Philosophy and Art Meditation has been an integral part of spirituality and healing throughout eastern traditions for more than 5,000 years. Culturally there has been an understanding that there is no separation of mind and body in the treatment of illness. And so, it was understood that mental attitudes toward oneself and the world at large impact one’s health. Meditation strengthens and supports both the mind and body to enhance health and well-being. There are countless forms of meditation throughout the world today. The Ohio State University Center for Integrative Medicine offers Spontaneous Meditation. Spontaneous Meditation originated in the ancient Vedic times of India, more than 5,000 years ago. This knowledge has been passed directly from teacher to student through the ages. Spontaneous Meditation teaches that meditation can be thought of as a direct way to nourish our selves. As an example, a tree has the visible aspect of the trunk, branches and leaves, which are supported by the deeper or invisible aspect of the roots. The roots of the tree are nourished by the soil, which connects and supports all of the trees in the forest. The nutrients in the soil strengthen and give life to the whole tree through the roots. Similarly, human life has the visible aspect of the body, which is supported by the deeper or invisible aspect of the mind. The mind derives its nourishment from a unified field of consciousness, called the transcendental field, from which all minds emerge and are supported. During meditation the mind is spontaneously opened to and is nourished by this transcendental field - the infinite source of energy, intelligence and bliss. This transcendental field of life is comparable to the modern discovery in physics of the Unified Field, which is the source of all matter and energy fields and gives rise to the material universe. Spontaneous Meditation uses specific sounds known as Mantras to reach the transcendental field. Mantras speed up the meditation process, similar to the manner in which specific enzymes speed up biochemical processes in the physiology. Spontaneous Meditation is a systematic procedure taught by a trained instructor and cannot be learned from a book. It is not concentration, contemplation, manipulation of the mind, or self-hypnosis. The practice of Spontaneous Meditation does not require any changes in behavior, diet, religion, or belief system. It is a technique that benefits all individuals. The Science A wide range of empirical findings associated with meditation have been attributed to the state of “restful alertness” it is said to produce in the physiology, as indicated by decreased respiration rate, increased basal skin resistance, lower plasma lactate levels, lower cortisol levels, and increased global EEG coherence during the practice of meditation. Over time meditation reduces several cardiovascular risk factors including cholesterol, lipid peroxide, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and anxiety. Over time meditation also results in better health as indicated by reduced illness rates, reduced doctors visits and reduced hospitalization. Meditation has also been shown to slow the aging process. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to identify and characterize the brain regions that are active during meditation. This research suggests that various parts of the brain known to be involved in attention and in the control of the autonomic nervous system are activated, providing a neurochemical and anatomical basis for the effects of meditation on various physiological activities. Recent studies involving imaging are advancing the understanding of mind-body mechanisms. For example, meditation has been shown in one study to produce significant increases in left-sided anterior brain activity, which is associated with positive emotional states. Moreover, in this same study, meditation was associated with increases in antibody titers to influenza vaccine, suggesting potential linkages among meditation, positive emotional states, localized brain responses and improved immune function. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/mindbody.htm The Practitioner |
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