From a mainstream perspective,
If you look up on internet,
There is an enormous amount of scientific evidence showcasing the transformative power of regular meditation practice.
Among its well-documented advantages are stress and anxiety reduction,
Mood enhancement,
Pain alleviation,
Immune function improvement,
And better sleep.
So many clinical trials,
Neuroimaging studies.
Have revealed fascinating changes in brain structure.
And function during meditation,
Which further solidifies the effect of regular practice.
A study published in journal Science found that meditation can reduce stress up to 50%.
Another study published in journal Pain found that medication can reduce pain by 30%.
A study published in Immunity Journal found that meditation can boost the immune system by up to 20%.
And today,
Meditation is being recommended by more and more physicians as a way to prevent,
Slow down,
Or at least control the pain of chronic diseases like heart conditions,
AIDS,
Cancer,
Infertility.
It is also recommended to restore balance in face of psychiatric disturbances as PTSD,
Depression,
Anxiety,
Hyperactivity,
And irritability.
It wasn't the case like that.
Twenty years ago,
In 2003,
Time Magazine ran a cover article on meditation saying,
Scientists studied,
Doctors recommended,
Millions of Americans,
Many of whom don't even own crystals,
Practice it every day.
Why?
Because meditation works.
The Signific Studies on Meditation begin.
About 1960,
When B.
K.
Anand,
A researcher from India,
Discovered that Yogis could reach a profound meditative state in a trance that they can remain unaffected when hot test tubes were pressed against their arms.
Subsequently,
Around 1967,
Dr.
Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School found that during meditations,
Individuals experienced a 17% decrease in oxygen usage.
A 3-bit reduction in heart rate and an increase in Theta brainwave,
The brainwaves that are associated with deep sleep and healing.
And that was the beginning of scientific studies on.
.
.
Meditation.
And it has been a long journey since 1960 to now 2023.
While earlier studies were based on observational research,
Meditation science today uses sophisticated neuroimaging and clinical trials to allow researchers to uncover the true potential of this practice.
Dr.
Dean Ornish more than two decades ago argued that meditation coupled with yoga and dietary changes could reverse the accumulation of plague in coronary arteries.
Scientific evidence continues to prove that meditation has health benefits and is helpful in improving the quality of life.
Researchers are now faced with an intriguing paradox.
While studies show how the meditation helps,
The why remains elusive.
A mystery similar to scientific study of gravity.
We understand its behavior,
Yet the underlying mechanism eludes us.
I'll give you an eastern perspective,
An alchemical perspective on why.
But before that,
Let me give you my personal perspective on why I meditate regularly.
Imagine a young child born prematurely.
With compromised immune system.
And plagued by chronic illness.
Relying on a cascade of pharmaceutical pills.
Like a child devouring candies.
This was my reality from age one.
By the time I was 11 years old.
I tried.
Taking as many pills.
Praying and begging all Gods and Deities.
For the exchange of better health.
This is when I stumbled upon a wandering medicine man.
I'll sit down.
As we call them in India.
Spelled as S I D D H A.
Siddhas are known to possess profound knowledge of inner work.
Traditional Indian medicine,
Ayurveda.
And in another coming.
I received my first inner practice.
Practice of Nyasa.
Spelled as N-Y-A-S.
What is Nyasa and why did I use the word Nyasa instead of the word meditation?
According to Oxford Learner's Dictionary.
Meditation is defined as the practice of focusing mind in silence.
Especially for religious reasons or in order to make mind calm.
In the Eastern world,
We don't have a Sanskrit word.
For meditation.
Or of one word called meditation.
That kind of defines as practice of mind in silence.
For religious reasons or to make mind calm.
Instead,
We have enormously diverse inner practices.
Each with a unique name.
Its purpose and goal.
The purpose can be from the calming mind.
Healing.
Gaming insights.
Personal transformation.
Awakening longevity.
And even enlightenment.
These practices offer an inexhaustible collection of inner work.
To explore the inner dimensions.
My focus,
However,
Is centered on healing and transformation.
Nyas,
My first inner practice.
Literally means establishing.
And in walled.
Directing the inner heat.
Generated by breadth work.
Using focused awareness to various organs and body parts.
Revitalizing them in a specific order with specific visualization and sonic drive.
It is a journey of inward exploration,
A deliberate clearing of mind.
And movement of focused awareness.
Practicing nyas is like intentionally going in opening the doors and windows in a specific rhythm to allow the radiance of the Sun to illuminate every corner.
Unlike traditional prayers or promises of future exchange.
This practice required no devotion to any deities or supplication for better health.
It was a simple yet extraordinary act.
Akin to ingesting prescription medicine,
Except in this case,
Prescription unfolded through inner work performed with a focused awareness.
Within three months,
My health and personality underwent a remarkable transformation.
Leading me to reduce my reliance on medications.
By the sixth month,
My chronic illness had resolved.
And my immune system was no longer dependent on any pharmaceutical medication.
For my body's survival.
This profound transformation and transmutation.
Ignited my lifelong passion for studying and practicing.
Diverse inner practices which I now share through these teachings.
Now let me tell you my personal Eastern perspective.
Of why meditation works.
East.
Consciousness is perceived as an infinitely vast and unified field.
Known in Sanskrit as Kshitra,
Spelled as K-S-H-E.
TRA.
It is often likened to a boundless ocean of infinite possibilities.
Within this field of consciousness.
Every individual awareness,
Yours,
Mine and that of all living beings.
Manifest as a unique wave rippling through the ocean of consciousness.
These waves of awareness.
Embody various states of experience.
Ranging from happiness and joy to anger,
Sadness,
Pain,
And everything in between.
Like dancers in a grand cosmic ballet.
Our awareness moves gracefully from one state to another.
Enabling us to fully embrace the tapestry of life's unfolding.
However,
There are times when external circumstances or internal factors.
Disrupt the dance.
Causing our awareness or part of it to become frozen or trapped within a single state.
This is imbalanced according to Siddhartha Alchemy.
Which leads to illness and disharmony.
Imagine driving a powerful sports car with a multitude of gears and powertrains.
Each representing a different facet of our potential.
Suddenly,
Because of some reason the vehicle becomes stuck in one gear.
Limiting its ability to fully embrace the grand majesty and power of its engineers.
The first step to rectify this situation is to bring the car into neutral.
Disengaging from all power trains and external forces.
Similarly in the realm of inner practices.
Foundation practice is to bring the awareness fully into the present moment.
Free from entanglements of inner and outer distractions.
This is the neutral state.
And is considered foundation of all inner practices.
By disentangling from the raw energy of past traumas,
Accidents,
Tragic events,
Or any factors.
That may have trapped our awareness in stagnant states.
We paved the road.
For healing to begin.
Just as the car in neutral can smoothly transition into any gear.
Same way,
A liberated awareness in a neutral state can harmoniously align with unfolding.
Of our lives and bring the transformation.
In Siddha Alchemy.
The transformative and transmutative power of inner practices is rooted in this understanding.
It serves as a key that unlocks the variety of health benefits.
And personal transformations.
By creating a regular inner practice.
You can embark on an inner journey to embrace the fullness of life.
And experience the depth of your inner consciousness.
These inner practices have traveled the Silk Road for over 5,
000 years.
An ancient heritage of wisdom that transcends time.
Their secrets unfold through diligent exploration and hold the potential to unlock the forces that are in play within ourselves.
While the depth of meditation continues.
To elude scientific understanding,
The evidence and personal anecdotes alike attest to its extraordinary power.
So whether you are inspired about meditation from mainstream perspective seeking scientific validation.
Or embracing the personal experiences that eliminate its transformative potential.
Know that the true essence lies in the profound.
Alchemical insight.
That arise from regular practice.
Within,
You will discover the remarkable capacity to heal,
Transform,
And unveil the hidden mysteries of inner world.
May this ignite the spark of curiosity within you.
Propelling you to embark on a personal meditation practice.
Practice that will lead you into realms of healing.
Transformation.
And the beauty of your own inner existence.
