God, Man and Computer.

Let's consider a computer. It consists of hardware and software. But that's not enough. It requires electricity (power) to do the functions and give output.

In a human being or any other being for that matter, the physical body is the hardware, the mind (antahkarana) consisting of the faculties of the senses, storage, reason and intellect is the software. The Gunas (Sattava, Rajas and Tamas) are the programmes that are used to write the software. But all these become useless unless the computer is plugged in to a power source.

That electric power is God through invisible wires from which all the beings (animals, trees and humans) derive their power to function. The Atma or the power within us is not different within the universal grid (Paramatma). It is part of that universal power, yet it is a whole in its quality as in the universal grid.

The power of God in all of us is the same, like the same power drives all computers and machines. But they perform different functions as per their own programme.

The software can become corrupted due to corrupted programming. 

Similarly, the mind can get corrupted by the imbalanced Gunas and the activity of the man becomes defective.

The defects of the mind and the body are the defects of Gunas and cannot be attributed to the power within (the Atma) or God (the universal grid), just as the defects of the hardware or the software cannot be attributed to the power supply.

So long as the hardware is fine and the source of power is switched off temporarily, the computer retains all functions in memory and goes to sleep mode. But when the hardware is worn out and becomes useless, all the important files are transferred to another computer. The software, itself, is not destroyed.

The electric power cannot be destroyed by the hardware or the software. Similarly, God's power or the Atma cannot be destroyed by the elements that form the body.

Just as the software gets corrupted by virus and needs to be cleaned by regular anti-virus system, similarly the mind getting corrupted by evil thoughts needs to be cleaned with the constant reading of Gita (or other scriptures) which is the anti-virus for the mind.

God is the 3-phase supply of Sat, Chit and Anand.

But there is a fundamental difference between a man and a computer. The man is a defective piece. He suffers from defects viz. ignorance, ego, attraction and repulsion and fear of death whereas the computer has no such defects. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, went through the chores and by about 10' past 6, I was out of the house for my walk. It was refreshing and I saw my course mate, KR Nair of Kilo Squadron pass by - as usual, we waved at each other.  Lekha had gone to the Guruvayur temple, around a half past 9, as part of her weekly tryst.

The PCI guys - Hari and Ashik - reached by about 10 and began their work in right earnest. This was the first day of the 'Termi Seal Post Construction'. By 1700 hrs, they had completed the sitting room, the dining room, the guest bedroom and the entire exterior. There was quite a bit of dust and the sound of the drill that had to be got used to!

After seeing them off, I'd rushed off to the courier and collected my package, just 20' prior to their closing. Ramesh and Ramesh had come by to collect the two sacks, full of empty bottles, that they needed. Phew! Our backyard is now clear!!

My younger brother-in-law, Sanil's aunt passed into the mist of time this evening. She was 79 and did not have any medical problems. I remember her ever-smiling face and her fondness for me. RIP kunjamme, my tears and prayers! Will miss you!!