If I say mind and thinking, you automatically know that we are talking about head. And reason. With the same automatism, you know that when using the words emotion and feeling all the rest of the body is put into play from the heart. The world of sensations. Who knows how many times in your school, affective, professional life, these two parts acted separately or, worse, …
spiritual centre of the brain: evolutionary ancient
According to a report in the Journal of Neuroscience, the concept of religion and spirituality is profoundly ingrained in our brains. Because researchers have now identified an essential location in the brain stem — an extremely ancient part of the brain in terms of evolution — we now have an understanding of the brain stem’s significance. If this …
Continue reading "spiritual centre of the brain: evolutionary ancient"
breathing to manage your stress – a new approach
The role of the breath in meditation and stress management programs is well established. As a meditation strategy, focusing on the breath is primarily a tool for concentration, a place to focus the mind. As a stress management technique, slowing the breath, “belly breathing,” and focusing on the exhalation are all common (and effective) approaches to shifting the nervous system out of a …
Continue reading "breathing to manage your stress – a new approach"
The way of suffering -Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022)
Handling our suffering is an art - if we know how to suffer, we suffer much less, and we’re no longer afraid of being overwhelmed by the suffering. Mindfulness helps us recognize, acknowledge, and embrace the presence of the suffering, which can already bring some calm and relief. When a painful feeling comes up, we …
Continue reading "The way of suffering -Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022)"
in the zone: how we achieve brain flow
You are playing such an intense video game and are focused so intently on getting to the next level that you don’t know what is going on around you. You have no sense of time passing. You feel great. You are “in the zone.” You are experiencing flow. You are running a marathon and you …
breath in deeply: bring your mind home to your body
Breath is the gift of life - one we are used to and do not see it as such. It’s become an automatic experience on our part which, in many ways, it is. Have you ever thought about it? Do you breathe, or does the breathing happen without your conscious involvement? When you are focussed …
Continue reading "breath in deeply: bring your mind home to your body"
seven facts about the brain that incline the mind to joy
The mind and the brain are mainly (and perhaps entirely) a single unified system Almost every – and perhaps every – subjective state is correlated with an objective, material brain state. Other than a transcendental factor – call it God, Spirit, Energy, or by whatever name – by definition, what else could be going on …
Continue reading "seven facts about the brain that incline the mind to joy"
vagal pathways: portals to compassion
Contemplative practices are conceptualized as methods that function as neural exercises enhancing vagal regulation of the autonomic nervous system. The model presented proposes that specific voluntary behaviors (e.g., breath, vocalizations, and posture), which characterize ancient rituals and form the core of contemplative practices, can trigger a physiological state mediated by vagal pathways that fosters health …
is meditation the reason this monk’s brain is eight years younger than his body?
While there's no fountain of youth, a Tibetian Buddhist monk may have tapped into the next best thing, according to an analysis showing that his 41-year-old brain actually resembles that of a 33-year-old. The monk, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (YMR), a renowned meditation practitioner and teacher, began meditating at age 9. The "extraordinary number of hours" …
Continue reading "is meditation the reason this monk’s brain is eight years younger than his body?"
what is the nondual view and why is it important in meditation?
Typically, humans flit between dual and nondual forms of consciousness without ever knowing or detecting the difference. In this brief introduction, the critical thing to bear in mind is that we all have access to dual and nondual consciousness; both are integral to the human experience. However, it is highly problematic to recognise and then …
Continue reading "what is the nondual view and why is it important in meditation?"