Monday 10 April 2017

4. The Sensory Current



DISCOURSES ON
RADHASOAMI FAITH

BY
MAHARAJ SAHAB
Pandit Brahm Sankar Misra, M.A.


4. THE SENSORY CURRENT

            5. It is a matter of everyday experience that pleasure and pain are felt only when a sentient entity is in the normal condition of wakefulness. The moment the entity passes into the condition of dream or deep slumber, or into a condition of trance or that brought about by the administration of chloroform, there is no perception of pleasure or pain. It is therefore clear that the main factor in the perception of pleasure pain is that something, which recedes or becomes inoperative at the time the transmutation of the wakeful condition into the other conditions referred to, takes place. That something is technically known as the sensory current. A comprehension of the nature of this and the form in which it manifests itself constitutes therefore the initial step in the study of the phenomena of pleasure and pain.

            6. An examination and analysis of the following case of sensory action, which is one of everyday occurrence, would should the true nature of the sensory current, and would, it is hoped, remove to some extent the vagueness which appertains to its true nature and to the subjective functions. A person is deeply engaged in the solution of an intricate mathematical problem; hours pass by, the clock strikes, and yet he does not become cognizant of the time that has elapsed, or of the striking of the clock. The cause of this non-cognizance is not far to seek and can readily be stated. His attention, by its engrossment, in the solution of the problem, was diverted from other sides, and this resulted in the cessation of other perceptions which, under ordinary circumstances, would have duly produced their subjective effects. Yet the great truth and the laws, that underlie the explanation given above, have not been reduced to definite shapes, nor worked up to other conditions and formulae. The fundamental law of sensory action would appear to be that it manifests itself in the form of attention, and that its strength varies directly as does the intensity of attention, disappearing entirely when there is a complete diversion of attention. There are innumerable shades and degrees of attention, and in accordance with them the intensity of perception varies. The law enunciated above appertains to the phenomenon of perceptions of all classes as a whole. The following exposition differentiates the main features of the two great classes, viz., pleasure and pain, into which all perceptions may be broadly divided.

1 comment:

  1. Kindly also refer to one of the very significant discourse by His Holiness Maharaj Sahab (Author of Discourses on Radhasoami Faith).
    "There are two currents functioning in the Region of Pind. One is the intelligent current which is mixed up with Maya and nourishes the body. The other is the spirit current which is the force of attraction and conveys information to the brain. This current assumes the form of attention and engages in different activities. This current of the spirit is the Ansha (Emanation) of the Supreme Lord. But there is a difference between these two currents. The spirit current gives light and the other current is mixed up with the mind. The current of the spirit is known as the sensory current and the other is known as the motor current. These two currents function within the limits of the creation of Maya. In Dayal Desh, there is only one spirit current which has the force of attraction. There is no motor current there. (Bachan 37, Selected Bachans of Param Guru Maharaj Sahab)

    ReplyDelete