Vikram collected an acquiescent Baetal from the Peepal tree where he returned to, and once again started the long journey back to Ujjaini, where the the demon Mara awaited their return holding the King's son for ransom. Baetal's stipulations had not changed, he would narrate a story and Vikram would have to answer his questions and keep him engaged throughout the journey. Baetal stated his story ...
A long time ago , in the illustrious kingdom of Ujjaini lived the ascetic Dayananda that exuded sanctity that he was fabled to levitate during his meditation. One day during his meditation, his soul left his body and astrally projected itself, and in this state of enlightenment, he could travel without boundaries, uninhibited by physical barriers to the very ends of the cosmos. He decided to use his power for the good of the village and its people.
One day a woman came to him holding her daughter in her arms; the child was sick and unconscious. Dayananda consoled the mother and began to meditate, he reached the point of astral projection and left his own body and entered the child's mind. He cleansed the child from her illness and she slowly opened her eyes. Dayananda who was still inhabiting the child's body could now see, hear, touch and sense the world through the girl. It was as if Dayanada suddenly had a little girl for his body. Dyananda was on a higher plane of existence now, where he could experience the world as another being. He could see his own body though the girl's eyes, sitting in meditation just a few feet away. He quickly noticed that something was not right, it was his robe, and it was green. He knew he was wearing a saffron robe, but it somehow appeared green to him, or to the girl rather. As he looked around, he noticed that all colors seemed wrong; Trees seemed to have blue leaves, Milk seemed to be red like blood and sandal wood seemed to be purple. Intrigued, he left the girl's being and projected his soul into the mother perceiving the world from the mother's eyes. To his amazement, the colors were again different, but this time different from the child's perception too. His yellow robe now looked red, and the trees had white leaves, Milk was blue. Suddenly his train of thought came to an abrupt halt and asked himself, "What does 'Yellow' really mean ?"
Thus Baetal concluded his story and turned to Vikram " Oh great King of Ujjaini, riddle me this, What does 'Yellow' really mean ? "
( Based on the "Mary's Room" thought experiment first proposed by Frank Jackson in his article "Epiphenomenal Qualia" [1982] )
What exactly do words mean ? We use it to describe the world in and around us; our thoughts and feelings; sights and sounds around us. It is taken for granted, this interface though which we collaborate and express the myriad and ever changing landscape of our lives. Magical as it may seem at first, a closer look at the use of language tells us that it is limited to perspective. What that means is that ultimately a person using words is merely enunciating how things appear to him/her alone. The difference between using language to communicate as opposed to truly conveying what one feels and thinks without the limitation of words and symbols is the slight gap between the notion of words themselves and the meanings they carry. When one says that the tomato is red and another agrees, they share an idea, perceive a certain quality of color in the tomato that both call red. They express what they perceive using the same words, but they may not necessarily experience it the same way.
The human brain interprets color based on the wavelength of light emitted or reflected by an object. Humans are classified as Trichromats in color perception, and it is now argued that we are in fact blocked tetrachromats. Regardless how the retina works, the manner in which retinal stimuli is interpreted by the brain is what constitutes visual perception, and it is this very notion of visual perception that is in question. How can we be sure that the same wavelength is perceived by two brains in the same way, causing the same visual perception ?
The idea pursued is that how can one trust one's senses, and if they are to be assumed true, how true is "truth" ? It is possible to make a counter argument that if the all brains did not process the wavelength similarly, we could never identify color blind people. In reality though, color blindness reinforces the notion that visual perception may be different for the same color, because color blindness is detected by a person's inability to distinguish between certain colors, and not the inability to perceive any one given color. A color blind person cannot distinguish between shades that are close to each other in greyscale, but far apart in the trichromatic spectrum.
When two people see the same color, they are infact just percieveing a commonality. For the same reason, two people who dont speak the same language can tell the color of an object and translate the word for the color in to thier own language. But are they translating correctly ?
Furthermore, what does correctness mean in this context ? They both see the same object, but if they percieve it differently, who is right ? and is there a right at all ?
This paradox appears in other situations unrelated to visual perception as well. When a patient tells the doctor, he/she has a "shooting pain" or "dull headache" what do they mean ? There is no way for a doctor to truly understand them without experiencing it by himself. Touching a red hot object hurts, it burns; but what does it feel like, and do everyone feel it the same as you do ? It seems the world we live in purely based on perspectives. How true are universal truths ? What is truth but a perception of a person, living or dead, that another simply accepts to be his own ? What does "Yellow" mean ?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Vikram & Baetal - Ice that wasn't
Vikram, sworn in to silence, had started the journey back to Ujjiani, with Baetal on his back. Baetal stared his story...
Once upon a time in Ujjaini, there was a great drought that lasted for several centuries. The people of Ujjaini over the time had become nomadic, always traveling in search of water and resources. It was the 312th year of the draught, and all but the elders had forgotten how it used to be a prosperous populace.
Savitri was the village seeress, and today she was was rejoicing her brother Hima's return from his decade long journey from the unknown far away lands. He brought with him stories of many magical sights, mystical creatures, impossible adventures and many strange tribes. Among the many wonders that he had seen was a magical and magnificent crystal brilliant as a diamond, colder than a desert night and amazingly changed into water when you held it. The townsfolk were baffled by this new and unimaginably wonderful treasure that Hima had witnessed. Hima explained to the townsfolk that there were regions in the northern wastelands that were so cold that the river water stops flowing and
turns in to a solid translucent block. Everyone except Savitri was overcome by awe hearing about solid water. Savitri just said it was a lie, and it could not exist. The law of the gods forbade it.
Savitri challenged her brother in public, and asked him to prove it. Hima said that when it becomes warm, the solid water turns back in to liquid, so by the time he would bring back the magnificent crystal, it would be nothing but water. Savitri mocked him and said
"Ha ! So you cant bring it when asked, and you ask me to believe this? Why brother, such tall tales? Whats next? Dragons that breathe fire? Pigs that Fly? You seem to underestimate the intelligence of our people. We may not have gone beyond our tribe in search of adventure, but our wisdom is one that has grown over the centuries and we have not lost the capacity to reason !".
Hima was lost for words.
Thus concluded Baetal's story and he asked
"Oh ! Great King, Vikram the wise of Ujjaini, what would you advise your citizen Hima to do ?"
( Based on Chapter 10, 'On Miracles' from 'An Essay on Human Understanding' by David Hume, 1748. )
Vikram pondered over the question and replied, "Savitri is right in not believing everything that has been told to her, as more often than not, it is just an exaggeration. But at the same time, we know that Hima was speaking the truth and Savitri was being beligerent in accusing Hima of making up the story of Ice. We know this because we know that ice exists. It is not a tale of fantasy for us, it is just a plain everyday fact.
Savitri is right in questioning an unknown, unproved claim, but she also has to accept the fact that she never witnessed it. The flaw is that she was excreting something which she could not disprove either. Had she made the journey with Hima, and saw and experienced the same sights and adventures, she had the grounds to refute him.
Does this mean that one should experience everything to make up one's own mind about something ? Not really, but the fact is that we often do this unknowingly, and attach skepticism to only those ideas that are not easily tested. Most trivial comments like the question of splendid mangoes from a particular tree in the village attracts less criticism, because at one time or the other the listener has had or will have an opportunity to experience it. But the story of a distant tree across the mountains and beyond the seas, that bears diamonds as fruit is bound to raise eyebrows, and soft chuckles.
Within the more serious realms of faith and beliefs too it holds good. Believers have a hard time convincing non-believers the "truth" and vice versa. Miracles are attributed to divine intervention. Within the social fabric weaved through with a notion of a supreme being, another explanation is heretic. Theories of faith are not easily proved, but faith has a tricky way of not requiring proof, it is what quantifies it.
Had Hima met a saint who took him in to the future, to discover the great truths about life and the world we live in, which were, suppose, against the prelevant notions of the day, he would have been greeted with a similar response, for the simple reason that his notions would have been far too much against the common wisdom of the time and its people.
This does not mean that Hima's story about ice is to be believed blindly. People need to make the decision for themselves; I believe, it is that capability within us, which enables us to choose our own truths that make us human. The only thing that Savitri needs to remember is to to keep an open mind, and not jump to conclusions just because opposing a radical idea maybe be simpler, or because an idea may compromise her own faith in her beliefs."
Beatal laughed at the king, "Vikram, you are indeed wise, but we are not yet out of the forest, and you have run out of words. You have broken the promise you made, that you'll keep the journey light with your wisdom..."
Beatal flew back to the forest on to his tree, and resumed his inverted stance. Vikram, ran to get him back...
[to be continued]
Once upon a time in Ujjaini, there was a great drought that lasted for several centuries. The people of Ujjaini over the time had become nomadic, always traveling in search of water and resources. It was the 312th year of the draught, and all but the elders had forgotten how it used to be a prosperous populace.
Savitri was the village seeress, and today she was was rejoicing her brother Hima's return from his decade long journey from the unknown far away lands. He brought with him stories of many magical sights, mystical creatures, impossible adventures and many strange tribes. Among the many wonders that he had seen was a magical and magnificent crystal brilliant as a diamond, colder than a desert night and amazingly changed into water when you held it. The townsfolk were baffled by this new and unimaginably wonderful treasure that Hima had witnessed. Hima explained to the townsfolk that there were regions in the northern wastelands that were so cold that the river water stops flowing and
turns in to a solid translucent block. Everyone except Savitri was overcome by awe hearing about solid water. Savitri just said it was a lie, and it could not exist. The law of the gods forbade it.
Savitri challenged her brother in public, and asked him to prove it. Hima said that when it becomes warm, the solid water turns back in to liquid, so by the time he would bring back the magnificent crystal, it would be nothing but water. Savitri mocked him and said
"Ha ! So you cant bring it when asked, and you ask me to believe this? Why brother, such tall tales? Whats next? Dragons that breathe fire? Pigs that Fly? You seem to underestimate the intelligence of our people. We may not have gone beyond our tribe in search of adventure, but our wisdom is one that has grown over the centuries and we have not lost the capacity to reason !".
Hima was lost for words.
Thus concluded Baetal's story and he asked
"Oh ! Great King, Vikram the wise of Ujjaini, what would you advise your citizen Hima to do ?"
( Based on Chapter 10, 'On Miracles' from 'An Essay on Human Understanding' by David Hume, 1748. )
Vikram pondered over the question and replied, "Savitri is right in not believing everything that has been told to her, as more often than not, it is just an exaggeration. But at the same time, we know that Hima was speaking the truth and Savitri was being beligerent in accusing Hima of making up the story of Ice. We know this because we know that ice exists. It is not a tale of fantasy for us, it is just a plain everyday fact.
Savitri is right in questioning an unknown, unproved claim, but she also has to accept the fact that she never witnessed it. The flaw is that she was excreting something which she could not disprove either. Had she made the journey with Hima, and saw and experienced the same sights and adventures, she had the grounds to refute him.
Does this mean that one should experience everything to make up one's own mind about something ? Not really, but the fact is that we often do this unknowingly, and attach skepticism to only those ideas that are not easily tested. Most trivial comments like the question of splendid mangoes from a particular tree in the village attracts less criticism, because at one time or the other the listener has had or will have an opportunity to experience it. But the story of a distant tree across the mountains and beyond the seas, that bears diamonds as fruit is bound to raise eyebrows, and soft chuckles.
Within the more serious realms of faith and beliefs too it holds good. Believers have a hard time convincing non-believers the "truth" and vice versa. Miracles are attributed to divine intervention. Within the social fabric weaved through with a notion of a supreme being, another explanation is heretic. Theories of faith are not easily proved, but faith has a tricky way of not requiring proof, it is what quantifies it.
Had Hima met a saint who took him in to the future, to discover the great truths about life and the world we live in, which were, suppose, against the prelevant notions of the day, he would have been greeted with a similar response, for the simple reason that his notions would have been far too much against the common wisdom of the time and its people.
This does not mean that Hima's story about ice is to be believed blindly. People need to make the decision for themselves; I believe, it is that capability within us, which enables us to choose our own truths that make us human. The only thing that Savitri needs to remember is to to keep an open mind, and not jump to conclusions just because opposing a radical idea maybe be simpler, or because an idea may compromise her own faith in her beliefs."
Beatal laughed at the king, "Vikram, you are indeed wise, but we are not yet out of the forest, and you have run out of words. You have broken the promise you made, that you'll keep the journey light with your wisdom..."
Beatal flew back to the forest on to his tree, and resumed his inverted stance. Vikram, ran to get him back...
[to be continued]
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Vikram and Beatal [part 1]
This is my first attempt at a series of posts. They were inspired by Julian Baggini's excellent book "The Pig that wants to be eaten, and 99 other thought experiments". It shall follow the protagonist of classic Indian folklore, Vikram and his pursuit of Beatal the undead corpse (read Zombie) , except Beatal's stories are now some thought experiments with my own take on it. I've also taken liberties with he story of Vikram and Beatal, basically cutting out a lot of mythology BS, which didn't seem appropriate this context and have further bastardised it by throwing in a few of my own twists and turns. So here goes..
Long time ago, in far away the kingdom of Ujjaini, was the most noblest of kings, Vikramaditya. Vikram the wise, as he was called by many, was well known for his generosity and wisdom. So it happened one day, that he received a mango from a merchant. It came with complements and a note to the king to give it to the poorest family in the country, and so the king did. The next day, he again received a mango with from the same merchant and the king grew curious, but the merchant simply said the king had inspired him to help the needy. The mangoes kept coming and one day, the king decided to eat one. He cut it open and out fell a ruby, so bright and so perfect and was the size of a lotus bud. The king was deeply moved by the kindness of the merchant and considered himself in debt to the merchant. It was then that the merchant transformed in to the demon Mara, and demanded the life of the king's son, the crown prince. The king ,not able to take back his promise begged the demon to ask not so high a price. The demon considered and said that he would spare the prince, if the king would undertake a quest and travel to the northern wastelands and hunt down Beatal, an undead corpse of lore.
The journey took the King forty days and forty nights across dark forests, deep mines and barren plains to the icy peaks of the northern wastelands. Ghouls roamed free and goblins hid in the shadows, but the Vikram never once faltered. He finally found Beatal, hanging upside down from a peepal tree. He had silver locks flowing free, deep set dark eyes that seemed to peer out from two caves, a hooked nose and blood red lips. Vikram walked up to him and untied him from the tree, then placing him on his shoulder Vikram started his return journey. Beatal was furious and immediately flew back to the tree resuming his inverted stance. Vikram approached and Beatal hissed "Stop where you are ! Why do you bother me in my eternal slumber ?"
The King taken aback for a while at the talking corpse, narrated his predicament.
Betal after hearing the story considered a moment, and then said "So Mara hunts me in the after life too; so be it, I shall come with you, but I have certain conditions" Beatal paused and continued " The journey back is long and I cannot set foot on earth, so you have to carry me on your back. I am of a loquacious disposition too so I shall narrate story to lighten the journey. You shall remain silent and listen to it; If I ask you a question you can tell me an answer, but otherwise, if I hear a word out of you, I shall return to my tree." Vikram agreed and hoisted up the corpse again and started the journey back to Ujjaini.
[To be continued...]
Long time ago, in far away the kingdom of Ujjaini, was the most noblest of kings, Vikramaditya. Vikram the wise, as he was called by many, was well known for his generosity and wisdom. So it happened one day, that he received a mango from a merchant. It came with complements and a note to the king to give it to the poorest family in the country, and so the king did. The next day, he again received a mango with from the same merchant and the king grew curious, but the merchant simply said the king had inspired him to help the needy. The mangoes kept coming and one day, the king decided to eat one. He cut it open and out fell a ruby, so bright and so perfect and was the size of a lotus bud. The king was deeply moved by the kindness of the merchant and considered himself in debt to the merchant. It was then that the merchant transformed in to the demon Mara, and demanded the life of the king's son, the crown prince. The king ,not able to take back his promise begged the demon to ask not so high a price. The demon considered and said that he would spare the prince, if the king would undertake a quest and travel to the northern wastelands and hunt down Beatal, an undead corpse of lore.
The journey took the King forty days and forty nights across dark forests, deep mines and barren plains to the icy peaks of the northern wastelands. Ghouls roamed free and goblins hid in the shadows, but the Vikram never once faltered. He finally found Beatal, hanging upside down from a peepal tree. He had silver locks flowing free, deep set dark eyes that seemed to peer out from two caves, a hooked nose and blood red lips. Vikram walked up to him and untied him from the tree, then placing him on his shoulder Vikram started his return journey. Beatal was furious and immediately flew back to the tree resuming his inverted stance. Vikram approached and Beatal hissed "Stop where you are ! Why do you bother me in my eternal slumber ?"
The King taken aback for a while at the talking corpse, narrated his predicament.
Betal after hearing the story considered a moment, and then said "So Mara hunts me in the after life too; so be it, I shall come with you, but I have certain conditions" Beatal paused and continued " The journey back is long and I cannot set foot on earth, so you have to carry me on your back. I am of a loquacious disposition too so I shall narrate story to lighten the journey. You shall remain silent and listen to it; If I ask you a question you can tell me an answer, but otherwise, if I hear a word out of you, I shall return to my tree." Vikram agreed and hoisted up the corpse again and started the journey back to Ujjaini.
[To be continued...]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
