Astronaut Edgar Mitchell,
while in space on his way back from the moon, had an experience
of extra-temporal extra-spatial consciousness.
Upon return to earth, he pooled all his
resources and with the help of likeminded friends founded
an institute for the study of the phenomenon of consciousness.
This, the Institute of Noetic Sciences,
has a number of scientists engaged in various studies. One
of their landmark publications is the Bibliography of Scientific
Research in the Physiology and Psychology of Meditation.
Visit also www.noetic.org. The Institute has also done several
video interviews with Swami Veda Bharati. Finally, their
senior scientist Dr. Dean Radin (author of Conscious Universe)
had Swami Veda Bharati in their laboratory on 22nd September
2004.
Attached is his report on the laboratory
session.
Swami Veda Bharati’s Comments on
Dr. Dean Radin’s verification
of the experiments conducted with him at IONS
(1)
On the respiration rate of one breath per minute, the only
previously published report[1] is that about a Japanese
Yoga teacher whose respiration rate was found to be five
breaths per minute and it was considered [1]significant.
While it is true, as Dr. Radin had said during the laboratory
session, “only a person with a strong heart can maintain
such a rate of breathing”, on the other hand, one
who can reduce the respiratory rate to this degree can manage
to survive and “appear robust” through the changes
thereby introduced in the autonomic systems.
It will be a boon to heart patients if the “technique”
used by Swami Veda, a serious heart patient, could be verified
and taught widely.
(2)
The ancient texts like the Bhagavad-Gita and the Upanishads
speak of “action in inaction and inaction in action”,
or, that a Yogin “seeing he does not see, hearing
he does not hear” – and so forth. The oriental
martial arts including Zen archery are also an example of
the same principle where inner calm alone ensures the success
of a physical motion.
Based on the guidance in meditative practices received
from his Master, Swami Rama of the Himalayas, Swami Veda
Bharati has been teaching widely that one may remain in
silence while speaking or writing, and be in a state of
stillness while moving.
He explains this on the basis of the ancient yogis’,
and his own, observation of the mind and its processes.
He teaches that while the shallow surface of the mind may
remain turbulent (kshiptam and vi-kshiptam in the terms
of the Yoga-sutras), the deeper dimensions of the mind may
remain in a state of stillness. This is explained by the
analogy of the sea that is turbulent on the surface but
a few feet below is a deep silent world.
It is yet to be seen as to what might be demonstrated in
any possible studies to be conducted by the experts in modern
neurology and the anatomy of the brain of a meditative person
walking about in daily life. Would some areas of the brain
demonstrate a state of silence and stillness (alpha-theta-delta)
and other areas show signs of distraction (beta)? This is
for the objective science to test out.
It is known that the yogis do maintain such dual track,
but their statements can be dismissed as purely subjective.
Swami Veda himself has sometimes made this claim and was
keen to have it tested out.
That is where the item No. (2) of Dr. Radin’s testimony
comes in which shows that an outwardly non-meditative daily
life state may conceal a simultaneous meditative state,
as seen in the case of Swami Veda.
Further laboratory studies are needed to work out all the
variables and controls in a carefully designed research
protocol.
The research required is so extensive that it cannot be
undertaken in short, borrowed or rented, laboratory time.
The yogi needs to have his own laboratory where he works
in co-ordination with the scientists.
(3)
For the past one and a half years Swami Veda Bharati has
been conducting distant guided meditations for many hundreds
of meditators on all continents. They sit at a certain appointed
time on every Full Moon day.
The e-mails and letters received from the participants
are impressive but the experiences described can be dismissed
as purely subjective and as products of imagination.
Those who (sometimes up to 100000 people in a crowd) have
sat in meditation sessions guided by Swami Veda (but much
more powerfully so when guided by Swami Rama) have spoken
of a deep meditative field created during such sessions.
The items (3) and (4) in Dr. Radin’s report show
that it is possible for a meditation guide to create a coherent
field.
How distant from the meditation guide (a) a machine like
the random numbers generator, or (b) a person has to be
in order to come within the influence of such a field is
yet to be tested and demonstrated.
Swami Veda wishes to state that even though he was asked
to concentrate on the machine, he did not heed that request.
He only generated the field. Any incoherence whether of
(a) a machine or (b) a person’s or (c) an animal’s
mind could be caught in this field and would exhibit signs
of relative coherence. Again, further testing is required
to prove objectively what is known to the meditation guide
“subjectively”.
(4)
On Dr. Radin’s item No. 4 : a person was seated in
a soundproof room and, as described by Dr. Radin, Swami
Veda sitting in a different room was asked to concentrate
on the person’s video image that was flashed for ten
seconds at a time.
Swami Veda was left alone and was not being observed, so
this fact was not made known: He was not concentrating on
the image on the video screen. (1) For the first two times,
he looked at the video image for half a second only, and
then closed his eyes. (2) He found that as the video screen
lit up with the image each time, he could sense the light
with his eyes closed. This was his signal to concentrate
on the person.
The concentration was not on the video image but on the
mental image – without making any mental suggestion
as to whether or not any physiological, neurological or
psychological changes may occur in the person. It may be
said that just a ‘presence’ was projected.
That the changes did occur is a further proof of a field
of consciousness (as Swami Veda terms it) having been generated.
There, however, remains one more variable to consider.
The subject of concentration in the other room has been
meditating with Swami Veda for nearly six years. She is
(a) conditioned to his “field of consciousness”,
and (b) has certain accomplishments in meditation, as is
seen in the letter from her surgeon, attached.
Would a complete stranger (a) a meditator from a different
school, or (b) a non-meditator exhibit the same physiologically
measurable or a subjective response?
Many other questions remain, for example:
At what distance can such an effect occur? Can what happens
in an adjacent room happen to a person a mile away, a continent
away? Can specific physiological, neurological, psychological
states be triggered?
Once again, Dr. Radin’s statement proves that it
is worthwhile undertaking such studies in a more comprehensive
and detailed manner.
(5)
In our search for any records of:
(1) a conscious production of delta brain wave, and of
(2) such a brain wave even when the person is not apparently
meditating, there were only one or two examples of (1) and
none of (2).
It is therefore imperative that a comprehensive and exhaustive
research project be undertaken under the guidance and with
the laboratory participation of Swami Veda to complete the
work of his Master. For this, the means need to be provided
at the earliest possibility as Swami Veda is now 72.
(6)
So far all research in the area of meditation practices
has been conducted by scientists on meditators.
The research is piecemeal, testing some small area of the
vast field of meditative consciousness.
It is time to undertake a comprehensive programme of research
to include a vast range of interrelated practices in their
proper sequences.
And, for a change, this new research programme should be
guided by a meditation guide with the help of scientists
who will, of course, rigorously enforce the norms of scientific
methodology.
Hence the need for a research laboratory.
Linda’s Comments on experiment conducted with her
at IONS
(1)
On Dr. Radin’s item No. 4: a person was seated in
a soundproof room and, as described by Dr. Radin, Swami
Veda sitting in a different room was asked to concentrate
on the person’s video image that was flashed for ten
seconds at a time. As has been stated above, he did not
really concentrate on the video image, but only on a mental
image of the person. It may be noted that Linda was the
person in the soundproof room.
Linda was left alone and was being observed and video recorded.
She recorded the following subjective observations:
· She was asked to look at the video camera when/if
she felt the “ten-second periods” were occurring.
(1) For the first time only, with eyes closed, she tilted
her head slightly towards the video camera which was located
in the upper right corner of the room from Linda’s
position. (2) She stopped tilting her head after the first
time as she felt the movement was a distraction, and it
was unnecessary for Swami Veda to confirm her awareness
of his presence.
· She found that as the experiment occurred there
were periods she could sense a presence. The presence was
felt as a deep, calm, stillness. She likened the experience
to diving deep under the ocean water. As the experiment
went on, the stillness and silence deepened as if she were
diving into deeper, darker, quieter depths.
· Then at some point she could feel herself getting
quieter and quieter and then there were times when she felt
completely still and quiet. And it was like there were points
when she didn’t even feel the body.
· She felt her breathing rhythm slow and even felt
there were times her breath seemed to stop.
· The experiment lasted approximately 30 minutes,
but felt more like only a few minutes had passed.
Letter from Nasal Surgeon – Dr Gryskiewicz
March 30, 2005
Dear Swami Veda Bharati:
This letter is being written to verify that Linda M. Billau
underwent a surgical procedure on March 12, 2004. This nasal
surgery was done without general anesthesia at HealthSouth
Centennial Lakes Surgery Center in Edina, Minnesota. It
is very unusual to do nasal surgery without general or IV
sedation anesthesia. Only local anesthesia was used on Linda
Billau, which is extraordinary. She used special guided
yoga meditation during the surgery to offset the need for
general anesthesia. I have a great amount of respect for
Linda and her abilities. I understand that you are her instructor
and I give you my compliments.
Sincerely,
Joseph M. Gryskiewicz MD, FACS
Clinical Professor
University of Minnesota
Linda’s Comments on Dr. Gryskiewicz’s verification
of the nasal surgery conducted with/by him
(1)
On the special guided yoga meditation used during the surgery
to offset the need for general anesthesia, Linda listened
to Swami Veda Bharati’s Yoga Nidra[2] cassette tape.
(2)
Linda’s Pre-Surgery Preparations:
One-month prior to the surgery, Linda began preparing mentally.
2. For every fearful or negative thought that arose, Linda
practiced breath awareness and systematic relaxation and
then replaced the negative thought with a positive thought.
On the day of the surgery:
1. Linda arose and meditated using her personal mantra.
2. On the 1 ½ drive to the surgery center, Linda
practiced:
a. Diaphragmatic breath awareness
b. Systematic relaxation
c. Nadi Shodhanam
d. 61-points relaxation
e. Mantra recitation
f. Silence
3. At the surgery center (prior to surgery):
a. Spoke sparingly, only as needed to medical staff.
b. Practiced breath awareness, systematic relaxation and
mantra recitation.
4. In the surgery operating room:
a. Practiced breath awareness and systematic relaxation
as nurses attached heart rate and oxygen monitors.
b. After Dr. Gryskiewicz arrived, he instructed Linda that
she must not move during the surgery. As he began, Linda
started listening to Swami Veda’s Yoga-Nidra tape
on the portable tape recorder she brought with her into
the surgery suite. Her physical and mental sheaths relaxed
now, Swami Veda’s voice carried her deeper into a
still, quiet place--a place where she sensed everything
was going to be ok. She felt as if she were an observer
of the surgery and did not feel the body as the doctor performed
the surgery. She remembered hearing all the noises of what
he was doing but from a distant place. At this point she
felt she was no longer the “doer” - that the
relaxations and breath awareness allowed her to get out
of the way so that the Universal energy could flow through.
c. As Dr Gryskiewicz stated in his verification letter,
it is quite unusual to do nasal surgery without general
or IV sedation anesthesia.
5. After the surgery:
a. The monitors were removed and Linda got off the operating
table and went home. She didn’t feel any pain at any
point during or after the surgery.
Some Possible Pragmatic Benefits from this Research
The list of possible benefits below is not exhaustive and
is only an indicative one.
1. Cardiac Problems.
(A) While current experience may indicate that only a person
with a strong heart can maintain a respiratory rate of one
breath per minute, the hypothesis would be: a) this respiratory
rate indicates control over some parts of the autonomic
nervous system and b) in turn may help deepen such control.
Thereby, a heart patient may be able to regulate his/her
condition autonomically.
(B) One may also learn to survive and remain robust in
polluted or smoke-filled areas by requiring less oxygen.
2. Dual Consciousness.
(A) As the experiment with Swami Veda indicates, a person
may be active in ordinary life yet rest a major part of
his/her brain at the same time. This may serve:
a. as a tool for reducing the effects of stressful situations
and,
b. one may become less prone to negative emotions, like
anger, being triggered by external stimuli.
(B) In terms of conflict resolution, any negotiation will
not be confrontational, but cooperative.
(C) The level of exhaustion experienced through daily activity
will be greatly reduced and a person will:
a. revive faster from exhaustion and
b. heal quicker from illness or surgery, thus reducing
hospital and insurance costs.
(D) Even though many preparatory mental exercises are nowadays
termed Yoga-nidra, conscious sleep, the true Yoga-nidra,
is when delta brain waves are being produced consciously.
This is known to the Yogis as a tool for
a. quick conscious rest,
b. quick recovery from cardiac angina,
c. pacification of emotional disturbances,
d. alleviation of many impairments of gastric, intestinal,
and colonic systems,
e. as a quick learning tool[3].
3. Reducing Anesthesia. Linda’s experience indicates
that it may be possible to let a patient undergo surgery
at least up to a certain level where anesthesia is counter-indicated.
In such cases, the patient will have to be extensively tested
for his or her mastery of the mental technique.
4. Distant healing.
(A) This sounds like another scientifically unproved ‘new
age’ phenomenon. However, the fact that in laboratory
experiments, Swami Veda Bharati’s concentration on
a person in another room changed the latter’s cardiac
and respiratory rates indicates that it is an area of research
worth pursuing.
(B) It may also become helpful for astronauts and others
in similar situations.
These are only suggestions of some possible benefits and
there are many other hypotheses (which Yogis claim to be
experiential facts) that need to be tested.
It is worth remembering that what may be proved in a scientific
laboratory situation may then require more extensive planning
for practical applications in training a large number of
the population to be able to experience the benefits universally.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Physiological Correlates of Kundalini Yoga Meditation:
A Study of a Yoga Master By Pete Arambula, Erik Peper, Mitsumasa
Kawakami and Katherine Hughes Gibney
[2] This is part of the process by which Swami Veda Bharati
follows to produce conscious delta brain waves.
[3] Swami Veda Bharati is known to have learned to speak
English fluently by applying this technique. He also used
the technique to learn to speak Italian in one night.
Research Laboratory at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama
Rishikesh
Swami Veda Bharati would like to complete a small part
of the work of his Master, Swami Rama of the Himalayas.
For this reason, he now has a mental image of a research
laboratory at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG).
The rationale for establishing such a laboratory is indicated
in the attached pages.
The laboratory will require
· A small building (already set aside for the purpose
at SRSG),
· To be renovated to serve the purpose of a lab,
such as soundproofing, installing appropriate electric connections
etc.
· Computers and software,
· Funding for continued work,
· Fees for a senior scientist to create the research
design and supervise its execution by –
· Two trained technicians.
· Secretary to maintain records.
The kind of electronic equipment needed, and the funding
required, is being researched. It is hoped that the work
will begin with simple tools of investigation, such as the
most sensitive EEG equipment. Slowly more ambitious projects
will be undertaken in order to measure the psychological
and physiological correlates of changes in consciousness.
Start up funding needed (guesstimate) could be in the vicinity
of $1,000,000.00 plus the scientist’s fees, technicians’
and the secretary’s salaries.
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