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Transcendental experiences during meditation practice
1Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|March 29, 2014
Summary
Transcendental experiences during meditation, marked by unique physiological and subjective states, integrate with daily life. This integration, termed Cosmic Consciousness, signifies higher brain function and emotional stability.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Meditation Studies
Background:
- Transcendental experiences during meditation are characterized by altered subject/object perception.
- These experiences lack conventional time, space, and body sense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore transcendental experiences during meditation practice.
- To investigate the integration of these experiences with waking, dreaming, and sleeping states.
- To identify subjective and objective markers of this integrated state, known as Cosmic Consciousness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of physiological markers during Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice.
- Examination of electroencephalography (EEG) patterns during sleep.
- Subjective reports of inner self-awareness and emotional states.
Main Results:
- Transcendental experiences during TM show slow inhalation, autonomic changes, and heightened frontal alpha-1 coherence.
- Integration into Cosmic Consciousness is marked by inner self-awareness alongside waking, dreaming, and sleeping.
- Physiologically, Cosmic Consciousness correlates with coexisting alpha-1 and delta EEG during sleep, enhanced brain integration, and reduced anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Transcendental experiences may drive higher human development.
- The integration of transcendental experiences leads to a stable state of Cosmic Consciousness.
- This state offers significant benefits including greater emotional stability and reduced anxiety.
Keywords:
Transcendental Meditationbrain coherenceenlightenmenthigher statespure consciousnesstranscendenttranscendingyogaMore Related Videos
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