Is it necessary that an outcome or an event in a system should have only one causal agent? In so many areas people tried to explain away things simplistically with one thing or the other, but ended up realizing that things aren’t as simple as is apparent at first look. Take evolution for example, some said that a sudden random change in a population which adapted itself well in its surrounding and multiplying itself, and some said that a gradual environment-induced change that perpetuated advantageously compared to others is solely responsible. Now scientists are more or less unanimous in proposing that many factors, one way or the other, give direction to evolutionary branches. Some factors play a major role, even to exclusion of others, in evolution of a particular species. Generally speaking if one considers involvement of several factors as a driving force for evolution then we should be more willing to acknowledge the existence of a ‘complex’ responsible for a particular event.

Although a great leap, let me bring in a new dimension – the psychic realm – that along with physical factors influences events in our lives. Allow me to make some points so that if not turn you to a believer but at least you do not reject my proposition in totality. If you happen to be a regular listener of radio at any point of time, you must have noticed that when someone passes by the radio it causes certain disturbance under certain circumstances. Also, there is something called Kirlian photography, which shows certain aura (colourful field) around living bodies. If you would like to go a little deeper, you can carry out the following exercise. For this you need to have a radio preferably with Short Wave Band. Tune in to a certain station that is susceptible to human presence – time and weather are important for this. You will notice that movement of your hand around the aerial (antenna) of the radio causes disturbance. Now put your hand stationary at such a position where the disturbance is perceptible and constant. Close your eyes and concentrate. What do you observe? The level of disturbance changes!

I have read few things about psychic phenomena here and there. That it can be affected by many things (including our innermost desires) is understandably the tricky aspect of it. That is why predictions of future go wrong – who can possibly handle a gamut of reacting ‘complex’ all the time. However, many would agree with me that this faculty can be developed just like we can develop our muscles by regular exercise. To develop our muscle besides exercising we need a good diet. Similarly, to develop our psychic faculty a peaceful environment is very important. Here peaceful is being used in the broad sense of the word. Developing our psychic self is basically about our conscious mind gaining access into our sub-conscious mind and taping the immense capabilities lying there.

What do we get out of all this? Any psychologist will tell you that our body and mind are intricately related to each other, and that one affects the other whether for good or bad. I believe that a strong and well-disciplined psychic power will accrue benefits to both body and mind. Many a times we are placed in situations where we are forced to take decisions without having a clue. These may at times be of vital importance. In such a situation don’t you think that it is better to cling to something, however weak the support might be, rather than indulge ourselves in pure guesswork? Overnight results are next to impossible here also. Furthermore, I personally feel that it is better to work on the line that you are not an exception but a part of the rule who can develop his or her psychic faculties within yourself gradually. This will have the additional benefit of getting enough time to adapt yourself with its consequences. People with this faculty highly developed, who are unprepared, claim that it is a terrible thing. Try to imagine as vividly as possible that you are ‘seeing’ an accident taking place and the same materializes in front of your eyes. I don’t think that this aspect should be a sufficient reason to deter us from venturing into this field – a field which is already developing as a distinct line of study. Besides, do we have any field that doesn’t have its own drawbacks? This is where spirituality comes in as a remedy. The way monks look at life and death might help you here. Disciplining our psychic self and developing its strength is a way of gaining control of our lives and evolving ourselves.