NEETMEDICALGK

l-h" supply of oxygen is absolutely essential

I for the existence of higher organisms. As

the saying goes too much of even the best is

bad. Very high concentrations of 02 are found

to be toxic, and can damage tissues. The present

day concept of oxygen toxicity is due to the

involvement of oxygen free radicals or reactive

oxygen species (ROS). In fact, the generation of

reactive metabolites of 02 is an integral part of

our daily life.

A free radical is defined as a molecule or

a mof ecular species that contains one or

more unpaired electrons, and is capable of

independent existence.

Types of free radicals

Oxygen is required in many metabolic

reactions, particularly for the release of energy.

During these processes, molecular O2 is

completely reduced, and converted to water.

However, if the reduction of 02 is incomplete, a

series of reactive radicals are formed, as shown

in the next column.

r,r,.. (Molecular orygen)

re-

Y

O, (Superoxide)

h€,2H+

J

H rO, (Hydrogen peroxide)

l. e-,H'

Hzo+1

+

OH- (Hydroxyl radicat)

h e-'H*

+

,-r,r'(Water)

Besides the above (O2, H2O2, OH-), the other

free radicals and reactive oxygen species of

biological importance include singlet oxygen

(1O2), hydroperoxy radical (HOO-), lipid

peroxide radical (ROO-), nitric oxide (NO-) and

peroxyn itrite (ONOO-).

The common characteristic features of free

radicals are listed

. Highly reactive

o Very short half-lifeCan generate new radicals by chain reaction

Cause damage to biomolecules, cells and

tissues

Free radicals and reactive oxygen species

(ROS)-not synonymous : By definition, a free

radical contains one or more unpaired electrons.

e.g. Or, OH-, ROO-. There are certain non-

radical derivatives of 02 which do not contain

unpaired electrons e.g. H2O2, 102. The term

reactive oxygen species is used in a broad sense

to collectively represent free radicals, and non-

free radicals (which are extremely reactive) of

the biological systems. However, most authors

do not make a clear distinction between

free radicals and ROS, and use them inter-

changebly.

SOURCES AND GEI{ERATION

OF FREE RADICALS

The major sources responsible for the

generation of free radicals may be considered

under two categories

l. Due to normal biological processes (or

cellular metabolism).

ll. Due to environmental effects.

It is estimated that about 1-4o/o of the 02

taken up by the body is converted to free

radicals. A summary of the sources for

generation of free radicals is given in the

Tahle 34.1 , and a couple of the processes are

briefly described.

Lipid peroxidation

Free radical-induced peroxidation of

membrane lipids occurs in three stages-initiation,

propagation and termination

Initiation phase : This step involves the

removal of hydrogen atom (H) from

polyunsaturated fatty acids (LH), caused by

hydroxyl radical

LH + OH- -----+ L- + H2O

Propagation phase : Under aerobic

conditions, the fatty acid radical (L-) takes up

oxygen to form peroxy radical (LOO-). The

I Cellular metabolism

. Leakage of electrons lrom the respiratory chain

(ETC).

. Productionf HrO, or O, by oxidase enzymes

(e.9. xanthine oxidase, NADPH oxidase).

. Due to chain reactions ofmembrane lipid

peroxidation.

. Peroxisomal generation of O, and HrOr.

. During the synthesis ofprostaglandins.

. Productionf nitric oxide from arginine.

. During the course of phagocytosis (as a pad of

bactedcidal action).

. In the oxidation ofheme to bile pigments.

. As a result of auteoxidation e.g. metal ions

[Fd*, Cu2*]; ascorbic acid, glutathione, flavin

coenzymes.

II Environmental effects

. As a result of drug melabolism e.g. paracetamol,

halothane, cy{ochrome P* rehted reactions.

. Due to damages caused by ionizing radiations

(e.9. X-rays) on tissues.

. Photolysis of O, by light.

. Photoexcitation of organic molecules

. Cigarette smoke contains free radicals, and trace

metals that generate OH-.Alcohol, promoting lipid peroxidation.

The term detoxication or detoxificafion refers

to fhe series of biochemical reactions occurring

in the body to convert the foreign (often toxic)

compounds to non-toxic or less toxic, and more

easily excretable forms.Knowledge of the metabolism ol xenobiotics is essenfial for the understanding of

toxicology, pharmacology and drug addiction.

The bodV possesses the capabilitg to get rid of the foreign subsfonces by conuerting

them into more easily excretoble forms.

Detoxit'ication is not necessarily associated with the conuersion ol toxic into non-toxic

compounds. For instance, methonol is metabolized to a more toxic formaldehyde.

Detoxification primarily occurs in the liuer through one or more of the reactions,

namely oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and conjugation.

British antilewisite (BAL), o compound deueloped during Second World Wsn uros used

to detoxify certain uror poison.Oxidation

Reduction

Hydrolysis & Conjugation.

prostaglandins and their related compounds-

I prostacyclins (PGl), thromboxanes (TXA),

leukotrienes (LT) and lipoxins are collectively

known as eicosaniods, since they all

contain 20 carbons (Creek : eikosi-twenty).

Eicosanoids are considered as locally acting

hormones with a wide range of biochemical

functions.

History : Prostaglandins (PCs) were first

discovered in human semen by Ulf von Euler (of

Sweden) in 1930. These compounds were found

to stimulate uterine contraction and reduce

blood pressure. von Euler presumed that they

were synthesized by prostate gland and hence

named them as prostaglandins. lt was later

realized that PCs and other eicosanoids are

synthesized in almost all the tissues (exception-

erythrocytes). By then, however, the name

prostaglandins was accepted worldwide, and

hence continued.

The prostaglandins E and F were first isolated

from the biological fluids. They were so named

due to their solubility in ether (PCE) and

phosphate buffer (PCF, F for fosfat, in Swedish).

All other prostaglandins discovered later were

denoted by a letter-PCA, PCH etc.

Structure o{ prostaglandins

Prostaglandins are derivatives of a

hypothetical 2O-carbon fatty acid namely

prostanoic acid hence known as prostanoids.

This has a cyclopentane ring (formed by carbon

atoms 8 to 12) and two side chains, with

carboxyl group on one side. Prostaglandins differ

in their structure due to substituent group and

double bond on cyclopentane ring. The different

prostaglandins are given in Fig.32.l.

The structures of the most important

prostaglandins (PGF2 and PGF2o), prostacyclins

(PCl2), thromboxanes (TXA2) and leukotrienes

(LTA+) along with arachidonic acid are depicted

in Fi9.32.2. A subscript numeral indicates the

number of double bonds in the two side chains.

A subscript c-denotes that the hydroxyl group at

Ce of the ring and the carboxyl group are on thesame side of the ring.Synthesis of prostaglandins

Arachidonic acid (5,8,1 1,1 4-eicosatetraenoic

acid) is the precursor for most of the

prostaglandins inhumans. The biosynthesis of

PCs was described by scene Bergstrom and

Bengt Samuelsson (1960). lt occurs in the

endoplasmic reticulum in the following stages,

as depicted in Fi9,32.3.

1. Release of arachidonic acid from

membrane bound phospholipids by phospho-

lipase A2-this reaction occurs due to a specific

stimuli by hormones such as epinephrine or

bradykinin.

2. Oxidation and cyclization of arachidonic

acid to PGG2 which is then converted to PCH2

by a reduced glutathione dependent peroxidase.

3. PGH2 serves as the immediate precursor

for the synthesis of a number of prostaglandins,

including prostacyclins and thromboxanes.

The above pathway is known as cyclic

pathway of arachidonic acid. ln the linear

pathway of arachidonic acid, leukotrienes and

lipoxins are synthesized (details given later).

Cyclooxygenase-a suicide enzyme : lt is

interesting to note that prostaglandin synthesis

can be partly controlled by suicidal activity ofthe enzyme cyclooxygenase. This enzyme is

capable of undergoing self-catalysedestruction

to switch off PG synthesis.

lnhibition of PG synthesis : A number of

structurally unrelated compounds can inhibit

prostaglandin synthesis. Corticosteroids (e.g.

cortisol) prevent the formation of arachidonic

acid by inhibiting the enzyme phospholipase 42.

Many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins,

prostacyclins and thromboxanes. They do so by

blocking the action of the enzyme cyclo'

oxygenase.

Aspirin inhibits PG synthesis :Aspirin (acetyl

salicylic acid) has been used since nineteenth

century as an antipyretic (fever-reducing) and

analgesic (pain relieving). The mechanism of

action of aspirin however, was not known for a

Iong period. lt was only in 1971, John Vane

discovered that aspirin inhibits the synthesis of

PC from arachidonic acid. Aspirin irreversibly

inhibits the enzyme cyclooxygenase.

T h" plasma membrane is an envelope

I surrounding the cell \Refer Fig.l.l). lt

separates and protects the cell from the external

hostile environment. Besides being a protective

barrier, plasma membrane provides a connecting

system between the cell and its environment.

The subcellular organelles such as nucleus,

mitochondria, lysosomes are also surrounded by

membranes.

Chemical cormpcsitron

The membranes are composed of lipids,

proteins and carbohydrates. The actual compo-

sition differs from tissue to tissue. Among the

lipids, amphipathic lipids (containing hydro-

phobic and hydrophilic groups) namely phos-

pholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol, are found

in the animal membranes.

Manv animal cell membranes have thick

coating of complex polysaccharides referred to

as glycocalyx. The oligosaccharides of

glycocalyx interact with collagen of intercellular

matrix in the tissues.

$trsscture, of r*terit&'ra$:s :'

A lipid bilayer model originally proposed for

membrane structure in 1935 by Davson and

Danielle has been modified.

Fluid mosaic model, proposed by Singer and

Nicolson, is a more recent and acceptable model

for membrane structure. The biological

membranes usually have a thickness of 5-8 nm. A

membrane is essentially composed of a lipid

bilayer. The hydrophobic (nonpolar) regions of the

lipids face each other at the core of the bilayer

while the hydrophilic (polar) regions face outward.

Clobular proteins are irregularly embedded in the

lipid bilayer (Fi9.33.1). Membrane proteins are

categorized into two Broups.

1. Extrinsic (peripheral) membrane proteins

are loosely held to the surface of the membrane

and they can be easily separated e.g. cytochrome

c of mitochondria.

2. Intrinsic (integral) membrane proteins are

tightly bound to the lipid bilayer and they can

be separated only by the use of detergents ororganic solvents e.g. hormone

receptors, cytochrome P45g.

The membrane is asymmetric

due to the irregular distribution of

proteins. The lipid and protein

subunits of the membrane give an

appearance of mosaic or a ceramic

tile. Unlike a fixed ceramic tile, the

mernbrane freely changes, hence

the structure of the membrane is

considered as fluid mosaic. Fig.33,l : The fluid mosaic model of membrane structure.

Tvamsport &crqlss Fsnembrames

The biological membranes are relatively

impermeable. The membrane, therefore, forms a

barrier for the free passage of compounds across

it. At least three distinct mechanisms have been

identified lor the transoort of solutes

(metabolites) through the membrane (Fi9.33.A.

I . Passive diffusion

2. Facilitated diffusion

3. Active transoort;

1. Fassive diffusion : This is a simple process

which depends on the concentration gradient of

a oarticular substance across the membrane.

Fassage of water and gases through membrane

occurs by passive diffusion. This process does

not require energy.

2. Facilitated diffusion : This is somewhat

comparable with diffusion since the solute

moves along the concentration gradient (from

higher to lower concentration) and no energy is

needed. But the most important distinguishing

feature is that facilitated diffusion occurs through

the mediation of carrier or transport proteins.

Specific carrier proteins for the transport of

glucose, galactose, leucine, phenylalanine etc.

have been isolated and characterized.

Mechanism of facilitated diffusion : A ping-

pong model is put forth to explain the occurrence

of facilitated diffusion (Fig.33.3). According to

this mechanism, a transport (carrier) protein exists

in two conformations. In the pong conformation,

it is exposed to the side with high soluteconcentration. This allows the binding of solute

to specific sites on the carrier protein. The protein

then undergoes a conformational change (ping

state) to expose to the side with low solute

concentration where the solute molecule is

released. Hormones regulate facilitated diffusion.

By Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar

Swami Vivekananda always stood for harmony of religions. He spoke about acceptance of all religions as true and appealed to religious and spiritual leaders to shun all forms of religious fanaticism, persecution, and violence – this he said in a speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago 125 years ago, and it is urgently needed even today.

Swami ji believed that Hinduism is a way of life and in no way related to any political ideology. He also said that we need to lead mankind to the place where there is neither the Vedas nor the Bible nor the Quran, yet this has to be done by harmonising the Vedas, the Bible and the Quran. Mankind ought to be taught that religions are but varied expressions of religion that is Oneness, so that each may choose the path that suits him best. In his concluding speech in Chicago, he said that the Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist nor a Hindu or Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others in his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth.The doctrine of road map of Swami Vivekananda was laid down by his spiritual master, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, who espoused the doctrine of ‘Jato Mat, Tato Path’, recognising the potential of all religions to act as means of attaining spiritual enlightenment, and ‘Ekm sad vipraha bahuda vadanti’, there is only one truth and learned person call it by many names.Swami Vivekananda also narrated the story of ‘Kupa Manduka’ – frog in the well, to explain the closed minds of religious bigots. His central message was that holiness, purity and charity are not exclusive mansions of any particular religion and that every religion has produced men and women of the most exalted character. To those who dream of the exclusive survival of their own religion and destruction of the others, he said: “I pity them from the bottom of my heart and point out to them that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written ‘in spite of resistance, help and not fight, assimilation and not destruction, harmony and peace and not dissension.’”Swami Vivekananda turned the universalist philosophy of Vedanta into a driver of social change. True religion taught people to recognise the divinity of man and woman and to be of service to the poor – Daridra Narayan Seva. He raised money for the construction of Belur Math to feed the famine hit in Mushirabad in 1897 and again in 1898, to serve plague victims in Calcutta. Belur Math temple incorporates the architectural style associated with the places of worship of each religion. There are monks in the Ramakrishna order who are Muslim, Christians, Jews and Hindus, and they live together in the service of humanity.Swami ji believed that there never was “my religion or yours, my national religion or your national religion”, there is only one infinite religion that has existed all through eternity and will ever exist. When purity and spirituality disappear, leaving the soul dry, quarrels begin and not before. Therefore, he said, “Follow one and respect“Follow one and respect all.” The essence of religion is God-consciousness. To Swami Vivekananda, our watchword should be acceptance and not exclusion.(The writer is head, Judah Hyam Synagogue, New Delhi)

Today is Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary.

Faith In God, The Self, And In The World Around

By: C L Gulati

Jan 10, 2022, 17:08 IST

Whenever we require something in life, we acquaint ourselves with its known attributes and characteristics for an objective test to affirm our faith in its genuineness. Once the attributes are testified, it becomes all the more reason to pin faith on it and accept it to serve our purpose. Faith does not work apart from intellect but gives soul to the intellect; it gives a power that the mind can never measure. Faith and intellect are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to identify the truth. Faith stands for affirmation of truth, followed by acceptance of the truth affirmed. Without the first, faith is blind, and without the second, it is meaningless.All the evolved persons agree that God is one and that man's first duty is to realise Him. If a man loses faith in God, he loses faith in himself. It spells a crisis of character. The attributes and characteristics of God given in all the acknowledged scriptures are the same. Seeing God face to face by the grace of a satguru, man clinches his faith and gives assent to this divine testimony.

While the beauty is said to be skin deep, the enlightened faith enters the bones and prompts the man, "Love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandant,” (St Matthew 22:37-38). In times of difficulty, the devotee with such an abiding faith never says, ‘Hey God, I have a big problem.’ Instead he says, ‘Hey problem, I have a big God.’Satguru plays a pivotal role in a man’s life. The singular objective factor identifying a satguru, true master, is the instantaneous, direct introduction of man with the all-pervading God. This enlightenment marks the seed of faith in the satguru. Thereafter, the devotee completely surrenders to the master. Nirankari Satguru Mata Sudiksha ji says, "If a person has a strong urge for God-realisation, he will find a true master to bless him with God-knowledge."Faith of the devotee in the true master is important, but it is equally essential for the devotee to earn the true master’s faith in him. While ordaining knowledge of the all-pervading God is the distinctive mark of a true master, accepting and implementing his ‘word’, in letter and spirit, is the hallmark of the devotee. It is said that those who joyfully leave everything in God's hand, eventually see God's hand in everything. Worry ends where faith begins. The joy we derive from faith is often our strength. When our faith deepens, we become true disciples. Like a steady generator, faith gives power when all else fails.

Faith once shaken cannot be restored and for the victim it is an irretrievable loss. On the other hand, practising, in letter and spirit, the guru's ‘word’ means gaining the world. Earning the faith of the satguru, the Gursikh, in turn, is blessed with the triple faith that we all need today: faith in God, faith in the Self, and faith in the world around us. This omnibus faith broadens our horizons, like the vastness of God, and provides a road map for a smooth life.

The writer is president, Sant Nirankari Mandal.

By Inder Raj Ahluwalia. His entire life a saga of selfless sacrifice, nobleness of thoughts and actions, and supreme belief in justice and dharma, Guru Gobind Singh was a guru and apostle.

In his life span of merely forty-odd years, the Guru left behind a priceless legacy of beliefs and principles that have shaped Sikh thinking and behaviour and are of great relevance today.

Guru Gobind Singh’s life was one big struggle. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was martyred in Delhi to save Kashmiri pandits, and he had the mortification of seeing all four of his sons killed, the elder two in battle, and the younger two bricked alive. Almost his entire life was spent fighting off the intrigues of the hill chiefs of north India and the ruling sultans. He lived on the edge yet continued undaunted in his quest for dharma.With martial considerations in mind, and to promote the cause of dharma, the Guru created the Khalsa, pure, on Baisakhi day in 1699. This was a new order of followers, a spiritual and social entity rather than a politically dynamic force. Calling the Khalsa pure and his very own, he thus gave a form to the concept of the ‘warrior saint’, which he had championed all his life.

The Khalsa were ordained to believe in one God, shun rituals and superstitions, seek respect for women, and consider everyone equal. The Guru’s overall message was that one should look upon all persons as deserving of kind treatment, having a license to lead a peaceful and dignified existence.

These virtues propagated by the Guru are precisely the beliefs the world needs today.

Despite his turbulent life, the Guru was a great patron of the arts. At Paonta Sahib, he meditated, composed poetry and wrote much of the ‘Dasam Granth’. At Anandpur Sahib, he created the Khalsa.

The Guru has inspired millions to look beyond their own, limited vision.

As human beings, we tend to ‘take’. The Guru taught us to ‘give’ rather than ‘take’. Because that is precisely what he always did. His presence keeps us going. Whenever one feels lonely, one only has to think of how he might have felt losing his entire family, and all loneliness tends to disappear. When tense or depressed, just think of all the problems he faced. Yearning for homely comforts, you just have to recall how he managed in his harsh surroundings, and suddenly your home starts to appear more comfortable.

Guru Gobind Singh left us with a great gift – the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ – which he designated our ‘eternal Guru’. This ensures blessings for humanity at any Gurdwara in the world.He wasn’t just a Guru for the Sikhs but also a saviour of other communities, instilling in them a sense of pride and dignity. His new order was a mission to ‘do right’. He did it right till the end and paid for his beliefs and ideals with his life, and that of his family. Four of the five Sikh ‘Takhts’, thrones, commemorate Guru Gobind Singh, for if ever anyone deserved a throne, it is him.

January 9 is Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti.

By Sant Rajinder Singh:As we reflect on how we can better our lives in the new year, here is a blueprint to help us lead the kind of life God wishes for us. Our lives should be centred on love – love for God and love for our fellow beings. When we open our hearts to them and take time to be with those we love, think more about others, and try to show them how we feel. When we radiate warmth and love to all around us, when we are more patient, more tolerant, more compassionate to others. When we give, give and give to all around us to bring joy and happiness to their lives and to alleviate their burdens.

It all begins as we connect with God’s love through the process of meditation. When we take our attention away from the outer world and focus it within, we are filled with joy and bliss. We are inspired to live a life of service to others and to embrace all we meet as members of the same family of God.Our soul has an existence that is unconstrained by the limitations and boundaries we place on our body, mind and intellect. When we live at the level of our soul, we can transcend the walls of separation and embrace one and all. We develop the godly virtues of truthfulness, non-violence, selfless service, compassion and humility, and we lead the life that God wishes for us.

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Blueprint for a life God wishes for us

January 2, 2022 Divya Bharat Edit Page blog, India blog, Speaking Tree blog, Spirituality blog, TOI Edit Page blog

By Sant Rajinder Singh

As we reflect on how we can better our lives in the new year, here is a blueprint to help us lead the kind of life God wishes for us. Our lives should be centred on love – love for God and love for our fellow beings. When we open our hearts to them and take time to be with those we love, think more about others, and try to show them how we feel. When we radiate warmth and love to all around us, when we are more patient, more tolerant, more compassionate to others. When we give, give and give to all around us to bring joy and happiness to their lives and to alleviate their burdens.

It all begins as we connect with God’s love through the process of meditation. When we take our attention away from the outer world and focus it within, we are filled with joy and bliss. We are inspired to live a life of service to others and to embrace all we meet as members of the same family of God.Our soul has an existence that is unconstrained by the limitations and boundaries we place on our body, mind and intellect. When we live at the level of our soul, we can transcend the walls of separation and embrace one and all. We develop the godly virtues of truthfulness, non-violence, selfless service, compassion and humility, and we lead the life that God wishes for us.When we experience the Light of God within us through meditation, we also see the same Light in all people and all life forms. We realise that each person is valuable, being made by God, and carrying God within them. This makes us recognise all life as one human family.

True spiritual development comes when we realise that we are all one. With that realisation, we no longer feel superior to others. We reach a state in which we recognise that all are important.With this elevated vision, we then develop love and respect for all life. We care about others and do not want to see anyone in pain. We become loving, selfless human beings committed to helping others. If each person awakened to the oneness of all life, there would be peace and happiness on the planet.

The commodity that is most valued in the realms beyond this world, to which we all will go, is spiritual love. The soul is measured not by our financial records, but by the amount of love we have radiated to others. Did we love God? Did we love our fellow beings? Did we love all creation? Love is translated into thoughts, words and deeds that are expressed in kindness to others. It is expressed in how much we care about others. It is demonstrated by how much we give.

By Ullhas Pagey Isaac Newton was not only an eminent mathematician and physicist but also an erudite philosopher, a deeply spiritual person and a theologian known for Biblical literalism. To most of us, Newton is known for his laws of motion, and there appears to be a striking similarity between these laws and some tenets of Indic philosophy.

Newton’s first law, also known as the law of inertia, states that if a thing is at rest, it will continue to be at rest and if it is in motion, it will continue to be so unless an external force is applied. Inertia is common among people with predominantly tamasic tendencies. They can be lazy and indolent, and many times need an external stimulus to get moving. Similarly, those with a hyperactive nature might find it difficult to be at peace with themselves. So, to bring change in their temperament requires external interventions such as regular physical exercise and meditation.The second law is that if the same force is exerted on two objects with different mass, they will gain different speed. The heavier one would require more force to move than the lighter one. Likewise, lazy people would need more prodding and pushing as compared to agile ones.

The third law, also known as the law of action and reaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Interestingly, this resonates well with the law of karma, which means that whatever action we perform, either good or bad, has a bearing on our destiny. Whatever goes around ultimately comes around. Good karmas result in noble values, whereas bad karmas result in vicious values. After all, a person is a product of his past karmas. The saying goes: As you sow, so shall you reap.

Newton’s contribution is not restricted to the laws of motion alone. He is credited with the discovery of ‘calculus’ – a branch of mathematics that is anchored around the concept of independent and dependent variables, that is synonymous with the relationship of ‘cause and effect’, often mentioned in our scriptures. It states that the working of the entire universe is governed by this basic law. Through the discovery of calculus, Newton seems to have given a quantitative and tangible shape to what seems to be rather a lofty concept of cause and effect relationship.Spirituality identifies three constructs of human personality: body, mind and intellect. Most of us are focussed either on our body or get trapped in the web of emotions and make the least use of the intellect, which every one of us is bestowed with. Newton, however, was an exception. While sitting in the garden one day, he saw an apple fall from a tree, and this led him to formulate the law of gravity. What fired Newton’s imagination to explore this phenomenon in detail? It was the spirit of inquiry, a function of intellect. When Newton was asked how he discovered the law of gravity, he is said to have replied, “By thinking about it all the time. He who thinks half-heartedly will not believe in God, but he who really thinks has to believe in God.”

Today is Isaac Newton’s birth anniversary.

Jesus Says Through Struggle Centring Happens

By: Osho

Dec 22, 2021, 13:13 IST

Jesus says: Men possibly think that I have come to throw peace upon the world, and they do not know that I have come to throw divisions upon the earth – fire, sword, war.

Whenever a man like Jesus comes, the world is immediately divided between those who are for him and those who are against him. You cannot find a single person who is indifferent to Jesus. Whenever a Jesus-type is there, immediately the world is divided. A few are for him and a few are against him, but nobody is indifferent. It is impossible to be indifferent to Jesus. If you hear the word, if you look at the Jesus, immediately you are divided: either you become a lover or you become a hater; either you fall in line or you go against; either you follow him or you start working against him.

Why does this happen? Because a man like Jesus is such a great phenomenon and he is not of this world. He brings to this world something from the beyond. Those who are afraid of the beyond immediately become enemies; that is their way of protecting themselves. For those who have a desire, a seed hidden somewhere, who have been searching and searching and longing for the beyond, this man becomes charismatic, this man becomes a magnetic force: they fall in his love. They have been waiting for this man for many lives.The world is immediately divided: either you are for Christ, or you are against him. There is no other alternative; you cannot be indifferent. You cannot say, “I'm not bothered.” That is impossible, because a person who can remain in the middle will become a Jesus himself. A person who can stand in the middle, in neither love nor hate, will go beyond the mind himself. He creates great turmoil, not only in individuals but in society too, on the earth; everything comes to be in a conflict, a great war starts. Since Jesus there has never been peace in the world. Jesus created a religion. He brought something into the world which created such a division, such a conflict in all minds, that he became the focus of all history; that is why we say, “before Christ,” “after Christ.” He became the focal point.

With Jesus, history starts. His attitude, his approach toward the human mind, is very different from that of a Buddha or a Lao Tzu. The goal is one, the ultimate flowering is going to be one, but Jesus' approach is absolutely different.

He is saying that through conflict growth is achieved; through struggle centring happens; through war peace flowers. But don't take him literally, whatsoever he is saying is a parable… Jesus was not talking of the swords of this world; he brought a sword of a different world. What is this sword? It is a symbol. You have to be cut into two, because in you two things meet: this world – the earth – and heaven; they meet in you. One part of you belongs to the mud, to the dirt; one part of you belongs to the divine. You are a meeting point, and Jesus brought a sword to cut you asunder, so the earth falls to the earth and the divine enters the divine.

Abridged from The Mustard Seed, courtesy Osho International Foundation, www.osho.com