Senthil is an engineering management professional in the telecommunication and semiconductor domains with five US patents to his credit.&nbsp;He has been a Heartfulness practitioner for 25 years and is a Heartfulness trainer. His interests include yogic psychology, high performance teams using Adizes frameworks, photography and trekking.

large_Senthil Viswanathan.jpg

medium_Senthil Viswanathan.jpg

small_Senthil Viswanathan.jpg

thumbnail_Senthil Viswanathan.jpg

Senthil Viswanathan.jpg

Senthil Viswanathan

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">SENTHIL VISWANATHAN explores the concept of zero, from both computing and spiritual perspectives. Through this, he uncovers the very origins and base of our existence as human beings, and also why this hidden part of ourselves is eclipsed by whatever manifests from it. He highlights the importance of the attitudes of insignificance and humility in our personalities if we are to glimpse the nothingness at the center of our being.</h4>In the world of computers, the basic representation of information uses the binary system. In the binary system, there are just two states of information—presence (one) or absence (zero) of a bit of information.Any number can be represented by a combination of these data of ones and zeroes. The operations permitted on this binary system of data—addition, multiplication, division, negation etc.—permit both the representations of complex data as well as computation, thereby enabling it to become both the storehouse of information and the logic that transforms and uses it.This Zero or Nothingness is contained in every number (zero added to any number is the same number). Similarly in a graph, the center of the graph is denoted by the coordinates 0, 0. Every other coordinate is anchored in reference to this center, and is contained within it.In computer science, this binary representation is used to represent every bit of information, perform mathematical operations using the same binary logic, and transform information from one dimension to the other—like representing sound as a series of zeros and ones and bringing it back as music by doing the inverse. All this is possible by the base representation of just two states—presence and absence of just ONE bit.The core of the computer is an oscillator which generates this series of alternate ones and zeroes, or as a sinusoidal wave. This crystal oscillator is the lifeline and heartbeat of the computer. Everything else is derived from this base; however, it is easily forgotten and eclipsed by the creations and representations which are derived from it.In the book, Truth Eternal, the Heartfulness Guide, Lalaji states the following:“The Vedas are liable to be questioned because the real mantra, shruti, or udgeet, is OM. In them are found “becoming-ness,” the quality of being counted, and the sentiments of the hearts of human beings. That is why there appears some difference whenever they are caught in words. For example, one and the same integer or unit assumes different forms of sums under the principles of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The whole sum, in spite of inversions and seeming contradiction, is an integer or unit only, and has the form of integers alone—in just the same way as water assumes various forms on passing through various channels as a fountain, well, tank, river, or canal. Nevertheless, it remains the same water.”&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_zero2_d279a15e06.webp" alt="power-of-zero2.webp"></figure>&nbsp;On the topic of spirituality, he states:“Where there is only one thing, there is no motivation of idea. Nor is there any opportunity for discrimination, addition, or subtraction, multiplication, or division. Where is knowledge, where is action and where is bliss when there is only one? When there are two, then only is a third state produced by their combination, as also discrimination between this and that, you and me. The knot is in the middle, and at one end there is one head and at the other end there is another. Mind is the middle knot, at one end of which there is the higher self of consciousness and at the other end there is the lower state of inertness or unconsciousness. The mind, taking the shadow and influence of both, becomes a knot of consciousness and inertness, and is compelled to think and understand.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_zero3_2a292822f4.webp" alt="power-of-zero3.webp"></figure>&nbsp;The above two quotes are akin to the binary system in computers enabling us to represent and compute everything, thereby creating the digital world.It seems to me that the subtle and physical bodies are caused and manifested by the causal body.Consciousness (Chit) and the functions that play out in the field of <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/evolution-of-consciousness-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Consciousness</a>—including Mind (Manas), Intellect (Buddhi), and Ego (Ahankara)—originated out of a base, but they easily eclipse the base from which they manifested and get caught in the web of their own creation.Our journey seems to be to become aware of this base, which is the root of all existence, which animates us from inside out, and to be in tune with the base and be the best manifestation possible of it. It is almost like the leading edge of a perennially moving wave. It is an energy point which keeps moving up and down as a series of points. When we look back it is a wave, but it is also a point which is in continuous and rhythmic motion.My <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-dualities-of-existence" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spiritual Guide</a>, a fellow human being who is anchored to the base through his own negation and attitudes of insignificance and humility, makes me aware of the possibility of such an existence, and reminds me of what it is that animates me from inside out. Being in sync with such an individual, I realize the possibility to resonate with the same frequency and manifest similar qualities.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Our journey seems to be to become aware of this base, which is the root of all existence, which animates us from inside out, and to be in tune with the base and be the best manifestation possible of it.</h4><hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_zero4_1c9fed6125.webp" alt="power-of-zero4.webp"></figure>&nbsp;

The power of zero

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">SENTHIL KUMAR VISWANATHAN shares his experience of meditating with Transmission, and how much easier it is to dive deeper into the spiritual journey because of this very beautiful energy.</h4>&nbsp;I have been meditating with Transmission for 25 years, and I would like to use an analogy to illustrate the difference between meditation with and without Transmission.We are all used to listening to music on airplanes while on a flight. There is a lot of background noise where the music is hardly audible using the regular headphones. One solution to this is to use a noise cancelling headphone. The noise cancelling headphone when switched on, makes the music very clear and audible even with a lot of background humming noise of the aeroplane. How does this really happen? The noise cancelling mechanism uses vibrations that are phase inverted (opposing to the noise), which nullifies the background noise. This makes the music so crystal clear that we are able to hear even the slightest and subtle sounds in the music, though there is a lot of noise all around us.Similarly, what really happens when we <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/meditate-listen" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">meditate</a> with Transmission? Transmission is a subtle transformative energy and it seems to create a field, just like the noise cancelling headphones, where the noise of the mind seems to be nullified in some sense, creating a field enabling us to really feel the subtle happenings beneath the noise. This Transmission is the vibratory energy coming from a living Guide that creates the field where the settling of the activities of the mind seems to occur with relative ease.Meditation without Transmission is like listening to music using regular headphones—there is a lot of background noise. Even though the music is playing, the subtle sounds are overpowered and eclipsed by the background noise. Though we are able to hear something, it is not as good as listening using the noise cancelling headphones. Though we are able to meditate to some extent, it is relatively not as deep and absorbed as meditating with Transmission.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/transmission2_3e79e3600c.webp" alt="transmission2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_transmission2_3e79e3600c.webp 138w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_transmission2_3e79e3600c.webp 444w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Transmission is the subtle vibratory energy that creates the field where meditation becomes easy.</h4><hr>Transmission is the subtle vibratory energy that creates the field where meditation becomes easy. But, it is important to be alert in order to feel the subtlety when the clutter of the mind is eased, otherwise it is easy to miss it or even slip into sleep. Similarly, while meditating, the alertness and <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/lack-of-awareness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">awareness</a> is required to feel, observe and witness what lies beneath the noise and clutter of the mind. This is when Viveka or the mind’s faculty of discrimination is heightened if one is alert enough. Using this heightened and expanding Viveka, one can now see what lies beneath – like that of a still pond. Now, what do we do with such a mind that is alert, aware and absorbed? By carrying this state of heightened absorption through the day, we are able to perform our tasks much better and effectively with a higher sense of discrimination and awareness.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>