DISCOURSES ON
RADHASOAMI
FAITH
BY
MAHARAJ SAHAB
Pandit Brahm Sankar Misra,
M.A.
5. DEFINITION OF PAIN
7.
Pain is of two classes, physical and mental. We shall in the first place
proceed with an examination of physical pain. A person in normal condition
receives a sword cut or any other physical injury. The part injured is contused
or severed, and the nerves occupying that part, which are the vehicles or the
conductors of the sensory current, are similarly affected. This condition, if
analyzed, shows that a forcible ejectment of some portion of the sensory
current has taken place, and the transmission of this condition to the sentient
entity by the unaffected sensory currents adjoining the part injured produces
the sensation known as physical pain. If, by means of hypnotic passes, or by the
administration of chloroform, sensory action be stopped, which will always be
accompanied by a forgetfulness of the physical self, i.e. by a complete
withdrawal of attention from the physical plane, the injury will no longer be
communicated to the entity and will not therefore be perceived. In the case of
mental pain that condition is produced by shocks to mental associations. In all
these associations, however, the sensory current takes as great a part in the
perception of mental pain as it does in the case of physical pain. It has
already been stated above that the sensory current manifests itself, and acts,
through attention. It may be mentioned here that even in dreams, where the
scenes are changing so rapidly, it is the diversion of attention to the various
subjective impressions that brings about these transmutations. In some cases,
external sounds etc., produce a sudden diversion, and new and sometimes
extremely queer or terrifying features are introduced. If a careful analysis of
all conditions be made, the great importance of attention in all subjective
effects will be established beyond doubt. It may be stated that the conductors
of sensory action, in the case of physical pain, are the nerves, while in the
case of mental pain, due to shocks to associations, the communion is entirely
by means of thoughts, which represent the various subjective forms assumed by
attention with reference to the different impressions with which it is
associated. The two states may be aptly described as analogous to telegraphy by
wire and wireless telegraphy. When there is a mental shock or injury, there is
always a feeling of non-fulfilment of something one wished for or cherished, a
separation from an object one was attached to by natural affinities or
otherwise, or an injury to or loss of objects of the kind mentioned above. In
all these conditions, a forcible severance or shock occurs to the association;
and the attention, diverted from the groove through which it used to act,
reacts upon the mental pain and produces the phenomenon known as mental pain.
8.
With reference to the analysis we have presented above, which shows that the
main factor in the phenomena of pain of both classes is the forcible ejectment
of attention, the definition of pain in its most comprehensive form would be as
follows :-
The
perception by a sentient entity of the forcible ejectment of its sensory
currents from the physical or mental planes that they are occupying constitutes
the phenomenon of pain.
Best explanation of attention-related pain ever given!
ReplyDeleteBest Definition of the Mind is also in the book which settles the rampant confusion between brain, mind and spirit.
ReplyDeleteWhere attention goes, Energy flows...
ReplyDeleteThis explains very well the concept of pain in humans and also animals. But what about plants and trees? Do they experience pain ? What is the process of attention in them?
ReplyDelete