Shri Ganesh for realisation of our ‘Natural Intelligence’

The Ganesh festival is an opportunity I am using to bring to the attention of the public that in present times we really need to work on ourselves. To work on the self means to work on the brain.

Recently, I went to see the movie Mission Mangal. It was a very good experience. We get to see how these complex technological things are designed and the kind of effort, commitment, financial involvement, environmental factors, bad weather and last-minute difficulties they have to overcome to ultimately create a super-advanced technology. Mainly, the work that makes the mission success is dependent on programming. With the way things are progressing in computer science, we should soon see more technological changes in our day-to-day lives through home automation and the internet connecting all gadgets. Perhaps we will have rollable TVs and sensors that know what we like or when we have to take our medicines. There may be computers in the washroom that automatically analyse urine and stool and let us know if we have any health issues. Especially in the field of health these modern technologies, leading to better diagnostics and surgical techniques, have provided amazing solutions for everyone. 

So technology can guide us in this way. It can also make us secure and take care of conveniences. However, we must also become aware of problems that come along with any development and minimise them. In spiritual pursuit or the development of spiritual power, some people develop certain siddhis. Siddhis make the person’s work easy. Perhaps it becomes easy to get things done or when you think of something or speak something it comes true. There are many such examples all over the world, not only in India. St. Elizabeth brought out a stream of water from rocks when she was challenged. Technological advancements are also like siddhis but in the material world. With these technologies we have to take care of other problems they bring. 

I believe that the human brain is now advancing after thousands of years again. We are going through a high degree of evolution. This is proven by the fact that human beings are now developing materially and achieving scientific milestones at a very fast pace. We are attaining technologies that are beyond regular imagination, in the form of artificial intelligence. However, this high development in the material level also needs to be balanced by the growth of human intelligence. We need to be able to separate our involvement with AI through a greater appreciation of what is human. We have to realise how to achieve satisfaction and contentment and enjoy the kind of life that is offered by our material advancements. We need to attain the ability to have ‘global’ relationships or love. It is fine that we can go to Mars, but at the human level we should be able to read another person’s heart. This development is essential. I will call it Natural Intelligence (NI). We should develop AI, but without simultaneous growth in NI, it will only cause problems and lead to very little gain.

Our entire ancient knowledge system and Vedas and the practices, rituals, and festivals derived from these have been designed for this very aim, to develop Natural Intelligence. We hear sarcastic statements like, if man can reach the Moon and Mars and will soon be able to live on them, we should stop orthodox ideas like astrology and not worry about pacifying Mangal (Mars) in our birth chart. Such thinking is a dangerous trend. Mars is not only a physical planet, but a principle of energy in the solar system and the universe. 

The gravity and energy of Mars in the solar system is not diminished just because we are able to land on it. The energy fields on Earth, physical and meta-physical, exist even though we live on Earth. We should not confuse the names of physical objects with their energy principles and their consciousness. 

Sometimes I feel that the amazing material advancement of the last two hundred years on Earth has led us to devalue the importance of Natural Intelligence in human beings. Therefore, to awaken that aspect in us, as a reaction within, Yoga and Ayurveda have gained popularity again and people are searching desperately for spiritual solutions. 

It is high time that we look at the systems that help us develop Natural Intelligence. This Ganesh festival seems like an auspicious opportunity for those who want to accept and begin this journey. This conviction needs to grow nationwide and worldwide. Shri Ganesh is appropriate to begin this process because he is a model for the brain itself, the computer and the seat for Natural Intelligence.

The author is founder of Atmasantulana Village, a world-renowned holistic healing centre. ayurveda@dnaindia.net