The Physiology and Impact of Meditation

Meditation is a spiritual exercise which aligns the physical brain with the soul. Silent meditation with a group of like-spirited people can exert a powerful positive influence on the energetic balance of the locality, particularly if half the group is female and half is male.

In 1976, Frederick Toppe delivered a paper to the American Lutheran Southwest Michigan Pastoral Conference entitled "Meditation: Pagan and Christian." In it he said: "Of all the hard facts of science, I know of none more solid and fundamental than the fact that if you inhibit thought (and persevere) you come at length to a region of consciousness below or beyond thought…and a realization of an altogether vaster self than that to which we are accustomed."

"We can describe meditation and meditational methods as the means used to achieve the feelings either of religious bliss or of natural bliss. The means used to achieve the break-through into the altered state of consciousness are almost limitless in variety, reminding us that in meditation we are not dealing with an exclusively religious phenomenon, but with a phenomenon that is, in itself, a neutral event, neither religious nor unreligious, but capable of being interpreted in either direction."

There have been many scientific and medical studies of the effects of meditation on the physiology of meditators. The core question seems always the be the same: "Can direct change in state of consciousness through specific mental techniques extend human life and reverse age-related declines?"

In 1992, R. Jevning, R.K. Wallace and M. Beidebach of the School of Human Behavior at United States International University, San Diego, California, summarized: "Derived from the Vedic tradition, meditation is unique because it requires no special circumstances or effort for practice. Based upon a wide spectrum of physiological data, we hypothesize that meditation is an integrated response with peripheral circulatory and metabolic changes subserving increased central nervous activity."

"Consistent with the subjective description of meditation as a very relaxed but, at the same time, a very alert state, it is likely that such findings during meditation as increased cardiac output, probable increased cerebral blood flow, and findings reminiscent of the 'extraordinary' character of classical reports: apparent cessation of carbon dioxide generation by muscle, fivefold plasma AVP elevation, and EEG synchrony play critical roles in this putative response."

The theosophist Alice Bailey, considered one of the founders of the New Age movement, had this to say: "Meditation is a potent method of service to humanity when the mind is used as a channel for the reception of the energies of light and love and the will-to-good and their direction into human consciousness. And the moment of the full moon each month offers the greatest opportunity for meditation - particularly in group formation - to be used as a means of cooperation with the divine Plan or Intention for our world."

"One may ask, what has the moon got to do with it? The energies of light and love and the will-to-good are always available to those who can contact them in meditation. But in all aspects of our planetary life there are cycles in the ebb and flow of spiritual energies with which groups, as well as individuals, can consciously cooperate. One of the major energy cycles coincides with the phases of the moon, reaching its peak, its high tide, at the time of the full moon. This is a time, therefore, when the channeling of energy through group meditation can be uniquely effective."

"We are now beginning to ask the pertinent question: Is it not possible that many thousands now are at the point where they can co-ordinate the brain, the mind and the soul, and so pass through the portal of mental awareness into the realm of light, of intuitive perception, and the world of causes? The Knowers say that we can, and they tell us of the way."

"It will be apparent that those who are learning to meditate must endeavour to do two things. First, they must learn to 'bring through' into the mind and then interpret correctly what .... has been seen and contacted, and later transmit it correctly and accurately to the attentive and impressionable brain."

"Second, they must learn the nature of the energies .... contacted and train themselves to utilize them correctly. A practical illustration of this can be given here. We are swept by anger or irritation. Instinctively we begin to shout. Why? Emotional energy has us in its grip. By learning to control the energy of the spoken word we begin to master that particular type of emotional energy."

"In these two ideas of right interpretation and right transmission, and of right use of energy, the whole story of the meditation work is summed up. It becomes apparent also what is the problem confronting the student, and why all wise teachers of the technique of meditation urge upon their pupils the need of care and slow procedure."

"The point that every student of meditation should always bear in mind is that all knowledge and instructions are conveyed to the mind and brain by one's own soul; it is the soul that illumines the way. The Teachers and Masters of the race work through souls .... Therefore, the prime duty of every aspirant should be the perfect performance of meditation and service and discipline, and not the making of contact with some great Soul. It is less interesting, but preserves one from illusion. If one does this, the higher results will take care of themselves."

"Should an apparition appear, therefore, and should such an entity make platitudinous comments, the student will use the same judgment as would be used in business or ordinary life with someone who came and said .... 'A great work lies in your hands, you are doing well. We see and know, etc, etc,' the student would probably laugh and continue with the activity or duty of the moment."

From the website of Lucis Trust, an organization founded by Alice Bailey: "The technique of meditation governs all expansions of consciousness, including the entire process of evolutionary development within the planet. It is the technique of spiritual contact and apprehension, the means of furthering the evolution of human intelligence, the capacity to love, and the ability to bring the personal will into alignment with the divine will."

"Meditation is the single most effective means for transcending the binding, restrictive sense of separateness and isolation which imprison the human consciousness and render it futile. Meditation is the outstanding creative agent upon the planet. The effect of human meditation at this time is to change conditions, to invoke the higher spiritual potencies, to work with concentration – both vertically and horizontally – within the world of men and within the kingdom of God. This vertical and horizontal activity holds the secret of creative meditation."

"The intention to be of service to mankind is the essential motivation for all true creative meditation. Expansion of the human mind is based on the ability to love and to serve one's fellowmen. The ultimate result in the consciousness of the individual is illumination, wisdom and the will-to-good, and an expanding ability to cooperate in the creative and redemptive purposes of our planetary life. Meditation as a planetary service is both practical and effective."