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Showing posts from January 4, 2014

The Elements and the Mind

It has often  been said that much of our spiritual journey is an attempt to tame the ‘monkey mind’, as the mind is often compared with the actions of a monkey-jumping from one thing to another.  It would be true to say that the serious spiritual work does not begin until one has tamed the ‘monkey mind’, at least to some degree. But often  little thought is given to the relationship of the elements within the field of the mind as often we are focused on what we perceive to be the highest teaching or essence of Divinity; yet, by understanding the elements within the mind one can actually come closer toward their goal of the highest teaching or essence of Divinity. To grow  in spiritual realization one must realize that the elements have a higher (para) and lower (apara) manifestation within the mind; with the key being to cultivate the higher and reduce the lower manifestation of the elements.  For the purposes of this study, para could be compared to harmonious and apara to dish

Harvard Yoga Scientists Find Proof of Meditation Benefit

Scientists are getting close to proving what yogis have held to be true for centuries — yoga and meditation can ward off stress and disease. John Denninger , a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, is leading a  five-year study  on how the ancient practices affect genes and brain activity in the chronically stressed. His latest work follows a study he and others published earlier this year showing how so-called mind-body techniques can switch on and off some  genes  linked to stress and immune function. While hundreds of studies have been conducted on the mental health benefits of yoga and meditation, they have tended to rely on blunt tools like participant questionnaires, as well as heart rate and blood pressure monitoring. Only recently have neuro-imaging and genomics technology used in Denninger’s latest studies allowed scientists to measure physiological changes in greater detail. “There is a true biological effect,” said Denninger, director of research at the  Benson-H