Till date, the debate is going on about the birth and origin of the Universe. A large number of scientists support the theory of evolution from a single-celled organism. This evolution has been consistent and continuous. Constant scientific evidences have emerged so far about the continuous and rapid expansion of the Universe. The sages and spiritual masters over the centuries have stated the same fact, but in simpler words – that Nature has manifested itself through its own creations. The human brain is the most invaluable manifestation of Nature. The human brain is at the peak of this creation. Before we discuss the role and implication of the vocal cord in the creation of the mind, let us look briefly at how the brain has evolved over the past billions of years. It is relevant to the topic of the vocal cord, as it impinges on the issue to the creation of ego.

The spiritual insight about the creation of this Universe is provided in the next chapters. Here, it is sufficient to mention that the singular element that supposedly started manifesting at the beginning of the Universe is what we refer to as “Nature”, in this book. Nature does not mean just the scenery or the environment. Nature is the whole existence, in its totality. We as, human beings, are an integral part of this process, which continues to evolve as we ponder over this fact. Our natural sense of oneness with the Nature, the very fact that this whole Universe is one complete whole, is diverted by the mind. The thinking process creates logic, comparison, judgment and thus the duality in our perception. Because the mind exists, we see things separate from us. The mind is like a colored pair of spectacles in front of the eyes that makes everything look different. Each person creates his or her own colors and interprets what he or she sees individually. People wearing spectacles of similar colors, tend to group up and relate to each other. Therefore, we have millions of minds, billions of theories and trillions of thoughts. How are we going to find peace, purpose and the meaning of life in this chaos? We can keep arguing all our lives and nothing will happen. In fact, we have been arguing for centuries but nothing has happened. Our knowledge of human life and its existence is almost nothing. We do not know who we are and why we are the way we are.

Sometimes, we just do not want to burden ourselves with these tedious and nagging questions. But then, that is not the purpose of life either. The brain (Natural – thoughtless and sensitive) in each of us, is not separate or individualistic. It is not that being enlightened is an individual business. These erroneous views are caused by the mind – thinking and perceptive. Nature evolves regardless of what we think. However, the fact that we “think” has affected the Natural process. Nature has started fixing this problem already. The rapid development of genetic science and molecular biology during the past decade has opened the way for the scientists to look at the process of human creation. Nature is at work here. The human brain is an integral part of Nature and sometimes flashes of insight and ingenuity occur. Most scientists will admit that the best of their insights and discoveries have happened when “all the thoughts and ideas have exhausted”. Most of the natural knowledge dawns in the thoughtless state of brain.
Therefore, almost all of the major discoveries and inventions have happened in the most unusual, most unconventional ways by the most unconventional people. In most cases, the scientists have suddenly “stumbled upon something” rather than “think” about it. In a rational view, most of the famous inventors and scientists will appear to us as mad or lunatic – until they come forward and bless us with their unique discoveries. Einstein used to be so void of thoughts while working, that he often could not recognize his own wife. She ultimately divorced him but that is a different story. Therefore, the scientists and spiritual masters are not very different. Nature is working through all of them – and us. The latest success of genetic science has been sudden but not without purpose. Nature, in its own way and in the process of continuous evolution, is on to fixing the problem of the thinking mind. It will not be long before science will find the genetic evidences of the effects of the mind and our illusory personalities. That day, the purpose of our lives and direction will change forever. It will be another spiritual revolution but will bear another name, time and identity. The Buddha of modern age will not necessarily have a shaven head and orange robe.

The human brain is at the pinnacle of this process. Nature has manifested through us to know itself. The human brain, in respect of absorption (grasping power) and natural capacities, is completely developed. Even with our thinking minds, it is almost impossible to gauge the capacity of the brain. Nature has shown no stinginess in the total development of the brain. The human brain has got its own natural functioning and does not require any other external aid. Humans, for social management, have created reservoir of words, which is an unwanted and extra burden on the brain. The human brain would have easily survived even if it were not given the burden of words. Other animals, besides human beings, live their lives with ease and in natural bliss without the help of words.

At this point in this Chapter, we would like to point out a paradigm involved in writing this concept. Since we have already presented a well-woven argument so far, it is not difficult to assume that “we, indeed, understand this whole concept rationally”. It may make us believe that thinking is natural, and that we think through our (brain) head. It will not be surprising if this thought does take place. The mind makes us believe that just by reading, listening or speaking about something, we actually get to “know” something. This belief is further strengthened by our cultural and educational system and science that perceives knowledge in the same way.

Some people might argue that thinking is right, and that we are wrong in our explanation. This could be based on the assumption that “if a child is not taught to speak since birth, will he or she be then able to talk or think?” Then, the question arises; “do we really think through our head (brain)?” Let us try to solve this question through this chapter. In this world, human beings are the only creatures that use words in the form of thoughts for their interactions and communications. Other creatures in nature do make sounds and have their own form of communication, but human beings are the only creatures that can create thoughts with the aid of the tongue and vocal cord. This ability of creating thoughts is their specialty and also the main reason of all sorrows. For the past thousands of years, human beings have believed and felt that we think through our head (brain) but the fact is something else. In reality, we think through our vocal cord, tongue, teeth and lungs with the help of air, which is inhaled and exhaled.

Among all the creatures on earth, human beings are the only creatures that can express themselves by spoken words. We can generate various kinds of sounds. Did you ever think about the process of generating sound? We have a hollow organ in our throat, which is called the vocal cord. If we examine it carefully, we find that it is just an extension of the windpipe. The rear portion is made of cartilage, which carries integrated connections from the vocal cord to the brain. The cartilage is made of very soft bone, which is similar to our ear lobes. There are two sound cords on either side of the vocal cord whose movements are controlled by approximately sixteen nerves. When air enters the sound cord from the lungs, these nerves vibrate. This vibration leads to the generation of sound. The sweetness and roughness of the voice depends on the strain produced on the sound cord. When the sound cords are subjected to higher sound strains, they vibrate at the rate of 1000 times per second, resulting in the generation of melodious sounds.

Actually, the more the vibration, sharper is the sound produced and vice versa. The level of vibration varies from person to person and so is the quality of sound. The vocal cord of people with a sweet voice is well modulated because of rehearsal and practice. When a child is 13-14 years old, the sound cords are more thick and heavy and because of this, the vibration is less. It is not only the vocal cord, but the chest, stomach, tongue, lips, and teeth that also play a vital role in producing sound. Nature has given vocal cords to all creatures but human beings have mastered the technique of converting words to thoughts and the continuous repetition of thoughts start suggesting new thoughts to him. But, if a child is not taught with words then will it be able to think?

When a child learns from his parents and teachers, the prime medium of learning is its tongue. Through the medium of the tongue, the vocal cord gets trapped into the habit of learning words and while learning the alphabets in school, due to constant repetition, the habit of repetition makes the vocal cord vibrate continuously. Thereafter, all the alphabets and words are registered in the cartilage as different grooves and its electrical signals move towards the brain. These electrical signals again move downward towards the tongue and again into the vocal cord which makes the tongue vibrate continuously. This continuous movement of the tongue, vocal cord and the reflection of electrical signals from the brain, gives us the sensation of continuity of thoughts in the brain even when words are not uttered, i.e. mouth is closed. In other words, as if we are thinking. (The continuity of reflection of this process develops the mind and memory).

The reason for the feeling that we are thinking is because while the signals are passed from the brain to the vocal cord, our major sensory organs, eyes and ears, are in close proximity as well. The eyes and ears being the sensory organs, makes us feel that the thoughts are happening in the brain; while in fact it is happening in the vocal cord. But, if we practice keeping periods of silence and observe (thoughtless awareness) for many years, we will realize that we only speak with the help of the tongue, vocal cord, teeth, lungs and air. It will not be difficult to discover our illusion that we are thinking from the brain. To experience this phenomenon, the readers will have to observe two periods of silence for at least 36 hours or more. Alternatively, it can also be glimpsed by holding the breath outside or inside the body for as long as possible. Another method is to hold mouthfuls of water for as much time as possible and then try to think.

Although it is a bit too early to mention this fact at this juncture, it would be useful to disclose that there is a “natural” thinking process that is not depended on the vocal cord and tongue. This natural thinking is achieved by spiritual beings (thoughtless, in no-mind state) through the electromagnetic sensitivity of the brain. This is the appropriate form of thinking that Nature intended to be. Through continuous practice, most people can experience this.

Generally, when words are spoken through the tongue and vocal cord, the vibrations of these words get mixed with saliva in our mouth and goes into the stomach. From there it gets mixed with our blood and ultimately, into every cell of the body. It may sound odd but this is also the reason why we get excited under the influence of words like love, affection, hatred and sex, among numerous more. Even a recitation of words in the mind sends ripples through the body. In the course of a lifetime, it becomes very difficult (nearly impossible) to come out of it.

Recently it appeared in the newspaper, that a 9 years old boy raped a 5-year-old girl. How could this have happened in our society? One answer could be, that the information with regard to copulation, came to the boy with ease and due to this information, his organs got actuated at an early age. In the sense of bodily development, this information should have come to him naturally at the age of 14. That he would rape at a later age or not is another issue. Here, if he had not received this information through the vocal cord before being more mature, this act of rape would not have occurred. The incident is one of too many that shows how fast the effect of erroneous thinking is being passed onto the next generation. Similarly, the age of the onset of the menstrual cycle among girls has come down to 11 - 12 years and in the coming days; it will not be a surprise, if it comes further down to 8 or 9 years. Is it not then possible, that we are inviting diseases and unnatural activities by not following rules of Nature, under the influence of word-bound thoughts; thoughts which are generated in our vocal cord by continuous repetitions? Let us look further at the vocal cord.

The functioning of our vocal cord is very similar to that of a gramophone. The needle of the gramophone is connected with the diaphragm. When the fine needle is placed on the record, between the gaps of two lines on the record, the air is picked up by the needle, amplified on the diaphragm and given out through the speakers in the form of sound. This is how we get to listen to the songs from a record. Likewise, while we learn words during childhood, grooves similar to the gap between two lines on a record are formed on the cartilage of the vocal cord permanently. While speaking, when air is inhaled and exhaled, the air brushes past these grooves. This is how words come out of our mouth as in the case of the gramophone. Records can be changed on a gramophone but the grooves formed on the cartilage cannot be changed. If there were no movement of air in and out of the body, it would not have been possible for us to either speak or hear. The air that comes brushing past the cartilage, vibrates the sound cord and tongue, leading to utterance of words. That is why, while eating and drinking, when there is less or no air in the mouth, it becomes very difficult for us to speak.

Finally, let us summarize the chapter. While learning new words or skills, words in the form of vibrations enter our body with the help of the tongue, forming grooves on the cartilage of the vocal cord. When air passes through these grooves while inhaling and exhaling, it reaches the upper palate in the mouth and as there is an empty space in the mouth, the words are formed. The electrical signals that are formed in this process get transmitted from the tongue and vocal cord to the brain, which makes us feel that thoughts are occurring in the head (brain). Actually, the thoughts are occurring in the vocal cord. If we understand this properly, we can relieve ourselves of the habit of getting carried away by our word-bound emotions and imaginations. (Words are different levels of air and sound, used by us for expressions). In the absence of this mechanical thinking process, we can become happy in the truest sense.

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