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Meditation and Prayer, although similar, depending on your religion, denomination, or sect, can vary in meaning and intention. For purposes of this article, we will stay away from the 'religous' concept, and focus on the healing, wellness, and and other applications associated with this practice. That said, we need to define the term “wellness". Wellness as defined by the National Wellness Association is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successfull existence. In my current studies, I define wellness as the state of a an optimum balance between mind, body and spirit, free of dis-ease. Which, for the human population, is a constant process.
So, what does meditation and or prayer have to do with our health. I say everything. There are numerous studies which scientifically support the connection between mind and body. Probably the most mystical are the studies done on Tibetan monks. National Geographic reported on a study completed by Richard Davidson of the University of Wisconsin. Davidson a radiologist, compared the brain activity of two groups of people, novice meditators, and Buddhist Monks with over 10,000 hours of experience. The meditators focused on “compassion". The study showed a marked increase in high frequency brain activity called gamma waves in the monks, and less elevated gamma waves in the novice meditators. Just for prospective the monks measured the highest gamma waves ever recorded. And what area of the brain did this take place in? Why the frontal cortex of course. The frontal cortex is consciousness. So, the monks established the highest state of consciousness measured to date. Now bear with me. In a recent lecture, Dr. Joe Dispenza, one of the scientists in the movie What the Bleep, states consciousness leaves “footprints" in the brain called neuro nets. These neuro nets have been laid down your whole life. And what is most amazing, science has determined the brain has plasticity, and is able to change. So, you are able to change your neuro nets, through changing thoughts within consciousness.
If we take the idea, that we think a certain way, say within a set of parameters or a pattern if you will, which, throughout our lives become fixed by the time we are in our 30's (ouch). The good news? Well, we now know, those patterns can be changed! For example, within our thoughts we maintain an identity, who we are, what we think of ourselves, of others, of places, things, problems, and God forbid we don’t keep our problems in order. If we have the freedom to understand that these experiences are just that, experiences. And over time, we can change those experiences! So, if we can change our neurological net, which then alters the chemistry of our brain, can we then utilize that potential to heal ourselves, to improve our memory, to improve our attitude, put a stop to an addiction, which after is little more than a chemicals in the brain gone haywire. How far could it go. There are over 3 million impulses firing in your body per second, that is huge! Our mind is so very powerful.
Prayer, regardless of the faith, is just as powerful. What is prayer? I have asked numerous people this question, some “religious" some not. I have asked Pastors, Priests, and other religious or spiritual leaders, and each contemplates, breathes deeply, and begins to tell me a slightly different definition. I believe to each person, prayer is as unique as that individual. However, there is one common thread, prayer seems to be a way to seek a dialogue with the divine. So, how does that help me to obtain wellness. There are numerous studies indicating prayer helps people to heal faster. In his book, “Prayer, Health and Healing", buy Dr. Bernie Siegel, he writes of how you are changed by your thoughts. He goes on to say those who attend church regularly, and practice what they believe have lower blood pressure, decreased rates of cancer, less likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, less likely to become depressed or commit suicide, more likely to survive major surgery, and better able to cope with chronic disease. In 1982-1983, Randolph C. Byrd of the San Francisco Hospital studied 393 cardiac patients. He separated them into two groups, 1 group was prayed for, and 1 group was not prayed for. The only ones who new the identities of which patients were being prayed for, were the people praying . The results (as if you didn’t know) were as follows (the first group is the group prayed for the second was the group not being prayed for)
8-20 (congestive heart failure)
3-17 (antibiotic therapy)
3-13 (contracted pneumonia)
3-14 (cardiac arrest)
163-good recovery vs. 147
2-10 (intermediate recovery)
27-44 (poorly)
We have all experienced chemical changes that take place in our body due to thoughts, or words. These thoughts or words, manifest themselves in a physiogical response. For example, we have all fallen in love at one time or another, and experienced an explosion of endorphins which created a sense of euphoria. We didn't plan, or think it, it just happened due to a very powerful emotion, Love. By the way, Love is the highest vibratory word in our language, according to the ancient studies of Ayurvedic Medicine. Another example, we have all gone into a meditative state, losing all sense of time and space. Think about it, driving down a stretch of road, or taking a long walk, and realizing you didn’t even know how far you had travelled. That frontal lobe was firing big time! Meditation and Prayer are very powerful tools to begin laying down a neuro net of life changing possibilities. We all act as we think, however we need to unlock the door to a new sea of possibilities, new thoughts. There truely are no limits to what you can not achieve. Does this mean it will happen over night? No, it takes time. There is no change in life that does not take time. The one thing to remember each day is patience. Remember we have had years of negative thoughts and doubts polluting our minds and memory carrying glycoproteins. When you start, keep that in mind. When you begin daily meditation or prayer, you will discover the very thoughts begin to unconciously motivate your actions, and reactions toward that thought or idea. By changing the chemical matrix of your brain, you change your actions. This is not a new idea, it is an ancient way revisited. In the past 20 years, elite athletes such as six time World Triathalon Champion Dave Scott, or cancer survivor and six time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong, have utilized this idea through meditation, and a technique known as 'visualization'. I hope you do the same, whether through Prayer, Meditation or both, you define your reality. Whether your reality is to be smarter, confident, thinner, stronger, faster, free of pain, highly motivated, it is possible, and this is the 1st step on that journey!
» left by mjs from ny, ny (3 years 74 days ago.)
Excellent article! I applaud the author. However, the effect is diminished by poor grammar and spelling Paragraph breaks would make for easier reading, as will. If you have it proofed for grammar and spelling, you will reap many rewards Respond to this comment
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 View other articles written by Chuck Karam(48)
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