July 20, 2011
A Contribution from Mulavana Bhattathiry
An Article by M.P. Bhattathiri, Retired Chief Technical Examiner to The Govt. of Kerala, edited slightly by Indian Heartbeat.
In the storm of life, we struggle through myriads of stimuli of pressure, stress, and muti-problems that seek a solution and answer. We are so suppressed by the routine of this very lifestyle that most of us seem helpless. However, if we look closely at ancient techniques we shall discover the magnificent way to understand and realize the ones around us and most particularly ourselves. If only we could stop for a moment and allow this to happen.
May all beings be happy (Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu)
Let me bow to Indian Maharishi Patanjali, with folded hands, who helped in removing the impurities of the mind through his writings on Yoga, impurities of speech through his writings on grammar, and impurities of the body through his writings on Ayurveda.
The American Justice Department has recently approved the power of yoga and meditation vide a recent judgment in the American court. " Man Who Slapped Wife Sentenced to Yoga, It's Anger Management, Says Judge."
First, there was house arrest. Now there's yoga. A judge ordered a man convicted of slapping his wife to take a yoga class as part of his one-year probation. "It's part of anger management," County Criminal Court at Law Judge Larry Standley said of the ancient Hindu philosophy of exercise and well-being.
"For people who are into it, it really calms them down. "
Standley, a former prosecutor, said the case of JLC was unique. JLC, a 53-year-old car salesman from Tomball, explained that his wife was struggling with a substance abuse problem and that he struck her on New Year's Eve during an argument about her drinking. "He was trying to get a hold of her because she has a problem," Standley said after the court hearing. "I thought this would help him realize that he only has control over himself."
The sentence came as a surprise to JLC, who was told to enroll in a class and report back to Standley on his progress. "I'm not very familiar with it," JLC said of yoga. "From what I understand, it may help in a couple of ways, not only as far as mentally settling, but maybe a little weight loss."
DM, an instructor at YBH in River Oaks, said she would recommend that JLC take a basic yoga class emphasizing breathing and including a variety of postures -- forward bends, backbends and twists. "Yoga can help us to get rid of many emotional issues we might have," she said. "It's a spiritual cleanse."
Prosecutor Lincoln Goodwin agreed to a sentence of probation without jail time because JLC had no significant criminal history.
Yoga is far from simply being physical exercises, rather it is an aid to establishing a new way of life that embraces both inner and outer realities. However, this way of life is an experience that cannot be understood intellectually and will only become living knowledge through practice and experience. Yoga which is one of the greatest Indian contributions to the world has got vast potential in all fields and an Indian way to get synergy among body, mind, and soul.
In the Tihar Jail, Delhi, India, Yoga is experimented with among the inmates and found successful. Their criminal mentality has changed. This study aimed at investigating the effect of Vipassana Meditation on Quality of Life, Subjective Well-Being, and Criminal Propensity among inmates of Tihar Jail, Delhi.
To this effect, the following hypotheses were formulated.
1. There will be a significant positive effect of Vipassana Meditation on the Quality of Life of inmates of Tihar Jail.
2. Vipassana Meditation will have a positive and significant effect on the Subjective Well-Being of inmates.
3. Criminal propensity of inmates will decrease significantly after attending the Vipassana Meditation course.
4. There will be a significant difference in the Subjective Well-Being and Criminal Propensity of the experimental (Vipassana) group and the control (non-Vipassana) group.
5. Male and female inmates will differ significantly in Subjective Well-Being and Criminal Propensity, as a result of Vipassana Meditation.
In the famous "Time" magazine the importance of meditation and yoga, an ancient Indian system, is highlighted; that the ancient mind and spirit enhancing art is becoming increasingly popular and gaining medical legitimacy. It is a multi-billion dollar business in the US.
In many Universities, it is accepted as a subject and included in the syllabus.
In the latest famous book "Inspire! What Great Leaders Do" written by Mr.Lance Secretan, recently published by John Wiley and sons, the benefits of meditation are elaborately described for good corporate governance.
By practicing Transcendental Meditation, or TM, many people have got relief from back pain, neck pain, depression. The mind calms and quiets. What thoughts you have during meditation become clearer, more focused. Anger, anxiety, and worries give way to peace. In the world of exorbitant medical expenses, one can definitely make use of meditation. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Sri Ravi Sankar are popularizing this. The Iyengar Yoga Institute in the US is famous.
Food habits should be adopted to keep the mind and body in pace. One can get more than enough protein and other essential nutrients by eating a balanced vegetarian diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy products, nuts, and seeds. A vegan diet (without dairy products) is also adequate, as long as you eat enough protein-rich whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. In any case, your body will "tell" you what you need to eat. If you have a particular craving for any type of food, it may mean that you need the nutrients that it supplies – so trust the natural signals your body gives you.
In the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna has inspired Arjuna to rise from his depression to do his duties by preaching Gita on the battlefield. In the Holy Gita we can see, being hidden by the cosmic overview of any institution beset with myriad problems, not the least of which is its lack of moral probity, there is a groundswell of educated people seeking answers to deeply personal but universally asked questions.
Chief Executives taking lessons from yoga, meditation, and learning how to deal with human resources equations in an enlightened manner. Individuals from every walk of life can get ideas of how to be better human beings, more balanced and less stressed out.
Medical studies continue to show regular meditation working magic in reducing blood pressure and stress-related illnesses, including heart disease. Brain images show that regular meditation helps calm the most active sensory-assaulted parts of the brain.
The ancient Hindu sage Patanjali who had mastered the secrets of the human mind has written a book "Yogasutra". In this book, we can see how superpowers can be achieved by meditation. It has both cosmic relevance and cosmic resonance. In spite of its universal appeal, for most people total control of the mind remains an elusive goal and daunting task.
From time immemorial, there have been many attempts throughout the world to unlock the mysteries of the mind and to achieve total control over it through a variety of techniques. One of the most powerful of these techniques is meditation. Many spiritual leaders, sages, saints, and holy people such as Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna, Madam Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda have practiced this. One of the ways to control physiological reactions to psychological stimuli is meditation, Yoga, Zen Buddhism, etc.
The scientists take Transcendental Meditation as the uniform technique and base their observations on the study of the subjects engaged in this form of meditation. In summing up the results the scientists have come to the conclusion that the effect of meditation is a "wakeful, hypo-metabolic state".
They have found that:
1) Yogis could slow both heart rate and rate of respiration,
2) Yogis could slow the rate of metabolism as confirmed by decreased oxygen consumption and carbon-die-oxide output.
3) Electro-Encephala-Gram (EEG - recording of brain activity) in Yogis showed changes of calmness in the form of "alpha rhythm" during both eyes closed and eyes open recordings.
4) Their skin resistance to electric stimulation was increased (indicating increased tolerance to external stimuli).
Our usual 'defense alarm reaction to emotional and physical stress is in the form of "fright, flight, and fight" mediated through over-secretion of certain neuron-transmitters and neuron-modulators, namely adrenaline and dopamine by way of stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Under the influence of these chemicals and hormones, we reflexively become panicky or aggressive, our blood pressure rises. Thus stress and anxiety are the end result if we allow our natural age-old sympathetic reactions to act and to come to the surface. We try to run away, become fearful, or fight the situation. But today these 'defense alarm reactions have no place in our lives. Rather, they should be replaced by more calm and serene reactions of equanimity and fearlessness. The need is to just 'face the brute, and it will go away. Such desirable reactions of non-aggression and peaceful attitude are generated by Yoga and meditation.
EEG Studies on Yogis and The Zen Meditations
Yogis practicing Raja-Yoga claim that during the state of Samadhi they are oblivious to the internal and external stimuli, and they enjoy a calm ecstasy during that state. A study was undertaken to record the electrical activity of their brain during this state by means of a regular and useful test known as Electro-Encephala-Gram (EEG).
Physiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that the basis of the conscious state of the brain, among other things, is due to activation of the "reticular system" in the brain-stem in response to internal and external stimuli. These stimuli bring about various changes during sleeping and wakeful states of the organism and these can be studied by EEG. The study was carried out on four subjects during the state of concentration and meditation. Effects of external stimuli, like a loud gong, strong light, thermal simulation, and vibrations were studied. The results were compiled and analyzed. It was observed that two Yogis could keep their hands immersed in extremely cold water for about 50 minutes (raised pain threshold). During the state of meditation, all of them showed persistent "alpha activity" in their EEG with increased amplitude wave pattern, both during 'eyes closed' and 'eyes open' recording. It was observed that these alpha activities could not be blocked by various sensory stimuli during meditation. It was also observed that those, who had well-marked "alpha activity" in their resting EEG showed greater aptitude and zeal for maintaining the practice of Yoga. Similar observations and results were obtained when EEGs were recorded in persons adept in Zen Meditative technique.
Can we say that only those persons who exhibit such recording of "alpha wave rhythm" in their EEG are fit for Yoga and be designated as the right candidates for meditation and Yoga practices? (Such experiments are indeed very few and the number of yogis examined is also very small. Therefore, scientifically and statistically these observations have only tentative importance. Further research is definitely called for, albeit it will have its own limitations.)
It is said that in the unknown period of Lord Jesus Christ, He was under meditation.
Ref.
Yoga magazines
Newsweek.com
New York Times
Time Magazine