USING PRAYER AND MEDITATION FOR PERSONAL GROWTH
This article may be reproduced and published in any form of media. The original is copyrighted by Robert C. Felix and avilable at www.partnerswithin.com © 1994-2004 All rights reserved.
WESTERN SCIENCE CONFIRMS EASTERN SPIRITUALITY
Recently, Western science has finally begun to confirm what the wisdom traditions of the Orient have known for millennia: that meditation practice literally and physically improves your brain behavior.
Robert Felix, author of The Partners Within, has been educating on the healing power of prayer and meditation to overcome destructive emotions for the last decade. Now several scientific studies are converging to confirm this idea. As recently reported in the Wall Street Journal Science column (12/10/2003), studies at the University of Wisconsin confirmed that "meditation, Buddhist or otherwise, might change the brain and, in particular, its emotional circuitry."
The focus of these studies was on the brain structure called the amygdala. "A little almond-shaped center deep in the brain, the amygdala is involved in such negative emotions as fear, anger, anxiety and depression." This emotional center needs to be modulated by the prefrontal cortex; when it is not, its negative emotions can snowball into destructive behavior patterns. The psychiatric community commonly treats these poor states of mental health with neuroplastic drugs such as seratonin uptake inhibitors (Prozac and Zoloft etc.) with mixed success.
But now, clinical studies are suggesting, "Meditation strengthens connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. Inhibitory signals from the prefrontal cortex appear to rein in the amygdala like a good yank on a kite string. The stronger or more numerous those "stop firing!" signals, the stronger the inhibition." Indeed "It appears that the inhibitory signal reaching the amygdala can be modulated voluntarily," says Prof. Richard Davidson.
Most importantly: "The plasticity of connections between the thinking and feeling regions of the brain casts doubt on the belief that each of us has a "set point" for happiness, and that neither a Powerball win nor a Sept. 11 tragedy budges it for long. If inhibitory connections between the frontal lobes and the amygdala can be strengthened in an enduring way, then perhaps you can voluntarily shift that point." Increasing our capacities for happiness, fulfillment and for actualizing our own unique human and higher powers.
Partnerswithin.com is pleased to announce the revised edition of its website. Felix has integrated this scientific confirmation, in order to maximize the benefits of the new meditation studies for you. The prayer meditation sessions are now even clearer and the visualization techniques are made simpler.
www.partnerswithin.com