Meditation Facts
People today are very much aware of the importance of maintaining their phyusical health. various means have been suggested as keys to improving on's well-being, but the fact of psychological stability is still too often down played, either because its importance is not fully recognized or because no way of strengthenng that stability has been known.
Numerous scientific investigations have undoubtedly proved that psychological stress can have distastrous effect on the physical health. In diseases like hypertension, diabetese, peptic ulcer and bronchial asthma, psychological stres is one of the factors of causing or complicating the disease process and also disturbs the recovery with pharmacological treatment. Neverthe-less, the knowledge of harmful effects alone does not help us much to lead a life free of worries, stress and tension. More simple means exists which relieves stress and re-establishes mental harmoney when practised regularly, and is thus a vital adjuct to any programme for maintaining and promoting health. That means is known popularly as Raja Yoga Meditation.
PSYCHO PHYSIOLOGY OF RAJA YOGA
In 1791, Galvani was the first person to declare that nerves contain some in transic form of electricity. Since then there has been a great interest in measuring the electrical activity of the brain. Hans Berger made the first recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) IN 1925. EEG is the measurement of rhythms of electricity activity originating in the brain.
Biofeedback means sending back of biological information to the person whose body is producing the information. This study, research and application have blossomed only in the last 30 years.
There are four types of brain waves that produce in different states of alertness:
- Alpha Waves (8-13 per second): Moderately fast, high voltage waves, recorded when an individual is awake, eyes closed and is in relaxed nonattentive state.
- Beta Waves (More than 13 per second): Comparatively faster, low voltage waves recorded when an individual is awake, eyes open, and is in an active or attentive state.
- Theta Waves (4-7 per second): Slow voltage waves, predominant during drowsiness.
- Delta Waves (0-3 per second): Slowest Waves, high voltage- recorded in deep sleep.
Many investigation are conducted on individuals practising the different methods of yoga in order to assess their usefulness. One of the most recent studies involved a series or psychophysiological experiment, made in San Fransisco, California (U.S.A.) at the Lengley Porter Psychiatric Institution. These included Zen, Tibetan, Tantric and Raja Yoga Meditation, taught by Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
Most of the meditators showed alpha or Theta waves when they meditated. These waves are replaced by non coherent Beta waves when they stopped meditating.
The results were remarkably different in the individuals, practising Raja Yoga Meditation. It was Delta waves usually not longer than 50 micro volts, even while awake and solving problems. Normally, Delta waves are not produced except by a person in the deepest state of sleep.
By subtracting eye movements from the graph, it was determined that the wave-pattern was not produced due to movements of the eyes. Other double checks were also made. No sign of brain abnormality was present either.
In simple terms, through Raja Yoga, one learn how to detach the mind from its physical engagements with the sense -organs through the brain and nervous system. In this detached state, the body and brain are able to relax sompletely, while his consciousness is centered in his soul, not in his brain, continues to function at peak levels. The difference between conscious apparatus of a Raja Yogi and that of ordinary people is that due to the high level of detachement, his cortex is no longer being 'driven' by sensory input and conditioned physical thought-response paterns. His mind, in a state of liberation from physical attachement, allows the cortex to remainin its inherent Delta rhythm.
The above conslusion is supported by other experimental evidence as well. For example, when the brains of animals are cut (with the animals alive and conscious) so that cortex is isolated from the central region of the brain, Delta waves are produced. A Raja Yogi simply cuts the connection intellecually through re-rerouting his mental energy rather than through a physical operation.
The system of Raja Yoga Meditation has now been so well analysed and clarified by Yogic researches at the Brahma Kumari Spiritual University that beginers today can easily learn effective technique to produce Delta or Theta waves, mixed with Alpha, and also many other physiological and biochemical benefits even after only week of practice. The subjective correlatives of such a brain-wave production are serenity, self-confidence and supersensous joy. (Note: reader may also contact IFNHY conducted by Dr. N.S. Adhikari - at Lajpat Bhawan, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, India Ph: +91-011-22353841, 22354995).
HOW DOES IT HELP A DOCTOR ?
The greatest responsibility on the medical professionals is to restore and maintain health of the society. Health is birthright of everybody. It is treasure which neither science nor wealth can buy and to gain it most people would readily agree to give up everything.
Health is not merely a precious possession but a resource in which the whole community ahs a stake. Although health is defined as state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing, and not merely absence of disease or infirmity, yet the modern system of health-care looks after just the physical health alone.
If we study the attributes of health, we can see by even casual self-analysis that most of us are not healthy. The practice of Raja Yoga is the strongest foundation for building the stage of one's mental and social health as well as a distinct advantage in maintaining the wellbeing on one's body.
The practice of Raja Yoga Meditation provides a medical practitioner with an excellent auxiliary means in
(1) Diagnosis
(2) Treatment and
(3) Satisfaction of patients.
Besides, it also healps him to keep his own personal and social life peaceful, harmonious and happy.
IN DIAGNOSIS
Just a few minutes of Raja Yoga practice makes our mind peaceful and calm. In this state of tranquility, our power of decision improves immensely. Many Raja Yogi doctors have professed to have been benefited by this practice in improving the faculty of taking correct and quick decision. It also cnables us to put our thought-process in a desired direction rapidly. Unwanted and unecessary thought does not hinder the deep thinking.
This enhances the ability to do differential diagnosis quickly without any mistake.
IN TREATMENT
Raja Yoga Meditation is a good adjunct to most of the modern therapeutic methods. It restores the normal sleeping patterns which are affected in many a psychological and psychosomatic disease and disorder. Combination of Raja Yoga Meditation with other therapeutic methods greatly enhances the rate of progress with many patients.
Raja Yoga Meditation changes the individual's internal physiological response to environmental circumstances, thereby allowing a more adaptive behavioural response to life-pressures. It provides physiological and psychological rest, necessary for the body to replace chemical resources, depleted by fight or fight responses, excessive fear, anger and chronic distress. Thus, when Raja Yoga Meditation is added to traditional approaches in the treatment of psychological and psychosomatic disease-be they behavioural, psychoanalytical or psycho-pharmacological patients improve at a rate much faster than usual.
In a number of incidences it is observed that diseases like diabetes and hypertension have been stabilized or trteated much more quickly by regular practice of Raja Yoga Meditation.
A 55 years old female, principal of a school had moderate to severe type of essential hypertension for about 10 years and which could not be controlled by a number of antihypertensive drugs. Within a few days of practising Meditation, the Blood Pressure could be controlled by these drugs and after a year of Raja Yoga practice for about 45-60 minutes/day, her blood pressure could be stabilized at 150/90 - 155/95 without any pharmacological treatment.
Similarly, a 48 year Veterinary doctor developed maturity onset diabetes which was not controlled by insulin for years but within a few days of practising Raja Yoga Meditation, his diabetes came into control with 1/2 tablet of oral antibiotics per day. (Note: any medicine(s) may danger/fatal if taken without physicans consultation / recommendation).
Raja Yoga Meditation is very effective to overcome smoking, alcho
