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The
Right Click:
Sri
Aurobindo’s Conception of the Supramental Manifestation upon Earth and
the Advent of the Information Age
The
evolution of the human species has witnessed the emergence of a variety
of technological devices that reflect the inner inspiration and mode of
consciousness latent in Mind. Over
the past one hundred years of the human drama upon earth, we have seen
the development of technology increase exponentially.
A little over two hundred years ago the human race lived what many
would consider today a rather primitive lifestyle- no televisions, cell
phones, computers, airplanes, or automobiles.
From the refrigerator to the fashioning of plastic, we find ourselves
in the midst of a massive technological revolution that is sweeping the
planet. Sri Aurobindo suggests
that we are in a process of evolution towards the eventual manifestation
of supramental levels of consciousness. In this paper I will attempt to correlate the digital revolution
with the possibility of a supramental transformation upon earth.
In the modern era, our whole mode of life is undergoing extreme
change in the midst of tremendous technological innovation.
The manner in which we travel, communicate with one another, conduct
business, and spend our hours of leisure has been dramatically altered. Increasingly, speed is the name of the game as money can be
transferred around the world in seconds, we can travel across the globe
in supersonic jet technologies that break the sound barriers, and communicate
with vast numbers of people at the touch of a key on our computers.
Apparently, we are just at the beginning of this massive refashioning
of our planet and the way we live our lives.
According to Bill Joy, the founder and chief scientist of Sun Microsystems,
“over the next three decades computing power will grow astonishingly,
by a factor of about a million.
Computers will become so powerful, easy to use, and ubiquitous
that they will change our lives utterly.”
Such a trajectory and vision of our technological devices seems
quite overwhelming. Many individuals, especially in third world countries, are
faintly aware of the power of technological devices, but inevitably it
seems, the world will be transformed.
With the advent of modern technology and especially the onset of
the information age, we can expect and have clearly seen both positive
and deleterious effects of our innovations.
While we have isolated hydrogen and can destroy an entire country
in virtually seconds, humans are now able to share information with one
another on an entirely different platform that is propelling our advancement
as a species. The harnessing and storage of information is perhaps one of
the most important facets of this revolution.
Whereas in the middle ages when religious and occasionally scientific
texts were held within monasteries or religious centers, today information
is open to virtually anyone who has access to the Internet.
The latest news, scientific breakthroughs, engineering blueprints,
and various texts from around the world are available online.
Our continued development of the Internet is creating a worldwide
culture that will inevitably change the way we live.
Unfortunately, such changes can be overwhelming.
We are continually subject to the onslaught of information and
what humans decide to do with these waves of information is of utmost
importance.
Our perceptions of the world and our role within it are changing
dramatically:
Such
changes are likely going to continue for a long time, and the
rate of change is likely to accelerate.
Moore’s law, which predicts a doubling of chip capabilities every
18 months or so, has held since the mid-’60’s, and recent developments
in so-called molecular electronics- arranging individual molecules in
electronic circuits- suggest that the improvements are likely to continue
for another 30 years.
As
computer technology advances, our devices will be able to perform a greater
number of functions at a faster rate of computation. This phenomenon seems to drive our technological evolution.
The faster our computers and tools, the quicker humans are able
to create and/or destroy.
The
Role of the Internet
The emergence of the Internet is one of the most fascinating, and
often troubling, developments of the last 50 years.
Today, millions of users around the world are logging on to their
computers and connecting to a vast network spanning the globe.
Within the last fifteen years the Internet has gone from a little
known military communication device to an interconnected web of various
relationships that is transforming our planet before our very eyes.
As Joy points out, “We no longer need CD’s to listen to music,
tapes or DVD’s to view videos, newsprint to read the newspaper, or cars
to go to a store and buy presents.”
Virtually everything seems to be now available on the Internet.
We can buy everything from cars to flowers without leaving our
homes. Where once humans
went to the market place to buy items, now we have virtual storefronts
that really do not exist anywhere and yet are accessible from just about
everywhere. The manner in
which we conduct business, orient our daily lives, educate ourselves and
our children, and communicate with one another is changing whether we
like it or not. We may have
the choice to temporarily ignore these changes, but inevitable it appears,
if we hope to keep up with modernity and orient ourselves to the current
conditions of life, we must be willing to accept and adapt to this new
environment.
These massive changes have come about so quickly that it is difficult
to assess both the short-term and long-term effects of such transformation.
There is evidence of what some call ‘the digital divide’ between
the have’s and have-nots of the digital boom.
I have personally witnessed this phenomenon in my own experience.
An advertising assignment was given in one of my roommates’ classes
where students were asked to develop an advertisement.
Since my roommate in college had the appropriate software and computer,
she was able to produce an incredibly professional looking piece for her
class. Presumably, most members
in her class did not have access to this technology and perhaps their
projects were not as impressive.
While these differences in productivity may not dramatically alter
one’s success in school, in the world of business there is little doubt
who would get the job. It
seems to be a rather simple fact in today’s world that those who are comfortable
and efficient using computers are more likely to get jobs, secure a stable
income, and move forward in their careers. The need to effectively communicate using computer technology
as well as manage finances, conduct business, and research has become
imperative in our modern culture.
This so-called digital divide is already creating massive disparities
in monetary resources, especially between first-world countries and those
of what have been traditionally termed ‘third-world.’
The United States is at the center of this growth and at the forefront
of this revolution. There
is little doubt that the United States is the possessor of the latest
computer technology and the nation most poised to benefit from such changes.
For better and for worse, the United States has almost a monopoly
on the digital expansion. The
Internet has been mostly developed within the United States and if one
looks at domain name registrations (virtual property in the Internet landscape),
it is evident that most domains are held by U.S. residents.
Top level domain extensions, such as .com, .org, and .edu are largely
already in place. Since it
is likely that the future of the global economy will be based upon the
success of Internet portals (the land of the Internet), the U.S. will
dominate this arena. Domain names that are simple, easy to remember, and globally
recognized are almost all owned by U.S. corporations and organizations.
For example, domain names such as Cars.com, Boats.com, and Flowers.com
are all managed within the United States.
These names were theoretically open to the world market at one
time by simply purchasing the desired name, but practically speaking,
only computer users who were already connected to the Internet and had
some money to spend on just a ‘name’ were able to get a foothold in these
emerging markets. Many countries
do not even have access to the Internet let alone computers and credit
cards to process transactions for something that seems so ‘impractical.’
Furthermore, all of this business is conducted in English and those
who do not speak or read the language are already at a disadvantage.
Even within the continental United States there seems to be the
emergence of an economic digital divide that will continue to have social
implications. For example, as a resident of the Bay Area, I have witnessed
the ramifications of these changes effect the daily lives of many individuals.
In the San Francisco area, the cost of living has skyrocketed as
computer professionals continue to compete for places to live closer to
their workspaces. Many residents
are being pushed out of their homes due to financial pressures from computer
professionals. Landlords
are benefiting from this economic growth often at the expense of their
residents. Once a specified
lease expires, landlords are likely to post their properties on to the
Internet and avail their openings to the worldwide community. A person making even a moderate income is having difficulty
managing these economic pressures.
Landlords can command seemingly outrageous rents for their properties
because the demand is so high and the economy is experiencing unprecedented
growth in computer-related fields.
I have seen ads posted on the Internet for rental spaces and within
a day there are numerous responses and offers that far exceed many people’s
income. This Internet growth
has been concentrated within the Bay Area and as this trend continues,
there continues to be the growth of a culture and economic climate that
is in many ways creating a divide between metropolitan areas such as San
Francisco and the rest of the country.
In addition to the changes that the Internet continues to make
on the economic landscape of the world, there are tremendous personal
implications on the horizon. The process of ‘digitization’ is in a positive sense making
our lives freer by the advent of wireless technologies such as cellular
phones and handheld computers. We
can now be anywhere in the world and communicate with fellow members of
society. Our finances and
work portfolios can be carried with us everywhere.
However, “as the wireless network makes us more nomadic, we clearly
will have the power to remove bothersome space and time constraints from
our lives. Yet the same technologies
that make possible wireless ubiquity and nomadism threaten our privacy.”
As we are able to carry our technology with us wherever we go,
people will be able to contact us and locate our whereabouts.
As a species, we seem to be quickly nearing Orwell’s vision as
presented in his book 1984 where
Big Brother knows about the whereabouts of everyone and their activities.
The ability to watch a person’s activity and find their location
is already a reality with computer technology.
The digital age has the capacity to infringe upon people’s personal
lives even without them knowing it.
For example, as a computer professional, I have access to information
that most people would rather me not know about.
Information specialists within organizations can easily track email
correspondence and work productivity.
Virtually all information entered into a computer can be accessed
with the right passwords and understanding of how the network is organized.
A group of persons or selected individuals must have access to
these informational resources for the computers to function properly,
but it also involves tremendous responsibility in how the information
is handled.
The Internet is furthering the growth of this process by connecting
virtually every computer around the world.
There is the emergence of a vast network of computers that extend
into our homes. This exposure to others creates certain dangers.
For example, many of us have experienced the phenomena of computer
viruses. These viruses can
enter our computers from a variety of sources including email and Internet.
At the touch of a button, a virus can be sent throughout the world
threatening our economic and personal lives.
As the human race becomes more dependent upon computer technology,
there will be a greater need to protect against these threats.
Modern warfare is likely going to be waged in the spaces of the
Internet where financial resources and information are located.
If not adequately protected against intrusions, our computers will
be vulnerable to various perpetrators.
Like physical viruses, computer viruses can disturb our well-being
and cause psychological distress.
As the Internet continues to blossom in the modern world, our identities
as persons are likely to change.
Instead of identifying ourselves with our various material, tangible
possessions, our professions or our social network, we are likely to be
increasingly identified with our Internet identities.
What we are to the outside world will become more and more identified
with how we present ourselves in the digital world.
We will continue to have a physical make-up, but our interactions
with others will be dramatically altered as our communication devices
continue to evolve. For example,
the spaces that we create for self-expression in the Internet will take
on a life of their own and will increasingly become a repository of our
work, interests, and act as a journal to our daily lives.
More and more people will create their own websites that will contain
their favorite music, poetry, literature, works of art, as well as their
own creative pieces. The
Internet in its current form provides one of the best opportunities for
creative self-expression with the ability to self-publish at minimal financial
costs. Presumably, our identities
will be increasingly connected with our creative expressions as they are
manifested in our Internet homes or websites.
The tremendous growth and expansion of the Internet as evidenced
in the number of domain names being registered every day attests to the
current trend in the establishment of web based identities and localities.
Establishing a web identity creates a home base from which to interact
with the entire world. This
is a fairly recent phenomenon that is bound to have an overwhelming impact
upon our understanding of others and our own lives.
Since our identity is to a large extent determined by our relationships
to others, this new medium of communication will launch a revolution of
consciousness hitherto unseen. Instead
of being confined to a particular locality in space and time, our Internet
identities will extend across the world and be accessible from virtually
anywhere. For example, a person living in Tucson Arizona will be able
to freely interact and learn about others who live in remote parts of
China and vice versa. The
cultural milieu will reflect these dramatic changes as the world becomes
in many ways smaller and smaller.
No longer do we have to travel great distances to learn about what
others are doing in different parts of the world.
The Internet is transforming the manner in which information is
attained. The barriers between
cultures, peoples, and countries are in large part breaking down as this
new medium spreads throughout the globe.
One of the outcomes of this informational resource is evident in
the transmission of current events.
The television has facilitated the ability to see and learn about
what is occurring in different parts of the world from a single location.
Such news organizations as CNN have reported incidents by sending
correspondents to remote parts of the world with video cameras and microphones
to capture current events. Unfortunately
however, western cultural lenses can often bias coverage.
With the Internet, people can post their own reports and perspectives
and although news sources like CNN will maintain a relative dominance
on coverage, there is the possibility for all voices to be heard.
This method of information transfer will continue to occur at the
speed of light. If there
is a riot in Pakistan, people around the world can know about it almost
instantly. The boundaries
of the Internet are almost nonexistent and virtually anyone who wants
to express their views will be able to in this free medium.
As recent developments have shown, the multitude of expressions
may not be mutually beneficial or helpful to human evolution.
There have arisen a plethora of hate sites, explicitly sexual sites,
and sites that promote a sense of anarchy.
Our children are being exposed to information and resources unavailable
a few decades ago. Since
the Internet remains largely unregulated, parents, teachers, and mentors
will have a greater responsibility to teach their children values that
are consistent with their intentions.
Today, children can easily find out how to build a bomb and synthesize
substances such as LSD. The potential danger of the proliferation of this knowledge
is paramount. An extremely
dangerous individual can obtain the necessary information to play out
malicious plans. However,
the Internet also possesses the potential to promote world peace through
mutual understanding and integration through extensive dialogues with
our fellow human beings. Such
divisions that were historically created through religious and philosophical
world-views are now under the scrutiny of the entire world.
Religious texts, political treatises, and philosophical writings
can be transmitted with ease. We
will have the ability to learn from all of these resources as the Internet
becomes the largest library and informational resource ever seen in history.
With the widespread expansion of diverse forms of information,
we find ourselves in the midst of information overload.
What is ultimately important in this context when all is laid bare
for everyone to see? The
ancient Upanishads stand side by side the sayings of Buddha and Christ.
A world culture is emerging that must be able to integrate all
of these expressions and perspectives.
As individuals create their own websites, the Internet will become
the symbol of integration and tolerance.
All voices can be heard.
One of Sri Aurobindo’s disciples, Satprem, suggests that, “We forget
a very simple fundamental truth, that our marvelous inventions are only
the material projections of powers which exist in us- if they were not
already there in us we would never be able to invent them.”
The Internet is certainly an expression of latent powers within
us- powers to integrate, powers to express, and powers to create.
The web is a mutual creation and cannot be attributed to any single
individual or group of individuals.
A collective invention is emerging and more than anything else
the Internet is reflecting our conscious awareness of one another and
ourselves.
The
Consciousness Revolution
As the Internet flourishes in the modern world, there appears to
be indications of a new form of evolution occurring.
Above all, this evolution as it has occurred throughout the information
age, is a revolution of the mind and consciousness.
Our technological devices are a reflection of our stage in the
development of consciousness. We
bring into being what we are able to think and become consciously aware
of. Perhaps one of the first
inventions on the human scene was the harnessing of fire.
Presumably, our ancient forefathers and mothers watched a lightening
bolt strike the ground where fire was created.
Eventually these people were able to see and understand the powers
of fire and use fire in their daily lives to cook food, provide warmth,
and fashion new tools. Without
the idea of fire in their minds or the desire to use it in special contexts,
fire might not have been noticed or integrated into life.
However, the concept of fire, however fragmented, entered the minds
of the early hominids, permeating their consciousness.
While we are not concerned here with the breakthroughs in technology
that have occurred throughout the epics of time and the consciousness
that was working in the minds of their inventors, there is a correlation
between consciousness and innovation.
Without a certain level of consciousness present, inventions are
not likely to occur. For
example, if we did not know or have the intuition that colonies of people
existed in other parts of the world, why would we want to communicate
with them? If there is not
an underlying consciousness of certain possibilities, there is no need
or desire to invent something that will bring into being what the imagination
has fashioned. The Internet
grew out of the idea to communicate around the world without the use of
telephones and radios. As
this idea became a living reality, we began to see more and more uses
for this technology. Not
only could we communicate around the world, but we could store vast amounts
of information. The storage
of information has been a perennial issue for humans.
Because our minds have a limited memory and ability to store information,
we sought out different ways to store and transmit information.
In the beginning of human evolution, information may have been
stored and relayed to others on cave walls, rocks, or through language.
Eventually, people throughout the world created languages that
could express thoughts, feelings, and desires to other members of their
communities. The written
word came into form where tablets and books were fashioned to harness
the thoughts of individuals as they reflected upon their relationships,
surroundings, and inner states.
Great libraries began to form throughout the world in such places
as Alexandria. These centers became places of learning and informational resources.
Such libraries contained the religious scriptures, works of art,
and knowledge of the natural world.
The proliferation of various libraries and places of learning spread
as humans found the need to consolidate knowledge and information.
Today, information is increasingly being stored on computer chips
that can hold millions of bytes of code that can be translated into readable
language. We now store our information and creations on ‘hard-drives,’
‘disks,’ and ‘computers.’ As
a species, we have found the computer chip to be the most effective device
to store large amounts of information that can be hierarchically organized.
Our file cabinets are beginning to disappear and give way to our
personal computers. We are
entering a virtually paperless society where letters are sent through
electronic mail, payments are made through digital banks and accounts,
and merchandise can be bought and sold through wireless communication.
The ecological impact of such a revolution remains to be seen,
but as we continue to use our computers to send and retrieve information,
our need to use resources such as trees to create paper diminishes.
Furthermore, since we can buy and sell, conduct business, and communicate
with others over computer networks, our need to use our cars and other
modes of travel decreases. However,
there is evidence that all computer chips made of silicon are not easily
degradable in our environment and that they might pose a toxic threat.
Eventually even this obstacle may be overcome with the advent of
molecular, or biological chips that are currently being developed by computer
engineers. Attempting to
assess the environmental impact of our technological advances is an extremely
difficult endeavor. However,
there are certain effects that are destructive in one sort or another. Assessing the relative values of destruction in the midst of
creation is extremely difficult because evolutionary development is a
process that has many undulations of various sorts.
For example, we may cut down a tree and use it to express some
form of creativity like a poem.
Some form of re-creation and renewal accompanies whatever destruction
takes place. These changes
may not on the surface be valuable.
Our judgments and perceptions of the world determine our values.
Judging the merit of creative enterprises in proportion to potential
harm and long-term consequences is extremely difficult but critical if
we hope to maintain ecological sensitivity.
A fundamental question of human evolution and the nature of consciousness
is connected to the formation of the brain.
Humans have developed a complex nervous system that is capable
of embodying consciousness in lived experience.
We are manifestations of a vast series of networks in an incredibly
complex system of relationships.
What happens in the development of the brain?
The neurobiologist Paul A. Weiss suggests that to understand the
evolving brain we must catch a glimpse of the wider context of mutual
dependence and interconnectedness:
Our
understanding of neurogenesis, therefore, hinges on the exploration
of the intrinsic processes
going on in the developing germ in an incessant series of interactions
among the ordered units of genes, chromosomes, cell organelles and matrix,
cells, ground substances, formed cell products, tissues, organs, the
internal milieu, and, in a supporting measure, the external environment.
If
we are to understand the genesis of the brain we must explore the variety
of relationships and connections that exist on the physical, mental and
spiritual levels of being. These
connections make-up our lives and are the foundation of existence.
Human consciousness represents one of the glories of existence
and evolution is a means for the gradual unfoldment of consciousness in
actual experience.
Organization is a fundamental prerequisite and component of being.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable forms of organization appears
in the human brain. Western
scientists are probing the depths of one of the greatest mysteries of
our lives. The evolution
of the neocortex, and especially the region of the brain called the frontal
lobe is a remarkable achievement of Nature.
Where will Nature take us next in this process?
What lies on the horizon of this emerging evolution?
Sri Aurobindo suggests that we are witnessing the evolution of
consciousness, which will eventually be fulfilled by a ‘Supramental Manifestation.’
He says, “A Divine life upon earth, the ideal we have placed before
us, can only come about by a spiritual change of our being and a radical
and fundamental change, an evolution or revolution of our nature.”
According to Aurobindo, a spiritual transformation must accompany
the evolutionary development of the human and natural worlds if the possibilities
of consciousness are to be realized in existence.
However, we must keep in mind the omnipresence of the Divine if
we are to understand the complexity of interrelationship between entities.
Our evolution is ultimately the manifestation of God for Aurobindo:
All
our existence depends on that Existence, it is that which is evolving
in us; we are a being of that existence, a state of consciousness of
that Consciousness, an energy of that conscious Energy, a will-to-delight
of being, delight of consciousness, delight of energy born of that Delight:
this is the root principle of our existence.
We are nodes of energy in complex relationships with other energies that
are enveloped by the wider Consciousness.
Our fingertips to the neurons of our brain are manifestations of
networked energy. These networks
send information to one another using various means of communication.
Networks of communication inform all levels of being.
The cells of our body communicate with one another, send information
back and forth, ending up in a physical reality we give names to like
‘human,’ ‘bird,’ and ‘flower.’ Even
these objects are informed by that Existence however subtle it may appear
on the surface.
Technological manipulation of environments is the reorganization
of relationships for desired ends.
Diverse energies are mixed to produce a creation in time and space.
The Internet is one such admixture of kinds of energy.
The World Wide Web mimics the connections in our brains.
Vast energies of informational content are directed to various
places. On the other end
of the network is a receiver of information.
The human mind is made up of individual neurons that receive signals
of information from an external environment.
In the case of the relationship between the human mind and the
Internet, the external environment includes a computer that sends information
to the brain. Our brain processes
the information that is sent out from the computer medium.
We have two extremely complex energy networks working together.
Ironically, if we look at a computer chip and compare it to the
anatomy of the human brain, they begin to look a lot alike.
Currents of energy are flowing in all kinds of directions and quite
miraculously the information can be processed both within the computer
and the brain. All this occurs
virtually unconsciously in our minds because we are occupied with the
most important facets of the information we are receiving to procure knowledge
and understanding. Our concentration
is the focusing and building up of energy to send towards a specified
destination. The object of
our concentration is both a receptor and sender of energies that accumulate
in Consciousness. Aurobindo
suggests that the energies of Consciousness are unfolding in the space-time
continuum of everyday reality. Evolution
is actually occurring on our planet whereby new forms of Consciousness
come into being. Finally
this leads to a new network of relationships between individuated centers
of Consciousness.
The Evolution of Consciousness in the Midst of Technology
If our minds are primarily processors of information, then it stands
to reason that the quality and quantity of information received by the
brain is of paramount importance to human evolution.
It has been shown above that the Internet is based upon the transmission
and recording of information. As
an informational resource, the Internet can contribute to the spread of
knowledge and perhaps exhibit what Aurobindo calls ‘Truth-Consciousness.’
We must examine what the nature of this Truth-Consciousness is
before we can adequately address the question of whether the Internet
can be used as a tool for its manifestation upon earth.
What kind of information is important to the spiritual revolution
necessary for the Truth-Consciousness to manifest?
If the appropriate information can be identified for the furthering
of human development towards Supramental levels of being, we can then
determine the possibilities of the Internet as a contributing factor in
the evolution of our species.
To arrive at a complete understanding of the nature of Truth-Consciousness
as outlined by Sri Aurobindo we must turn to an integral conception of
truth. The integration of all forms of knowledge is a prerequisite
for the emergence of Truth-Consciousness in embodied reality.
God is this Reality as
omniscient Knower and comprehensive synthesis of all levels of being and
experience. Human consciousness
is a reflection and expression of God’s Knowing.
This includes our mathematical equations, our sense impressions,
feelings, notions of Fact and Truth, our scientific discoveries- all of
our internal and external relationships are incorporated in the Network
of God. The Internet is an
interesting outgrowth of human consciousness that is a peculiar corollary
to the idea of omniscience. The
All-Knowing embraces the totality of consciousness in a unified Whole.
The integration of consciousness includes the multiple expressions
of being as lived out in actual experience.
The Internet is a place where conscious information is stored and
retrieved from a wide diversity of sources.
In essence, the Internet is a meeting of minds, incorporating
vast currents of consciousness.
This is a rather fascinating phenomenon.
The World Wide Web is a growing organism that continues to expand
in countless directions. The
meeting of East and West philosophically, scientifically, and religiously
is now being achieved through this communication medium.
Interestingly enough, Sri Aurobindo discusses the transformation
of Matter during the stages of the Supramental Manifestation:
As
the outposts of scientific Knowledge come more and more to be set on
the borders that divide the material from the immaterial, so also the
highest achievements of practical Science are those which tend to simplify
and reduce to the vanishing-point the machinery by which the greatest
effects are produced. Wireless
telegraphy is Nature’s exterior sign and pretext for a new orientation.
The sensible physical means for the intermediate transmission
of the physical force is removed; it is only preserved at the points
of impulsion and reception. Eventually
even these must disappear; for when the laws and forces of the supraphysical
are studied with the right starting-point, the means will infallibly
be found for Mind to directly seize on the physical energy and speed
it accurately upon its errand.
There, once we bring ourselves to recognize it, lie the gates
that open upon the enormous vistas of the future.
The
Internet attempts to bridge the material and immaterial levels of being.
On one level the Internet and the computer technology involved
are simply forms of Matter organized in a particular fashion.
The computer chips, disk drives, phone lines, monitors, and keyboards
involved in this process are merely what we call plastic, silicon, wires,
and glass. By themselves,
these components appear to be nothing more than dead or inanimate matter.
However, once these forms of matter are organized and combined
in just the right fashion, the computer and the Internet come alive as
it were.
According to Aurobindo all forms of matter are manifestations of
conscious energy. In the computer, there is the level of simple matter.
Although there is an underlying consciousness in the silicon chips
as silicon, once the chip is integrated into a network of relationships,
the silicon is able to represent a different level of consciousness altogether.
The Supramental Manifestation involves the transformation of Matter
in the context of the evolution of Nature.
Scientific discoveries such as the Internet may help us to imagine
the latent powers of consciousness and Matter.
Aurobindo mentions wireless telegraphy as a breakthrough indicative
of the changes that will occur in consciousness.
In the above quote, he suggests that only the sending and receiving
stations will be preserved as our devices become more and more wireless.
The physical distances between such devices are overcome through
the mastery of the natural world and by an understanding of Nature’s laws.
Soon, the Internet will be a wireless network of computers that
house the information of the world- at least the information that can
be communicated through multimedia technology.
Perhaps eventually, consciousness may evolve to a point where these
computers are no longer needed.
If consciousness is truly and clearly brought to a full understanding
in the human mind, there may be a time when our thoughts of their own
accord can retrieve all of the information and content that the Internet
now commands. Such a sweeping
evolution of consciousness entails the development of such capacities
as telepathy, clairvoyance, and clairaudience where the mind is able to
center upon certain vibrations of conscious energy to form clear thoughts
in the perceiving mind. A
breakthrough of this caliber may certainly lie on the horizons of our
evolution as our understanding of the energies of consciousness becomes
more accurate, free from error, and endowed with Truth.
If the manner of our communication evolves to the point where we
can actually send and retrieve thoughts or distinct formations of conscious
energy from anywhere in the world, then the strict distinctions that many
of us hold between the material and immaterial dimensions of life will
diminish. The Supramental
Manifestation is the fusion of Matter, Nature, and God.
Although the omnipresence of the Divine remains relatively constant
throughout the evolutionary process, humans are witnessing the unfoldment
of latent potentialities of consciousness in the time-space continuum.
Sri Aurobindo argues that it is human destiny to fulfill the divine
imperative and reach a stage of consciousness that is infused and permeated
with Knowledge and Truth:
By
possession of this ideal plane we break down entirely the opposition
of the lower and the higher existence, the false gulf created by the
Ignorance between the finite and the Infinite, God and Nature, the One
and the Many, open the gates of the Divine, fulfill the individual in
the complete harmony of the cosmic consciousness and realize in the
cosmic being the epiphany of the transcendent Sachchidananda.
For
the Supramental Manifestation to occur in human existential reality, several
components must be carefully integrated into a complete Knowledge or Truth-Consciousness.
First, the planes of existence and consciousness form a unified
continuum. The physical planes
are in concert with the supramental.
The divorce between Matter, Mind, and Spirit can never be complete.
While there are distinctions between these planes of consciousness,
no split can ever be final. Secondly,
if consciousness is going to evolve to a state indicative of what Aurobindo
has been referring to as the Supramental Manifestation, then both the
finite and Infinite must be clearly integrated.
Natural Science and the rational mind are often accustomed to making
fine distinctions between entities in the physical world.
While these distinctions are necessary for an appropriate understanding
and categorization of the natural world, like the relationships that exist
between the material and immaterial dimensions of existence, the finite
and Infinite form a Whole as a System or Network of energies. Thirdly and perhaps most importantly, the integral philosophy
of Aurobindo maintains the integrity of individual selves in the cosmic
Whole. For Aurobindo, while
evolution is a process participated in by God, there is within this context
a component that seeks the fulfillment of individuals like us.
As conscious persons, we are not finally dissolved into the nondual
Self. Instead, the harmony
of cosmic consciousness is achieved only through the actual individuation
of distinct entities that contribute to the Integrated Self.
Finally, when Ignorance is surpassed, unity with God is realized
both internally and externally, a state of Sachchidananda (Being-Consciousness-Bliss)
is actualized cosmically and universally on the earth plane.
This vision of things to come is quite extraordinary, implying
that as individuals we are capable of enjoying God-like existence and
bliss.
The
Foundations and Nature of God Consciousness
In order to adequately assess the possible merits of the Internet
as a facilitator in the evolution of consciousness towards an eventual
flowering of Truth-Consciousness throughout the world, we need to examine
the nature of this form of consciousness and what makes it possible.
To begin with, the integral philosophy maintains both the omnipresence
of Supermind and the reality of the individuated Many in phenomenal experience.
Hence, while our senses perceive a vast array of various forms,
oceans of energy swirling in space, and a degree of separateness between
entities, there remains behind these veils the presence of a deeper Reality
and foundation. Aurobindo
describes the nature of this foundational Reality as follows:
We
have distinguished a fourfold principle of divine Being creative in
the universe,- Existence, Conscious-Force, Bliss and Supermind.
Supermind, we have seen, is omnipresent in the material cosmos,
but veiled; it is behind the actual phenomenon of things and occultly
expresses itself there, but uses for effectuation its own subordinate
term, Mind.
Amidst
all the actual gradations of Being is the Supermind. If we plumb the depths of existential Reality we shall ultimately
find the hidden face of God or Brahman.
At the center of each thing is Supermind. The recognition of both the complexity and simplicity of phenomenal
reality helps us to see the dynamic creative expression of consciousness.
Supermind embraces All, is
All, and functions as the Many despite all outward appearances to the
contrary. Consequently, the evolution towards Supermind is a kind of
involution or excavation of what is already there.
Humans participate in God Consciousness as heirs of their nature.
Mind is used as a tool to bring to the surface of consciousness
the hidden depths of Supermind.
The diverse energies of the cosmos share, or rather are, the Supermind.
Our evolution in mind, body, and spirit is possible through this
underlying foundation. The
consciousness that we embody in our daily lives is a focal point of the
divine creativity. The things
we think, feel, and express are each in their own way, both an immediate
expression of Supermind and a step in the evolutionary process.
Apparently, if we are to consent to Aurobindo’s vision, the Supermind
uses Mind as a medium of transformation.
However, Supermind is as we have seen, not one particular being
or collection of beings, but rather, Being as such.
The transformation that occurs in the process of evolutionary dynamics
applies to the multiplicity of existence.
There is not a single person or being that enjoys the fruits of
evolution as a separate entity cut off from the rest of existence.
Instead, what we are living and experiencing is a collective transformation,
liberation, or salvation that applies equally throughout the cosmos.
This vision as proposed by Aurobindo suggests that even what we
consider as inanimate matter is but one poise of Supermind and that Matter
is also participating in the collective evolution.
Imbedded in many evolutionary theories is the idea that a single
product or species emerges that is separate from and more valuable than
the rest. We have centered
our attention primarily upon the evolution of human consciousness, but
what about cosmic consciousness or God Consciousness?
Are humans the only species capable of enjoying, participating
in, and witnessing the emergence of consciousness?
How might other forms of life co-create in this world-play?
Evolutionary biologists have tracked the development of the human
brain as it has slowly increased in size and capacity.
Darwinism suggests that humans are a product of a process called
natural selection. Specific
traits such as intelligence, beauty, strength, and other desirable characteristics
are sought out by procreating subjects.
Simply stated, species of animals and other forms of life seek
out partners with whom to reproduce.
However, within Aurobindo’s idea of evolution, the process of natural
selection may only be one aspect of the divine unfolding.
Instead of being confined to a particular species that are capable
of adapting to surrounding environments that then go on to reproduce,
Aurobindo’s theory takes a comprehensive look of evolution as a cosmic
movement.
Such a reorientation may seem rather subtle, but the implications
of maintaining a spiritual foundation and a systems approach to evolution
holds quite different possibilities for evolution.
Whereas for Darwin, species survived and reproduced to a large
extent based upon their instincts as separate entities fighting for survival,
Aurobindo suggests that there is a greater force working behind these
various phenomena pulling all of life toward Itself.
A mutation of species for the purposes of adaptation is only one
part of the outward manifestation of evolution.
Certainly, selection appears to be occurring, but we must ultimately
ask, who is making the selections?
Does the cow actually have the consciousness to select a partner
based entirely upon the prospects of future calf development?
Is instinct all that is necessary for evolution, and if so, where
are the powers of instinct seated?
While these questions may remain a provocative mystery, if evolution
is driven by spiritual powers, then a completely different scene is created
in this world in distinction to the purely Darwinian conception of evolution.
One of the central themes of the spiritual philosophy of Aurobindo
is the idea that All is Brahman.
Connecting this notion with evolutionary proposals reorients our
worldview. For Darwin and
many natural scientists, species evolve according to the surrounding environmental
context in which they live. While
this may also be true for Aurobindo, the division between the natural
world and the supernatural is never absolutely final as it may have been
in the eyes of Darwin and modern science.
If Aurobindo’s theory is an accurate account of the actual events
occurring on this planet and in the cosmos as a whole, then science must
be willing to incorporate the depth dimension of natural existence if
she hopes to arrive at Truth. Instead
of merely the death, creation and evolution of specific species of plants,
animals, and other forms of life in a constant struggle for the affirmation
of existence in the face of various competing predators, the physical
plane may be the arena for the evolution of Brahman.
This insight completely changes the contour of our understanding
of the natural world. According
to Aurobindo, a cosmic evolution is unfolding that is beneficial and inclusive
of all forms of life without any particular species or genera ever finally
lost.
This perspective of the nature of Brahman holds within itself
two very important correlates. First,
Brahman is a self-expressive Being that is not limited by creation.
Secondly, while Brahman may be a constant feature of existence
and perpetual foundation for all of reality, there is a process of change
and flux within the Divine. Haridas
Chaudhuri says in his book Sri Aurobindo:
The Prophet of Life Divine that, “As supracosmic transcendence, Brahman
is not a blank featureless unity, but an infinitely opulent unity embracing
an unlimited wealth of content and measureless possibility.”
This statement holds one of the distinctive features of a truly
integral philosophy and psychology.
The need of many religious seekers to return to the nondual Self
or entirely transcendent Other is finally an unreal dream.
Integration is both a unity and a multiplicity.
We are reaching the limits of language and rational analysis when
we explore these dimensions of Brahman, but to maintain an integral perspective,
we must hold what appears to be contradictory or mutually exclusive, like
the distinctions between the finite and Infinite, in a wholistic vision.
Our metaphors begin to leave us as we embark upon these divine
mysteries. The mystic idea
of the ineffability of Brahman and God is an expression of this tension.
Perhaps we can express Brahman as One/Many, Good/Evil, Infinite/Finite,
Transcendent/Immanent, Static/Dynamic.
Holding these polarities together is of the nature of a truly integral
philosophy.
This multi-faceted Being of Sachchidananda lies within the center
of our physical and spiritual composite:
The
Divine is already there immanent within us, ourselves are that in our
inmost reality and it is this reality that we have to manifest; it is
that which constitutes the urge towards the divine living and necessary
for the creation of the life divine even in this material existence.
We can help further the manifestation of the divine through the development
and cultivation of our own God-centers and supramental consciousness.
Aurobindo believes that the manifestation of the Supermind is an
inevitable outcome and must occur sooner or later.
If we are willing to admit that such a supramental manifestation
upon earth is possible and that the evolutionary thrust of the universe
is bringing such a state of affairs into reality, then we are in a position
to explore the nature of this cosmic transformation and the future possibilities
of life on this planet. Keeping
in tune with Aurobindo’s integral philosophy, the divine life will incorporate
the various dimensions of the human person including mind, body, and soul.
As consciousness continues to evolve in the human species, we may
begin to expect a flourishing of all of our capacities and natural endowments.
Our physical bodies will be stronger as we begin to reorient our
lives in harmony with Nature, cosmic principles, and finally the Divine
Reality. Perhaps in such
a context, we will live longer, healthier lives as we pass beyond Ignorance,
fragmented knowledge, and biased judgments.
Further, our mind and soul can begin to work in unison with our
physical bodies and this may possess the secret of longevity and health.
Medical science may continue to make significant breakthroughs
as it integrates both eastern and western forms of medical treatment for
disease. There may be a time in the not too far distant future when
disease will be minimized or alleviated all together. Such a state of living in the world seems to be beyond our
present capacities, but a time may come when universal harmony is realized.
As our consciousness becomes more centered upon God, we can begin
to orient our lives accordingly.
Sri Aurobindo says, “The divine life will give to those that enter
into it and possess it an increasing and finally complete possession of
the truth-consciousness and all that it carries in it; it will bring with
it the realisation of the Divine in self and the Divine in Nature.”
Aurobindo envisions a time when humans will fully recognize the
divinity present within themselves and in all of the manifestations around
them. This central insight
will be present through all activities in daily life, infusing our awareness,
and giving us the perspective to appropriately orient our lives to this
truth-consciousness. We can
hardly begin to imagine what this would actually feel like, or what we
would be thinking. However,
Sri Aurobindo challenges us to live up to our inmost potentials as children
and co-creators of God.
Our goal, according to Aurobindo, is to move increasingly towards
spiritual perfection. This
is both a collective and individual affair.
As we embrace truth-consciousness in our own lives, the possibility
of it spreading throughout the cosmos increases. An
interesting facet of evolutionary dynamics, is the manner in which individuals
can effect positive changes and move the species forward to a new level
of understanding and perfection.
For example, such persons like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Mozart,
and Einstein have contributed tremendously to the further development
of our art, music, and science.
The insights arrived at by these geniuses are maintained in the
culture’s collective psychology and wisdom.
Perhaps, the embodiment of truth-consciousness will work along
similar lines. Although we can expect the process to be rather slow and gradual,
there will be individuals who embody this state of consciousness and their
examples will inform others in how to live.
Revolutions in societies can occur through a change of attitude,
world-view, or scientific breakthrough.
We have been discussing the impact of the Internet as a revolutionary
device and technology. This
technology was developed by only a few individuals, but has now spread
throughout the world. Consequently,
if truth-consciousness is actually embodied in this earth plane by several
individuals who could teach others and create vibrations of conscious
energy that spread throughout the globe, then there seems to be the real
possibility of a collective evolution towards such objectives.
Sri Aurobindo is one such light upon which the evolution of consciousness
may be eventually effected. The
level of consciousness arrived at in his personal life can spread to others
and come to fruition. He
describes the nature of this revolution of consciousness:
All
that is sought by the God-seeker will be fulfilled in his spirit and
in his life as he moves towards spiritual perfection.
He will become aware of the transcendent reality, possess in
the self-experience the supreme existence, consciousness, bliss, be
one with Sachchidananda.
The
awareness of the transcendent can infuse all of our activities.
This can eventually lead us to experiences of what Aurobindo calls
‘supreme existence.’ Such
a life would enjoy God-like joy and ineffable delight as unity in differentiation
is fully actualized in conscious existence and within the physical world.
We have the capacity to truly individuate in the absolute and enjoy
communion with others. This
is a rather fascinating possibility.
Not only can we increasingly learn how to perfect ourselves as
individuated psychic centers, but we can also participate in love with
the diversified Many. An
integrated life occurs both internally and externally- with oneself and
with others.
The type of experience and mode of existence that Aurobindo is
describing is familiar to those acquainted with mystical experience.
However, whereas most mystical experiences are rather short in
duration, Aurobindo believes that such a state of consciousness can be
sustained almost indefinitely when both internal and external harmony
is actualized. He says,
He
will become one with cosmic being and universal Nature: he will contain
the world in himself, in his own cosmic consciousness and feel himself
one with all beings; he will see himself in all and all in himself, become
united and identified with the Self which has become all existences.
When
the human race as a whole begins to move beyond the confines of the individual
ego and begin to think cosmically, real transformation can occur on our
planet. There is both a feeling
and thinking component to this orientation towards the rest of life.
We need to begin to actually feel and experience union with others.
This revolution will not come about through pretending or imagining
to be one with all of existence, but rather through actually knowing that
we are one with the cosmos and actually feeling it in the depths of our
being.
Admitting that there must be a feeling component to the evolution
of consciousness towards and seeking spiritual perfection, it is helpful
if we are able to identify the nature of this feeling and be able to recognize
it within ourselves when we are in such a state.
Perhaps the most characteristic tonality of truth-consciousness
is a feeling of inner bliss or love.
As our consciousness becomes more spiritualized and integrated
into physical reality, we can begin to actually feel the emergence of
a new form of consciousness.
Aurobindo
proposes that,
He
will perceive the beauty of the All-Beautiful and the miracle of the
All-Wonderful; he will enter in the end into the bliss of the Brahman
and live abidingly in it and for all this he will not need to shun existence
or plunge into the annihilation of the spiritual Person in some self-extinguishing
Nirvana.
As
one ascends the stages of consciousness towards Truth-Consciousness or
God Consciousness there is a confluence of complementary states of being,
namely, beauty, wonder, and joy.
Further, union with the Divine Source is characterized as a form
of what can be considered ‘love’ between persons, although on a much higher
level of conscious realization.
As Sachchidananda, Brahman is existence, consciousness, and bliss.
We can share in this delight by opening ourselves to the inner
light or Brahman within. In the movement of consciousness towards Brahman, we are able
to participate in the joy and bliss of God throughout our lives.
Aurobindo looks forward to this level of consciousness spreading
throughout the world as the human race and created order ascends to a
more intimate relationship with Supermind.
The
Future Possibilities of the Internet as a Force in the Evolution of Consciousness
Now that we have explored the foundations and nature of consciousness,
especially as it relates to the realization of what Aurobindo calls ‘Truth-Consciousness,’
we are in a better position to examine the Internet as a viable tool for
the furthering of human evolution and consciousness. Our primary objective is to determine whether or not the Internet
can evoke the Spirit or God within.
And the question arises, ‘what is an appropriate medium to activate
states of consciousness conducive to inner awakening?’
For centuries, books, orations, works of art, and music that touches
the soul have been used to conjure up inner powers and resources.
Often a spiritual teacher would visit a community and convey a
message of spiritual import or a person like Beethoven would write music
from the heart, touching the lives of those that hear the music.
Today, we are witnessing the emergence of one of the most powerful
multimedia tools ever developed by the human species.
This technology continues to revolutionize our lives and this trend
is likely to continue.
The Internet is perhaps a symbol of our own evolution as a species.
As a developing technology, the Internet itself is evolving as
the contributions of millions of people are integrated into the fold. The World Wide Web reflects our own achievements in science,
technology, spiritual wisdom, and global communication.
We have hate sites, sex sites, psychedelic sites, spiritual sites,
environmental sites, sites dedicated to education, the arts, diverse cultures,
and virtually everything else that we are able to think of.
Virtually any topic, subject, or mere thought can be entered into
a search engine and something will appear.
This is a rather miraculous invention.
The Internet functions as our mirror of self-inquiry, holding the
diverse contents of Mind. If
the Internet survives in some form or another over the centuries to come,
the histories of cultures and individuals will be stored for future generations.
We are using this technology to express our desires, creative endeavors
and inner insights. These
are available for all to see and investigate.
The Internet can integrate all of our expressions and hold them
in a unified ‘Network.’ Perhaps
Truth-Consciousness is Itself a ‘Network’ of the wide variety of Consciousness.
Our fears, breakthroughs, so-called inordinate desires, genius,
and passions are held within this wider Consciousness.
Ironically, Aurobindo talks about the peace, calm, and bliss of
Truth-Consciousness despite the pain, turmoil, frustrated agendas, and
vital occupations representing lower forms of consciousness.
The Internet seems to mysteriously possess this quality.
We enter all of our thoughts and emotions into this computer for
the world to see and it does not shudder at all the impacts, contradictions
and thought wars that are occurring upon its waters.
The Internet simply maintains all of these expressions in a calm
serenity, refusing no one and integrating everyone.
We meet one another in this medium of communication and see our
global culture forming, expanding, and integrating.
The Internet is an image of this global culture as our world gets
smaller and smaller through our technological advances.
As we peer into our computer monitors, all of the forms of consciousness
seem to be represented in some degree or another from jokes to politics.
The Internet can help us to learn who we are as a global culture
both individually and collectively.
Both giant organizations and independent individuals are contributing
to the content of the Internet.
Such fuel and energy can enter our minds and expand our horizons.
The Internet is in essence a playground for consciousness- minds
communicating, interacting, and creating all over the world at the speed
of light. Although the Internet
is but one achievement of humankind, it is beginning to reflect all of
our achievements as an evolving species.
Presumably, such technology can and will contribute to the evolution
of consciousness in the upcoming century.
In what form, to what degree, and what will be the eventual result
is difficult to assess, but a revolution is underway.
As our computer technology continues to advance and process information
at faster speeds, we can expect the evolution of our own minds to continue
as our brains adapt to the influx of stimuli.
However, we must be selective in the quality of information that
we allow to infiltrate our minds and seek out the deeper implications
of our acquired knowledge. Attaining
higher levels of consciousness seems to be engendered through reflection
upon meaningful content. Perhaps
listening to our own inner light will reveal content that is appropriate
to our own stage of development.
Sri Aurobindo emphasized the need for us to follow our individual
spiritual paths in the individuation process.
Essentially all paths lead to the Divine Source of existence according
to Aurobindo despite any temporary roadblocks, obstacles, or lack of insight.
If we can remain true to our own Truth-Consciousness within, we
may unlock the doors of perception to see God hidden in the depths of
all thought, action, and physicality.
Conclusion
We have explored the possibility of using the Internet as a tool
in our collective evolutionary development in the context of the writings
of Sri Aurobindo. The advent
of the Information Age has brought forth a wealth of technological innovation,
consolidation of information, and a quickening of communication around
the world. As we continue
to create in the virtual spaces of the Internet, our knowledge of one
another, the cosmos, and ourselves broadens to include our mutual endeavors.
A global culture appears to be emerging from the exchange of ideas,
world-views, and perspectives. If
we can maintain a cooperative poise in the midst of these rapid changes,
we may near what Aurobindo referred to as the Supramental Manifestation
Upon Earth. Ultimately, we
are called to realize our potentials as beings endowed with Truth-Consciousness.
Science and religion must join hands if this revolution is to occur
successfully. Technology
without depth is barren and spirituality out of touch with physical realities
fails to appreciate the integral dimensions of existence.
Our scientific and technological innovations can be used to effectuate
the kind of transformation of consciousness we have been investigating.
This transformation ought to include all voices including, but
not limited to, the feminist, ecological, scientific, religious, artistic,
technological, cultural, and psychological.
An integrated plurality of expressive selves is the next frontier
of our evolutionary transformation.
The Internet is a safe testing ground for the confluence of all
our ideas, strivings, and desires.
As we interact with one another through this global medium may
we respect one another, attempt to broaden our own perspectives through
dialogue, and promote a platform for free expression and creativity.
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