Living the dreams

Mind is all I have. What I hear, what I see, what I feel, what I remember, what I imagine, what I create, are all electric impulses in our brain. My existence is in the appearance and disappearance of that impulses. If one can recreate exactly the the organization of the atoms that composed of our neurons, recreate the neurons, and electric potentials, then we begin to exist. We and the world we live are nothing but creations of our mind. If we follow this logic to the extend it could take us we will start questioning reality, existence and the meaning of all. At least to me, it is a scary thought. A thought as scary as a feeling that I am in a dream from which I would never wake up.

Lets explore that possibility a bit. When I sense that I am typing these words, I can see my hands moving. I can sense the tip of the fingers touching the key pad. I create these words I am writing now and I am reading the same. When I say I do all these, I am feeling it in my brain thought the neural activity and the action potential created in the brain, when it sense the action potential created by all the sense objects. What create all these senses? 

 My brain. 

What is my brain? 

A collection of cells.

What are cells?

A biological compartment bound by lipid bilayer to hold various macromolecules such as protein, nucleic acids and other elements so that biochemical reactions can happen to produce energy to create more of these cells.

What is a biochemical reactions?

It is the interaction between various biomolecules to generate various products that are critical to sustain the sustence of cells and life.

What are biomolecules?

These are chemical molecules made up of chemical compounds that are arranged in certain order and oriented in precise three-dimensional ways.

What are chemical compounds?

These are composite of precisely arranged atoms.

What are atoms?

The are particles composed on protons neutrons and electrons.

What are protons, neutrons and electrons?

Protons are assemblies of particles called quarks, and electron, I only know that they exist and I am taught that they are fundamental prarticle with no known substructure.

(see below for image link)

What are quarks?

Quarks are fundamental particle that constitute all matter.

How many quarks and electrons are in our body?

I do not know?

If my eyes had the resolution power to see sub-atomic particles what would I see?

Sub-atomic particles?

If my eyes had that power, what would I see when I look at this computer? When I look at my beloved? When I look at my parents? When I look at a black mamba? when I look at a tarantula? When I look at a rose? When I look at my car? When I look at anything in the univers?

Sub-atomic particles.

How would I know it belongs to them, not me?

Is there are Black, Asian, Caucacian particles?

My identity, therefore, depends on my inability to see the true nature of things.

Who am I?

The cognizing power of massless particles? The cognizing power of emptiness?

I am stardust, just like anything else that I know. Yet, I am who I am as my mind projects. You are what my mind project, the world is what it is as my mind project. 

In ancient Indian literature, there is a beautiful description of similar line of thoughts, that explore the question of who am I, through objective examination to find out who I am not. It is called "Nirvana Shatakam".

Here is the translation of that verse. It says we are all Shiva.  Please do not bring the image of a man wearing snake around his neck when you hear Shiva. One interpreted meaning of that word is: "that which is not". Meaning: if you think it as something, just know that it is not what you think it is. You are not going to find the answer by intellectualizing it. You need to experience it. How? One day we may all will know ....

Nirvana Shathakam (from: https://mooji.org/music/sahaja-samadhi/8):

I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory.
I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes.
I am not space, not earth, not fire, water or wind.
I am the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am the eternal Shiva.

I am not the breath, nor the five elements.
I am not matter, nor the five sheaths of consciousness,
nor am I the speech, the hands, or the feet.
I am the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am the eternal Shiva.

There is no like or dislike in me, no greed or delusion.
I know not pride or jealousy.
I have no duty, no desire for wealth, lust or liberation.
I am the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am the eternal Shiva.

No virtue or vice, no pleasure or pain.
I need no mantras, no pilgrimage, no scriptures or rituals.
I am not the experienced, nor the experience itself.
I am the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am the eternal Shiva.

I have no fear of death, no caste or creed.
I have no father, no mother, for I was never born.
I am not a relative, nor a friend, nor a teacher nor a student.
I am the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am the eternal Shiva.

I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness.
I exist everywhere, pervading all senses.
I am neither attached, neither free nor captive.
I am the form of consciousness and bliss.
I am the eternal Shiva.

Image Courtesy: https://nautil.us/issue/16/nothingness/an-atheists-guide-to-spirituality