a very hard question for religious people

कः अहम्? kaH aham? (who am I?)



This video gives an interesting topic for discussion where patients who underwent the split brain procedure,where the Corpus Callosum of the brain is cut for treatment of intractable epilepsy.



The Right Hemisphere of the brain (मस्तिष्क दक्षिणगोलः) (mastiSka dakSiNagolaH) is no more connected to the Left  Hemisphere of the brain.(मस्तिष्क वामगोलः)(mastiSka vAmagolaH).

The patients who undergo this procedure lead practically normal lives with no neurological deficit noted.



The Neuro- scientist in the video Dr Vilayanur Ramachandran does a very interesting experiment where he asks questions to the patients who had undergone this procedure.


He asked the Right hemisphere of the brain the question "Do you believe in God?"

The Right Hemisphere's answer was "Yes"


Now when the same question "Do you believe in God" was asked to the Left hemisphere of the same person and the answer was "No"


Dr Ramachandran jests about his finding in his video.


But this poses a very interesting supportive finding for most religious beliefs.


Since the brain gives conflicting answers....The right side says "I believe in God" but the Left side says "I do not believe in God"


So what is truly our belief?


Who am I ? कः अहम्? kaH aham?



Adi Shankara in his famous Nirvana Shatakam/Atma Shatakam starts off by saying "I am not the Mind(and its components) "मनोबुद्ध्यहंकार चित्तानि नाहं manobuddhyahaNkAra cittAni nAham


Why?

May be because the Mind which goes through the function of the brain gives conflicting answers if the Corpus Callosum is cut which hints that the Brain/Mind is not reliable?


So when we say "I believe in God" is that really the truth?

Or when we say "I do not believe in God" is that really the truth?


The answer for Who am I ? कः अहम्? kaH aham?  is सो ऽहम् so 'ham (I am He).


Grammar rule to note:

सः अहम्  (saH aham) undergoes Sandhi rules(euphonic combination) and becomes सो ऽहम् so 'ham.


Anyway how do we get the actual answer (प्रतिवच्)(prativac) if we really believe in God or not?


Well certainly not through our brain!


Note: I am using the word (प्रतिवच्)(prativac) for "answer" and not the word उत्तरम्(uttaram) because प्रतिवच्)(prativac) implies contemplation before the answer is given.