Science And Spirituality Of Greatest Perfect Beings Of India

Karma & Art Of Remapping Our Memories

2005-12-03T18:09:00.000+05:30

Karma and the Fine Art of Remapping Our Memories
Each one of us is born with a unique genetic make-up, which provides a basic template for our general behaviour. This behaviour is further modified by our surroundings. These interactions, especially in early life, imprint powerful memories in our brain. Our mind is the total sum of our memories which govern our actions. Our actions then reinforce our memories in a feedback loop-type mechanism. Memories or sanskars, as Patanjali calls them in his Yoga Darshan, are the genesis of karma. Karma is action embracing the whole meaning of living. We are because of our karma. Our karma or actions, good and bad, decide our future in this or the next life. The law of karma is central to Indian philosophy. Some say that the law of karma is deterministic: you are born according to your karma, things happen to you because of your past karmas, so it is not possible for one to change one's present life. This, however, negates the whole basis of yoga which claims that one can change memories and hence one's life. All four systems of yoga: jnana, raja, bhakti and karma, teach us to live positively in thought, word and deed. This helps produce positive memories and hence good karma. Every individual has the power to change his destiny and memories by his actions in this life. Our actions change the neural pathways in the brain and hence the mind, which guides us to our future course of action. We can change our memories through yogic process and cultivation of deep thought, and change our karma. Deep thought on any subject for a long time is the essence of yoga, the sanyam in Patanjali yoga. Sanyam allows memory removal or sublimation of existing memories into new ones. Thinking deeply about a subject for a long time requires tremendous processing capabi-lity of the brain and it can only be achieved if the mind gets rid of some existing memories. Brain research show that the brain is pliable, capable of developing new neurons, neural pathways and hence memories. The intensity of an experience dictates the quality of memory formation. Deep thought allows a very intense experience. When we think continuously and deeply about a particular thought tremendous processing takes place in the mind, since the brain is evaluating millions of alternatives. This processing can be thought of as a cyclonic activity, which embraces other thoughts in its wake to produce the energy to focus on a single item. This process, when continued, helps in memory sublimation. Why are we interested in getting rid of our memories? Our lives are full of happy and sad events. They produce happy and sad memories. Unhappy memories lead to violence, hatred and unhappiness. Wilfully removing unhappy memories helps us live a more fruitful and happy life, liberating us from the cycle of birth and death. To remove unhappy memories we can think continuously about happy events so that this process ultimately dissolves unhappy memories. This is much superior to merely suppressing unhappy memories, for then, negative things become irrelevant, not suppressed. If we try to suppress negative feelings and memories they only come back with much greater force. MORE AT KAALCHAKRA

Science Occult Yoga & Powers Of Mind

2005-11-22T04:23:00.000+05:30

So we know the atom, the quark or triad, the Anu (as the UPA)and the ParamAnu. But how did the yogi and the scientist get their information on the atom?In his book "Essentials of Occult Chemistry and Modern Science",H.J. Arnikar explains the methods the scientists and the yogis use in their researches.The wavelength of violet light is approx. 3 x 10^-7 metres.The size of the smallest particle that the human physical eye can see cannot be less than this size. An atom has a diameter of 10^-10 meters, a thousand times smaller.So how did man learn so much about the invisible atom? The scientist and the yogi follows two diverse paths.In our discussions below, we use the term ATOM for the atom of Science, TRIAD or QUARK for the first level subatomic particle, Anu (UPA - Ultimate Physical Atom) for the last-level subatomic particle, and, finally, ParamAnu or bubble for the ultimate particle of all planes.The Methods of Science----------------------The scientist learns about the atom by virtually torturing it.Even with the most powerful electron microscope, the atom appears as just a speck of light when projected on a screen. So the scientist pushes it into a highly excited state. By white heat, blinding light, with super-high electric fields.The application of a massive external force makes the atom run about at fantastic speeds. The intense magnetic fields generated force the atom into highly twisted curved paths,spinning and revolving in abnormal ways.And then the scientist lets the atom cool down, and come back to its ground state. Like a captive undergoing the third degree torture, the atom spills its beans. And the scientist learns. The Methods of Occultists-------------------------The yogi and the occultist object to doing violence to the atom, because they know that the divine life force inheres in it. They argue that the information obtained from an atom in a violently excited state may not be valid for the atoms in the normal, tranquil ground state.Therefore a yogi (we also include an occultist in this term)uses the yoga techniques of Patanjali, arduously practiced by him/her under the guidance of a Guru over long periods.The blessings of the Guru grant the yogi the siddhis. Anima siddhi in particular. What is this Anima siddhi?The Anima siddhi is the psychic ability to reduce human consciousness as small as the human chooses. When the yogi who has this power diminishes himself in consciousness to a size to match the atom, the atom becomes visible to him!The yogi then sees the world inside the atom. In all its detail, beauty and glory. And he studies the atom for whatever he needs. Westerners had some misconceptions about the Anima siddhi. They found the idea to reduce oneself (in consciousness) to a small size impossible to imagine, so they thought that the Anima siddhi magnified the atom to the desired level.It is not so. A yogi who can use the Anima siddhi, diminishes, not his body, but his consciousness to the level desired. In the case of an atom, both the yogi and the atom retain their sizes. And the yogi can enter into and out of the Anima state at will. Even when in the Anima state, the yogi retains his normal physical faculties. This means that from the Anima state he can talk normally and discuss his findings with the people around!The Atom Model of the Occultists--------------------------------Annie Besant and Leadbeater, using their clairvoyant powers, studied and mapped the atomic structure of practically all the elements known and a number of compounds.The Hydrogen atom, the simplest of all, with a single proton and a single electron around it, under the clairvoyant view, reveals a proton in its nucleus containing three triads (quarks), with each triad further having three numbers of the Anu (UPAs --Ultimate Physical Atoms). So the Hydrogen atom has 9 UPAs. The UPAs in other atoms are normally in multiples of 9.The actual shape of the Anu (UPA) is roughly spherical, slightlyflattened, with a depression at the point where the force or energy flows in, causing a heart-shaped form. The Anu is spinning or pulsating as if it is breathing.Each Anu (UPA) is composed of ten coils arranged laterally, but without touching one another. Each coil is itself a spiral having 1,680 turns or spirilla. And these spirilla are dotted with bubbles, the ParamAnu. Around 14 million bubbles in an atom of the physical plane.Each atom is surrounded by a field formed of the atomic particles of the higher planes, which surround and interpenetrate it.Arrangement of the UPAs (Anu), quarks (triad) and bubbles in coils of spirillae give external shapes to the nucleus ofthe atoms of different elements. Typical shapes observed are: Dumb-bell, Tetrahedron, Cube, Octahedron, Bars, and Star. Psychokinesis-------------Using the will-power to create or change objects is called psychokinesis in modern parapsychoanalysis. Lester Smith in his book "Occult Chemistry Re-evaluated" states that Bishop Leadbeaterused to perform before a circle of friends the feat of changing one substance to another, transmuting it using will-power. Leadbeater had a dual religious membership: He was a Christian Bishop, but he became a member of the Buddhism also during one of his visits to Tibet. The Tibetan masters forbid him against such demonstrations as of no value.Other terms used for the psychic ability to see through matter are clairvoyance, extrasensory perception (ESP) and micropsi.Scientists Favouring Occult Researches--------------------------------------Some of the top ranking scientists have accepted the essentials of Occult Chemistry and positively contributed to its growth.Dr. Stephen M. Phillips (UK/USA)--------------------------------The foremost among the scientists who found the resemblances between the findings of Science and Occult Chemistry fascinating.It was Dr. Phillips who determined that the positive quark had a charge of +2/3e and the negative, -1/3 e. He further deduced that the postive Anu had a charge of 5/9e and the negative, -4/9e. Dr. Philips is said to be currently researching in colloborationwith a revered Buddhist occultist in Canada about the superstring structure of the electron.Dr. E.Lester Smith (UK) is working to reconcile the findings of Science and Occult Chemistry and arrive at a whole picture.Dr. Ronald Cowen (Canada) is colloborating with Dr. Phillips in the study of electron using clairvoyance.Dr. Mahadeva Srinivasan (India), Associate Director of Physics Group of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, has written a seires of three articles published by The Hindu in 1994. In these articles he has stressed the importance of quantitative resemblance of the findings of Occult Chemistry and Science, though the occult methods are not intelligible to scientists.He is popular for his lectures on this and other subjects of science in India and abroad.So, where are we going, as a humanity? We talk about holistic medicine and holistic healthcare, by the integrated use of the medicines of allopathy, ayurvedic, homeopathy and other medical disciplines. Why not a holistic Science that integrates Science, philosophy, occultism and mysticism?Let us hope that Dr. Phillips' pioneering work in using yoga for Science will be a trend-setter. There is so much Science in Spirituality that Science cannot afford to ignore anymore.Sources:1. The Project Gutenberg eBook, Occult Chemistry, by Annie Besant and Charles W. Leadbeater, download at: http://www.gutenberg.net/2. Essentials of Occult Chemistry and Modern Science by H.J.Arnikar, The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai.If the Anu and ParamAnu build this physical plane, how are the other planes of Nature built? And what do they contain?We shall think about these topics in the forthcoming postings.-- Anoranukkaniyan, Mahitho Mahiyan!Regards,saidevo MORE ON............................KAALCHAKRA

Subtle Energies of Cosmos & Truths Of Nature

2005-11-21T01:27:00.000+05:30

Scientists are slowly realizing a far reaching truth of nature - we are beings of energy, moved by the energy of others, our environment and the cosmos. The energy of our soul in scientific community is known as Subtle Energy (SE). SE is a physical manifestation of Zero Point Energy Modules.Why do you feel instantly attracted to some people yet repelled by others? The answer lies in the interactions between two sets of SE.According to T.M. Srinivasan, Ph.D. , the term Subtle Energy (SE) is of recent origin. SE could mean a physical energy, such as electromagnetic or acoustic, that is of such low intensity we have no means of measuring it presently. The sensors we have designed in the laboratories are not sensitive enough to directly discern these fields. In this definition of SE, we are dealing with a physical field which is of very low magnitude.Several scientists in the United States (Tiller, Bearden, Rein, Putoff, Green, and Srinivasan) have studied SE and its effects. Though each has developed his own nuanced theory of SE, in general they all tend to concur that SE phenomena is related to a type of unified energy, and is not just a physical field of very low magnitude.Contemporary quantum physics has mathematically described and predicted the presence of a unified energy which underlies conventional transverse electromagnetic (EM) vectors. The concept of a subtle energy underlying EM fields was first introduced by Bohm and Aharonov in describing quantum potentials as an implicate order "embedded in" our normal 3-D space. It has recently been proposed that an additional implicate order is embedded within the quantum potentials.Subtle Energy fields might be a fundamental manifestation of energy that underlies classical energy systems. We need to invoke current theories in physics to postulate possible scenario for SE production. It is known that what we thought of as vacuum or empty space is not really so. Quantum theory predicts this vacuum is really a container of enormous amounts of energy. Particles seem to appear and disappear out of this vacuum. Such processes are presently called Zero Point Fluctuations (ZPF), providing an infinite energetic background for the physical world.The manifestation of elementary particles from this vacuum and their disappearance proceeds continuously and is postulated as the basis for the formation of the universe as we know it. At the level of ZPF, Zero Point Energy (ZPE) is converted into matter and matter falls back into this ocean of ZPE. If we can ''mine'' even a small part of this vast energy, we can theoretically supply the energy requirement of the world for a fraction of the cost of conventional energy sources. Renowned scientists, several of whom seem close to extracting this energy, are making attempts at this.Now, one might ask, how is this ZPE connected with SE? It is likely that as particles are formed from vacuum (which as we said, is a concept emerging from quantum physics) there are associated radiations. As particles emerge and disappear, these radiations also appear and disappear. It is similar to when ripples are formed as stones are thrown into still water. As each stone disappears in water, it produces waves at the surface of water. Though there is no mathematical proof for production of SE through this method, it is likely such a mechanism exists in the vacuum state. Quantum mechanics postulates elementary particles do have specific energy states, which have certain finger print radiation patterns. Hence the above model for subtle energy radiation's is well within the possibilities of theories in modern physics. While the production and radiation of SE fields could possibly be within the realm of physics, the design and use of SE field devices most likely require novel engineering constructs. It is likely these SE fields can be focused and down-converted through special energy-information transduction techniques which couple the multi-dimensional SE fields to three-dimensional force fields.It is likely, then, if SE fields are focused, they can be brought out from the Zero Point Energy itself. As SE fields emerge out of ZPE, they may be beyond physicality (and hence not possible to measure); however, after transduction, they seem to manifest as quasi-physical energies. Or they directly influence the behavior of classical field phenomena. After such a change in energy format, SE fields become ''useful'' and take part in energy interactions with physical fields such as electromagnetic and acoustic.THESE ARE THE SAME TRUTHS WHICH WERE TOLD BY GREAT SAINTS OF ANCINET INDIA. HUMAN BEINGS ARE THE CONDENSED CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD AT DIFFERENT STATES OF VIBRATORY EXISTENCE MORE ON...............................KAALCHAKRA SCIENCE & SPIRITUALITY

Zen Meditation

2005-11-20T05:16:00.000+05:30

Zen meditation is an ancient spiritual practice that promotes awareness and presence through the undivided engagement of mind and body. For thousands of years, many religious traditions have made meditation a common practice. Now, researchers at Emory University are looking at the effects of Zen meditation and how the brain functions during meditative states. By determining the brain structures involved in meditation and whose activity is gradually changed in the course of long-term meditative practice, researchers hope this training could one day be used as a complementary treatment for neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."In contrast to the common conceptualization of meditation as a relaxation technique, we think that meditation could be more usefully characterized as training in the skillful deployment of attention and inhibitory control," says Giuseppe Pagnoni, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, and lead researcher of this study.
"We chose to investigate Zen meditation because, from an experimental point of view, it is a very simple technique, the quintessence of many other meditative variations. You concentrate on the correct posture and the coming and going of your breathing, and repeatedly come back to these 'attentional supports' every time you find yourself distracted by thoughts, memories, sensations, etc. We believe that people who have undergone a rigorous training in Zen meditation might display a functional modification of the neural circuits underlying the performance of attentional control and behavioral switching. Therefore, we are looking closely at the brain to understand which areas support the mental processes mustered by meditation and how these relate to the existing literature on neuroimaging of cognitive functions." Researchers will use functional MRI (fMRI) to acquire images of the brain during a simplified experimental condition designed to tap into the same resources activated by meditation. fMRI is a technique for determining which areas of the brain are activated during specifically designed mental or motor tasks. The pilot study is being funded by the Emory Center for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Neurodegenerative Diseases.
The study will enroll 30 participants: 15 who are trained in and have practiced Zen meditation every day for at least three years, and 15 who have never meditated. The latter 15 will serve as the control group. Each participant will undergo brain scans while engaging in sustained concentration on breathing, a condition that will be interrupted at random times by the requirement of performing simple cognitive tasks. A second run of fMRI scanning will analyze an undisturbed concentrative state, with no interruption by any other tasks.MORE ON.........KAALCHAKRA

Meditation Associated With Increased Grey Matter In The Brain

2005-11-18T07:09:00.000+05:30

Meditation Associated With Increased Grey Matter In The Brain
Meditation is known to alter resting brain patterns, suggesting long lasting brain changes, but a new study by researchers from Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows meditation also is associated with increased cortical thickness. The structural changes were found in areas of the brain that are important for sensory, cognitive and emotional processing, the researchers report in the November issue of NeuroReport. Although the study included only 20 participants, all with extensive training in Buddhist Insight meditation, the results are significant, said Jeremy Gray, assistant professor of psychology at Yale and co-author of the study led by Sara Lazar, assistant in psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"What is most fascinating to me is the suggestion that meditation practice can change anyone's grey matter," Gray said. "The study participants were people with jobs and families. They just meditated on average 40 minutes each day, you don't have to be a monk."

Magnetic resonance imaging showed that regular practice of meditation is associated with increased thickness in a subset of cortical regions related to sensory, auditory, visual and internal perception, such as heart rate or breathing. The researchers also found that regular meditation practice may slow age-related thinning of the frontal cortex. "Most of the regions identified in this study were found in the right hemisphere," the researchers said. "The right hemisphere is essential for sustaining attention, which is a central practice of Insight meditation." They said other forms of yoga and meditation likely have a similar impact on cortical structure, although each tradition would be expected to have a slightly different pattern of cortical thickening based on the specific mental exercises involved.

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Hindu Religious Values Strong Protection Against suicidal Tendencies

2005-11-01T07:50:00.000+05:30

An Irish expert on suicides believes that the support provided by Hindu religious values in India is a strong protection against suicidal tendencies A defense that the West is lacking. Lack of spirituality is behind the increasing rate of suicides among the young in the west, says Dan nebulae, chairman of the Irish Association of Suicidology. Nebulae pointed to research in India, "which is predominantly Hindu", showing that religion was a strong protective against becoming suicidal, while Muslim countries also had low rates of suicide. "Studies among the suicide bereaved reveal that religious belief helps them to cope with their distressing loss," he said. According to him, the reasons people took their own lives were complex. In answering the question why people committed suicide, multifaceted influences must be considered, he said. "The fall-off in the practice of religion is accepted as part of the societal change that has influenced an increase in suicide levels." "Many of the supports which people could depend on and which prevented them from considering suicide have been eroded. "Along with economic success has come a decline in spirituality and the loss of a sense of life as a gift from a supreme being. We no longer accept that suffering in this life will be rewarded with happiness in a life after death." The expert added that Australian research suggested that what is known about spirituality in young people - its development, its place in recovery from mental illness and its importance as a protective factor against suicide - makes it an important topic for open discussion for therapies and prevention strategies. The Irish Association of Suicidology, at its 10th annual conference from Oct 5 to 7, is scheduled to discuss how the relative weakening of religious and spiritual values has left people without the support that they would otherwise have to prevent them from committing suicides. The meeting, being held in armies town, will also discuss the ethics of assisted suicide and the implications of euthanasia on patients, doctors and palliative care. Nebulae said he hoped the conference would throw some light on an extremely complex area. More on.................... KALCHAKRA

Acupressure a New aid for Sleepy Patients

2005-10-03T18:54:00.000+05:30

Acupressure a New Aid for Sleepy Students.
Practice of Acupressure has been widely practiced in India since centuries & now after research the scientists are confirms some of the truths practiced by Indians & Sages.Drowsy students can keep themselves more alert in class by using self-applied acupressure, a new study reports."Our finding suggests that acupressure can change alertness in people who are in classroom settings for a full day -- which would be very good news for students who have trouble staying alert at school," Richard E. Harris said in a prepared statement. He is a research investigator in the rheumatology division at the University of Michigan Medical School's Department of Internal Medicine, and a researcher at U-M Health System's Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center.Harris' team's study of 39 student volunteers found that those who were taught to self-administer acupressure to stimulation points on their legs, feet, hands and heads were less likely to be sleepy during class. The acupressure consisted of light tapping of fingers or using thumbs or forefingers to lightly massage the stimulation points. more on....... kaalchakra
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Aucpuncture Psychotherapy Energy

2005-09-12T09:54:00.000+05:30

Energy Psychology is a relatively new set of techniques that combine Eastern approaches to the mind and body with Western psychology and psychotherapy ideas. Practitioners of several forms of energy psychotherapy claim that tapping Acupressure or acupuncture points while thinking about an anxiety-producing event can cure anxiety and phobias. Is this possible? What do acupuncture points have to do with anxiety?Energy Psychology techniques were first popularized in the west in early 1980s by Roger Callahan, Ph.D. under the names of "The Callahan Technique" or "Thought Field Therapy but Similar Techniques were practiced In India in the ancient times by great Vaidyas & Sages of India like Distant Healing, Holistic medicnes, Auras or Alternative healing techniques. Callahan charged hundreds of dollars for training, but training programs based on his technique are now more reasonably priced. David Feinstein, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, has developed an interactive CD-ROM that claims to provide training in energy psychotherapy. Feinstein has done a good job of presenting the basics of the technique in a balanced manner. It may even be possible for a trained therapist to begin using energy psychotherapy techniques after working through the lessons on this CD-ROM. It's too early to know whether energy psychotherapy will really prove to be an effective technique. Similar approaches such as EMDR sound just as bazaar on the surface; yet some good research has backed-up the effectiveness of EMDR (while other research questions its effectiveness). Some intriguing early research suggests that tapping certain points on the body while thinking about an anxiety-producing situation produces symptom improvement in a very small number of sessions. These early studies were performed in South America by practitioners who were attempting to standardize these techniques. The studies were not double blind and did not have particularly good control groups, but the results, as reported by Joaquín Andrade, M.D. and David Feinstein, Ph.D., are intriguing. According to Andrade and Feinstein:In preliminary clinical trials involving more than 29,000 patients from 11 allied treatment centers in South America during a 14-year period, a variety of randomized, double-blind pilot studies were conducted. In one of these, approximately 5,000 patients diagnosed at intake with an anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to an experimental group (tapping) or a control group (cognitive behavior therapy /medication). Ratings were given by independent clinicians who interviewed each patient at the close of therapy, at 1 month, at 3 months, at 6 months, and at 12 months. The raters made a determination of complete remission of symptoms, partial remission of symptoms, or no clinical response. The raters did not know if the patient received CBT/medication or tapping. They knew only the initial diagnosis, the symptoms, and the severity, as judged by the intake staff. At the close of therapy: 63% of the control group were judged as having improved; 90% of the experimental group were judged as having improved. 51% of the control group were judged as being symptom free; 76% of the experimental group were judged as symptom free. (Andrade & Feinstein, 2003) Energy psychology advocates suggest that tapping acupuncture points stimulates "mechanoreceptors" - nerve endings that are sensitive to touch. This stimulation is theorized to somehow normalize the body's energy channels and fields. Different kinds of "energy work" are becoming more popular among holistic health practitioners; and it is true that we do not yet understand much about the energy fields that surround the human body. The jury is still out on energy psychology. These techniques could provide a way to quickly treat anxiety, trauma disorders, and phobias. Stay tuned as future studies add evidence for us to consider." FOR HYPHOSIS HYPNOTHERAPY CLICK HERE"

Acupuncture & Acupressure Therapy

2005-09-04T11:52:00.000+05:30

Bypass Surgery Patients At Cedars-Sinai Participate In Nation's First Study Of Cardiac Inpatient Acupuncture TherapyIn what is believed to be the first study of its kind, patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have the option of receiving acupuncture/Acupressure as a supplemental therapy after open-heart surgery. The acupuncture study is one of three pilot studies aimed at assessing the benefits of “integrative” or “alternative” modalities. A study of massage, like that of acupuncture, is in the final stages, while one on guided imagery is now underway, according to Gregory P. Fontana, M.D., a highly respected cardiothoracic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai. “Our patients have gone through a very dramatic event and they’re often in a great deal of discomfort. If they’re stressed, they can’t sleep and they hurt, their first response is usually to ask for a pain medication,” said Dr. Fontana. “I’ve always believed that massage and other therapies can be very powerful in helping patients relax. If they can allow themselves to relax, accept what has happened, and realize a state of well-being, pain becomes a less important part of their consciousness.” Dr. Fontana began about two and a half years ago to make preparations for the launch of this program. One major hurdle was the fact that few Western-style hospitals have a process in place for credentialing acupuncturists and other non-traditional therapists. “We designed a concept for the program and we wanted to involve the best practitioners available. We wanted great acupuncturists and massage therapists who had experience and respect within the community,” said Dr. Fontana. As a result, the three acupuncturists participating in the study are key faculty members of Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, and the massage therapists are on the staff of Burke Williams Spa. All are now credentialed by Cedars-Sinai. The pilot studies to evaluate patient satisfaction and solicit their suggestions will lead to larger, randomized, scientifically documented research. Although several other heart surgery programs have initiated studies of certain alternative therapies – ranging from yoga to herbal supplementation to healing energy therapy – few have resulted in objective, peer-reviewed information. “Studies in recent years have shown that perioperative patients can benefit tremendously from learning how to relax and how to visualize positive outcomes, but we believe this is the first inpatient program to include acupuncture,” said Kathy Wanderer, a registered nurse who coordinates the Cardiothoracic Integrative Medicine program. “We’re receiving great comments about both massage and acupuncture,” said Wanderer, who has been a registered nurse for nearly 10 years. Although she has practiced in pediatric intensive care and is a certified recovery room nurse, Wanderer has held an interest in alternative therapies since her nursing school days when she worked in a clinic that offered medical care, chiropractic and acupuncture. Now she’s completing the requirements for a master’s degree at Emperor’s College. While the Western world’s approach to medicine has through the years seemed incompatible with the practices of Eastern medicine and other alternative approaches, Wanderer said dissimilar perspectives actually work well together. “Although the two systems of medicine are not based on the same ‘principles,’ they integrate beautifully. Whether you call them ‘integrative,’ ‘alternative,’ or ‘complementary,’ all of those terms imply that they can work together even though they are based on different ways of approaching a patient and different ways of looking at disease,” said Wanderer. “There are a lot of tools available that are not specifically tied to a Western medical model.” Dr. Fontana noted that he and the other researchers make it a point to avoid suggesting possible outcomes to patients in the study. “We don’t want to give them expectations because we don’t want to influence their perceptions,” he said. “Instead, we say that we’re using this to see if we can improve their experience after having heart surgery. If they ask in what way, we tell them we’re looking at pain, relaxation, anxiety, sleep and many different areas.” Not only is the hospital a new environment for acupuncture, treating patients shortly after open-heart surgery is an unusual challenge for acupuncturists, who often are called upon to treat a specific pain. Dr. Fontana said that when the sternum is opened and stretched, as it is in heart surgery, patients often have a sense of significant pain that is widespread, not just in one place. The acupuncturists in the pilot study have directed their efforts toward bringing about relaxation while relieving specific pains. “Because there is no previous experience with acupuncture after heart surgery, the information we’re gathering from patients now is going to help us focus our next studies on what is most realistic in this situation,” said Dr. Fontana. “Acupuncturists in China and in other parts of the world have used acupuncture in incredibly dramatic ways, even in lieu of general anesthesia.” Caroll Clark is one of the Cedars-Sinai patients who volunteered for acupuncture therapy. She expected the bed rest after surgery to exacerbate an ongoing back problem. “I have a vertebra in my back that I was a little concerned about, that I had told the doctor about,” she said. “My back was hurting the first two days (after surgery) and then when they did the acupuncture, it quit hurting and I never took any pills after the second day I was in the hospital. One evening I took some Extra Strength Tylenol but as far as pain pills, the narcotic kind, I didn’t have to take any after that.” Her pain relief was so complete, Clark thought she was receiving pain medication. “I asked the nurse about it. She said, ‘No, you don’t get pain medicine unless you ask for it. Do you want some?’ I said, no, I just thought you gave it to me naturally because I wasn’t having pain.” Clark said she quickly learned to look forward to her acupuncture sessions. “What I really enjoyed was when they came in, I’d get to lie there for about 20 minutes and nobody could bother me. I mean, it was just so relaxing,” she said. “I was skeptical of it (acupuncture) to begin with but now that I’m home, I know that it had to have worked because now my back’s bothering me.” Jan Alcott volunteered for the massage therapy pilot study. He said he has heard that the highest compliment that can be given a massage therapist is to fall asleep during a treatment. “They all got a kick out of it – including Dr. Fontana – because after working on me for 10 or 15 minutes, I was out like a light. It was wonderful. Initially, coming out of surgery, being very sore, it was difficult to get comfortable. To have this massage to help relax your whole body and the anxiety, I felt was a tremendous asset in my being able to get comfortable within just a few days,” Alcott said. In fact, after the second day, Alcott requested that there be no other interruptions during his massage, allowing him to “get the full benefit of this relaxation. And after that, that afternoon I noted that I did not have to request a pain shot and I slept anywhere from a half-hour to an hour. I just cannot say enough about it,” he said. Wanderer said all of the acupuncturists and massage therapists provided their services without charge during the pilot projects. “They believe the inclusion of complementary services will prove to have a positive impact on patient well-being,” she said. The guided imagery element of the project was developed in-house with the consulting services of Judith Prager, a certified hypnotherapist with a doctorate in psychology. “The scripts are very specific to address the kinds of feelings and sensations patients are having before, during and after cardiac surgery,” Dr. Fontana said. Wanderer said the pre-op guided imagery centers on relaxation and positive suggestions. The second guided imagery, which will run continuously during surgery, is designed to reinforce the message of relaxation and remind the patient that every sound and sensation taking place is for the patient’s highest good. Wanderer said previous studies have shown that the unconscious mind can be open to external stimuli even when a patient is under the effects of anesthesia. The post-op message encourages relaxation and healing. “Through these pilot studies we’re learning how best to coordinate the new modalities into the flow of existing care, and we’re ensuring that patient satisfaction is maintained at its previous level or elevated,” said Wanderer. “The average hospital stay for these patients is five days, and the standards of care are excellent, so there’s a lot going on in that time. All the people on our staff who have patient contact are working together on this project and are very excited and supportive.” Dr. Fontana said he has taken advantage of the benefits of massage and relaxation therapies at various times in his life but he got the idea of incorporating alternative modalities into the heart surgery program while attending professional meetings held at a spa and resort. About three and a half years ago, he and Mehmet Oz, M.D., a friend and cardiothoracic surgeon at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, had an opportunity to swim in a spring and receive massages and mud baths during breaks between sessions. We said,“You know, it’s too bad our patients can’t feel this good,” he recalled.

Out Of body Experiences & NDE

2005-08-24T21:12:00.000+05:30

Out-of-body' Experiences May Come From Within

Psychologists at The University of Manchester are investigating the idea that out-of-body experiences, commonly thought of as paranormal phenomena, may in fact have their roots in how people perceive and experience their own bodies. Around 10% of the population have an out-of-body experience (OBE) at some time, typically involving a sensation of floating and seeing the physical body from the outside. It isn't uncommon for people to have more than one OBE, and they may also occur as part of the wider near-death experience some report experiencing in life-threatening circumstances. Despite the high incidence of OBEs however, there is still a great deal scientists don't know about the phenomenon.The University of Manchester study, funded by the Portuguese Bial Foundation which supports the scientific study of the physical and spiritual nature of Man, will use an online questionnaire on body perceptions and experience to examine differences between those who have and have not experienced OBEs. The survey will also gather details on the different kinds of OBEs people have, to categorise these experiences more precisely. David Wilde, the researcher running the project, said, "There are several theories as to why people have OBEs. A common link between them is the idea that in certain circumstances the brain somehow loses touch with sensory information coming in from the body. This triggers a series of psychological mechanisms which can lead to someone having an OBE. "In this study we aim to take the theory a stage further, by looking at the way people see and experience their bodies, and how - through perfectly ordinary psychological processes - these images and experiences may create the impression of seeing their bodies from the outside." The research team hopes to capture data from at least 500 members of the public from anywhere in the world. Both people who have had an OBE and those who have not are encouraged to take part.

The survey can be seen at www.freeresponse.org/muobe2005/index.aspx and will be linked to from parapsychology websites across the world.

Although these phenomena such as OBE & NDE are often been Experienced by Indian Yogis From Centuries, Anand says.

Regular Yoga Practice Help Prevent Middle-age Spread

2005-08-05T05:01:00.000+05:30

SEATTLE -- A new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that regular yoga practice may help prevent middle-age spread in normal-weight people and may promote weight loss in those who are overweight.The study -- the first of its kind to measure the effects of yoga on weight -- appears in the July/August issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the study involved 15,500 healthy, middle-aged men and women who were asked to complete a written survey recalling their physical activity (including yoga) and weight history between the ages 45 and 55. The study measured the impact of yoga with weight change, independent of other factors such as diet or other types of physical activity.The researchers found that between the ages of 45 and 55, most people gained about a pound a year, which is a common pattern as people age and do not adjust their caloric intake to their declining energy needs. "However, men and women who were of normal weight at age 45 and regularly practiced yoga gained about 3 fewer pounds during that 10-year period than those who didn't practice yoga," said Alan R. Kristal, Dr.P.H., the study's lead author. For the study, regular yoga practice was defined as practicing at least 30 minutes once a week for four or more years.But the researchers noted the greatest effect of regular yoga practice was among people who were overweight. "Men and women who were overweight and practiced yoga lost about 5 pounds, while those who did not practice yoga gained about 14 pounds in that 10-year period," said Kristal, a member of the Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences Division and a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine.
What accounts for yoga's apparent fat-fighting potential? Kristal, himself a longtime yoga student, suspects it has more to do with increased body awareness than the physical activity itself."During a very vigorous yoga practice you can burn enough calories to lose weight, but most people don't practice that kind of yoga," he said. "From my experience, I think it has to do with the way that yoga makes you more aware of your body. So when you've eaten enough food, you're sensitive to the feeling of being full, and this makes it much easier to stop eating before you've eaten too much."Study co-author Denise Benitez, owner of Seattle Yoga Arts, agrees. "Most people practice yoga in a way that's not aerobic enough to burn a lot of calories, so it has to be some other reason."One reason, she speculates, could be that yoga cultivates a form of gentle inner strength. "When we practice yoga, although it may look easy, there is some mild discomfort. You bring your body to a physical edge that's just a little bit challenging. And people who regularly practice yoga develop the inner resources to stay with a little bit of discomfort. They develop a softness inside and an ability to stay mindful. So that when you go home after yoga class and open up the fridge and see a chocolate cake, you have the resources to stay with the discomfort of not eating that chocolate cake." Whatever the reason behind the apparent impact of yoga on weight maintenance and loss, Kristal stresses that these findings need to be replicated."I think it's time now to do a carefully controlled, randomized clinical trial to see if adding yoga to a standard weight-loss program can help people lose more weight or keep it off longer. The other message, particularly to people who might be overweight, is that yoga is a noncompetitive activity. It's something that everybody can do. It brings so many benefits, and if one of the clinical benefits is that it can help you control your weight, then that's a great thing."The participants in the yoga study were part of a larger ongoing Hutchinson Center study involving more than 75,000 residents of western Washington called the Vitamins and Lifestyle, or VITAL, study. This $4.2 million project, which began in 2000, aims to determine whether vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements reduce tthe risk risk of cancer. More on.......................... Kaalchakra

Ancient Scientific Discoveries

2005-07-02T07:39:00.000+05:30

RAMA'S BRIDGE TO LANKA IS REAL (NASA PHOTOGRAPH FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY)
(12 May 2005) Hindustantimes.
In a startling discovery, archaeologists have found that a bridge - currently called Adam's Bridge - made of chain of shoals, c.18 miles (30 km) long, in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, is man made. Satellite images (courtesy of NASA Digital Image Collection) show that the bridge's unique curvature and composition by age indicate that it is almost certainly man made. The discovery ties in with the Hindu Mythology of 'The Ramayana' in which Rama builds a bridge between Rameshwaram (India) and Lanka to rescue his wife Sita who had been kidnapped by the evil Ravana.The legends as well as Archaeological studies reveal that the first signs of human inhabitants in Sri Lanka date back to the a primitive age, about 1,750,000 years ago and the bridge's age is also almost equivalent. This information is a crucial aspect for an insight into the legend of the Ramayana, which was supposed to have taken place in tretha yuga (more than 1,700,000 years ago). This information may not be of much importance to the archaeologists who are interested in exploring the origins of man, but it is sure to open the spiritual gates of the people of the world to have come to know an ancient history linked to the Indian mythology.

Reincarnation & Medical Technology

2005-06-14T11:07:00.000+05:30

A graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School, Brian L. Weiss M.D. is Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami. Dr. Weiss revealed with Art Bell in Coast to Coast AM what he found through medical technology - it is exactly what Hinduism has been saying for more than five thousand years.
In this astounding book, Same Soul, Many Bodies, Brian Weiss, one of the first doctors to explore the past lives of his patients as a means of therapy, reveals how past and present lives can affect our future lives, and how our future lives can transform us in the here and now.We have all lived past lives. All of us will live future ones. What we do in this life will influence our lives to come as we evolve toward immortality.

Dr. Weiss knows this is true because recently he has not only regressed his patients into the past, but has progressed them into the future. And what they have discovered is that our futures are variable, so the choices we make now will determine the quality of life when we return.
Using dozens of case histories, Dr. Weiss demonstrates the therapeutic benefits of progression, just as he has proved that journeys into our past lives can alleviate or cure our physical and emotional wounds in the present.This is a revolutionary book, building on Dr. Weiss's discoveries about the past, which will take his millions of readers into an individual and collective future which they themselves will create.In essence he really reiterated what Hinduism teaches since 3000 BC. According to Dr. Weiss, he understands what really happens after death and how souls keep coming back till they reach immortality.Shanti Devi was born (or perhaps more accurately stated, reborn) in Delhi in 1926. When she was four years old she made a startling declaration to her family: "This is not my real home! I have a husband and a son in Mathura! I must return to them!" The young girl was able to provide many details of her past life, including descriptions of her previous home and family in Mathura. At the prompting of Mahatma Gandhi, a team of researchers was put together to examine her claims. According to reincarnation expert Dr. Ian Stevenson, Shanti Devi's past life memories matched the facts uncovered by the panel's investigation. Swedish journalist, Sture Lonnerstrand, also looked into the case of Shanti Devi. After an extensive investigation he concluded, "This is the only fully explained and proven case of reincarnation there has been." Same Soul, Many Bodies is a revolutionary book, building on Dr. Weiss's discoveries about the past, a book that takes his millions of readers into an individual and collective future that they themselves create. In the process, their present lives is profoundly transformed, and they will find more peace, more joy, more healing. More On.... KALCHAKRA

Religious Practice May Slow Alzheimer's Progression

2005-05-05T06:09:00.000+05:30

Spirituality, Religious Practice May Slow ProgressionOf Alzheimer's DiseaseMIAMI BEACH -- Spirituality and the practice of religion may help slow the progression of Alzheimer'sdisease, according to research that will be presentedat the American Academy of Neurology 57th AnnualMeeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 -- 16, 2005. The study assessed 68 people aged 49 to 94 who metcriteria for probable Alzheimer's disease. Religiosityand spirituality were measured with the validated DukeUniversity Religion Index and the Overall Self-Rankingsubscale from the NIH/Fetzer Brief MultidimensionalMeasure of Religiousness/Spirituality. These methodscollected information on the patients' practices suchas attendance at religious events and private religious activities. "We learned that the patients with higher levels ofspirituality or higher levels of religiosity may havea significantly slower progression of cognitivedecline," said study author Yakir Kaufman, MD, whoconducted the research as a fellow at of the BaycrestCentre for Geriatric Care in Toronto, Ontario and isnow the director of neurology services at The SarahHerzog Memorial Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. "Spirituality and religiosity have been linked tobetter health outcomes," said Kaufman. "Our researchaddressed the question whether this link is alsorelevant in Alzheimer's disease." Spirituality and private religious practices accountedfor 20 percent of the total variance. Kaufman saidthat further studies are needed to better understandthe connection between religiosity and cognitivedecline. "These findings may warrant an interventional studylooking at the possible effect of enhancement ofspiritual well-being as a means of slowing cognitivedecline," said Kaufman. More On.......KAALCHAKRA

Science & Spirituality

2005-05-04T03:11:00.000+05:30

Science sheds more light on Spirituality. Economic Times. Monday, 4 2005. Berkeley physicist Charles Townes shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for fundamental work in quantum electronics based on the laser-maser principle.However, the distinguished scientist also shocks purists by saying that "advancing our understanding of spirituality is more important, ultimately, than physics." According to Townes, science is an effort to understand what the universe is made of and how it works. Religion, on the other hand, he says, is an attempt to understand the meaning and purpose of the universe. Understanding how the universe works should give us a good deal of information about whatis its purpose and meaning. "Thus, science sheds more and more light on spirituality," says the researcher who became the first Nobel laureate to win the John Templeton Prize for Progress toward Research about spiritual realities. The Duke of Edinburgh willpresent the $1.5 million award at Buckingham Palace on May 4 2005. What about the view that science and spirituality are polar opposites that cannot or should not meet? Doesn't it bother him? Townes responds by presenting a holistic view of faith. We usually associate faith only with religion and spirituality.However, even scientists would flounder without faith,he writes in his autobiography, Making Waves. "Faith is necessary for the scientist to even get started,and deep faith is necessary for him to carry out his task." Townes describes himself as a man of faith in three distinct senses: he has faith in the scientific method and in the continuing advance of science. Secondly,his life demonstrates a quiet yet profound religious faith. Less common than either of these convictions, he has a deep faith that science and religion will gradually converge in the future. He does not merely believe in the compatibility of science and religion. Repeatedly he has sought to convince scientists why it's crucial that they work together. I remember watching as he addressed an audience at the Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore. "Given these parallels, we should never treat these two great dimensions of the human spirit as fundamentally different or opposed. As our understanding of each increases, my own faith is they will increasingly grow together. If there's a purpose in the universe it must be related to structure and it determination (which is science)."
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