Page 12 - NAMAH-Apr-2018

Namah Vol. 26, Issue 1, 24th April 2018

is still, clear, alive and blissful has perhaps 3. Emotional well-being
never been more difficult to sustain than in
our present day global, technological world New technology in brain imaging is helping
culture. us amass scientific data substantiating the
wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions that
1. Mind training have repeatedly stated that the quality of
our thoughts is paramount to the quality
As stated previously, meditation can be of our being. Clinical studies show that
defined as a systematic form of mind training increased endorphins improve the immune
brought about through one’s concentration system which in turn improves both mental
on a predetermined object of focus. A mind and physical health. It is now known that
that has been disciplined to rest on an object when one imagines an event, the exact same
is a mind that has greater clarity and depth. brain functions are activated as when one
A mind that can more easily rest with an is actually experiencing the event directly.
issue or a problem is a mind that can more When the focused object of our meditation
thoroughly explore its multiple dimensions, is for example, compassion, or loving kind-
and concentration breeds professional and ness or a beautiful sunset, the correlating
personal success. A mind that is still and aware physiological and emotional responses are
in the moment is more profoundly connected processed in the body as if one were directly
to people, places and things. Thus, through experiencing the actual sensation, interaction
a disciplined meditative practice we become or situation. Research shows that Buddhist
deeper, more present thinkers and more monks meditating on loving kindness and
thoughtful and compassionate human beings. compassion, instantly register remarkable
changes to their prefrontal cortices, areas
2. Improved health responsible for positive emotions and con-
sequently enhanced states of well-being.
The great Indian RRssis, highly evolved yogic
seers and sages, found a symbiotic relationship 4. Recalibrating undesirable emotional
between body and mind, linked by the breath. states
From the RRssis’ enlightened vantage point,
where the mind goes, so too goes the breath, Emotions are triggered when one or more of
and where the breath goes, so too goes the our five senses register sense-data, which is
mind. This is a profound knowing. What this then relayed to the brain, mind and memory,
means is that when we are able to control and producing an autonomic physiological and
calm our minds, we simultaneously affect our emotional response. For example, we have
breath, directly impacting our physiological just witnessed a threatening situation, we
well-being, such as, heart rates, blood pressure, are sweating, our pulse is racing, our heart is
body heat and perspiration, etc. And through pounding. How did all of this transpire? Our
the practice of breath control, praannaayaama, we eyes, for example, send a visual message to
have the single most powerful tool to directly the brain, the brain deduces through instincts,
impact our thoughts and mental states which memory and other mental processes that
circle back to positively impacting our health. there is danger and our autonomic response

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