Stars and Neurons
Reality and Perception
The vastness of the universe is mind boggling ! But is the human brain more mind boggling ?
On average, as per astronomical observations and calculations, there are 100 billion stars in a typical galaxy such as our very own Milky Way. It is further estimated that there could be around 2 trillion galaxies in the entire visible universe. So if we were to get a rough estimate of the total number of stars in the universe, it is a mind boggling number of 200 billion trillion (that is 200 followed by 21 zeros !).
On the other hand if we were to focus inward on our own little chunk of meat we call the human brain, it is estimated that there are 100 billion neurons which are brain cells making up this phenomenal organ. If each neuron is to be taken as a human cell, which is the fundamental building bock of every human organ, scientists have estimated that each such human cell can contain around 100 trillion atoms. So if we were to get a rough estimate of the total number of atoms in our brain, it works out to an even more mind boggling number of 10,000 billion trillion (that is 10,000 followed by 21 zeros !!).
The battle lines are clear - neurons and atoms making up those neurons outnumber the stars of the universe by a factor of fifty ! This does not even incorporate the extensive synaptic network that the neurons foster among themselves to further up the ante against the confounding and ever expanding network of stars in the universe !!
With enough brain power, is it fair to say that our mind will outlast the reality of the universe as perceived through starlight by our neuro network?
As we ponder the above, let us savour William Blake’s romanticization1:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand …
And reflect on the ancients’ proclamation on the power of the mind, the intellect, and consciousness2 :
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन: |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स: ||
indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ
Translation:
The senses are superior to the gross body, and superior to the senses is the mind. Beyond the mind is the intellect, and even beyond the intellect is consciousness.
From William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence poem collection
From the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 3, verse 42