In the figure, there are numbers from 1 through 6 horizontally and vertically. For each horizontal number is it possible to choose one and only number in the vertical column (and hence the selection can be represented by a dot), so that the line joining the corresponding dots do not intersect the diagonal ? For instance, one such selection, (1,5), (2,6), (3,4), (4,6), (5,6) and (6,6) is shown here and they are represented by magenta dots, but the line joining them meets the diagonal in (6,6). We can observe that no such selection is possible (which doesn't meet the diagonal). The point where the line joining the dots meets the diagonal is called the 'fixed point' [here it is (6,6)]. This interesting result is called the Fixed Point Theorem in mathematics. The dots in the diagonal have the same values like (1,1), (2,2) etc.
Now, consider the fact that we always think 'I exist' in every moment. Whatever state we are in, it can always be said 'I exist doing so and so'. For example, 'I am angry' means 'I exist in an angry state', 'I am writing this post' can be rephrased as 'I exist writing this post' etc. Also, when we say 'I exist' we mean 'I' and 'existence' are different ('I' is the subject and 'exist' is an object). Assuming that 'I' and 'existence' are functions of time, we can plot every moment of our living like a graph where the horizontal axis would mean the existence in time and the vertical axis would be the notion of 'I' in time. This is shown in the figure. Just as how the lines joining the dots had a fixed point, our continuous stream of living should have a fixed point where the notion of 'I' coincides with our 'existence'. Probably, that fixed point is the samadhi state (state of undifferentiated being) experienced by yogis.P.S : It may be a valid question to ask what happens in deep sleep. Probably, the notion of 'I' just remains (identical with the y-axis). We can never express the state that "I am in deep sleep now".
12 comments:
Kasthuri - ithu ellam romba over!! Man - ur Einstein + Adi Shankara combined!! Man u must publish these as journal papers!
kasthuri
nee ippadi orediya kalakareyappa.
I will asking few questions in my blog
and i am going to put you,swahilya,arjuna in spot
he he!!
wOw!. But what happens to one's state when he is dead?. Does it have a place in the graph?.
My graph would be simpler!. Either I exist or I don't.
Puriyara madhiri irukku.. aana puriyale.. Nalla y-axis-ku parallel-a konja neram irundhuttu fresh mind-oda padikkumbodhu mella ennoda slope kurainju I will get flat when I understand this post completely!
yo kasthuri ..
U rock man..:)
U are saakshaath budhi roopam..
will comment back more later..
@ arjuna : Actually ithu ellam romba over...:-)
@ ganesh : Will wait for u'r questions.
@ tech : Thanks for the visit. True, I guess one can remain on the diagonal. The mathematical function corresponding to that would be y = x which has infinte number of fixed points. Probably, it would correspond with persons who are "born free" or jeevan muktas by birth. I donno its just an analogy I was trying to relate. I think true equanimity is possible and depends on the stability of the mind. As far as the distinction between consciousness and existing goes, I guess it gets more refined when we observe the thought process. Nice point there.
@ tt_giant : Good question. I think after death we retain our 'I' as well as our 'existence' but fail to associate ourselves with the body (something like a dream state). Therefore, after death state would also be a point in the graph.
@ whoami : I think 'I' remains in deeep sleep but remains passive just like comp. going to stand by (in which program states are saved). This can explain why we say we had a good sleep after a deep sleep even though we were not aware of anything. Probably samadhi is the origin. But these are just analogies and may fail rigorous real life considerations.
@ raju : Thanks for visiting. Cool...Try to see if it makes sense. Could be real nonsense as well !
@ krishna : Please tell this to my advisor pls :-)
good thoughts... probbly the diagonal is the place where I coincides with existence and thats where literally "I" doesn't exist... Probbly if we change the axis to "I" and "Not existent" wouldn't that make more sense as all the time I exists and we are in the lower or upper half and on the diagonal "I" doesn't exist!!!
@ naikutti : Nice observation. I guess you mean to say 'I' is more pronounced than 'Existence', which is quite true actually. I think you have hit upon a wonderful thing here. Advaitic view says when we realize our true existence, we have no 'I' there because 'I' is Brahman. Visistadvaitic view assumes the existence of 'I' even after realization. So, probably the idea you proposed corresponds to Advaitic point of view and mine to Visishtadvaita. Cool. Thank u so much for this wonderful insight.
Dear Parvati,
Thank you so much for the visit and for the informative comments. The post may be redundant. This was just an analogy that I found with fixed points. However, I wish to make some clarifications here. Its definitely a mistake to refer 'exist' as an object. It should be a verb instead. But that doesn't change the idea behind the post. The main idea behind the post is that the phrase 'I exist' can be appended to sentences that shows our actions and hence the actions that we perform can be thought like a mathematical function of 'I' and 'existence'. Here by 'existence', I meant something synonymous with 'Aatman'. You are right in saying that 'exist' is intertwined with 'I' and that's what I also mean here. Anywhere on the plane 'existence' and 'I' appear together. But, in the diagonal, they are inseparable. There is no distinct 'I' or 'existence' in the diagonal (corresponding to the samadhi state). So, its NOT that 'I' and 'existence' are only present in the diagonal. But what could 'I' =6 and 'existence' = 6 compared to 'I' = 8 and 'existence' = 8 correspond ? Probably, it means attaining of the samadhi state in two different times (either by the same person or different persons). Just like you pointed out existence is the space contained in all the frames of reference, the content of everything and the environment, I also mean the same. On the existence axis, it could mean plain existence where environment without the 'I' conscious is taken care of (like insentient things). The lower triangular region (below the diagonal) can correspond things which lives with more existence than the 'I' feeling (like animals for instance) and humans may lie in the upper half plane. So essentially what I mean to say is that the notion 'I' is a function of 'aatman' and this may lead to several states in this world. For insentient things, 'I' is zero and for sentient things 'I' is positive but either its sublated or high depending on the state and the form. Hope this makes sense. Thank you so much for providing a good opportunity for learning.
@ parvati : Thanks for the comments. All I can say for "Spirituality forces science to become flexible, change axes..." is this: As I told you earlier, you look spirituality as a science while I look science as spirituality. That's all the difference, buddy.
Hey Kasthuri!!! Finally I came upon your blog... Very interesting and good thoughts. Let me pose some questions. I am not very good in mathematical fundamentals as you already know, so I wont get into the details.... Now for the questions.
1. What is the I, you are trying to explain. The I for an individual, meaning the notion of ego? or is it the emotional aspect of the person in relation to his/her surroundings? Because in the explanations you move from anger/sad/meditation to awareness of the environs for insential matter to individual.
2. Now my second question. Existentence of I in time.... I do not understand this..I request you to forgive my ignorance but why should the diagonal be representative of anything? Is it that you are aware of you existence at the diogonal? so that would mean from matter to insects to animals you classify their awareness of existence?
3. I agree with Parvati exitense should be the space of the xy because other than insentient matter every 'thing' plan to humans are aware of their exitense.
Well, I have joined late but I just wanted to clarify some doubts.. I did not find any explanations for these questions but would def enjoy discussing the topic.
Very interesting and thought provoking
@ cr : First I should thank you for your comments. And it should be me who should apologize for the ignorance. I just jotted down some thoughts and it may be incoherant as well. I'll think about your questions and also that of Parvati's.
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