Science investigates Meditation benefits

Original post on CNN.com here:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/26/can-meditation-change-your-brain-contemplative-neuroscientists-believe-it-can/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss/cnn_living+(RSS:+Living

Science is finally beginning to 'validate' what people such as 
myself have been saying for thousands of years!  I think that is a 
great step forward for anyone who feels their empathic nature strongly 
enough to say 'I am empathic' or 'I am an Empath'.   All humans may 
say this, as we each open up to it.  As is - we're like the marines; 
the few, and the proud.   :)   That is not to say that 'we' will prove/ 
disprove everything we run into in life or the universe with 
science...  However science is our 'tool' to 'measure' the universe 
around us and everything in it.  Science doesn't 'have' to be the 
enemy of the unknown, it can be the champion instead if given the 
proper direction to investigate in! 

I for one am glad they are looking into this field and the benefits of
meditation for the human well-being (outside of just empathy) - this
isn't just a scientist going 'Hey I think these Meditating folks are
right, something is cooking in their noodle when they sit and think" -
this is actual scientific testing taking place that shows actual
changes in brainwave patterns which effect how we think and process -
and react.   Science 'has' identified the parts of the brain that are
active and control how and when we are feeling empathetic, this being
the Limbic system.  The Limbic system is a ring of closely connected
brain structures consisting of the Thalamus, Hypothalamus,
Hippocampus, and Amygdala.  Each controls a certain 'step' or
'portion' of the formation of Emotions - Empathy.  

I'm glad of my talent and happy to be able to identify it, I am proud
of it, and identify with others who feel the same. 

I'd like to take it a step further, and be able to 'explain' how it
works, why it works, how you can strengthen this ability - which is
what my post about Meditation is about.  My post was not intended to
say we cannot be compassionate or Empathetic without meditation, but
that the act 'of' meditation strengthens the areas of the brain that
'create' emotion and empathetic feelings.  Where we each take it from
there is up to us. 

If One says they are empathic - wouldn't One want to strengthen this
ability or get to know the causes/functions of said ability?  (Which
actually is a great step for some, as so many are ready to just 'turn
off' this ability and really 'don't' care for it, sadly..)  I can
transform a bush or small tree into a  bonsai - but I seek teachings
so that I do it well, and my trees live and flourish more and so that
I understand what my trees need (Generally they just tell me - but I
bet you know what I mean).  We go to school to educate our minds so
that we can 'do' more in our lives and understand more of the world
around us.    This is what I'm expressing about meditation and empathy
combined. 

The ability to use a skillset (meditation), to increase your mental
capacity 'for' empathy and mindful, calm, compassionate thinking.   :) 

Again, it's not for everyone (running or jogging is good for the body
as well - but I hate it!), however I do realize and accept the
benefits of One who jogs or runs and what that does for them - and
what it 'could' do for me if I got over my dislike, and did it.. (Good
luck there!)  :D 

Namaste', 

Chakras are Lightful 'black holes'?

I'm exploring a thought that came to me during an incredibly insightful meditative session earlier this week.  As I've said I love to mix spirituality with'reality' and that includes science, and technological discoveries.  21st Century shaman at work.

This idea came to me due to the many readings and video/audio descriptions I've heard over the past years of the Chakras and how they function.   Often when one has a chakra that is closed or clouded, many say it is 'out of alignment'.   The Chakras point in to our energetic spine,, except the crown which points 'up' (similar to a 'pole' on a gravity effected sphere).  This description led me to the idea of the chakras, being lightful 'black holes' that we learn to open and close, during chakra meditations and cleansing.  Their workings as I've felt myself and often heard described, are often as flowers opening, or fans turning on and off, or of round multi-doored portals opening and closing.  However always inward, and then, up at the crown.   The Root chakra, is explained as our anchor and connection to the ground and earth (gravity?).  So let me pull this into my 'black hole' thoughts.

With alignment of your chakras, you allow the breath of life and energy to flow in you effortlessly, to the point that most when finished meditating feel recharged, full of more energy and perception then before they began.    Pulling in all of this energy however, there is only so much we have a use for (sort of like taking vitamin C - you can 'overdose' on it, and your body will quickly 'flush' it out), and as I have gathered from my learnings, closing our chakras after meditative sessions is crucial to stop the release, of all the energy claimed and filtered/cleansed and also to stop unwanted energy from entering the chakras..  So with the chakras closed, where does the extra stored 'energy' possibly go that many seem to pick up during meditation?  Any material contained in a vessal effected by gravity has a natural state; it would find a point of exit from the container (us) it filled if possible.  Energy/light is indeed affected by gravity, could not this extra 'energy' circle within us at our chakra points looking for an exit?  Possibly extruded through the crown chakra at times (controlled or otherwise) - just as super-large black holes eject energy out of their poles?  Just as many express that their out of body experiences, begin with exiting their own body by 'rising up' from their being?

I had an experience early on in my meditative experiences, where I felt I wanted to leave my chakras open after I was done meditating.  It seemed a test had occured to me to 'perform' but at that time, I had no thoughts or understanding of how the chakras work as I do now..  I left them 'open' for near 3 weeks.  It was very stressful, by the end I felt truly overloaded and worn down.  When I meditated and closed them finally, I felt my entire being sigh with relief, and I could feel my levels of stress slowly lowering, just as floodwaters retreat after great storms.

So if chakras are lightful black hole points in our spiritual being, all 'aligned' inward with the crown pointing upwards out the energetic spine - this also extrapolates somewhat into how many describe the experience of 'out of body' travel, and how they first 'exit' their physical being.   Are these 'abilities' of out of body travel fueled by stored energy, that is given a focused exit instead of an 'ejected' mindful method versus that of a wild black hole shredding stars, gaining mass, and ejecting out it's poles forcefully?

With Meditation, practice, focused intent, can we 'control' and utilize this gained energy?  Have we just scratched the surface of what we can do with our minds in these 3D framework human form?

I say, Yes.