Pathways To Knowledge by Prof P.K.Keshap
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1176910
Brain is the engine of the train called body. Brain is said to have about 15000 million brain cells called neurons.Also called memory cells. In addition, neorons may be called store houses of information received by a child. On birth, the child has about 3750 million memory cells or stores houses and receives the information from the environment. The information is received through eyes, ears, touch, taste and smell. These senses are the Pathways to Knowledge. They work as doors and windows to the brain where memory is stored. Generally, the elders think and believe the child is young to undertstand their activities. But it is not so. Passively, the child's brain goes on recording the informtion in its sub-conscious mind. At the age of abou 18 months the memory cells double to 7500 million and by the age of 6 they go upto 90% of the total i.e. 13500 million. The information receieved and gathered during the first 6 years conciously or unconsciously largely determines the beliefs and basic personality traits like faith in the world - good or bad, just or unjust, worthy of living or leaving, crime free or full of criminals, fit for building or breaking the world and many more. This all affects his behaviour in later years of his/her life. That is why wisemen say, "Give us the child for the first 6 - 7years and we can make him angel or devil as we wish." Here the basic learning matters a lot. Orientation of mind needs direction at this level. Affection and basic faith in family system of which the mother is most important plays a vital role in establishing child's faith in the established real world. If the mother loves the child, the child will develop healthy concept of the world and would love to make it and ideal world. On the other hand, neglect and ignorance on the part of the mother and other family members and community develops wrong definitions relating to various relationships in the established world. The child finds himself/herself more confused than clear about existence in this world. By the age of 18 the brain is developed fully. This may be more illustrated. We may take brain as a field named memory comprising of 15000 million acres of land. At the time of birth, the child has 3750 million acres of land to be cultivated. This much cultivation is done by the environment in which he is born. His or her information receiving power is greater than the knowledge imparted to him/her. By the age of 18 month, this land increases to 7500 million for which the information lacks. Now at 6 the the land i.e. memory cells increase to 90% i.e. 13500 million acreas but how can it be ploughed and good seeds sown. We may ask where is the new knowledge and new information? In case all the land is not cultivated, what happens. It goes barren. Similarly, our mind which is mostly dependent upon brain as a hardware, goes barren. We have the capability to know more, work more, understand more, create more, innovate more but the environment in which we live does not have enough to cultivate. By the age of 18 years, we are fully developed i.e. 15000 million acres of land is ready for cultivation. The family, community and society in which we live imposes so many hurdles and constraints that even 1% of the brain is not used throughout life. It all goes astray. Self beliefs and definitions useful for life are made during the very first 6 years of life. The society as well as the family that provides the environment to the child and nurtures him finds less criminal minded people as its constituents. Mind is fertilizer, say Vadanta. It can be fertilized. Prayers and meditation fertilize the mind. Ferilized Mind can be cultivated, oriented and directed for achieving the desired results from life. Meditation changes Brain Waves, Brain States and Brain Chemicals. Brain waves are classified in 4 states i.e. Beta (13 to 25 cycles per second), Alpha(8 to 12 cycles per second), Theta (4 to 8 cycles per second) Delta (0.5 to 4 cycles per second) Lower the cps, greater is memory and psychometric response to REAL LIFE. What benefits meditation gives in 15 -20 years, the scientific studies show that people have experienced the same benefits by using Machines in months or so. Dynamic Personality is primarily developed by 3 factors: family, environment and mind development. Family is beyond a person's choice. It is NATURE’S work. It is given by nature and hence is beyond the control of a person. Environment i.e NURTURE is also somewhat in control not in toto. It is the mind only where control of the possessor is possible. Every living being has memory, but innovation and creativity needs imagination. New discoveries and inventions like internet, mobile phones etc are the result of imagination which can be enhanced by yoga and meditation. They boost memory, concentration and imagination by disciplining mind. Yoga and meditation discipline the mind. Disciplined mind generates energy useful for attraction and "Law of attraction" applies. What you think that you will get in life. This is law of attraction. You think happiness, you get happiness; you think miseries, you get miseries and so on. So, it all depends on your thinking what you want from your life. You become the maker of your destiny