“The individual is cosmic.”
Dec 29, 2015
Gamma
Beta
Alpha
Theta
Delta
Problem solving,concentration
Busy, active mind
Reflective, restful
Drowsiness
Sleep, dreaming
Two Studies on Junction Point
• In 15 non-meditators, matched with 15 meditators, EEG patterns at the waking/sleeping transition were not significantly different from TM sessions (except in duration).
• In all 10 meditators in another study, rise and fall of alpha activity occurred at the transition between waking, sleeping, and dreaming.
Is there EEG evidence for Cosmic Consciousness?
• During reported experiences of “witnessing sleep”, alpha activity typical of T.C. occurs along with the delta activity of deep sleep.
A study of individuals reporting the experience of Cosmic Consciousness showed higher frontal EEG coherence during a number task. Responses also better matched the task demands. This measurement is part of the “Brain Integration Scale."
Philosophy of Action
“Yogastha˙ kuru karmåˆi”
Established in Yoga, perform action
(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2:48).
Yoga is the complete settling of the activity of the mind
(Yoga Sutra 1,2)
Balance of mind is called Yoga(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2, 48)
Yoga is skill in action(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2, 50)
“Yoga is the basis of an integrated life, a
means of bringing into harmony the
inner creative silence and
the outer activity of life.”
(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2, 48 – Commentary)
On the one hand, a need for diversity. . . and on the other, a need for some principles of unity, since without it . . . even the studies of any one student are atomic or unbalanced or both.
— 1945 Harvard report on General Education, The Red Book
Beyond diversity, the college has an obligation to give students a sense of passage toward a more coherent view of knowledge and a more integrated life.
— Ernest L. Boyer, College, The Undergraduate Experience in America
“Yoga, or Union of the mind with the divine intelligence, begins when the mind gains
transcendental consciousness: Yoga achieves maturity when this transcendental
bliss-consciousness or divine Being, has gained ground in the mind to such an extent that, in whatever state the mind finds itself,
whether waking or sleeping, it remains established in the state of Being.”
Growth of Higher States of Consciousnessin Terms of Yoga
• Yoga is skill in action – Constructive thinking, experiential intelligence
• Balance of mind is called Yoga – Self (ego) development scale
• Yoga is the most settled state of
mind; He who is perfected in Yoga – Experience Questionnaire
Experience of transcending:the state of Yoga
It’s more simple than words do it justice. I
realize that I had been transcendental, and
it’s incredibly appealing. It only happens
spontaneously. In other words, you can’t try
to get there, but there is a very familiar “not
trying” that makes it easy.
No flowery language can adequately
describe the experience: it is simple and
blissful, and makes me feel clean and
refreshed, like after bathing in a cold lake.
“Yoga is the most settled state of mind”(Yoga SËtra, 1:2)
During TM I feel a sense of extreme silence and peace with my self. A sense of serenity comes over me and I feel at ease.
“Yogastha˙ kuru karmåˆi” Established in Yoga, perform action
(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2:48).
I seem to have entered a realm consisting of full bliss and peace. Afterwards I feel extremely replenished, and ready for action.
I feel energized and yet extremely relaxed. So much potential energy, it is unbelievable. The world is my playground, I am silent within myself, where I sit calmly, yet I am ready to go out and act, conquer.
Growth of Cosmic Consciousness – Witnessing Activity
It’s happened to me exercising and dancing. I feel a really strong connecting between myself, the activity I’m performing and the environment where it’s taking place. Yet, it’s not really me performing, I feel more like a witness but still that sense of bliss is there. I still enjoy it deeply.
This is an experience that has been growing and fluctuating in my awareness. Sometimes it goes away for awhile, but it always comes back. It can be continuous for long periods of time, but sometimes it is still overshadowed. One of the most dynamic examples of this experience was the first time I recognized it. I was kayaking through a very challenging rapid . . .
It just feels like my awareness is expanded – I am very calm and fully aware of all my surroundings, but more of my awareness is beyond them. It is like looking through a wide angle lense – my mind just opens outwards.
Witnessing Sleep
The experience comes and goes from month to month. The experience is that one is aware and time passes very quickly.The awareness is lively, and witnessing the body go through the motions of repair and rest.
I feel an evenness in consciousness from waking through sleep and dreaming.
When I wake up, it felt like coming back from somewhere where I was nourished with peace and silence, it was a fulfilling energy. I felt so integrated with everything else. I felt extremely awake in the level of silence.
It’s hard to say how often this happens – on a subtle level it’s there a lot, on a more expressed level more rare. When I settle down I just have a feeling of complete comfort & happiness, it lasts until I wake up & then the happiness changes to be more lively.
Whenever I sleep early, I have this experience.
As long as I have been getting enough rest in my life, I can experience myself as being wakeful during sleep time & then wake up feeling rested.
This is a very subtle thing for me, but when I am on the program and rested, I enjoy sleep. It is so refreshing. I have been having this blissful quality in my sleep for awhile, but it was only after it went away that I recognized it.
Experience Questionnaire
Analysis of the Experience Questionnaires of 126 students found significant positive change during undergraduate years for
• Frequency of Transcending (p = 0.004)
• Frequency of Witnessing Sleep (p = 0.002).