Science and Spirituality: Cosmic Energy-Fields of Thoughts and Speech
In scientific terms, the entire system of a human being in this visible world revolves around two major components — the physical body and the conscious mind. The constant functioning of each of them at multiple levels requires and also generates (bio)electrical currents through the brain-system. Major activities of the body are accompanied by mutual interaction between its tiny constituent parts — from organs to cellular and molecular levels. The processes of heart-beating, blood flow through the veins and arteries, inhalation and exhalation of air by the lungs, expansion and compression of the muscles, bio-electrical signal (information) processing through the nerves, etc., all produce some kind of friction, vibration, and/or excitation in the associated components. This generates specific kinds of thermal energy and static electricity.
When one thinks, the subtle (mental) sound of the words/sentences (of the language in which one is thinking) produces some vibrations in the neuronal circuit. The 'processing' of the thoughts and emotions also generates neuronal transmissions and/or stimulates the neurons in the brain. This gives rise to some bioelectrical energy-currents. The consequent (bio)electromagnetic waves of the continuous 'flow' of emotions and thoughts are called "thought waves."
The Cosmic Sphere of Thought
If we throw a stone in a pond, it will produce waves in the water, flowing transversely up to the pond's banks. The universe also is a kind of a 'gigantic pond, but, without boundaries'; it is ever-expanding in all directions. Thus, it may be likened to an infinite open 'sphere.' The (bio)electromagnetic waves produced by a person's thoughts and emotions expand in the limitless domain of this etheric 'sphere.' Empowered by the vital spiritual energy (prāña) of the mind, these waves propagate to immeasurably large distances. Thus, by the principle of spherical geometry, their trajectory of expansion is circular. Hence, eventually, after reaching their cosmic 'target'/domain, they would come back to their origin.
The long journey of the thought waves is not static, as it is subjected to some stochastic effects (due to other sublime/cosmic vibrations). A lot of their (bio)magnetic energy is dissipated while interacting with other waves of opposite characteristics (pertaining to the counter or negative thoughts/emotions). Their confluence/superposition with the thought waves of similar qualities, however, strengthens their own power. The super-imposition of these 'matching' thought waves indeed creates a powerful region of attraction and builds up a thought layer or a field (also called an 'ideosphere') that could influence others' thought waves.
Our righteous and saintly thoughts and emotions may thus offer benefits to us and others as well while compounding their power manifold with each cycle. Such layers of divine thoughts and emotions are like 'sublime' clouds, which can shower the nectar of virtuous inspirations on the entire world.
Energy Fields of Speech
The simple principle behind our speech or the pronunciation of a word by our mouth is that — the collision of air with specific portions of the nervous system (as per the movement of the associated components of the mouth, including the palate) produces specific vibrations in the vocal-cord. This apparently physiological process is completely regulated by the mind. It is the unconscious mind that guides the controlling machinery of the brain and hence regulates the movements of the components that 'directly' participate in the process of speaking or singing. The instantaneous difference in our voice and pattern of pronunciation of the same word under different moods (mental states) clearly demonstrates this remarkable harmony between the speech-system and the mind.
If we casually pet somebody's back, there would be no reaction in general. However, if we do so intentionally or in an angry mood, it would naturally hurt that person and may invite repelling action from his side. This simple example illustrates the difference between the effects of a mere physical activity and that of an action associated with unusual mental force. The words recited by a person with full mental concentration are indeed energized by the bio-electrical energy of the physical body as well as the 'electromagnetic' and subliminal prāñic forces of his mind.
It is well known that the frequencies of visible light range from 400 to 790 terahertz, while the sound waves have so far been found to produce vibrations in the ether ranging between very low to the hypersonic levels (more than 10⁹ Hz). But our ears can normally catch (hear) only the sonic vibrations ranging from 20 to 20,000 Hz. The ultra-fast vibrations of sound produce higher energy waves. By the law of conservation of energy, the vibrations produced by the sound of the words uttered by a person would also be everlasting. Which energy-field these waves would form or reach in the cosmos would depend upon their 'nature,' which is specific to the speaker's voice and more importantly to the nature of his/her mental (including emotional) state when those words were uttered.
Mind, Mantra, and Divine Energy Fields
The etymology of the word mantra indicates several derivations in the Sanskrit language. Some Vedic texts on the science of mantra describe:
mananāt trāñanācyaiva madrū pasyāvabodhanāt;
mantra ityucyate samyak madādhiṣṭhānata priye.
— (Drayāmal Śāstra)
Meaning: That, mental recitation and repetition of which, enables one to know the true form of the world and nature. That, which liberates the mind from the worldly thralldoms of egotism, selfishness, and avarice, and which leads to the path of ultimate success – is called a Mantra.
Some Vedic texts also cite — "Manāta Mantra": meaning, a mantra is a process or mechanism regulated by the (deeper) mind; "Mananāt Trāyate Iti Mantraḥ": meaning, that which liberates the mind (from the thralldom of ignorance) is the mantra. The "Shatpatha Brahmaña" defines — "Vāgvai Mantraḥ": meaning, the segments or verbal formulae/configurations of the psychic sounds/syllables and accents enunciated by a spiritually evolved, divine-like voice is a mantra.
The devout practice of its japa is essential for experiments on a mantra. The word japa in the Sanskrit language is defined as – 'japa vyaktāyāṁ vāci' and 'japa mānase ca', Meaning: recite clearly and chant it mentally. Repeated rhythmic enunciation of a mantra with unperturbed mental concentration and emotional engrossment is defined as the japa of that mantra. The Agni Purāña explains:
jakāro janma vicchedaḥ, prakāra pāpa nāśakaḥ;
tasmājjaya iti proktau janma pāpa vināśakaḥ.
Meaning: "Ja" implies relief from further janmas (births); "Pa" symbolizes the elimination of sins. Thus japa (of a mantra) helps destroy one's evils and liberate the soul from all worldly thralldoms.
The vibrations of mantras carry immense energy, which is amplified by the prāña (vital spiritual energy) and bioelectricity of the mind-body system and the sublime currents of the spiritually refined thoughts and emotions of the sādhaka(s).
The Domain of Divine Thought-Waves (Adhi Devatā)
Thoughts and emotions, being the manifestations of Śabda (eternal, cosmic element of sound), are also a form of energy. Every combination, physically perceivable or subtle, of vibrations and/or movements gives rise to energy. Thus, thoughts and emotions also exist in waveforms. These 'energy-waves,' if focused around one idea or faith, naturally form a common class (cluster) and generate a stronger field of attraction around this center of focus.
Every Vedic Mantra has its (adhi) devatā, which represents a divine force (of transcendent consciousness) and a cosmic energy center in the field of the genesis, ultimate expansion, and sublimated existence of the (sonic and mental) energy-waves associated with the sādhanā of that mantra. This devatā is supposed to be the eternal source (the 'soul') of the supernormal power of that particular mantra. The 'success of a mantra-sādhanā' is often described as 'blessings or boons bestowed by the devatā.'
For ease in meditation, the devatās of various Vedic Mantras were also given visible forms and names by the rishis. The bīja (the 'seed' or original syllable/source, e.g., the syllable representing the eternal sound of "Oṁ") and chhanda (syllabic configuration that also guides musical composition to chant the mantra as a hymn) described in the viniyoga of a mantra correspond to the subtle wave-characteristics and the sonic pattern of that mantra.
We speak not only to tell other people what we think but to tell ourselves what we think. Speech is a part of the thought. — Oliver Sacks
It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. — Dale Carnegie
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous. — Confucius
The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. — Eckhart Tolle