Technology has enabled many feats that were previously thought impossible. In spiritual traditions, these technological achievements are likened to "siddhis" or extraordinary powers. However, philosophy also views both the internal and external universe as "maya" or an illusion of changing reality rather than absolute truth. While technology can reveal aspects of reality not otherwise visible, it also runs the risk of creating new illusions and delusions that can mislead. The absolute truth lies in cosmic consciousness, which can be experienced through constant remembrance and contemplation of the divine name or "namasmran."

1. TECHNOLOGY
SIDDHI
AND
MAYA
DR.
SHRINIWAS
JANARDAN
KASHALIKAR

2. Technology has made many things,
thought to be impossible in the past,
easily possible!
In common language these technological
feats could be conceived and appreciated
as extraordinary achievements. In
spiritual tradition such achievements
(though through different means and
ways) are called SIDDHIS.
ADWAITA philosophy refers to the
internal and external universe as MAYA
or MITHYA, to indicate and convey its
changing, fleeting and hence deceptive
nature. I conceive MAYA as relative
reality as distinguished from absolute.
Technology validates this perspective in
many ways.

3. It is through technology (modern
siddhis) that we realize that what we see
in the immediate vicinity with naked
eyes is only apparent and the ‘reality’ of
electromagnetic radiations and microbes
is not apparent.
The transmission of news on the news
channels of electronic media; validates
with great impact, that every situation,
every person, every success or failure
and every moment, are ephemeral,
transient and fleeting!
The internet highlights the fact not
appreciable to otherwise intelligent
mind; that millions of people are reading
and thinking about what is uploaded and
millions of people are engaged in
different activities beneficial or harmful
to mankind.

4. It is however necessary to appreciate;
that whatever is apparent through
technology is also fleeting and
superficial. In other words, it is also;
relative reality and not absolute! In fact,
technology can create illusions,
delusions and thereby hallucinatory
effects leading to paranoid feelings and
behavior. For example, the larger than
life presentation of movies, serials,
reality shows, advertisements; can create
havoc, especially in young minds. The
technological feats (siddhis) thus can
unveil the maya on the one hand and
create far more illusory and deceptive
replications of MAYA on the other!
What is absolute?

5. We find ultimate culmination of your life
in the absolute (often referred by me as
cosmic consciousness). It is in this
cosmic consciousness that we experience
the ultimate of peace, harmony and bliss.
I am being increasingly convinced that
the way to this “absolute” is
NAMASMRAN!
One can verify this conviction on the
basis of extensive study, discussion,
contemplation and most importantly, the
practice of NAMASMARAN!