Saturday, 22 August 2009

• Meditation and the Brain

  According to an article on Reuters, meditation has an important role on the believer and his brain. “Brain scanners show that intense meditation alters our gray matter, strengthening regions that focus the mind and foster compassion while calming those linked to fear and anger.” The meditator, however, can be anyone with any beliefs because the meditation can teach a growth in compassion and help decline negative feelings.

   

  This is stemming from Neurotheology which is a study of the brain’s role in religious belief. Research showed that short prayers leave little trace on the brain. Meditation leaves a larger trace because it is more intense. Meditation and religious experiences set off neurons in different parts of the brain which in turn stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain. The article states that “even 10 to 15 minutes of meditation appear to have significantly positive effects on cognition, relaxation and psychological health."

   

  After reading the article, it reminded me of this verse.

   

  Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

   

  Maybe there is more to word “meditate” in the verse then what I originally thought.

   

  What are your thoughts? Have you ever spent longer periods of time in meditation about your faith?

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