Tag: biology

For centuries, scientists have tried to unlock the secrets of life by studying its smallest unit—the cell. On the surface, a cell appears to be just a biological machine, operating through chemical reactions and genetic instructions. However, when we look deeper into cellular behavior, some fundamental questions remain unanswered. Are all the activities of the cell completely understood, or is there a hidden layer of mystery? How do cells perform such complex actions with precision beyond the capabilities of pure chemistry? And can thinking about the working of cells help us mentally evolve towards egolessness and freedom from doership? These questions open the door to a deeper reflection that combines both science and philosophy. Modern biology has indeed mapped out many of the cell’s functions. We know how DNA is copied, proteins are synthesized, energy is produced, and communication happens through chemical signaling. At the mechanical level, this knowledge is detailed and widely accepted. Yet, when we consider how billions of cells in the human body work together in perfect harmony—especially during embryonic development where each organ forms in exactly the right place—we see a level of precision that is not fully explained by known science. Cells do not simply follow fixed programs; they adjust, adapt, repair themselves, and sometimes decide to self-destruct if they detect severe damage. This behavior is sometimes referred to as “cellular cognition” or “biological intelligence.” While cells do not have consciousness like humans, their decision-making processes appear strikingly similar in structure to human mental choices. Each cell seems to participate in a process of possibilities—much like a thought exists in the mind as a superposition of ideas—and then collapses into action, like a decision. Some researchers believe there may even be a deeper, quantum layer involved in this. In plants, for example, quantum processes are already known to occur during photosynthesis. Birds are thought to use quantum entanglement for navigation. Inspired by this, theorists like Stuart Hameroff and Roger Penrose have proposed that microtubules inside cells might act like quantum computers, processing information in a way that is beyond classical chemistry. Though this remains unproven, it raises the possibility that life itself could involve quantum effects. Another great mystery is the origin of life itself. Science still does not know how the first living cell appeared from non-living matter. The transition from lifeless molecules to a fully functional cell remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in biology. All this leads to a philosophical reflection. While it is clear that cells are not equal to humans in terms of consciousness, their workings seem to run in parallel. This parallelism provides a mental support system to develop egolessness and freedom from the false sense of doership. When we realize that trillions of cells in the human body work tirelessly without ego, serving the whole without claiming credit, it naturally brings humility. If the cosmos and the body function without an individual ego, then why should a fleshy human body cling to the illusion of “I am the doer”? In my own contemplation, I feel that each cell is like a tiny human, complete in its tasks but selfless in its purpose. This thought often connects me to the image of Narayana in Ekarnava—the formless cosmic truth that appears in the emptiness of meditation. When I think of this unity between the cell and the cosmic order, it gives me an intuitive hint that this vision is pointing toward truth. Human-like complex activities, even more complex than what we consciously do, cannot be performed by chemicals alone. There is surely something deeper—perhaps in the form of microtubules acting as hidden information processors within the cell. This does not mean cells have human consciousness, but their parallel way of working can support a mental shift in us, helping dissolve ego and the burden of doership. In this view, Sharirvigyan Darshan—the philosophy of the body and cosmos—finds a bridge with modern science, where the smallest unit of life silently reflects the grand cosmic play.