Benefits of Meditation

Even after describing the world’s simplest meditation technique, I find many people reluctant to try it and skeptical about its benefits. As a scientist, I only do things in my life that are proven scientifically. I don’t waste money on store-bought vitamins. I don’t yo-yo diet. I don’t fall for the nonsense of climate change causing that month’s hurricane. Facts speak for themselves. Data matters. Truth sets us free. So, if you still harbor doubts about the advantages of making meditation a daily habit here are some facts.

Any form of meditation, and any technique of meditation has the following benefits:

Improved Brain Functioning

•Human Physiology 25 (1999) 171-180; Psychophysiology 31 Abstract (1994) S67; Psychophysiology 27 Supplement (1990) 4A; Psychophysiology 26 (1989) 529; Psychosomatic Medicine 46: (1984) 267–276.

Increased Flexibility of Brain Functioning

•Biological Psychology, 55 (2000): 41-55; Psychophysiology 14 (1977): 293–296.

Increased Efficiency of Information Transfer in the Brain

•Motivation, Motor and Sensory Processes of the Brain, Progress in Brain Research 54 (1980): 447–453; International Journal of Neuroscience 10 (1980): 165–170; Psychophysiology 26 (1989): 529.

Improved Perception

•Perceptual and Motor Skills 49 (1979): 270; Perceptual and Motor Skills 64 (1987): 1003–1012.

Improved Problem-Solving Ability

•Personality and Individual Differences 12 (1991): 1105–1116; Dissertation Abstracts International 38(7): 3372B–3373B, 1978.

Increased Resistance to Distraction and Social Pressure

•Perceptual and Motor Skills 39 (1974): 1031–1034; Perceptual and Motor Skills 65 (1987): 613–614; Perceptual and Motor Skills 59 (1984): 999-1000; Dissertation Abstracts International 38(7) (1978): 3372B–3373B.

Increased Intelligence

•Intelligence 29/5 (2001): 419-440; Journal of Personality and Individual Differences 12 (1991): 1105–1116; Perceptual and Motor Skills 62 (1986): 731–738; College Student Journal 15 (1981): 140–146; Journal of Clinical Psychology 42 (1986): 161–164.

Increased Creativity

•Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 57 (1989) 950-964; The Journal of Creative Behavior 19 (1985) 270-275; Dissertation Abstracts International 38(7): 3372B–3373B, 1978.

Increased Self-Confidence and Self-Actualization

•Journal of Social Behavior and Personality 6 (1991): 189–247; Higher Stages of Human Development: Perspectives on Adult Growth (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 286–341; British Journal of Psychology 73 (1982) 57-68; College Student Journal 15 (1981): 140–146; Journal of Counseling Psychology 20 (1973): 565-566.

Improved Verbal and Analytical Thinking

•The Journal of Creative Behavior 13 (1979): 169–180; The Journal of Creative Behavior 19 (1985): 270–275; Perceptual and Motor Skills 62 (1986): 731–738.

Who doesn’t want all of those advantages?

Concentrative or Non-directive?

A team of researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the University of Oslo and the University of Sydney has determined how the brain works during different kinds of meditation. Results were published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

“Different meditation techniques can actually be divided into two main groups. One type is concentrative meditation, where the meditating person focuses attention on his or her breathing or on specific thoughts, and in doing so, suppresses other thoughts.

The other type may be called non-directive meditation, where the person who is meditating effortlessly focuses on his or her breathing or on a meditation sound, but beyond that the mind is allowed to wander as it pleases.

Non-directive meditation (TQT version is non-directive) led to higher activity than during rest in the part of the brain dedicated to processing self-related thoughts and feelings. When test subjects performed concentrative meditation, the activity in this part of the brain was almost the same as when they were just resting.

‘I was surprised that the activity of the brain was greatest when the person’s thoughts wandered freely on their own, rather than when the brain worked to be more strongly focused,’ said Xu. ‘When the subjects stopped doing a specific task and were not really doing anything special, there was an increase in activity in the area of the brain where we process thoughts and feelings. It is described as a kind of resting network. And it was this area that was most active during non-directive meditation.’ “

A survey of sixteen experimental tests, by Charles Honorton, now conducting experiments at the Princeton Psychophysical Laboratory, reported that nine of these experiments provided positive evidence for the enhancement of ESP by meditation.”

Ray Dalio (personal worth $14 billion) – “42 years ago the Beatles inspired me to meditate 20 minutes a day. Now I feel like a ninja in a fight,” Dalio said. “When it (market changes) comes at you, it seems like slow motion.”

William H. Gross ($2 billion) – ”My best ideas come after I do nothing 20 minutes a day.”

Daniel Loeb ($4 billion dedicated practitioner that raises every day at 5:30) –  “All my best ideas come from meditation.”

Enough said?

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