2) Thalamus / Enlightenment Experience
When Andrew (Andrew Newberg University of Pennsylvania) ran fMRI scans on his own enlightenment experience, a sense of unity occurred with decreased activity in the parietal lobe. This agrees with much work on the Default Mode Network (DMN) by many researchers that identified it as a/the source of the sense of “self and other” where decreased activity creates an experience of "All is One".
Andrew’s scans also showed decreased frontal lobe activity, consistent with DMN studies. He did this by manipulating his “thoughts and intentions and the use of movement, sound and breathing”, a favored approach in his research and practices.
When Andrew (Andrew Newberg University of Pennsylvania) ran fMRI scans on his own enlightenment experience, a sense of unity occurred with decreased activity in the parietal lobe. This agrees with much work on the Default Mode Network (DMN) by many researchers that identified it as a/the source of the sense of “self and other” where decreased activity creates an experience of "All is One".
Andrew’s scans also showed decreased frontal lobe activity, consistent with DMN studies. He did this by manipulating his “thoughts and intentions and the use of movement, sound and breathing”, a favored approach in his research and practices.
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Default Mode Network Frontal (MPFC) and Parietal (PCC) Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) Medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) |
Andrew found that “Enlightenment is ‘real’”, and “there is something very powerful going on inside the brain” which has powerful, positive outcomes. He defined two types of enlightenment experiences; “E” which radically, permanently, transforms our beliefs and values and “e” which is a sudden understanding “aha” moment.
Importantly, Andrew claims that his work and that of hundreds of years of collective research from others showed that every “e” and “E” experience produces long term changes in how we perceive reality and changes the brain centers and improves brain functioning. (This is what it “feels” like happens, and texts like the Bhagavad Gita say, but it is difficult to prove.)
Andrew found five common elements, with large individual variation, in these “E”/Enlightenment experiences:
a. Unity, connectedness, loss of individual “self/I”
b. Incredible intensity
c. Clarity and a new fundamental understanding
d. Surrender and loss of control
e. Beliefs, life, and purpose suddenly and permanently changed
Importantly, Andrew claims that his work and that of hundreds of years of collective research from others showed that every “e” and “E” experience produces long term changes in how we perceive reality and changes the brain centers and improves brain functioning. (This is what it “feels” like happens, and texts like the Bhagavad Gita say, but it is difficult to prove.)
Andrew found five common elements, with large individual variation, in these “E”/Enlightenment experiences:
a. Unity, connectedness, loss of individual “self/I”
b. Incredible intensity
c. Clarity and a new fundamental understanding
d. Surrender and loss of control
e. Beliefs, life, and purpose suddenly and permanently changed
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Thalamus |
A sixth element was nearly unanimous - “E” experiences were extraordinarily “real”, even more real than everyday reality, (because they are) even looked at years later. This sense arises from "significant changes" in the thalamus, where sensory information is processed and brain communication coordinated. This lessened worries, fears and suffering.
Source: What is an "E(e)nlightenment experience?"...a new scientific, secular model
Source: What is an "E(e)nlightenment experience?"...a new scientific, secular model