Something to Meditate on

Can our thought processes change the structure and functioning of our brains?

An illuminating article in today's Wall Street Journal by the talented Sharon Begley examines this very question. The article describes the Dalai Lama's fascination with this issue and his efforts to promote the harmonization of the teachings of science and religion in this important area. In one experiment described in the article, neuroscience Professor Richard Davidson studied the brain waves of two study subjects--a group of eight Buddhist monks who had lengthy experience with the practice of meditation, and a group of ten volunteers who had no prior experience meditating but took a crash course in compassionate meditation as part of the experiment. Begley summarizes the study's findings as follows:

The brains of all the subjects showed activity in the regions that monitor one's emotions, plan movements, and generate positive feelings such as happiness. Regions that keep track of what is self and what is other become quieter, as if during compassionate meditation the subjects opened their minds and hearts to others.

More interesting were the differences between the monks and the novices. The monks had much greater activation in brain regions called the right insula and caudate, a network that underlies empathy and maternal love. They also had stronger connections from the frontal regions to the emotion regions, which is the pathway by which higher thought can control emotions.

In each case, the monks with the most hours of meditation showed the most dramatic brain changes. That was a strong hint that mental training makes it easier for the brain to turn on circuits that underlie compassion and empathy.

"This positive state is a skill that can be trained," Prof. Davidson says. "Our findings clearly indicate that meditation can change the function of the brain in an enduring way."

To me, in reflecting on these interesting findings, more important than the fact that some of the experiment subjects were monks is that they were individuals who were engaged in a regular practice of meditation. It would seem that it is the daily practice of meditation and prayer that leads to the wondrous changes in brain activity that were observed. It is also interesting to consider the many forms that meditation might take--whether it be reflecting on the meaning of a Holy Text, observing a beautiful scene in nature, pondering a difficult question, engaging in an athletic activity, or even doing the dishes! Perhaps it is the attitude with which we approach any activity that can give it a meditative quality.

I find it very inspiring to keep in mind the positive effects of meditation described in the article--increased activity in the region of the brain that develops positive feelings, less of a sense of what is self and what is other, greater activation in the regions that underlie empathy and love, and a strengthening of the pathway by which thought can control emotions, to name a few!

The Baha'i Writings shed a beautiful light on the topic of meditation. One of the things that stands out to me in the following passage about meditation from 'Abdu'l-Baha is the notion that meditation brings forth a great many good things into the world; that beyond meditation for meditation's sake, many a positive fruit--both for the benefit of the individual and society--can result from the process:

Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit -- the bestowal of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation.

The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation; through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded before his view. Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly food.

Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see.

This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature, discerns the reality of things, puts man in touch with God.

This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty inventions are made possible, colossal undertakings are carried out; through it governments can run smoothly. Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom of God.