The Sanskrit word for a living physical body is kshetra, ‘field’. This is the literal meaning, which is applicable to the entire spectrum of physics. On the gross-material level, kshetra refers to any kind of designated field or land. For example, the most famous battlefield of Vedic history is called Kurukshetra, ‘the field of the Kuru dynasty’. When referring to the subtle-material level, kshetra has the same meaning which the word ‘field’ still rudimentarily has when today’s physicists speak of ‘energy fields’ and ‘field theories’.

Interestingly enough, also the body is called a kshetra, an energy field! With the choosing of this term, the speakers of Sanskrit indicated that every form of body can be defined as ‘the physical domain in which the consciousness of a living entity is present’.

A monocellular being has a very limited kshetra. Intestinal bacteria, for example, will never perceive that they are situated within the body of a more evolved living entity which animates this superior organic unit. As soon as the living entity passes away, the body is left behind without the co-ordinating life factor, and the inner micro-organisms are no longer subordinate to it. They begin to live independently, and the dead body (which is no longer a kshetra!) is taken over by these smaller units of micro-organisms. That is the explanation why only a dead body decomposes – a simple fact which is not that simple after all. It visibly demonstrates the existence of a non-material life factor, its presence or absence causing a difference which could not be more drastic. Therefore, the most drastic pair of words is used to describe these two different conditions: alive and dead.

Micro-organisms are totally unable to comprehend their position and function within the physical unit of the bigger kshetra, to say nothing of the fact that this bigger kshetra, too, is positioned within yet higher structures of planetary and cosmic dimensions. For bacteria, our body is a universe, and we humans are something so alien and unknown to them that they do not even perceive us. For them, we do not exist! Similarly, is not mankind, too, living like blind, ignorant bacteria within the organism of the multi-dimensional cosmos?

Undeniably, man’s consciousness is very limited and only capable of perceiving those things that lie within the scope of its kshetra, which interacts with the world through the senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing and sight. Those who identify themselves with matter are therefore limited to the reach and perception of their senses, even in their thinking, feeling and endeavouring, and in the contents of their world-view.

Our consciousness, however, being non-material, is not limited to matter. Just as light exists independently of shadows and darkness, consciousness is independent of matter. The consciousness of each human being has the potential of going beyond the limitations of material sense perception, even beyond the limitations of the body. Flashes of this potential may manifest as occasional telepathy, as a case of spontaneous healing, or as a sudden thrust of superhuman power (mostly in moments of shock or desperation) when, for example, a mother can lift a car away from her child. Later on, such a person can hardly remember the incident. It is like having been under hypnosis. And, indeed, hypnotical acts can serve as a spectacular illustration of the actual potential dormant in our mental and causal bodies. Still, hypnosis is not the recommended way to activate such powers, as it depends on orders suggested or even imposed by another person.

The potential of consciousness (‘mind over matter’) does not always present itself in a spectacular manner. From a higher point of view, every living entity is ‘spectacular’, be it a light-seeking plant, a flying insect, a swimming fish, a colour-changing chameleon, a running leopard, etc. A body of gross matter, which otherwise would be lifeless, is being animated to do wonderful things: growing, moving, procreating, perceiving, communicating. Life itself is the biggest miracle! And we as human beings are invited to appreciate it, beginning with ourselves …

… continued in TranscEnding the Global Power Game, p. 299