Cairo Forum 2010 Education Site

Archive for September, 2011

After all the late night partying of university, what is the one major hang over that most students are complaining about when its all over and they’ve graduated? The answer is student debt. Student debt levels continue to rise every year as banks and other lenders throw more and more credit their way while they are still studying. It seems as if the banks have plenty of faith in graduates being able to pay back the loans, and most graduates would confirm this. What is causing graduates stress is not toe overall levels of debt they have racked up while studying, which still averages under £15,000, but the fact that they have to pay such a high proportion of their new wages in debt servicing.

Graduation and the start of your working life are supposed to be a time of relative prosperity and the privations and economies of the student years should finally be over. However, more and more graduates are reporting that they have to pay so much in loan repayments that they are just as badly off as when they are students.

For example, a huge proportion of student debt is made up of government sponsored student loans, which come from the Student Loan Company. The repayment rules for these loans are quite lenient. Beginning in the April after you graduate, 9% of all your earnings above £15,000 will be taken to repay the loans. The interest is also quite preferable. Read the rest of this entry »

The brain is a fascinating and complex unit of our anatomy. The brain is responsible for so many things. It stores our short term and long term memories. The ability to learn is from our brain as well. Our emotions and triggers are stored in our brain. The brain is a source of information on everything we do and about who we are.

The anatomy of the brain shows us just how complex it truly is. There is so much about the brain science and the medical field have not yet uncovered. However, there is a great deal we have learned about the brain by studying the physical features of it. We have also learned from the neurological aspects of the brain. We have the ability to perform brain surgery and remove tumors as well as install plates for those who have neurological damage. This is a fascinating area of science and medicine that can be overwhelming to learn about in detail.

There are six main areas of the brain to learn about. The parietal lobe helps us understand written language as well as communicate with others. Our sensory cortex is located here, controlling the sensations we get with touching and amounts of pressure. This is also an area of judgment for size, weight and distance.

The occipital lobe is located at the rear of the brain. This is where visual information is processed. It helps use to recognize shapes and colors. The cerebellum helps us with coordination including balance and muscle movement that help you walk, talk, eat, and routine tasks involved in caring for ourselves.
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There is so much to be learned in life, sometimes I find myself overwhelmed with all that I do not know. I’ve heard it said, however, that the smartest people are the ones that know that they do not know much. I like that. I like it because I am acutely aware that there is so much that I have yet to discover and understand. I am committed, however, to the process of constantly learning more. My latest subject of fascination has been wondering and learning about earth science.

I haven’t honestly thought that much about earth science since I took a class in it in junior high school. At that time I hated everything to do with science and so I didn’t give much thought one way or another to earth science. I dreadfully made it through that class learning only the basics enough to get by (not the least of which I can remember now).

I’m not quite sure what inspired me to attempt to discover facts about earth science. I guess I began to become more interested in earth science as I had children and they grew up asking question after question. I could barely take them on walks at night without them asking me questions about the ground, the soil, the trees or the sun. I would fumble through answers and try to change the subject quickly as I admitted to myself that I really did not know much. So on my next trip to the library I picked up a few general books on earth science and began learning with my kids.
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At every step of our ordinary social transactions, we witness the miracles of our intellectual capabilities. An alert intellectual individual marches ahead in his chosen field with great success. Bang opposite to this people with weak intellects lag behind in various areas despite being blessed with conducive circumstances. In order to solve dire problems of our lives and in order to attain benefits of soul glory, a radiant mind is most required. Via the nervous system these elements are spread out widely in the entire body and the brain is the chief center. In spiritual parlance, this widespread knowledge is the Mental Sheath. Ordinarily for intellectual advancement, schools and other mediums of education are utilized. But the spiritual methods used for advancing the mental conscious center, are based on spiritual practices. With its help the mental energy is purified and evolved.

Spiritual practices for the advancement of the Mental Sheath is like the bloody Mahabharat war wherein one wards off the taints and distortions that have entered our intellectual arena. Along with this is conjoined the firm resolve (Sankalp) to establish Ram’s rule or a righteous world government.

With reference to this it is apt that we give due thought to discipline and self control. In ancient times, wind, bile, phlegm, indigestion, blockage of feces, change in weather, attack of venomous germs etc. were thought to be causes of various diseases. But modern research says that the mental center fully controls our body and it further elaborates that diseases based on external causes are nothing but the desire of the life force of our body. Thus with common remedies these diseases can be cured. Intense diseases are generally a result of mental distortions. These diseases cannot be cured merely by medicines and that mental purification is most required in such cases.

This is the chief cause not only of bodily diseases but also of mental illnesses. An individual, who executes vile actions due to a vile intellect, not only faces bodily diseases but also undergoes mental illnesses. Maybe such a person does not turn mad yet because of a certain amount of imbalance, he remains semi-agitated. They undergo pain for no reason and for no reason they inflict pain on others. Such a person’s mental state is indeed pitiful. Even if one merely sees such a person, one feels intense turmoil. In comparison to people with bodily diseases, not only is the number of people with mental taints infinitely more, but that the pain too is more severe. The method of curing such illnesses does not lie in hospitals but is dependent on purification of the mind. The cures can take place in other ways too yet on the basis of Spiritual Science it can be more successfully overcome via sanctification of the Mental Sheath and other spiritual practices.

Students of Anatomy know fully well that nerves conjoined to the brain are spread out in the entire body. It is through these nerves that such an intricate ‘machine’ i.e. the brain functions aptly. The action power, experiences of the sense organs open up in the brain. The sense organs (apparatus) can only gather information and send it to the brain center. When one undergoes mental agitation, the entire body loosens itself and one’s power of actions too lags behind. One’s face becomes sad when one faces fear, worries, sorrow, despair etc. and the entire body tends to collapse. If one studies the body language of a person who is extremely furious, it is clear that all his bodily parts get excited and agitated with great intensity. Bang opposite to this a man full of joy and serenity who always experiences good health and thus lives a long life. But a person full of agitation keeps losing bodily weight and is seen to die at a very young age. These facts clearly tell us that more than the influence of food, rest, water etc. on our body, it is the influence of our mental state that is infinitely more intense.

In the body via muscular groups and tubeless glands, sentiments are active. Our entire body is full of muscular networks. Ordinarily muscles are white in color and are gross like wires. All our organs work with the help of muscles. The main muscle that reaches every organ is as gross as a rope. Its branches and sub-branches become more and more thin. Many sub-branches are as thin as a cotton fiber.

Every muscular network has 2 parts 1) Voluntary 2) Involuntary Via actions of moving, bending, swerving, picking up objects etc. we move our hands / legs as per our wish. This in turn is due to voluntary muscles. But we cannot function thus with involuntary muscles. They carry out tasks of our inner organs like heart beats, exhaling / inhaling etc.

The center of the involuntary muscles lives in the brain and is called hypothalamus. It is this hypothalamus that controls the male and female glands. Also an enzyme called dopamine oxidase, despite being scattered in the entire body, is more concentrated in the central muscular system. Hypothalamus is known to activate the pituitary gland. From this various hormones are secreted which are reactions of our sentiments and causes of other new sentiments. When new circumstances are created, the tubeless glands are pressurized and thus they secrete new hormones. These hormones react variedly in the body and based on this, new sentiments manifest. For e.g. suppose the pituitary gland secretes a hormone due to the pressure of a germ of a disease, it will result in intense turbulence in the body. Such a person becomes uneasy and thus falls down on the bed. Now in this state of illness, all the sentiments hoarded in the sub-conscious mind start manifesting externally. As a result one sees varied reaction based symptoms in the body.

When we say that the Mental Sheath is present in the brain, we mean that it is its central action office. But its subtle parts i.e. its branches and sub branches are spread all over the body. The cells of the brain are more wise and experienced than cells of other organs. Hence they are called the leaders of all cells of the body. When these leader cells move in a particular direction, the other cells follow suit. In order that the entire subtle body remains healthy, joyful, zealous and progressive, it is most required that the brain too is of that stature. If the leader keeps despairing and experiences anguish, how can one aspire for advancement? The state of a leader whether positive or negative, definitely influences his /her followers.

Dr. Fenkel, a psychologist of Vienna opines that the mental state influences one’s bodily health. The cause of mental balance is the true achievement of one’s life. Hence he advanced the method of “Logotherapy”. Dr. Fenkel believes that if a person is unaware of the true goal of life and its activities, he can never remain healthy. The basis of a blissful life is attainment of the true goal of human life. Dr. Fenkel’s Logotherapy encompasses discussion of topics liked/disliked by his patient so as to inspire him to walk on the path of the true goal of human life. As soon as a person understands the true goal of human life, he concentrates his mind on the energies present within him. Thus he imbibes steadfast faith in himself and starts regaining good health. If the mental state is healthy, it can help the physical body to regain good health.

A definite and clear cut reaction is seen on the gross/physical body due to the movements of the subtle body. The cause of nervous system disorders is the suppressed vile thoughts of our psyche. Even anatomists opine, that merely on the basis of mental imprints, many bodily diseases manifest. Dr. Tuk, the author of the book “Influence of the Mind upon the Body” writes – “Diseases like turmoil, indolence, bodily organs becoming handicapped, bile, leprosy, hair loss, decrease of RBC, fear, kidney diseases, distortion of the bodily organ of a fetus in its mother’s womb, skin diseases, boils, eczema etc. are the result of mental agitation and vile thinking.” Mental turmoil, vile sentiments, undesirable thinking are distortions of the subtle body which clearly influence our physical body. In the same way a sacred viewpoint, healthy thinking, idealistic thought flow etc. radiates our subtle body and this great influence is seen on the gross body too.

In the proposition of the extraordinary importance of positive thinking based on high ideals, Dr. Benett has put his own case in front of us. Up to the age of 50 years Dr. Benett lost good health due to despair and undesirable thinking. When he read about the good influence of positive thinking, he started imbibing it in his own life. He renounced the inertness of his mind along with mental distortions so as to fill his heart with faith based on sacred aspirations. Thus his life overflowed with bliss and serenity. Dr. Benett who had lived a life of bliss for 20 continuous years, printed photographs of himself when he was 50 years and another one when he was 70 years, in his book. The photograph when he was 50 years was indeed crestfallen and withered but the photograph when he was 70 years old was so full of bliss. Where had the withered face disappeared? This is because at the age of 70 years, he looked youthful and oozed with zest for life.

Up till now all research studies of this sort indicate that if one’s mind / intellect are agitated, that person too experiences pain. Hatred, jealousy, greed etc. definitely affect a person in a big way. When the intellect experiences bliss, all bodily cells too rejoice. All these cells experience oneness between themselves. If one cell experiences pain /joy, other cells too get influenced. They share their joys and sorrows. Their mutual relationship of oneness is amazing. There are rare examples of true friendship, intense oneness and sympathy for one another. Imagine that one particular individual is extremely hungry. In front of him is a plate of delicious food items. At that moment he gets a phone call that a beloved one has died. Immediately his mind is crowded with thoughts of his beloved kin. The mind experiences oneness with the kin. The cells of the brain get agitated. This agitation is immediately passed on to the entire body. The tongue starts drying up. Those cells which were previously screaming for food due to hunger were now silenced. The heart and other organs too slump. The heart sinks, the eyes are covered with darkness and the body slumps. Thus the entire body is influenced by this mental turmoil. It is very clear that the state of the brain cells influence the state of the bodily cells.

The famous scientist cum author Dr. Bennett in his book “Old Age – Cause and Prevention” writes about a very entertaining and educative incident. A 16-year old French girl decided to marry a young man of American origin. Because the young man was poor, it was decided that he would first earn wealth in America and then return to France to get married. Within three years the young man earned a lot of wealth but as luck would have it, he was involved in a court case and thus could not return to France for 16 years. After 16 years when he returned to France, he was amazed to see that the health and beauty of his fiancée remained unchanged and hence even now at an advanced age, she radiated beauty of a 16 year old girl.

While analyzing the above incident Dr. Bennett writes – Mother Nature controls the human body in such a manner that every cell of the body, which lives for 90 days is disposed off from the body via bodily dirt, just as the dirt in the sea is taken to the shores by flow and ebb of tides. Old age means the activity of cell transformation which gets depleted as one starts aging. But in the above incident, Mother Nature’s influence of aging was warded off. Why was it so?

Dr. Bennett induced the woman to give an answer and she said – Every day I stood in front of a full length mirror and stared at myself. I would keep thinking that I am exactly as I was yesterday. My body could not be influenced by the day’s changes. This steadfastness of my will power, kept me joyous and zestful everyday. This is the very reason why I am looking like a 16 year old girl despite being actually 34 years old.” He clearly understood the value of purification of the subtle body, elevation of our thinking and one’s power of resolve (Sankalp-Shakti) after reading the book written by a great spiritualist, Dr. Marden called “An Iron Ball”. Dr. Marden writes “If only man reforms his thinking and raises the level of his character, he can also transform his physical body.” These precepts became a medicinal herb for him which gave a new life to millions of humans. If one imbibes love for all, friendship, compassion and generous thinking, anyone can benefit immensely.

Based on one’s emotions the network of veins in our brain either spread out widely or shrink in size and thus manifest sensitive reactions.

It is unhealthy thoughts that give rise to bodily diseases. Right from an ordinary headache to an intense one called migraine, it is emotional tension that is its root cause. As a result the veins contract and thus the headaches start all over again. Today it has been observed that the cause of 85% of headaches is sentimental tension.

Because of sentimental tension and that of the network of veins people after partaking their meals, experience that their heart is heavy and the food refuses to move downwards. Due to excessive tension, one feels nauseous and the heart gets agitated.

Muscular diseases that are a result of emotional tension, show symptoms of belching, stomach heaviness, wind based distortions along with those of the skin, eczema, itching etc.

Today regarding hip pain it is said that majority of them are due to emotional stress.

Despite knowing that majority of today’s diseases are the result of emotional stress, a major question arises as to how does one tackle emotional stress? The answer is simple – imbibing a wise viewpoint in ones’ daily routine. Without practice this wise viewpoint can never be fully imbibed. It is only via practice that one looks upon life as a joyous game and that it is not like a heavy burden carried by an aging mule. The true royal path to be followed encompasses understanding of our limitations, making apt use of our bodily/mental energy, warding off our selfish ego, shouldering responsibilities and always advancing one’s creative thoughts in one’s daily living.

Ordinarily we wrongly look upon harshness, anger, fights etc. as a synonym of energy whereas a psychologist labels all this as “childish tantrums”. These are in fact symbols of weakness. A truly powerful person is humble and steadfast in ideals. Anger and an argumentative attitude is the creation of weakness. Practice of simplicity/ self-control is the fount of energy. But remember that futile anger vented against one’s own weakness, too is not beneficial. Because vile imprints in one’s psyche have gathered slowly over a long period of time, it becomes apparent that to uproot them, one should patiently work hard in a slow but sure manner. The best method is intense, ceaseless practice to uproot vile imprints of the mind. One should always remember that the basis of diseases is vileness of the mind and unethical activity. Thus it is easy to overcome them by imbibing purity of mind, love, compassion and working for the welfare of the entire world.

It is also possible to wash / clean the intellect via scientific methods. Yet spiritual methods are more powerful and capable. Its influence is infinitely more supreme.

According to the technique of Electrical Stimulation of Brain (E.S.B.), many Asian Universities have partly succeeded in brain washing. This has so far been experimented on lower species like rats, monkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats etc. They completely forget to show liking for food, enmity, friendship, fear, attacking others etc. and instead behave in a very strange manner. A cat was made to confront a rat, yet instead of attacking the rat, the cat got scared and started hiding out of fear. Further experimentation showed them attacking one another in a bloody manner, embracing one another in the very next moment etc. due to electrical influence. This electricity was aimed at the brain cells. This holds true for human beings too. Man’s brain is more sacred. It has a greater power of reacting and hence in order to change it, more effort shall have to be made. It will take time to attain total success but the clear principles unearthed via research opines that even man can be induced to think in a certain manner, made to believe in certain ideals and instigated to imbibe a specific mode of action.

The spiritual practices pertaining to the Mental Sheath not only cleans the brain but also makes it more advanced, cultured and sacred.

The Mental Sheath encompasses the entire bodily and psychic arena. It influences both these areas. Because it is in a disarranged and distorted state in the psyche, its reaction is in the form of a destructive influence on the bodily and psychic area. When our individuality is turbulent, our viewpoint and actions too get tainted. As a result our activities turn vile. It is thus clear that under these circumstances, only agitations and strife will be witnessed. Many obstructions will crop up. Chaos and danger will attack us. Our entire life will be converted to hell. None can save us from this hell because even if out of ignorance, we point fingers at others for our downfall, the fact remains that it is we ourselves who are responsible for it. The precept of the mental state manifesting as external circumstances is so clear that none can refute it. Without transforming our inner character, we cannot come out of this hell-like situation. Without overcoming obstacles in our daily lives, we cannot elevate ourselves. We cannot overcome external circumstances without changing our minds.

The Mental Sheath blesses us with various types of skills and successes. Sometimes certain special people have extraordinary mental capabilities. The memory of certain people is so advanced that others can only be wonderstruck. Some people manifest skills at a very young age and thus gain immense name and fame. The answer to this extraordinary talent is that the Mental Sheath of such individuals is highly activated. From their previous births they have collected so much talent that it is manifesting at a very young age in this birth. As per the Theory of Karma (Action) man comes into this world with psychic imprints (Sanskars) of innumerable past births. Hence it could be that the Mental Sheath of such talented people is more evolved.

Behind all these amazing events, the secret is that the scattered mind gets focused. Coincidences of these types are based on certain cosmic laws. Attainments of past births play a major role in such causes. Man enters this world along with psychic imprints (Sanskars) of innumerable births. Amongst them one could be intellectual evolution. This evolution is not just the result of school education or teachings of close relatives. In fact this is just an increase in informative knowledge. If the flow of electrical energy of a powerful brain turns in the direction of a weak brain, an intense change takes place in its sharpness and this can be seen as a rise in the measure of special proteins of the brain. For intellectual nourishment, proximity of thinkers with an advanced consciousness is very useful. Their powerful vital force can fulfill the lack of a weak brain. In laboratories normal electricity is directed towards special cells of the brain and for a certain time span, the nature of these creatures can be transformed. The vital force of radiant people can influence the mental state of weak-minded people in a permanent manner.

Yale resident Dr. George Delgodo, a brain specialist has proved via his researches that the brain can either be activated or made more latent by directing external electricity towards it. Thus such a person can be induced to carry out various tasks and commands.

The audience was wonderstruck when Dr. George publicly exhibited his experiments. His hands had an electrical apparatus and in certain parts and certain number of the brain region of various creatures, electrodes were placed. Thus a radio type communication was set up between the machine and a living creature. On the basis of induced instructions, a creature acts in such a manner which is bang opposite to his otherwise normal nature. Peace loving beings became ferocious and ferocious creatures became astonishingly calm. Under the influence of this external electric treatment, buffalos, monkeys, rats, cats etc. behaved in a manner which was totally unexpected by the layman.

These experiments have been carried out on human beings too and by controlling their powers of will, wisdom and action, they were forced to think and act in a desired manner.

The rare quaality of memory power is so advanced in certain individuals, that one can only be amazed. Raivi Elija of Lithunia was well-known for memorizing 2 thousand books. He was tested in various ways and always came out with flying colors. The French political leader Lian Gaiswata was very fond of Victor Hugo’s writings. He had memorized many pages of these books and time and again he quoted them form his sharp memory. Not one word was out of place. In fact he knew which line was written on which page number.

Richard Porsan, a Greek scholar, memorized many books which he had read. What he read today could be quoted by him even after one month passed by and he would recite it as though he had just read it a few minutes back. Harry Nelson Pilsbury an American citizen called the Magician of Chess could memorize the moves of 20 chess players and could simultaneously direct them. All this was carried out with zeal and zest. Many players were taught by him and thus the game moved on speedily. German’s famous librarian Maithurin Besiray could impeccably repeat what others said once only. He had the amazing capacity to repeat flawlessly, conversations with others in languages that were totally alien to him. Once 12 people, speaking 12 different languages were conversing. And Maithurin flawlessly repeated their conversation one by one. An 8-year old son of Burmans called Jera Colburn would give answers of extremely difficult mathematical problems without calculating them with pen and paper. He amazed all great Mathematicians of London with his superb mathematical skills. Even John Martin Des of Hamburg was well-known for answering mathematical problems orally. In those days his mathematical brain was so advanced that even today’s advanced mathematical computers fail to match his skills.
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