A Leaf from the past

By (Translation: Dr. R. V. Sharma) - Apr 24, 2009

The method used by the ancients was the faculty of intuition. Even today, one finds in science, many drugs have been ‘chanced’ upon. We explain this phenomenon as follows: a scientist X is preoccupied with the idea of finding a certain cure. He first uses rational methods to their utmost. Failing this, his mental faculties are sort of silenced or stilled, even if for a while. Yet his intense search creates a condition of receptive concentration. This concentration, receptivity and stillness create the most fertile ground for intuition to develop. Later, he brushes aside the whole phenomenon as chance. The sages, aware of this, directly proceeded to ‘brain-stilling’, instead of the indirect method of preoccupation with thought (brain storming) and subsequent exhaustion of mental energies. As ‘brain-stilling’ is more difficult than ‘brain-storming’ for many, they developed other methods, so that knowledge could be gained by the fourfold examination of all existent and non-existent phenomena as authoritative statement (intuition), perception, inference and rationale. This journal uses all four methods for its enquiry and present purposes.