Right Place.. Right Time

Back in Google, I remember Lazlo Bock, the HR head, saying....."you might be the best, but also remember, when it comes to promotions....right place right time matters" 

It does for a lot of things in life (sigh .....)

Anyways, this kind of came to mind today on my way back from work. I was caught in a jam...long stretch of road...no petty shops......a school that just let off, and this guy on the cycle selling, what looked like samosas. As you can see, it was literal 'selling like hot cakes (samosas :). There was no missing his beaming smile. He definitely had caught his 'right place..right time' !

Consciousness Is A State of Matter

This is an excerpt of an article published in a Physics blog, with a whole different approach to the 'Unified Whole', and I thought it made a fascinating read.

Why so fascinating, is for two contextual reasons: 

1) Gestalt, which we read yesterday, shows how the human mind, in it's process of growth, looks for meaning in the 'unified whole' 

(2) The book 'An Autobiography of a Yogi' talks of how science will pave the way to our understanding and acceptance of a reality that already is, (but currently known only through metaphysics)

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Physicists Are Saying Consciousness Is A State Of Matter, Like a Solid, A Liquid Or A Gas

'A new way of thinking about consciousness is sweeping through science like wildfire. Now physicists are using it to formulate the problem of consciousness in concrete mathematical terms for the first time

There’s a quiet revolution underway in theoretical physics. For as long as the discipline has existed, physicists have been reluctant to discuss consciousness, considering it a topic for quacks and charlatans. Indeed, the mere mention of the ‘c’ word could ruin careers.

Today, Max Tegmark, a theoretical physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, sets out the fundamental problems that this new way of thinking raises. And he explains how thinking about consciousness in terms of quantum mechanics and information theory leads to precise questions about the nature of reality that the scientific process of experiment might help to tease apart.

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. He goes on to show how the particular properties of consciousness might arise from the physical laws that govern our universe. 

Interestingly, 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.

Both of these traits can be specified mathematically, allowing physicists like Tegmark to reason about them for the first time. He begins by outlining the basic properties that a conscious system must have.

Given that it is a phenomenon of information, a conscious system able to store, retrieve and process data, like a computer but one that is much more flexible and powerful than the silicon-based devices we are familiar with.

Next, Tegmark discusses perceptronium, defined as the most general substance that feels subjectively self-aware. This substance should not only be able to store and process information but in a way that forms a unified, indivisible whole. That also requires a certain amount of independence in which the information dynamics is determined from within rather than externally.

Finally, Tegmark uses this new way of thinking about consciousness as a lens through which to study one of the fundamental problems of quantum mechanics that arises because quantum mechanics describes the entire universe using three mathematical entities: an object known as a Hamiltonian that describes the total energy of the system; a density matrix that describes the relationship between all the quantum states in the system; and Schrodinger’s equation which describes how these things change with time.

The problem is that when the entire universe is described in these terms, there are an infinite number of mathematical solutions that include all possible quantum mechanical outcomes and many other even more exotic possibilities.

So the problem is why we perceive the universe as the semi-classical, three dimensional world that is so familiar. When we look at a glass of iced water, we perceive the liquid and the solid ice cubes as independent things even though they are intimately linked as part of the same system. How does this happen? Out of all possible outcomes, why do we perceive this solution?

Tegmark does not have an answer. But what’s fascinating about his approach is that it is formulated using the language of quantum mechanics in a way that allows detailed scientific reasoning.

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. These physicists, at least some of them, are now household names.

Could it be that a similar revolution is currently underway at the beginning of the 21st century?'

Gestalt

Gestalt is this beautiful psychological theory, which in essence talks of how humans seek the meaning of life as a 'unified whole'.  A common phrase from Gestalt is the whole is different from the sum of it's parts.

This is a picture many may be familiar with....see what you see :)

                                  

Core concepts of Gestalt are 'awareness' and 'choice'. Life is a series of choices, and the more awareness with which those choices are made, the more integrated and aligned one is. 

All humans have the potential to be aware of their deeper emotions, thoughts, sensations and perceptions. And to make changes in ourselves and our lives, we need to develop a freedom to choose new ways of feeling, thinking and doing. Such change can only be brought about by our awareness of our current (and perhaps habitual) ways of being. This awareness in itself can bring about spontaneous change.

It's a very 'here and now' kind of process, and it uses anecdotes and stories to build that awareness.....enable insights and aha's and through the process one may experience a catharsis, and 'aha' moments......followed by an amazing feeling of getting in touch with his or her real self, (the self as opposed to the self-image) This is said to enable whats called the "mini-Satori" a peak experience which is essentially mystical in nature. I can personally vouch for this :)

While the theory is super abstract, the experience is intense.... and the pictures are fun

                                       

This is one of my favorites...it's titled 'my wife and my mother in law'
                           

                            

The pictures have two entirely separate visuals...and how we view it is said to represent how we view the world ...a gestalt therapist would be able to say more, this is but a peek :)

An Extraordinary Experience

It was a day spent at Church..... being part of a healing congregation.... guess I can say, a 'miracle healing' congregation.

Let me give some context: After my father was told he could not undergo a knee replacement surgery (due to a heart aneurysm), he has been looking to every other possible source for an alternative cure, be they ayurvedic oils or locally developed calipers or what have you.

And that's when he heard of a cousin, Rita, who'd recently had a faith healing experience, here in Bangalore. Rita, who was suffering acute knee pain, had her surgery scheduled, even her daughters tickets (from the US) booked for the purpose, had then come upon this healing. In fact it was one of her doctors who spoke about it. She went...received the healing....and was completely and totally cured. Overnight, she went from being near unable to walk ( she said the pain was so chronic and so severe, that she had begun to walk sideways) to being able to jump and dance, and now work all day long. Here was our exposure to a first hand miracle, right in the family.

Then started his conversations with her, over a period of two months, and between them they had the whole thing fixed. A lot of the family, and many of his friends were taken totally by surprise... the skepticism was evident, as this just didn't fit the rational image of my dad. But he'd decided to do it, and my mom and I went along with the plan.

The healer is Brother Johnson Sequeira, from Goa, who visits Bangalore one day every month. His energy...his approach...his confidence..... his readings....his talks.....he kept the entire congregation constantly engaged, and almost mesmerized I'd say. We were there six hours and there wasn't a single moment when we felt disconnected with what was happening. It was like he created this energy...built the receptivity, and then delivered the prayer. It was an amazing and moving experience.

That's my father walking down the aisle after his turn at the healing

The elderly gentleman on the extreme left, in the blue shirt...it's an interesting story. He was apparently bedridden a few months back, and is now so completely healed that he actually danced with the kids to 'when you're happy and you know it, clap your hands'. That was like beholding a miracle. His gratitude was so evident, it brought tears to my eye.

That's Brother Johnson....and he's asking dad to share his experience with the audience. I liked how he said "They've come from Hyderabad. Are they believers? No. Are they baptized? No. That's real faith. That's the faith that will heal"

There were people with all kinds of ailments...knees, backache, vision issues, spondylitis, parkinsons, asthma and others. After the healing, he asked for a show of hands, and it was impressive to see so many hands go up. While many said they'd been healed right away, for some others he said the process had begun and would take it's course....if they kept the faith.

It was at one time a fascinating and a humbling experience....and I intend to go back there again one day...just to witness the power and healing of faith....to witness a miracle.

Rita, thanks much for all your support and help, and for being our passage to the healing.

Listening

Yet another layer on Listening

This, I'm finding, is one of those spaces where, the more you know....the more you know there is to know.

One facet of listening which is often not articulated is the Objective of listening.

There's times it helps to be aware. To recognize and to know the objective of the listening. Especially in emotionally disturbed spaces the objective is to give comfort, give solace, lend that shoulder, that sleeve.....be there.

Start observing yourself.....the normal tendency is to provide solutions. Many a times, it's our need to provide solutions that takes over. Most times, the person already knows the solution (maybe theoretically, but yet does)....often times it's like 'I know I need to step out of that space, but I can't, so don't stand there and tell me I need to....just be by me, hold me, understand me'.

Do just that....show that you care, show that you understand. Don't give solutions. Don't point out mistakes. Don't give reassurances or platitudes. Don't talk about your experience in a similar situation. Don't talk about others similar experiences. Don't even enable thought.  All of these can happen later when the person is in a frame to be receptive. Do just what's needed..... listen, hold, understand........ and let them know you are holding, supporting, understanding.

This is a subtle shift.......quiet but active...... can be very very powerful.

Proud Moment !

With Vishakha, I almost feel like this had to happen......it makes me all the more happy for that....just adds to the glory of the moment.

                                   

Why would I say it had to happen?

Well, she's had this single minded grit and determination to go after what she wanted ever since I've known her. I have tons of stories, but let me stay with the printable one, this is after all, no longer just friend terrain :)

I remember her preparation during her CA exams. While we would make it a point to meet everyday even though we were in different colleges, even if we had to walk the six kilometers between our houses, and even through her sometimes fourteen hour schedules ( yes she did those schedules even then ), during her exams she'd say, I'm going to give it my all.... and trust me she would just disappear into her books those months, even our meets would be then rationed and timed :)

The journey has been amazing, her growth as an individual which I've seen go from strength to strength, and as a professional, right on to becoming MD and CEO.

A favorite analogy of her's which comes to mind, is of a swimming duck. You see the grace and beauty of the movement, but need to remember that there's a lot of efficiency and hard work continuously underway beneath the surface. She epitomizes it....the effort, the efficiency and the grace.

Congratulations pal and so so proud of you !!!

As Big Picture As It Gets

What technology does, can do, is doing.......what's good about, what's great about it.......  what's dangerous about it, what's scary about it....a lot of us I'm sure have indulged in discussions a lot of times. 

When it's said that life has changed in the last fifty odd years, more fundamentally than it has in the last two thousand years, we know the speed and access of technology. And we watch from the sidelines...sometimes with excitement, sometimes with curiosity and at times with trepidation....especially when the discussion moves into spaces like cloning, robotics, simulations, singularity...and the like 

In that context, I loved the thinking, the clarity and the articulation by Maciej Cegłowski, a painter and a computer geek, in this talk titled 'Web Design First 100 Years'  (It's long...but it's brilliant)