In the Microcosm, Every Detail Is a New Revelation
Alice In The Microcosm: Beauty In The Ficus Leaf
Ficus elastica leaf — Bresser DST-0745, equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
The world around us is a masterpiece rich in fascination and mystery, yet its true essence often remains concealed from our limited senses. But thanks to the power of a microscope, I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a pulsating microcosm of life, a universe of details and wonders that challenged the boundaries of our daily perception.
I must thank Bresser for allowing me to possess a high-performance microscope, the Bresser DST-0745. In combination with the Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP, these tools enable me to immerse myself in the microcosm with a magnification capability of about 180x.
Ficus elastica leaf
The object of my exploratory journey this time was a simple Ficus elastica leaf, a common houseplant. Yet, once under the magnifying lens, this seemingly ordinary object transformed into an entirely new world, a microcosm of wonders and complexity.
Ficus elastica leaf — https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Ficus+elastica%C2%A0leaf&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image
As I explored this leaf, a new dimension unfolded before my eyes. Magnifying the surface at around 150x, I discovered a captivating and unexpected landscape. Tiny crystal formations resembling miniature stalactites rose from the cuticle, creating a rough and uneven surface.
Ficus elastica leaf — Bresser DST-0745, equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Microcosm
Light reflected off these formations, creating a shimmering effect reminiscent of a starry sky within the leaf’s microcosm.
A world of crystals, ancient craters, and microscopic pores revealed an alternative reality, a vibrant and captivating microcosm hidden in what appeared mundane. The images appeared different thanks to the various lighting techniques I used.
The light illuminating from below in microscopy is called transmitted light. The light illuminating from above is called incident light. I used them both alternately and in combination.
Ficus elastica leaf — Bresser DST-0745, equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
Small craters
But the surface was not just a natural work of art. Small craters dotted the landscape, vestiges of epic battles against bacteria and fungi. Like fingerprints of an invisible world, they told stories of the plant’s resistance and adaptation.
Zooming in further, I could observe the stomata, the tiny kidney-shaped openings that allow the leaf to breathe. The guard cells, resembling lips, opened and closed, regulating the exchange of gases between the leaf and the atmosphere. Through these microscopic pores, the leaf’s breath flowed, a vital stream connecting it to the external world.
But the real spectacle took place when my gaze penetrated the leaf’s interior. A sea of irregularly shaped cells, like pieces of an intricate puzzle, opened up before my eyes. The thick, resilient cell walls took on an amber hue, while the emerald-green chloroplasts crowded within them.
Chloroplasts
And within those chloroplasts, the chlorophyll molecules captured sunlight, dancing in a symphony of energy that sustains life itself.
Zooming in on a single chloroplast, I could glimpse the chlorophyll pigment that orchestrates the magic of photosynthesis. Like tiny antennas, the chlorophyll molecules capture sunlight, triggering a dance of energy that nourishes the leaf’s life.
Ficus elastica leaf — Bresser DST-0745, equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
But photosynthesis is just one part of this fascinating microcosm. The nucleus, the guardian of DNA, watches over the cell’s fate. The mitochondria, like microscopic furnaces, burn sugars to provide energy. The pulsating vacuole, a reservoir, stores water and nutrients. A microcosm of vital organs working in synergy for the leaf’s survival.
Observing
The sensation of observing something under the microscope is one of complete irrelevance to what we normally experience in the world.
It is a new world unfolding, where forms take on new appearances and meanings compared to the human mind’s interpretations. Yet, no matter how alien this microcosm may appear to our accustomed senses, at any magnification, nature and that One that permeates all things remain present.
Ficus elastica leaf — Bresser DST-0745, equipped with a Bresser MikroCam II Microscope Camera 12MP — Photo by Author.
In this microcosm, every detail was a new revelation, a new invitation to explore the secrets and marvels that lie beyond the limits of our vision. What was once a simple green leaf became an entire world, pulsating and full of fascination. This second journey into the microcosm filled me with awe and wonder. Every additional detail revealed unveiled a world of even more captivating secrets. At around 150x magnification, the Ficus elastica leaf was no longer just a green, uniform object, but a pulsating microcosm of life, a rich and mysterious work of art.
Vedana
And here, the Vedana, the immediate sensation of the external world described in Vedanta philosophy, reached its apex. Through the magnifying lens, I experienced a completely new Vedana, an experience that redefined the boundaries of my perception and connected me to a vaster and deeper reality.
The Vedana was not merely an observation but an open door to a hidden universe, a journey of discovery that awakened within me a sense of wonder and awe. Every revealed detail, every new form and function within that microcosm, represented an opportunity for the expansion of my consciousness and my connection with the natural world.
Yet, this new microscopic experience almost disoriented me. How can I reconcile the ordinary world with this new, so alien microscopic reality? The forms and functions I observed seem to belong to a completely different universe, governed by laws and principles that challenge my usual understanding.
Alice
I feel almost like Alice after falling down the rabbit hole, with the difference being that this is not a dream but a tangible reality that exists right under my eyes, though invisible to the naked eye. How can I integrate this new awareness into my being? How can I fully embrace the vastness and complexity of existence that has been revealed to me?
I am overwhelmed by a sense of reverence and humility before the grandeur of the universe. What I thought I knew now seems so insignificant, so limited compared to the marvels that lie beyond the veil of our ordinary perception.
Yet, despite this feeling of disorientation, I also feel a profound gratitude for having had the opportunity to explore this microcosm. It is a reminder of the infinite richness and beauty that surrounds us, even in the simplest and most ordinary things.
Dhṛti-utsāha-samanvitaḥ
The experience with the microscope reminded me of the profound concept of Dhṛti-utsāha-samanvitaḥ mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian scripture that embodies spiritual and philosophical teachings.
At its essence, Dhṛti-utsāha-samanvitaḥ represents an individual who acts with resolute willpower and unwavering enthusiasm, regardless of obstacles. Joy resides in the very act itself, not in the anticipation of future results. This person possesses a clear understanding of the intrinsic value of their actions, thereby deepening their commitment to carry them out.
“The one who performs his duty without any attachment to the fruits of work, without egoism, with a firm will and enthusiasm, and without being affected by success or failure is said to be a worker in the mode of goodness.”
(Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chinmayananda)
This concept reminds us that the action itself holds significance, independent of the outcome. It calls us to live fully in the present moment, with dedication and clarity, free from attachment to the fruits of our endeavours.
And…so?
As I observe the Ficus elastica leaf under the microscope, I am flooded with Utsaha — an intense enthusiasm and zeal to examine and comprehend the microscopic details unveiled. Simultaneously, I experience Anuttara — a transcendent sense of awe at the unparalleled complexity and beauty of these normally unseen microscopic structures.
For me, this observation is a natural and spontaneous form of prayer.
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Have you ever used a microscope?
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