TECHNOLOGY, SIDDHI AND MAYA: DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

Technology has made many things, thought to be impossible in the past, easily possible!

In common language these technological feats could be conceived and appreciated as extraordinary achievements. In spiritual tradition such achievements (though through different means and ways) are called SIDDHIS.

ADWAITA philosophy refers to the internal and external universe as MAYA or MITHYA, to indicate and convey its changing, fleeting and hence deceptive nature. I conceive MAYA as relative reality as distinguished from absolute.

Technology validates this perspective in many ways.

It is through technology (modern siddhis) that we realize that what we see in the immediate vicinity with naked eyes is only apparent and the ‘reality’ of electromagnetic radiations and microbes is not apparent.

The transmission of news on the news channels of electronic media; validates with great impact, that every situation, every person, every success or failure and every moment, are ephemeral, transient and fleeting!

The internet highlights the fact not appreciable to otherwise intelligent mind; that millions of people are reading and thinking about what is uploaded and millions of people are engaged in different activities beneficial or harmful to mankind.

It is however necessary to appreciate; that whatever is apparent through technology is also fleeting and superficial.

In other words, it is also; relative reality and not absolute! In fact, technology can create illusions, delusions and thereby hallucinatory effects leading to paranoid feelings and behavior. For example, the larger than life presentation of movies, serials, reality shows, advertisements; can create havoc, especially in young minds. The technological feats (siddhis) thus can unveil the maya on the one hand and create far more illusory, deceptive and destructive “replications of MAYA” on the other!

What is absolute?

We find ultimate culmination of our life in the absolute or cosmic consciousness. It is in this cosmic consciousness that we experience the ultimate of bliss, peace, and harmony; and the way to this “absolute” is NAMASMARAN! We should not believe, disbelieve, accept or discard this; blindly; but verify this conviction; on the basis of extensive study, discussion, contemplation and most importantly, the practice!