Guest guest Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Dr. J.C. Bose (1858 –1937) is said to have discovered that trees and plants have life and react to stimuli. I do not know whether this was known to science earlier. Scientist members of this group must be able to say. But it is interesting that this has been stated by Sri Sankara himself in his bhAshya on chandogya upanishad, VI. 11. 2:-- " That a tree is possessed of a soul is indicated by such signs as exudation and drying up of sap. From the illustration in the Sruti that the non-moving living things are possessed of consciousness, the view of the Buddhists and the vaiSeshikas, who hold that the non-moving things have no consciousness, is seen to be without substance " . S.N.Sastri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 advaitin , " S.N. Sastri " <sn.sastri wrote: > > Dr. J.C. Bose (1858 –1937) is said to have discovered that trees and plants > have life and react to stimuli. I do not know whether this was known to > science earlier. Namaste, Not only plants, but metals too! A wonderful tribute by (late) Sri Chinmoy can be read at: http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/mother-india-lighthouse/8.html Regards, Sunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 advaitin , " Sunder Hattangadi " <sunderh wrote: > > advaitin , " S.N. Sastri " <sn.sastri@> wrote: > > > > Dr. J.C. Bose (1858 –1937) is said to have discovered that trees and > plants > > have life and react to stimuli. I do not know whether this was known > to > > science earlier. > > Namaste, > > Not only plants, but metals too! This article appeared in The New York Times in 1903! http://tinyurl.com/2cv58r July 19, 1903, Sunday Regards, Sunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Sastriji, Thanks for raising a wonderful point. >>>Dr. J.C. Bose (1858 –1937) is said to have discovered that trees and plants have life and react to stimuli. I do not know whether this was known to science earlier. [uNQUOTE] Actually, as far as I know, biology is not very clear about one unambiguous definition of 'life', i.e. there is no 'definition' of life' which states that when the properties XYZ are present in an object, it is 'alive', otherwise, it is not alive. (or atleast I am unaware of such a definition. There recently was an article in NY Times whether so-called inanimate objects such as a rock have mind or consciousness. It is an interesting read. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/magazine/18wwln-lede-t.html ----- Apart from the Bhasya reference you quote, there is a reference in Kathopanishad suggesting that not only plants, but even inanimate objects like stones have 'life'. " 6 Well then, Gautama, I shall tell you about this profound and eternal Brahman and also about what happens to the atman after meeting death. 7 Some jivas enter the womb to be embodied as organic beings and some go into non-organic matter according to their work and according to their knowledge. " So, not only are animals and plants alive, but even rocks and all inorganic matter, albeit at a lower degree of evolution. ================================================= From an Advaitiic standpoint, only this position makes sense. Without the presence of jiva, there is no fundamental difference between what we call as 'physical body' and a rock, hence the jiva which can reflect in an otherwise insentient body can also reflect through a rock. The light is independent of the outer lamp, although for an external seer, the covering might dim the lamp. The light, of course, is same in all the lamps. Hari Om! ~Vaibhav. Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without download. Go to http://in.messenger./webmessengerpromo.php/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Not only plants, but metals too! And rocks and everything else! Even Ramana stated that the very rocks upon which people sat at the ashram were alive. It seems that maybe it's merely humankind's hubris that let's us exclude life from some parts of Brahman and include life in other parts! Other than for practical, everyday purpose and usage of these definitions, why should we presume to know what's alive and what isn't? (well, of course, if I talk to my shirt in public, or address a telephone pole, I shouldn't be surprised if I'm hauled away and given some practical advise on what's " alive " and what's " dead " !!!) ______________________________\ ____ Never miss a thing. Make your home page. http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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