Before understanding detailed effects of meditation one should have a brief idea of human brain. The frontal lobe is the highly evolved section of brain that is responsible for logic, emotions and self-conscious awareness. Parietal lobe controls the senses and processes information about the physical world. Thalamus is like a gatekeeper that works as a switchboard of sensory data, selecting the information that can pass through a particular point and the stopping the rest. Reticular formation is involved in multiple functions like filtering incoming stimuli, controlling pain modulation and regulating sleep and wakefulness.
We know that positive feelings like joy, happiness and peace originate in left frontal lobe of brain and negative feelings like anger, hatred etc. originate in the right frontal lobe. When a person exhibits more negative feelings it means that right frontal lobe is more active than the left frontal lobe.
Various studies have shown that left frontal lobe that deals with positive feelings becomes more active with regular meditation. Level of neurotransmitter chemicals associated with positive feelings like serotonin, edorphins etc. is increased during meditation. Overall effect of meditation on brain is that, it stops processing information as actively as it normally would.
THE CRISIS
Today around 25% of young people are estimated to have experienced clinical depression before the age of 25. Depression is in fact one of the most common health conditions that triggers other ailments. Competition in today’s materialistic world has worked as a catalyst in aggravating the situation. The advertising industry has targeted young innocent minds as they are easy to be influenced because of lack of experience. Ironically when a young mind doesn’t find himself up to the mark in this modern consumerism, he falls into the trap of depression.
Young minds fail to understand that they are falling into mental illness due to loss of spirituality and they are turning towards drugs and alcohol as a medicine for their depression. Due to lack of knowledge and experience they think meditation to be a thing of the past. Here it is important to understand that meditation may seem to be a very simple process but it involves and activates various complex parts of brain and its functions.
BRIDGING THE GAP
This is where things get really interesting. Samarpan Yog Meditation encourages and improves the level consciousness that promotes a state of healing. It stimulates parasympathetic nervous system so that stress is reduced and there is a greater sense of well-being. Scientific research has proved that regular meditation reduces blood pressure, is helpful in pain management, increases concentration and IQ, slows aging process, effective in taming habits and addictions and increases immunity of body.
During Samarpan Yog meditation thoght process of mind gets slowed down, as a result activity in brain slows down and the flow of incoming information is reduced to a trickle. Due to this positive or negative emotions originated from the limbic system are reduced. As the waves of emotions are subdued, the sense of fear is gone. According to ancient Indian philosophy relaxation and peace can occur only when there is no sense of fear. This relaxation or peace of mind translates into relaxing the physical body.
With guidance from a Master and regular practice when you excel the art of being at rest and peace without any fear encircling you, then you can be restful and active at the same time. Now you know that peace is an internal phenomena that cannot be disturbed by any external hindrances. Now you can meditate 24 x 7 while doing your normal worldly chores.
ROUTE TO AWARENESS
You should know your potential for living a more fulfilled life. You should know, who you really are? Samarpan Yog Meditation is the route to that awareness.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Sit in a relaxed posture in a quite environment with straight backbone. Take 4-5 deep breaths and gently close your eyes. Imagine that your heart is a Sun and light is radiating from it. Your chest area is glowing with that light. Experience the solar warmth. Release tension in your shoulders, concentrate on incoming and outgoing breathe from your nostrils and rest your attention inward on the light deep within. With each inhale, visualize the radiating light from the heart to expand towards the inner surface of the body and with each exhale let it recede. After 10-12 breathes consciously throw that glowing light on all your body parts from inside. Now silently say, “I forgive all who have hurted me. I radiate compassion to all. Oneness to all.” Repeat it 5 times. Now sit silently for few minutes. Gently open your eyes.
Stay Blessed!