Kaleidoscopic Karma

Do, or do not. There is no 'try'!

Yoda's wisdom is unmatchable. Often, we fail to notice how many times in a day we shield our incompetence with the word 'try'. This word is our tribute to the saying, "it's the thought that counts." But is that true? Is the thought enough? For that matter, is 'try' enough?

As part of our moral science lessons, we were taught, "try try again, and one day you will succeed!" However, success is not a product of trying; Rather, it is a result of doing. I believe neither the thought, nor the try, are sufficient. They are a mockery of our true potential and just hinder our progress. We deliberately choose to live in the blurry middle instead of clarifying our true intent and moving to a side. We must do something or we must not. There should not be room to say, "I tried to do it and my thoughts were in the right spirit."

I think back to high-school physics. When learning about the concept of work( Work = Fx), our teacher emphasized that in order for work to be non-zero, there MUST be displacement. So, if there is infinite force, but no displacement, no work is done. Perhaps this definition translates into real life. 'Trying' is like applying infinite force with no displacement. The end result of both is zero. Nothing lost, but nothing accomplished either.

Karma, or action is emphasized in every major philosophy. Simply put, it's the law of cause and effect. However, not all karma leads to good results. Therefore, I'm advocating kaleidoscopic karma: Action that is rapidly changing. A kaleidoscope is an instrument built with a series of mirrors that reflect a constantly changing pattern. Our actions should resemble this. They should be directed in an effect to change something. If the change isn't reflected, the course of action must be altered.

The kaleidoscopic method was also employed by Faulkner in writing A Rose for Emily. His story follows a sequential path in which one object or action triggers the next scene. It's about time I focus on my kaleidoscopic karma. One action must lead to a better action. Eventually, this cascade of actions should help me achieve my end goal. At any point if I feel that the path is leading to nowhere, it is only wise to abandon and begin on a different path. But what if it's not the path, not my actions, but the goal that seems unattainable? To this I'll quote from Star Wars again.

Luke: I can't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.

So, one must do and believe. That leads to success. But isn't belief a thought? While a thought might not be sufficient, it is a precursor to action. I will explore the concept of force again. Physics describes a static condition(velocity and displacement are both zero) and a dynamic condition(motion). Thought is like the force applied in the static phase. And the static phase must precede the dynamic phase. The dynamic phase resembles action during which work is being done. So, it's not really the thought that counts. It's the action, especially one that changes your thoughts and leads to better actions.

So I will (try to) commit to kaleidoscopic karma: Indulge in actions with a cause and discard the other ones. I will (try to) believe that my goal is attainable. I will (try to) follow Yoda.

May the force be with (me and) you!

Moving Threshold

Threshold.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in the integrative field of Biomedical Engineering. And being in the center of the merging points of the purer faculties, I have heard several definitions of this word.

Let me first define the word, "threshold" as listed in most dictionaries: The point of a beginning.

Most people will nod their heads in agreement, but we as engineers or scientists or mathematicians know that threshold can mean something different to us. To an engineer, a threshold voltage is the value at which a chain reaction may begin. To a neuroscientist, it is the point above which an action potential will occur. To a doctor it is the physiological value necessary to diagnose a patient. To a mathematician, it is the point at which there is a 50% probability that a response will be elicited. To an artist, it is an entrance to something exciting. And to my mother, it is my age beyond which all decent men will have found a wife.

These definitions can fall under the roof of the dictionary definition, except maybe the mathematician one. It claims the point of a beginning only 50% of the time. Or my mother's definition-that one claims the END of freedom as we know it. But more or less, the dictionary definition says it well. The point of a beginning. A definite point.

Not really. The more you examine this value of a threshold, the more uncertain you find it. Threshold is really a range in practice. Make sure the error is less than 5%. Make sure your blood sugar stays between 100 and 126mg/dL. Make sure the voltage is between 1.45mV and 1.55mV. Make sure you're home between 1:30am and 2:00am(this is my curfew).

But a beginning is always well defined. My life began on January 24th 1987. I start work at 9am every morning. Featured soccer matches for FIFA air at 1:30pm CST. The record breaking Isner-Mahut tennis match began on June 22nd 2010 at 6:18pm (British Summer Time). Of course, the ends are foggy. Sometimes it takes days before we realize something is over.

So maybe threshold isn't just the point of a beginning, but it is a limit. It is like an asymptote, you approach it, but in order to reach the value, the function must change. In simple words, threshold is the end of one event and the beginning of another. When the threshold is crossed, the limit surpassed, there is a spike.

I have crossed this limit several times and stumbled over to fight with the spikes. And in order to cross these limits, I've had to move them first. Often we set limits for ourselves so we can keep our actions in check. But sometimes these are put forth by others, either to protect us or to restrict us. I am sorry, but neither of these conditions are acceptable to me. I've negotiated the value of thresholds in my life to expand my cage. When the tree can no longer bend, it must break and perhaps a new tree will grow there in its place. Safety might be a result of protection, but wisdom is the product of experience and I cannot keep myself from that. As for restriction, I value my freedom more than I value my life. I follow my own rules, make my own mistakes and develop my own theories.

Thresholds are the gates to an adventure. They are the end of boredom and the beginning of an organized turbulence. For a while, you can extend the tunnel and remain sheltered. But one day you break free. You discover your true potential. You rise above your threshold.

And your life begins, for real!