga. If twisting and turning were Yoga, then every circus artist would have to be called a Yogi. Body postures are only a small part of Yoga. Their role is just to prepare the body for the main thing. It is like tuning the musical instruments before a concert begins.. Tuning definitely serves the purpose of producing the right sound during the concert, but tuning itself is not the musical concert"

Original Hindi audio clip

Well said.

Free videos

I just released a short  video on Yoga.

You can even click Yoga scientifically explained
Please feel free to share this link with people you know. Please leave your comments.

You can find more free videos in the page "Free videos" on the right column of this blog (right now there is only one, I will add more later)

Thank you.

How far can we stretch placebo effect?

Recent research has confirmed the marvelous capabilities of placebo effect (effects caused by strong belief or expectation) on our physical as well as mental well being. I have discussed some of these in my book “How does the Mind work?”

 

In “How and why of Yoga and Meditation – Yoga scientifically explained” I have hinted that placebo effect could be one of the contributors to the marvelous benefits reported by the practice of Yoga postures. Though, I fully agree that benefits of Yoga postures are not all due to placebo effect.

Recently, we keep coming across several ‘best sellers’ that project either chanting of some monosyllable mantras or some weird hand gestures as a ‘cure all’ for all our problems and needs – from depression to sex! If one looks at a bit broadly, there are ‘medical systems’ with concepts that neither stand to logic nor have passed any large scale validation, but still have large adherents who vouch for their effectiveness.

Are we then to take placebo effect as a useful phenomenon in the long run? If we look back, human development seems to be largely due to logical reasoning rather than purely based on faith. Though we cannot altogether get us rid of faith and associated placebo effect, the question is “how far should we stretch it?”

As many Yogas, so many theories

Nowadays we come across whole lot of things propagated as ‘Yoga’. Almost all of them trace the origin to Patanjali. Interestingly, there are equally many theories about what these ‘techniques’ can achieve and how they work. I was curious and thought of recording them. Here are some.

Theory 1. Yoga basically involves modulating the mental activities so that the mind calms down completely by a step by step process. A completely calm mind enables one to realize the ultimate.

This is the theory propounded by Patanjali (300 B.C.) in his Yoga sutra. Even ancient Buddhists had a very similar explanation to their meditative techniques that also work like Yoga. Incidentally, I have also tried to explain Yoga on similar lines in the light of modern neuroscience in my book “How and Why of Yoga and Meditation – Yoga scientifically explained”.

Theory 2. Yoga involves channeling the cosmic power called ‘Kundalini’ from ‘moolaadhara’ (in the pelvic region) to ‘sahasraara’ in the brain, passing through various ‘power centers’ (called ‘chakras’) that lie along the spinal cord. This is achieved using various Yoga techniques. When this power reaches its destination, the person who practices Yoga gets ultimate realization.

This is the theory propounded by Hatayoga Pradeepika (15th century). Many modern Yoga teachers who propagate variants of this ‘Hatayoga’ talk about very similar theories. Some of them even attribute its origin to Lord Shri Krishna in Bhagavad Geetha (apparently even before 300 B.C.) . But as far as I am aware, the theory in Bhagavad Geetha is closer to the one propounded by Patanjali.

Theory 3. The Yogic breathing acts like bellows that kindle the fire in the lower abdomen. As a result the impure and thick blood in the heart starts boiling. When this blood boils, impurities in it get separated in the same way as impurities separate from molten gold. These impurities are expelled though sweat that is produced during Yogic postures. Since the root cause of ill health is these impurities, Yoga makes the person healthy.

This is a theory supposedly based on some little known ‘ancient’ text. This theory forms the basis of many modern Yoga variants that seem to be quite popular. These systems give utmost importance to Yoga postures and breathing.

Theory 4. Our body is encircled by currents of cosmic forces. When one moves the hands and other limbs in the process of performing various Yoga postures, these currents get directed to flow into the body. Their entry into the body charges it up and makes it healthy.

I am not sure what the basis of this theory is, but I have read some Yoga proponents give this theory. May be influenced by some Chinese concepts.

Interesting!!

New book on exotic fruit plant grafting techniques

A new book "Five simple grafting techniques best suited for most exotic fruit plants" is published. Right now only e-book version is available. The book is available in amazon as well as most e-book stores.

 

This book describes in detail 5 most useful grafting techniques that can be used to propagate many exotic fruits. The book contains detailed illustrations, examples, fruit chart as well as root stocks and techniques well suited for these fruits.

click http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VK54IFM/  for a preview

 

How strong is your fundamentals?

Recently one of my readers drew my attention to one review written on amazon about my book “Yoga Facts:  Answers to some important questions about Yoga”. In this review the reviewer had complained that what the book discusses is “very very basic and it is not worth buying it” (I am just summarizing his remarks). I was quite amused by the comment. The book was quite small – just 30 pages, was available for free and had received good reviews (none of these reviews were self sponsored!) on many channels including amazon. It is true that the book does not go into in depth analysis of Yoga given the pages and it being free. But it was originally written in response to several “basic” questions I received about Yoga and many have expressed that the book has helped them.

I was curious to know which better books the reviewer is talking about since the review was titled “better books out there”. On reading the other books reviewed by the same reviewer and the ratings he has given to those books, I kept wondering what the reviewer means by “non basic or advanced facts about Yoga”! Probably, he has not reviewed those books or he is just aware but has not read them. 

Sometimes we equate fuzzy things to advanced knowledge and plain speak to very basic.

Incidentally, I have two more books that deal elaborately on Yoga – “Psychology behind Yoga” and more importantly “How and Why of Yoga and Meditation – Yoga scientifically explained”. This reviewer seems to have not noticed them or he writes reviews only on freely available books! If he wishes to read them, I will be too happy to make them available to him.