Recently in a group discussion on the subject of mindfulness and meditation, we explored the effects of meditation on brain activity and how that impacts our daily lives, emotional and mental balance as well as overall wellbeing.
There are various ways that the brain is transformed in meditation, each distinct in activity; fluctuating with our actions and feelings. In this thought-piece I like to refer to the ‘path’ to meditation as a stepped process: starting with dharana (focused concentration, mindful awareness), then dhyana (meditation, contemplative stillness) leading to samadhi (expansion, absorption). When practiced correctly, this process can transform the frequency and activity of the brain from higher to lower frequencies. This can profoundly impact how we experience life, by aligning individual with universal consciousness.
Here are some key ways that meditation stimulates and impacts the various parts of the brain...
The frontal lobe, which is used for reasoning, logic and planning starts to quieten. This enables detachment and the stilling of the monkey mind, little by little. You start to relax.
The parietal lobe which keeps us conscious of time, body awareness, sensitivity to sensory input starts to slow down once we have reasoned that we are safe and ready to relax. As the thoughts quieten, they allow the parietal lobe to slow down, enabling us to move into calm.
The thalamus relays motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex and to the amygdala (sometimes referred to as the fear centre but it is far more expansive than this). The gradual detachment to thoughts and reduced sensory input from thalamus enables us continue to move to stillness and centeredness.
The reticular formation helps us stay alert and to respond to situations. As we meditate, the reticular activity slows down thereby reducing any hyper vigilance and monitoring of enviroment. The various structures of the brain then work cohesively to elevate the state of consciousness.
When there is extreme concentration e.g. in dharana or mindful awareness our brain emits electromagnetic frequencies known as gamma waves (30-100Hz), which move the engaged brain into peak attention and consciousness. As we keep sitting in practice we then move into deep meditation. Here, we move through alpha waves (8-12 Hz) to theta waves (3.5-7.5 Hz) which provide the experience of deep meditation. Theta is characterized by a blissful state of well-being. You may have an increasing experience of being at one with everyone and everything (excerpt from the Synchronicity Foundation). As a result of this shift, the level of beta wave activity (13-30 Hz, associated with goal oriented tasks) tend to decrease taking us from doing to being, experiencing.
Powerful and transformative experiences, simply accessed by allowing yourself the space to sit, breathe and go within.
There are some wonderful in-person and online classes taking place all over the world these days and many across Melbourne, where we are based. If you would like to find out more about classes and teachers please reach out and we can refer you to some that may be in your locality. If you are in Fairfield or surrounding areas and would like to sit with a group in practice, please do join us every Wednesday evening at our classes that take place both in person or online.
More details on our group classes are below..
