Why Meditate? Science Has Proven the Benefits As a Westerner, and a skeptic, there's something about "hard science" that puts me at ease. While I am delighted with the mysteries of the universe, and truly believe that there are some things that have no "rationale" answers, like healing at a distance, I like it when science confirms my perception of the universe.
Here are a few articles on the science of meditation and how it can create long-term benefits for you to alleviate stress, provide pain relief, increase your ability to respond compassionately, and maybe even live longer. I'm just offering a "taste" of what's been published and by doing so, I hope that you'll check into the literature on meditation research, it's great!
If you want the greatest benefits from your sleep, whether eight-hours of uninterrupted sleep, or a four-hour insomniac’s sleep, you've got to meditate!
This blog is devoted to the discussion of compassion as it relates to meditation. However, as has been the case in the past, there are times when acts of compassion or organizations dedicated to the promotion of compassionate action warrant inclusion within this site. Last night while trying to find a soccer game on television, I stumbled upon the 2011 Teen Nick Halo Awards. What? That's what I said. Some of you may know what this is, which puts you (at least) a step ahead of me. The Teen Nick Halo Awards is a yearly program that honors teens and [...]
Science has continued to generate an ongoing stream of research showing empirical, scientific, measurable evidence that meditation really works!
For those of you who would like to jump right in to reading a book that is exemplary in terms of bringing the meditative mind into science, I would highly recommend James Austin’s Zen and the Brain.
How we experience our world, including our perceptions of the internal world, can be dramatically changed, and mediated, through meditation.
Findings highlight the clinically and socially possibility that sustained training in meditation may impact distinct domains of human decision-making.
Meditation Causes Positive Changes in the Brain I've already written on how the practice of meditation can change not only our lives, but - at a very profound and empirical level - can actually change how our brain works. In this post, I'm going to let a true expert in the field take over and provide you with an incredible lecture on brain changes that can be accomplished through contemplative practices. I'm posting a link to a lecture by Dr. Davidson at the end of this introduction (you can go directly there by scrolling to the end of this post). [...]
Research shows that meditation affects the structure of the brain, increasing happiness, and decreasing anxiety and suffering.