SCI-ART LAB

Science, Art, Litt, Science based Art & Science Communication

  Q: In light of a proposed Anti-Superstition Bill, how can we separate traditional rituals and superstitions? http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/do-we-need-an-anti-superstiti....

Krishna:  Traditional rituals can be superstitious! Like sacrificing animals in some temples to appease the so called Gods and Goddesses to get good luck or bountiful rains.

We have to use our critical thinking skills to learn and distinguish between culture and traditions based on irrationality and rational thoughts. What worries us the most is people are using pseudo-science to authenticate baseless beliefs and argue that they are not superstitious. And man on the street cannot clearly see what is what!

As long as traditions and culture don’t harm the societies we live in, we can tolerate them. The moment they cross the line, it is time to discord the ones that cause suffering.

All irrational beliefs, irrespective of their origins, must be discarded. We don’t want any exceptions.

Call the critical thinkers! 

But laws cannot change the mind sets of people! Educate them in the right way to get them on the right track.

Q: What was your "I am surrounded by idiots" moment?
Krishna : I feel at least once in a day that I am in the 'wrong company'. I think I would go insane if I stayed with people of silly ‘strange ideas’, ‘scientific explanations’, ‘knowledge’ , ‘expertise’ and ‘advises’. Run away moments. Total isolation moments.
But wait. I have to deal with them as long as I live in this world. I try to ‘tell’ them what they think they know is ‘pseudo-thing’. Some listen, some don’t. Some try to ‘counter’ my knowledge and the science I know. ‘Where are my ear plugs?’ moments.
I run … run … until I reach my home, close the doors, sit before my PC and my ‘lecturing the world’ moments begin!
Now you know why scientists prefer fort like labs!
Did I hear Somebody say - ‘Scientists have to deal with protons, neutrons and electrons in their labs. But they very often have to deal with morons when they come out of their work places’? moments!

But I can't blame people for all this. I feel bad and sad when I think that most others didn't get the chance I got to learn and think critically about things and situations like I do.

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”

Q: How has religion affected the human tendency to be curious and know about the world?

Krishna: During the pre-scientific era, when people don’t know how to go about learning about the facts that run this universe, when they wanted some kind of theory which could explain all this, they thought about explanations and theories which gradually led into beliefs. These beliefs, which were influenced by the times they lived in i.e., non-scientific reasoning, were products of constant fear of the unknown. Instead of taking on the fear head on and finding permanent solutions, they just escaped into the world of false beliefs that gave them temporary relief. In a world where people clutch at all kinds of straws to make some sense of the madness around them, truth can never be found. Instead of analyzing, examining and understanding why something happens and how it should be handled, they tried shortcuts by bringing unknown and untested factors to interpret things! These beliefs divided people because each person had a different set of experiences and those in turn influenced their explanations and the resultant beliefs based on their mental makeup and situations and not on one truth. That's how different beliefs - both religious and non-religious - originated.

Then people were curious alright but highly incapable of finding the facts because of lack of knowledge and ways to acquire and accumulate it. They were imaginative and creative and so several stories originated. People had no choice too and therefore believed everything they came across and their fears took refuge in.

This restricted their thinking process too because they had no facts to direct their critical analysis and therefore, their progress. Minds were narrowed down alarmingly. People thought they had all the answers about the world. “God of Gaps” - became the mode of explanation.

Unless we come out of such primitive mind matters, we can’t move forward much now too.

Science and Spirituality

Q:During my school and college days there were a lot of atheists in my class.Now, all youngsters are believers of God. Do you think that this is a good change?  

Krishna: This shows that we are in uncertain times and people are highly confused about themselves and their future.

I read an absorbing research paper on this sometime back and wrote on it too. The study was done on fishermen.

When Trobriand (in South Pacific)Islanders went fishing their behavior changed, depending on where they fished. When they fished close to shore—where the waters were calm, the fishing was consistent, and the risk of disaster was low—superstitious behavior among them was nearly nonexistent. But when the fishermen sailed for open seas—where they were far more vulnerable and their prospects far less certain—their behavior shifted. They became very superstitious, often engaging in elaborate religious rituals to ensure success. In other words, a low sense of control had produced a high need for superstition and belief. One, in effect, substituted for the other.

Hah! Science's rules are unyielding, they will not be bent in any way fo...

Q: What was the turning point of your life that changed you completely?
Krishna: Getting a Ph.D. in science. It changed my whole perspective of the universe and life!

Like they say - a mind that is expanded by knowledge can never go back to its original size again. It sees the world in a new light, puts it into a new equation mode, generates wonderful feelings, makes you confident, strong, free and takes you up and up!

You have to experience this to really understand how it can change you into a whole new person!

Q: Is it true that having dimple on the cheek is the sign of luck?  

Krishna: It is not a sign of luck. There are no signs of luck in the first place. Whatever you think about luck is just your perception. That is all and doesn’t effect your condition or situation much except for giving a psychological boost if you believe in lucky things.

What is 'luck' according to science

Q: Does luck play a key role in success?

‘Luck’ is an excuse given by people who lost control over the situations they are in

What is 'luck' according to science

Based on the above one... when somebody argued...

Somebody:"There are certain things and parts where human efforts are of no use "

Krishna: Not true!

Somebody: ‘’On the day of exam, you get typhoid and you we're sure to Ace in it what will u you do’’

Krishna: You can take precautions before your exams and avoid falling sick with typhoid. I am a microbiologist and I know for sure how to hoodwink these microbes.

Somebody: ‘’You get struck on 3hour traffic’’

Krishna: You can start early to avoid traffic.

When you are careless , you start blaming your luck! Hmmm!

Q: Do animals have compassion?

Krishna: Animals do ignore their malformed babies. A few might even outright eat their mutated or smallest babies (like hamsters, where the "runts" get eaten by mom if you don't separate them quickly), or just not feed them. Sometimes the babies compete and eat each other (like sharks in a womb in those species that give live birth... yes carnivorous fetuses). Other times, the animals need not do anything. A malformed animal in nature will die. It can't compete for food (be it accessing a mammal mom's teat or hunting on its own), or escape predators well. If it does survive, it will never find a mate. Albino peacocks, deer with tiny horns, stag beetles with tiny jaws... yes, these are all males, but in each case they usually cannot attract a female as they are. The mutation dies with them.

Some animals will kill malformed babies, even if -to our eyes- they look perfectly fine. Dogs and other canids, cats and other felines, hamsters and other rodents, and birds will more often than not kill any sick offspring so as not to waste time and resources raising it, taking away from the healthy offspring. This is why these animals also tend to have big litters: if one dies, there’s four others to take its place and carry on with the species.

Some animals simply abandon the malformed baby or scare it off, such as horses, gazelles, and buffalo. This is because these animals are prey animals, so the mother cannot stay in the birthspot for too long, or predators will smell her and come for a meal. If the foal or calf cannot stand about 10–15 minutes after birth, the mother will move on and the baby will starve or be hunted.

Some other animals might try to raise the malformed baby, such as domestic cows, elephants, most apes, and other animals which tend to have only one baby after a relatively long gestation period. Even if it doesn’t make it to adulthood, they spent so much time gestating the baby that they absolutely must try to raise it. These animals often die victims of predators (in the case of malformed limbs) or starvation (for animals with cleft palates).

Nature has no place for the deformed or weakened or ugly. Only humans, with medicine and social justice and compassion, act otherwise.

In Nature ... survival of the fittest ... is the law!

Q: Why is number four unlucky?

Krishna: No number is unlucky. It just is a superstition that some numbers are unlucky. Like other superstitions people follow, they give several explanations and stories. People who have weak minds and cannot control the situations in their lives believe in them and follow them to get a psychological boost. That’s all!

What is 'luck' according to science

Q: Don't you think your body has a vital role to play when it comes to your confidence level?  

Krishna: My mind has a vital role in having a confident life - not my physical features. Tremendous knowledge and the capability to analyse things critically makes you highly confident permanently.

Health plays a role to some extent. If you are strong mentally, you can overcome your health issues too.

If you depend on physical features for your confidence, as soon as you find them going weak or turning old or showing flaws, you lose your confidence. This type of dependence on body for confidence is temporary.

Q: Why is getting a haircut on a Thursday considered a bad omen in India?  

Krishna: Some say it is Tuesdays that are bad to have a hair-cut! Most of the barber shops will be closed on Tuesdays here. I, therefore, specifically cut my hair on Tuesdays to prove the superstitious wrong!

There will be no rational reasons behind irrational thoughts. Some try to relate unrelated things when they lose control over things in their lives and blame everything else that is not related to the circumstance instead of their weaknesses.

Give me a superstition, I will try my best to break it. Give me an irrational belief and will prove it wrong. Guys, come out of these backward mind games. Become strong and rational. Gain full control over your lives.

Q: When it comes to God, why is the burden of proof on believers?  

Krishna: Well, if you imagine something and claim your imagination is true, how can you ask somebody else to prove it? You have to prove it yourself to get authentication. If you can’t do that why should others - who can’t imagine what you could - do that?
It is your baby, when you conceived it, you cannot ask others to nurture it and bring it up!

Q: Parents often say "You'll know what life is when we won't be there anymore", this thought of not having them there freezes me with fear sometimes and I just pray. What should I do to get over this fear?
Krishna : 

Almost all children fear this situation. Losing loving and caring parents is the worst thing that can happen to anyone.

And it has happened to me too. I lost both my parents but the training they gave me while they were living with me and the tremendous confidence I got because of my education, knowledge, critical thinking capabilities that ‘re obtained during my science training stood by me during the most trying times in my life.

It is not religion, God or prayers that made me strong. It is this … Science tries to strengthen our minds permanently by making us real...

and

Science's rules are unyielding, they will not be bent in any way fo...

If you are surprised, read the articles by clicking on the links!

And don’t worry, your parents just want to make you a responsible person and that is why, they say that. Become a responsible person by learning what they want you to learn. You will gain confidence. All your fears will melt away!

Q: What are the benefits of being alone/having no friends? Krishna : I have lots of friends and relatives. But I prefer isolation! Why? Because… My creativity needs total isolation. It is perfectly alright to hav...
Q: How can I be in a supreme bliss no matter what the situation around me is?
Krishna: By understanding reality in the way it should be done by doing completely neutral reasoning.

These articles would help you …

STAYING CALM AMIDST CHAOS

Science's rules are unyielding, they will not be bent in any way fo...

Science and Spirituality

Science tries to strengthen our minds permanently by making us real...

There isn't anything 'your's' in this universe!

Q: What is your perspective of life after death?

Krishna: Nothing. You just cease to exist after death. Your body decomposes and the atoms and energy that it constituted is re-cycled. Period.

Soul?! What is it according to science and scientists?

Q: What should I do to remain isolated and socially unaffected?

Read, think, write, paint, play and work like mad. You will forget all about the world!

People will say whatever they want, but insulate yourself with critical thinking and the right analysis of the deeds you do. You won’t get effected socially at all.

Q: Rightly speaking to what extent may we genuinely rely on astrology?
Krishna : If you are a rational thinker, you don’t rely on it at all! Here are the reasons why…
Q: What makes you respect another person? Krishna : His or her intellect!  
Q: Is it better to die suddenly or have a few months/years to prepare for death while suffering from an illness?
Krishna : It is better to die suddenly without worrying much about it or suffering from health conditions!
Q: What types of men make horrible husbands?
Krishna: That depends on a wife’s view point! For instance, Some like fun -loving persons while others prefer serious ones.

On the whole today’s women think abusive, selfish, orthodox (who ill-treat women), lazy men who don’t do what they can, make worst husbands.

Q: What's the reason why humans cannot think both positive and negative things at the same time? Krishna: Who says so? The immediate thing that came to my mind when I read this question is research paper review. If you don’t cover all the aspects of a research topic, the reviewers will question you and roast you alive and recommend refusal.
Yes, critical thinkers can cover all the aspects of a topic or idea at the same time and therefore think about both positive and negative things at the same time.
Q: What are the physical features of a Jupiter ruled person in astrology?  
Krishna: Your physical features mostly depend on your genes and some external factors like environment and nutrition, not on his or her astrology. Jupiter has nothing to do with it!

Debate between scientists and people who practice pseudo-science - ...

Q: How can we make the world more positive?

Krishna: Let us make it more realistic. That would be better than illusionary positiveness because being realistic makes one more strong.

Q: Why does a genuine astrologer say we should not show our horoscope chart to everyone?  

Krishna: Because they are afraid they would be exposed by critical analysis! Like this: Debate between scientists and people who practice pseudo-science - ...

Q: What does it feel like to experience a paranormal activity?
Krishna : That depends on the person!
“ Paranormal” activity is illusion created by your brain under certain conditions.
People who don’t realize this think these experiences are real ones and get scared or become more religious.
People who have a rational mind analyse and investigate the ‘paranormal activities’ thoroughly until they get the real and accurate answers.

Science and the paranormal

Q: Some Indian women go to the temple when they have their menstrual flow. Is it a bad thing?
Krishna : According to science, there isn’t anything ‘bad’ or ‘unclean’ about menstrual flow. You can do anything you want during your periods.  
Q: Does kundalini and astrology actually matter in case of marriages?
Krishna: They don’t! Astrology doesn’t make any sense at all for critical thinkers and it is actually ‘pseudo-science’ and not correctly ‘vedic’ at all. Read here why:

Debate between scientists and people who practice pseudo-science - Part 2

Q: How much of a factor is luck in any type of success?

True scientists don't believe in luck! They are go-getters and think only well planned hard work will yield good results. While lazy people believe in it and escapists blame 'bad' luck when they lost control over their lives and the situation they are in.

What others call luck, true scientists call chance of finding something while searching for it vigorously and whole-heartedly using all your capabilities, keen observation and knowledge and grabbing the chance when the opportunity presents itself to you.

Your success actually depends on your right efforts, not good luck!

Your failure is caused by your 'not so sincere' work, not bad luck!

"Luck? What is it?" It just is your perception about the situation you are in!

What is 'luck' according to science

Q: What are some quotes about zodiac signs?

 Debate between scientists and people who practice pseudo-science - Part 2

Q: Why do so many people believe in God, but not in ghosts?
Krishna: Critical thinkers realize there is no difference in believing in both.
But we can understand.
Believing in God gives some emotional strength to some.
Believing in Ghosts gives the opposite vibes.
Because their minds were conditioned in that way. ‘God’ ( Reciting Hanuman Chalisa) protects you from ghosts! God is a good thing and helps you, ghost is a bad thing and hurts you.
Actually it is your mind that is playing games with you, neither God, nor ghosts.
Q: What should we do when luck doesn't favour us?
Krishna: Believing in luck itself is not a good attitude. There isn’t anything called luck actually and it just is your excuse to escape your responsibility in your failure.

Your success actually depends on your right efforts, not good luck!

Your failure is caused by your 'not so sincere' work, not bad luck!

"Luck? What is it?" It just is your perception about the situation you are in!

If you really want to have success you should think confidently, aspire intensely, feel enthusiastically and harmoniously about yourselves, your lives, the people you interact with and everything that happens to you. You have to have full knowledge about what you are dealing with. It also tells us that if our lives seem to be plagued by failure, it is because our own mental preoccupations, fears, doubts, anxieties, self-pity, resentments and frustrations are attracting the very opposite of what we consciously aspire for. What some people call 'Luck' and 'misfortune' are actually mirrors which life holds up reflecting what we are inside or what is happening inside.

Everything depends on us, on what we think and feel inside. Everything can come under our control, if only we become conscious. The Secret is based on a profound knowledge: The inner determines the outer.

Failures might occur in life. When they do, you should revisit your problem, analyse it thoroughly in an enlightened way and think you haven't found a proper solution to it yet and that's why you couldn't overcome it, then try to get one, increase your efficiency of the effort, plug the loopholes and go after it with all your might to defeat it.

What is 'luck' according to science

Science's rules are unyielding, they will not be bent in any way fo...

Q: Can a person be intelligent and dumb at the same time? Krishna :
Intellectuals can behave strangely sometimes. This is not actual dumbness.

A story about a famous scientist: It seems the scientist had two cats-one kitten & its mother. The scientist built a house for his two cats. He left two openings to the house – one small (for the small cat) & one big (for the big cat). It didn’t occur to the scientist at that time – who is considered as a genius – that one big opening was enough for both the cats!

Another story: Norbert Wiener, an American mathematician, was known for his absent-mindedness. He used to drive to work at Harvard in the morning and come back home in the evening. One day there was to be a change in the routine. The Wieners had sold their house and were moving to the new residence that day. His wife had spared him all the details of the transaction and simply told him that they had sold the house and were moving to another that day, so he must remember to come back in the evening to the new address, which she gave him along with instructions on how to get there. Of course, Wiener forgot and, like on every working day, came back to the old house which he found locked. He could not figure why. Then he saw a young girl standing near the gate and asked her if she knew where the Wieners had gone. The girl replied: “Yes, daddy! I will take you there. Mummy had told me to bring you when you returned here from work.” :)

A scientist’s mind will be completely drowned in his thoughts & work. It doesn’t take notice of other things that happen around it & doesn’t think about normal things! So scientists behave in weird ways sometimes! It doesn’t mean that they are stupid or weird. They just don’t care about mundane things & don’t want to waste time by thinking about them & do them very casually as their priorities lie else where. Unless & until they cut off the world around them and completely immerse their minds in their work, they cannot find solutions to the complex & difficult problems they deal with. They have to decrease the cognitive load on their minds by removing small and unimportant things from their minds. When they do this, they behave strangely which might look foolish to others.

If intelligent people apply their minds fully to mundane things, they won’t do these silly things. But when a mind’s priority lie elsewhere, when tehy have to conserve their intellectual capabilities for important work, they have to forego this luxury and even if others think an intelligent person can do silly things, it is not actually lack of capabilities. It is lack of interest in doing mundane or routine things correctly that make them look dumb.  

Q: In astrology, which planet cause anxiousness and how can I avoid it?

Krishna: I was asked to answer this question.
My only reply is: Consult a psychiatrist, not an astrologer, if you want a genuine cure.

Q: How would you clearly differentiate between learning acquired by education and through experience?
Krishna: Your Experience is the education you learn in your life’s school and is first hand if you are a good learner. People who try to avoid problems should realize that life without problems are like schools without teachers. You don’t learn your lessons properly.

If you are not a good learner, what you learn in schools and other educational institutions make you just literate, not educated.

Real education is the one that takes your mind and heart towards the right direction.

Learning in educational institutes gives you second hand information and others’ views unless you yourself experiment and see the results for yourself and derive a conclusion like we do in sciences (then it becomes your experience again). If you are not a very keen learner, others’ views don’t stick to your mind properly.

Education obtained through experience is first hand and deep.

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