What Does Mindfulness Meditation Do to Your Brain?
MRI scans show that after an eight-week course of mindfulness practice, the brain’s “fight or flight” center, the amygdala, appears to shrink. This primal region of the brain, associated with fear and emotion, is involved in the initiation of the body’s response to stress. As the amygdala shrinks, the pre-frontal cortex – associated with higher order brain functions such as awareness, concentration and decision-making – becomes thicker. Research: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0064574 Article: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/what-does-mindfulness-meditation-do-to-your-brain/The Importance of Meditation ~ Thinley Norbu Rinpochehttps://t.co/qLN4Iwfkmd pic.twitter.com/O7rWVakXdA
— Just Dharma Quotes (@JDharmaQuotes) August 22, 2023
Meditation facilitates creating more space in life to focus on the things that are really important.
Meditation facilitates a calm mind which heightens compassionate and empathetic responses to people. A study in Human Neuroscience explained how meditation could affect emotional processing which can create positive responses to negative stimuli. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3485650/ A few hours of training over the course of several days increased positive affective experiences and elicited activity in brain regions previously associated with positive affect and social affiliation (Klimecki et al., 2012). In a larger field experiment, Fredrickson et al. (2008) found that loving-kindness meditation produced increases over a 2-month period in daily experiences of positive emotions, which promoted increases in a wide range of personal resources (e.g., increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, decreased illness symptoms), which, in turn, predicted increased life satisfaction and reduced depressive symptoms. In a recent randomized controlled trial, an intensive meditation/emotion regulation intervention that included multiple elements of compassion training yielded reduced trait negative affect, rumination, depression, and anxiety, increased trait positive affect and mindfulness, and improved recognition of subtle facial expressions of emotion (Kemeny et al., 2012). Taken together, these recent studies support the hypothesis that compassion meditation contributes to improved emotion regulation. In contrast to mindful-attention practices aimed at improving attentional skills, compassion meditation is a distinct form of contemplative practice aimed at cultivating higher levels of compassion. Compassion can be defined as the feeling that arises in witnessing another’s suffering and that motivates a subsequent desire to help (Goetz et al., 2010). In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, compassion is considered the ultimate source of well-being and happiness (Davidson and Harrington, 2001). Buddhist-inspired practices for cultivating compassion for self and others have been proposed by a number of authors as accessible methods to help alleviate psychological problems and improve well-being (Salzberg, 1995; Gilbert, 2005; Makransky, 2007; Germer, 2009; Hofmann et al., 2011; Ozawa-de Silva and Dodson-Lavelle, 2011; Jazaieri et al., 2012; Wallmark et al., 2012). Emerging scientific evidence suggests that these interventions may be beneficial on multiple levels. A pilot study indicated that compassionate mind training could lead to significant reductions in depression, anxiety, self-criticism, and shame (Gilbert and Procter, 2006). Another study suggested that compassion meditation may offer health-related benefits such as reduced immune and behavioral response to psychosocial stress (Pace et al., 2009, 2010). In a pilot study of loving-kindness meditation, a practice related to compassion meditation, chronic low back pain patients showed significant improvements in pain and psychological distress (Carson et al., 2005). Remarkably, Hutcherson et al. (2008b) found that even only a few minutes of loving-kindness meditation could increase feelings of social connection and positivity toward novel individuals.Guided Meditations via Zoom
Guided Group Meditations
Contact Form⚪ Guided meditation can be applied to assist with creative visualization, relieving stress, escaping the endless ramblings of the “egoic thoughts”, to experiencing your own true nature, providing relief from insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, chronic fatigue, chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, and so much more.
⚪ Yoga Nidra meditation returns you to your own inner Self, giving you a chance to experience that perfect peace and Self-born bliss that is beyond the mind and body. The benefits of experiencing that state while awake are truly beyond description; it re-energizes you on the deepest level possible. Encountering your own higher Self truly is the greatest form of Self-empowerment”. Sri. Devidas, — “Yoga Nidra”
Effect of meditation on photon emission from hands and forehead
International Institute of Biophysics, Neuss, Germany
...::"Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that human photon emission can be influenced by meditation. Data from time series recordings suggest that this non-invasive tool for monitoring radical reactions during meditation is useful to characterise the effect of meditation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16086532/
Adyashanti
:: The Way of Liberation ::
https://www.adyashanti.org/store/books/the-way-of-liberation-533 ($10)
Adyashanti.org (website)
Book Excerpts and notes
FreeSpiritualEbooks.com/the-way-of-liberation (website)
Youtube.com/results?search_query=adyashanti
Paramahansa Yogananda
(born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952) was an Indian monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India, and who lived his last 32 years in America. A chief disciple of the Bengali yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, he was sent by his lineage to spread the teachings of yoga to the West, to prove the unity between Eastern and Western religions and to preach a balance between Western material growth and Indian spirituality.[2] His long-standing influence in the American yoga movement, and especially the yoga culture of Los Angeles, led him to be considered by yoga experts as the “Father of Yoga in the West.”[3][4]
Yogananda was the first major Indian teacher to settle in America, and the first prominent Indian to be hosted in the White House (by President Calvin Coolidge in 1927);[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda
Ramana Maharshi
was an Indian Hindu sage and jivanmukta. He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He was born in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramana_Maharshi
Jiddu Krishnamurti
(11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was an Indian speaker and writer. In his early life, he was groomed to be the new World Teacher, but later rejected this mantle and withdrew from the Theosophy organization behind it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti
….::” When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent… Do you see why it is violent? … Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind… When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence… So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
…::”The highest form of human intelligence… is to observe yourself… without judgment. ~Krishnamurti
…::”The day you teach the child the name of the bird, the child will never see that bird again. ~Krishnamurti
..::” Civilisation is hurting. You see this everywhere all over the world, this constant comparison, constant imitation, constant saying, you are “that”, I must be like “you”. I must be like Krishna, like Buddha, like Jesus – do you follow? That’s a hurt. Religions have hurt people. ~Krishnamurti
..::” Violence is not merely killing another… It is violence when we use a sharp word… when we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear… So violence isn’t merely organized butchery in the name of God… in the name of society or country… Violence is much more subtle… much deeper… and we are inquiring into the very depths of violence.” ~ Krishnamurti
..::”It is no measure of Health… to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” ~Krishnamurti
_________________
—— Quote related to NVC by Marshall Rosenberg ——
..::” The Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti once remarked that… “Observing without “EVALUATING” is the highest form of human intelligence.” … When I (Marshall) first read this statement, the thought, –>“What non sense!”<– shot through my mind… even before I realized that I had just made an “EVALUATION”.
..::” For most of us, it is difficult to make observations of people and their behavior that are free of JUDGMENT, criticism, or other forms of analysis…
..::” For THOUSANDS of years, we have been TAUGHT TO THINK in a particular way designed to make us OBEDIENT TO AUTHORITY …. but which is not conducive to safety and PEACE on our PLANET. ~ Marshall Rosenberg :: NVC ::
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..::” Most of us are ADDICTED TO “ego-stroking” and mistake it for LOVE… Withdrawing “EGO-STROKING” can bring about much insecurity that is usually expressed through bouts of ANGER AND PROJECTION… ~ Nouk Sanchez, “Take Me To Truth”: Undoing the Ego (p. 144) ::
..::” You have never reacted to someone “ELSE”… You PROJECT “meaning” onto nothing… And you REACT to the meaning you’ve PROJECTED. ~ Byron Katie
..::” The most dangerous psychological mistake is the PROJECTION of the shadow onto others. This is the root of almost all conflicts.” ~Carl Jung
..::” If we do anything to harm someone else… a powerful new factor comes into PLAY: the need to JUSTIFY what you did…. once the persecutor starts down the path of BLAMING THE VICTIM, he becomes likely to physically and psychologically attack the victim with even GREATER ferocity the next chance he gets. ~ Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) By Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson ::
..::” How differently will you PERCEIVE the world when this is recognized!… When you forgive the “world” your *guilt*, you will be free of it…. Its INNOCENCE does not demand your guilt, nor does your guiltlessness rest on its sins…. This is the obvious; a secret kept from NO ONE but yourself…. And it is this that has maintained you SEPARATE from the WORLD. ~ACIM T-27.VIII.13.
..::” The CENTRAL lesson is always this; that what you use the body FOR… it will become to you… Use it for sin or for attack, which is the same as sin, and you will see it as sinful…. Use it to bring the -Word of God- to those who have it not, and the body becomes HOLY ~ACIM M-12.5.
..::” There is no need for help to enter Heaven, for you never left. ~ ACIM URText
..::” A teacher of -fear- can not bring ~PEACE ON EARTH~ … We have been trying to do it that way for THOUSANDS of years…. The person who turns INNER violence around, the person who finds PEACE inside and LIVES IT, is the one who teaches what TRUE PEACE IS…. We are waiting for just One teacher…. You’re the One ~Byron Katie
..::” The only way you can help someone… is if you know they are already perfect. ~Cindy Teevens
Ranjit Maharaj
was born on 4 January 1913.[3] In 1924 he met Siddharameshwar Maharaj. The following year he was initiated by Siddharameshwar Maharaj. In 1934, at the age of 21 he took initiation to monkhood. Only in 1983, at the age of 70, initiated his first disciple, Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj’s granddaughter in law.[3] Hereafter he started to attract an international following. In 1996 he was invited to visit Germany, France and USA. In the following years he visited these countries several times, and also the UK, Switzerland and Spain also, until 2000, when he died.[3]
..::” Use a thorn to remove a thorn, then throw them both away. ~Ranjit Maharshi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranjit_Maharaj
Transcendental Meditation Technique – A Complete Introduction
Define Transcendence
🌱 IFS & Peace 🌿 See Chat
See Chat
🌱 IFS & Projection 🌿 See Chat
Question: Why do we humans project our unconscious “parts” onto other human beings, while not even seemingly noticing that we are doing that?
Answer: This phenomenon touches right at the heart of human psychology and our relational patterns.
From an IFS perspective, we project our unconscious parts onto others because these parts carry burdens that feel too painful, threatening, or overwhelming to acknowledge directly.
Think of it like this: when we have an exile carrying deep hurt or shame, or a manager/firefighter working overtime to keep us safe, these parts operate beneath our conscious awareness.
They become like shadows that we don’t even realize are there.
Here’s the fascinating part – our psyche is actually trying to protect us!
When we can’t bear to hold certain feelings or beliefs about ourselves, our system “outsources” them onto others. It’s much easier to see these qualities in someone else than to face them in our own inner world.
This creates what we might call “psychological blind spots” – we genuinely aren’t aware we’re doing this because the parts doing the projecting are themselves unconscious.
The process is almost like our internal parts are constantly asking: *”How can I keep this person safe from pain?”* And sometimes their answer is: *”By making sure they see the problem as ‘out there’ rather than ‘in here.'”*
This is where the beautiful work of making unconscious beliefs more conscious comes in – as mentioned in approaches like Coherence Therapy. When we develop what we might call a “harmony mindset” rooted in empathy, we begin to question our automatic judgments.
We start asking ourselves: *”What am I protecting myself from seeing? What part of me is being triggered right now?”* Carl Rogers’ concept of active listening becomes crucial here – when we truly listen to others (and ourselves) with curiosity rather than judgment, we often catch glimpses of these projections.
The key is approaching both our inner experience and others’ with genuine compassion.
The good news?
Every time we recognize this pattern, we’re reclaiming our projection and bringing it back into our own system where it can be witnessed, understood, and eventually unburdened.
It’s like taking back borrowed energy that was never ours to carry in the first place.
🌱 IFS & The 8 C’s 🌿 See Chat
The 8 C’s in IFS represent qualities of the Self – your core, wise essence that naturally emerges when you’re in Self-leadership:
1. **Curiosity** – Genuine interest in understanding your parts without judgment
2. **Compassion** – Deep caring and kindness toward all your parts
3. **Calm** – Peaceful, centered presence even amid inner turmoil
4. **Clarity** – Clear seeing of what’s happening inside
5. **Confidence** – Trust in your ability to navigate internal experiences
6. **Courage** – Willingness to face difficult feelings and memories
7. **Connectedness** – Feeling linked to others and something greater
8. **Creativity** – Access to new solutions and possibilities When you lead from Self rather than from your parts, these qualities naturally arise.
For example, instead of being overwhelmed by an anxious part (which might make you act from fear),
Self-leadership allows you to approach that part with curiosity and compassion.
These Self qualities are essential for healing – they create the safe, trusting environment parts need to share their burdens and eventually let them go.
They also model how we might approach global conflicts: with curiosity about different perspectives, compassion for all involved, and the courage to find creative solutions together.
“The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the seed of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear is already dead.
~Albert Einstein
..::”For me, the Jewish religion, like all others, is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions… And the Jewish people have no different quality for me than all other people”. ~ Albert Einstein
Einstein viewed the “cult of individuals” as unjustified and often in bad taste, noting that it was unfair to select a few for “boundless admiration” while ignoring everyone else.
(He explicitly stated he could not see anything “chosen” about Jewish people)
~Marshall Rosenberg
Imagine living on the only known planet in the infinite universe, where the mortified rich get richer by colonizing the people to follow debunked dogma, repeating an ancient doctrine of war, projected onto innocent children, again and again, the rich get richer, and the children inherit a brutal indoctrination instead of Living Sacred Life. https://empathymatters.org/armageddon/
The phrase “Domination leads to Ritual Sacrifice” bridges the gap between historical sociology and ancient anthropology.
Throughout history, domination—the exertion of control, barbaric power, or authority over others—has frequently been inextricably linked to ritual human sacrifice.
This connection manifests in both structural power dynamics and ancient religious practices.
The transition from domination to human sacrifice is essentially the barbaric projection of unhealed guilt onto other human beings, often innocent children.
What’s #memoricide ?
It’s time to save our stories, our history, our truth.
#emmaswords #wordsmatter
via Brad Blinstrub ” Amen. What we are seeing is the march of the Khazars. A disaster renamed Israel.
via EnterTheUnseen ” If you truly understand the bridge between Spirit & psyche, you’d NEVER condone forcing religious beliefs on others &/or disempowering people’s spiritual decision making. It’s abusive behavior that breeds religious trauma, which creates fear-based neural associations to divinity.
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Carl Rogers
Marshall Rosenberg
Richard Schwartz
