It will be a privilege to publish letters from readers
about articles written in previous issues or giving
suggestions. No letter will be printed which indulges
in personalized attacks or is meaningless in the context of DJ

Dated: October 28, 1998

My Dear Ikram,

A fresh copy of 'Defence Journal' never fails to surprise me in a pleasant and reminiscent way. I wish to thank you for it.

'MIND IS THE ULTIMATE WEAPON ' has somehow caught hold of my imagination and I have been thinking about it for a long time. You would know better than me that the study of mind is still in its infancy . Can 'MIND' be to put to a scientific scrutiny? Even the definition of 'mind' is elusive. 'REMEMBRANCE' is what the dictionary says. In one of the previous issues of the Journal, the subject was taken up by some famous names. It is my ignorance perhaps, that I was not convinced.

Understandably, the focus of the Journal is Uni-directional and hence the function of the mind as the ultimate weapon. How? That is the question that bugs the brain (not 'mind').

If you have the time to continue reading I shall confide in you my personal thoughts on the subject. I think that there is an 'I' within 'me'. The 'I' is indestructible whereas the 'me' has an allotted time span to live. This hypothesis of mine is based on a personal experience which I shall share with your (very few people know about it). After a heart attack in 1989 I was in ICU and died clinically . But 'I' did not die. I could see the body (me) being rushed away in a coffin. I do not know for how long I was gone but when I came to life again, I was surrounded by a number of nursing staff and they heaved a sigh of relief. The monitor attached to my heart had started ticking up and down again!

Ikram, since you are involved in literary pursuits, I would request you to explore the subject in greater detail, preferably within the following parameters.

1. What is 'mind'

2. Without any religious bias; is the mind linked to conscience or soul.

3. Can deep concentration affect the sub-conscious? Is there a link between the mind and the sub-conscious?

4. Conflict between self preservation and the mind. How can the mind be used as the ultimate weapon not only in war but also in peace or as a pre-emptive strike weapon.

Hoping to clarify my own muddled thoughts through your kind indulgence .

Yours Sincerely,

LT- COL (RETD)
MEHMOOD -UL-ZAFAR KHAN
SVP & SECURITY INCHARGE
HABIB BANK LIMITED
19-HABIB BANK PLAZA
Karachi