Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a guest at the “Being a Conscious Youth” talk organized by Marmara University's Anatolian Youth Club. Making significant remarks on consciousness, quantum, and psychology, Tarhan noted that studies in the field of quantum reveal a ‘reflective mind, a quantum-receiving mind’. Tarhan added that human consciousness has recently become one of the most important research areas.
“In the past, identity transfer was done by the family, now digital elements are at the forefront”
In the online talk, Tarhan evaluated the search for identity that begins with adolescence and drew attention to some transformations in this transfer during the modern age. Tarhan stated; “With adolescence, starting from approximately 12 years of age, individuals begin to search for and find their own identity, asking questions like ‘who am I, where should I direct myself?’. Such individuals genetically have a tendency towards autonomy and a sense of independence. For centuries, this sense of independence has been suppressed in cultures. Because this feeling was suppressed in societies of obedience and cultures of fear, people were governed by fears from the Roman period to Ancient Times. Historically, wars have always arisen due to demands for freedom. The adolescence of an individual and the adolescence and growth of a society are very parallel. That is, when a young person enters adolescence, the feeling of autonomy comes to the forefront. If a young person has a sense of autonomy, parents or society can compel them in some matters. Leaders carry a radicalism gene. This is closely related to the sense of autonomy. People experience identity confusion when asking ‘who am I, where should I belong, why?’ questions. We decide with all of our ethnic, social, cultural, and sexual identities. Previously, cultural transfer was taken somewhat from mothers, fathers, and society; now, young people mainly get it from social media and try to form their identity. Before, they used to do cultural transfer to children this way. The family used to transfer identity, but now digital elements have completely taken the place of the family.”
“Consciousness is one of the most researched topics in psychology”
Making striking statements about the concept of consciousness, Tarhan underlined that the decision-making mechanism in the human brain occurs through ‘consciousness’. Tarhan stated; “Consciousness in the human brain is one of the most researched areas in psychiatry and psychology. A study on human decision-making processes showed that there is a consciousness above our brain. So, it is not the brain that makes the decision. There is a mind above our brain that makes decisions, and this mind has consciousness, telling us to do or not to do. Consciousness is currently the most important topic. It suggests that there should be a quantum brain right now. Because the human brain was known to operate in a closed loop. Now it is understood that the human brain operates relationally, connected to the entire universe, to other people, everything has connectivity. There are mirror neurons; for example, there are motor mirror neurons, when you raise your arm, the arm region in the other person’s brain also activates. There are emotional mirror neurons; whatever emotion there is – resentment, anger, hatred, jealousy, love, hope, joy – if you experience that emotion strongly, the same region in the other person’s brain also activates. These are completely new pieces of information, 15-20 years old. Even without these emotional mirror neurons, brains communicate. This means that there is now a reality beyond our five senses. This is a holographic reality, and what we call consciousness operates through vibration.”
“The quantum receiving property of the human mind has emerged”
Tarhan stated that with recent developments in the field of quantum, the quantum-receiving aspect of the human mind and the relativity of time have been proven; “Studies in the field of quantum indicate that there is ‘a reflective mind, a quantum-receiving mind’. It is called neuroquantumology, and this science states that the human mind’s consciousness is a field that resonates as a quantum receiver. With recent developments, this has become computable and measurable. After the quantum physical constant was found, it became calculable. Like Newton’s determinism, which could predict when the sun would rise a year later, then Einstein’s determinism emerged, revealing the relativity of time. If there were two 30-year-old individuals in the world, and you put one on a device moving at near light speed, if they met again 50 years later, the one living on Earth would be 80 years old, while the one living at light speed in space would be 50 years old. This was mathematically measured, and the formula for time relativity was also found. Upon this, a determinism where time is relative emerged, by including the time dimension in calculations. In 2022, Quantum Entanglement was discovered; Einstein called this theory ‘spooky action at a distance’. There is a universe faster than the speed of light. Currently, beyond the black holes where our realm of existence ends, there is another existence that is faster than the speed of light and is dark matter, and this dark matter constitutes 80-90% of the current universe. Humans are not just beings composed of matter.”
“The West will find monotheism very soon”
Tarhan stated that intellectual movements in the West have led to the end of the family and trapped people in a cycle of unhappiness and addiction, adding that he foresees the West will soon find monotheism. Tarhan said; “Existential philosophy questions life and existence. For example, existentialists completely evaluate humanity from scratch, advocating that life has no meaning, i.e., absurdism, and the idea that ‘life has no meaning, pursuing meaning is meaningless’ is widespread. A philosophy against everything emerges. For instance, in America in the seventies, there were open classroom policies. Children entered the classroom whenever they wanted and left whenever they wanted. Let there be freedom; with open classroom policies, we can see talents emerge, and this was also experienced in marriage. Open marriage policies. Both parties are married, and both have lovers. There is a culture in America now that normalizes this. Up to this point, they tried various methods of freedom. For example, a philosophy emerged that promoted casual sexuality by describing it as fluid sexuality. However, this philosophy began to create complications, leading to incidents of violence and divorces. The idea of ‘what is the need for family?’ became dominant, loneliness emerged, and depression from unhappiness occurred. Drugs spread in the West as an addiction and an epidemic. Currently, antidepressants are being measured in the sewers of Manhattan. With humanity spreading such boundlessness, irresponsibility, and insatiability under the name of freedom, narcissism continues to globalize. Recent developments indicate that wisdom has begun in the West. I foresee that the Western world, by saying 'we are doing it wrong,' will soon find monotheism. I anticipate that the number of believers will increase.”
“When one establishes a heartfelt connection with Allah, a meditative feeling arises in a person”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, speaking about the feeling of integration with Allah, said; “When a believing person establishes a heartfelt connection with Allah, a meditative feeling arises in them. One feels as if all desires have been met, all needs satisfied, and as if integrated with Allah—look, as if integrated. When you feel integrated with Allah, a feeling of flying occurs in a person, and this is referred to as ‘vajd’ (ecstasy) in Sufism. Its English equivalent is the feeling of ecstasy. Today, this is done with pills in the West. Pills temporarily provide the same feeling, activating the same region of the brain, but once their effect wears off, a person feels even worse. However, a person can embark on this journey of inner peace on their own, without pills, and achieve this state. Thus, one can integrate with Allah, concerning all these teachings in Sufism, what is the most important teaching? The feeling of accountability is very important, it is the most crucial feeling that prevents evil within a person. What protects a person is not their good intentions, nor their patriotism, nor their religiosity... The most important feeling is accountability, which protects against evil. What prompts a person to do good? You make some sacrifices now, but in the future, you will gain greater rewards; you make short-term sacrifices, but even in this world, before the next, you gain spiritual peace and well-being. There is that inner peace that comes from believing. That's why true believers are admired; this is an advance payment in religiosity... Being able to attain that inner peace is important, but the real reward, the great reward, is after death. Even this advance payment is enough for a person because it adds meaning to life. Therefore, for a person to seek and find the truth here, being born in this geography, being part of this culture, is a great chance, but there are many people who are in the sea yet do not know the sea.”
“The West has taken Anatolian wisdom and systematized it as Positive Psychology”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, referring to how the West has taken Anatolian wisdom, systematized it under the name of positive psychology, and presented it to the world, said; “They have taken Anatolian wisdom, systematized it, developed a methodology, and are now selling Mevlana to us as positive psychology. I studied positive psychology and wrote my books ‘Mesnevi Therapy’ and ‘Yunus Therapy’ based on it. I saw that the West has taken everything from us; due to our laziness, they have turned it into scientific methodology. Currently, my prediction is that people in the Western world are afraid of Islam, but they will find monotheism. I estimate that the number of believers in the West is increasing. Making divine consent the ultimate purpose is the goal here. This is the divine objective. When a believer sets this goal within themselves, and a wrong distraction comes along, telling them to be lazy, not to worship, or to lie and act opportunistically, an inner prohibitor in their conscience says no. For the development of these prohibitors in your conscience, i.e., the feeling of inner control, one must have a goal. If you have a goal, desire awakens. If you have a goal, a need arises. You say, ‘I must do something to reach this goal.’ When a need arises, desire awakens, and when desire awakens, you set yourself in motion. The way to set yourself in motion is to feel a need, to awaken a desire. Setting the goal of being a good person is important; for example, even a smile is charity, think about something like that, even a smile is charity. During the twenty-three-year period of prophethood, the Messenger of Allah was a magnificent example, a perfect human being, and we shall take that human example. That is, we will have computers before us, we will have our minds, but our hearts will be in the ethics of the Prophet. When we do this, after a while, this state becomes automatic. You thus grasp the meaning, and no adverse wind can sway you or blow you in another direction. Therefore, for the will here, patience is absolutely necessary. There is a hidden psychological law in life: life gives its rewards to those who endure. That is why Allah has sworn by patience and time. Among the most important characteristics of Anatolian wisdom are reliance on God (tawakkul) and patience.”