Subhash Kak is an Indian American computer scientist whose work bridges the fields of cryptography, artificial neural networks, and quantum information. Beyond his technical contributions, Kak is also celebrated for his extensive publications in Indology, exploring the history and philosophy of science, ancient astronomy, and the history of mathematics. His writings delve into the intricate connections between scientific thought and philosophical inquiry, offering unique perspectives on the evolution of human understanding.
Mind and Selfis a new translation and commentary onPatanjali'sYoga Sutra framed bynew findings from neuroscience and physics that throw light on the counterintuitive workings of the mind.It brings in evidence from other early Yoga classics such as theBhagavad Gita, the Yoga Vasistha, and Tantra to place the text in context and explain some of its most esoteric ideas."
Subhash Kak's Arrival and Exile is a collection of poems on journeys, memories, and loss. While some of the journeys are to known places, others are stops in the landscapes of imagination. The circles of memory in the poems speak of love and estrangement, beauty and solitude, and arrival at destination followed by exile.
Matter and Mindis a new translation of the nearly 2,500-year oldVaisheshika Sutra of Kanada together with an introductoryessay and acommentary. TheVaisheshika Sutrais one of the mostimportant texts in the history ofscience that has not received the attention it deserves. It presents an ontology of reality that includes four kinds of fundamental atoms, two of which have mass and two that do not, as well as minds and consciousness. It also presents symmetry principles that it uses to infer properties of the basic atoms.Kanada's laws of motion are nearly identical to those of Newton."
Revolutionary insights into Indian civilization over the past twenty years are explored in this overview aimed at general readers. Drawing from invited lectures at prestigious institutions like Stanford and the University of California, along with a notable address at a Dutch public TV congress, the book presents a fresh understanding of India's historical and cultural evolution.
The book reveals the advanced spiritual culture of ancient India, challenging the perception of its people as primitives. It highlights the profound influence of this culture on the Western world and its relevance today. Central to this exploration is the Rig-Veda, which is argued to be older than commonly believed, containing intricate mathematical and astronomical codes within its hymns. This well-researched work appeals to those interested in ancient cultural history, India, archaeo-astronomy, and spirituality, offering a captivating and enriching perspective.
This essay describes the Asvamedha rite and its symbolism to explain distinctive aspects of the Vedic sacrifice system. This rite has three important functions: (i)it presents an equivalence of the naksatra year to the heaven, implying that it is a rite that celebrates the rebirth of the Sun; (ii)it is symbolic of the conquest of Time by the king, in whose name the rite is performed; and (iii) it is a celebration of social harmony achieved by the transcendence of the fundamental conflicts between various sources of power.
This book is a pioneering study that reconciles the traditional understanding of the Vedic gods, taken as the constituents of the indivdual's consciousness, with new discoveries of neuroscience. This book will be useful to scholars of religion, psychology and the emerging new science of consciousness.
