| By now you may have heard about the startling | | | | to not mediate. They call them the 4 traps or nooses: |
| breakthroughs in brain science that have turned our | | | | sam, dam, dand and bhed. |
| ideas about how the brain works upside down. For | | | | The more we understand these nooses the greater |
| years we were told that we were born with all the | | | | our chances of finding a few minutes a day to |
| brain cells we would ever have. If we lost one it was | | | | meditate.o Noose #1: Denial |
| gone and would never be replaced. Wrong! | | | | The first noose, sam, is denial. We wake up in the |
| Exciting New Breakthroughs in Brain Science | | | | morning intending to meditate when the thoughts start. |
| In the last few years as brain imagery studies became | | | | "It is not a big deal... I can skip it today... I can always |
| available scientists have made a startling discovery. | | | | start it tomorrow." Denial is a powerful strategy. It will |
| Our central nervous system is actually very flexible | | | | justify procrastinating of anything new and deny the |
| and dynamic. New neurons are being created all the | | | | importance of the undertaking.o Noose #2: Bargaining |
| time and our brain is in a constant frenzy of | | | | With discipline we fight back inching our way toward |
| connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting at an | | | | the cushion when the second noose, dam, arises from |
| impressive speed. Even more startling is that our | | | | the mind. This time the brain tries to maintain control |
| thoughts and behavior have a rapid and direct impact | | | | and distract us from mediation by offering up |
| on brain structure. One impressive study with | | | | something better to do. You make a promise to |
| Alzheimer's patients showed that memory was | | | | yourself to meditate the next morning. You set the |
| significantly improved in 8 weeks by mediating 12 | | | | alarm and go to bed. When the alarm rings, the |
| minutes a day. Further when the patients' brain was | | | | suggestion will come: "It is still early... I am having such a |
| examined at the end of the study the images showed | | | | good sleep... a little longer sleep won't hurt..." Somehow |
| increased activity and enhancement of brain structures | | | | you are able to work through this hurdle and get out of |
| that function in memory recall and information access. | | | | the bed and sit down to meditate. Then another option |
| These are astounding findings and take the body mind | | | | will be hurled at you. "It is such a nice morning; I could |
| connection to a whole new level! It also demonstrates | | | | go for a nice walk instead... I will be doing exercise at |
| the profound impact that mediation can have on our | | | | the same time... it will be much better than trying to sit |
| well being. | | | | here with my eyes closed. " Remember the brain is |
| For a millennium ancient traditions have used meditation | | | | protecting the status quo and the last thing it wants is |
| and contemplation to enhance spiritual growth and | | | | for you to sit on that meditation cushion and try to still |
| quicken enlightenment, particularly in the east. We've | | | | it.o Noose #3 Fear |
| also known for decades about the health benefits of | | | | If you are able to ignore the second trap and continue |
| mediation: that it can boost the immune response; | | | | to sit to meditate, the third trap, dand, will be flung at |
| lower stress, anxiety and depression; and even slows | | | | you. Your mind will come up with fearful thoughts. "Did I |
| down the effects of aging. Now we are finding out | | | | leave the stove on?... I don't have time to meditate |
| that these profound impacts of mediation comes from | | | | today. I must make that important call now or I will miss |
| its ability to change brain structure in ways that | | | | out... My legs are uncomfortable this can't be good for |
| enhance cognitive function and accelerate our spiritual | | | | them." There are endless variations of fear that can |
| evolution. If there weren't enough reasons to meditate | | | | appear and try to get you away from your |
| before there sure are now! | | | | meditation.o Noose #4: Separation |
| Yet why do we still resist? Why is it so difficult to | | | | If you're actually able to get past the first three traps |
| carve our 20 minutes a day when we know what an | | | | and continue your meditation you'll encounter, the last |
| incredible effect it can have on the remaining 23 hours | | | | and most powerful noose, bhed, or separation. In order |
| and 40 minutes? One reason is that our brains spend | | | | to trap you with this tactic the mind will suggest |
| decades forming a stable personality that allows it to | | | | thoughts like, "Meditation is not for me, I am different... I |
| go about its day-to-day life to optimize survival. It | | | | am unique...I've tried mediation and it doesn't work for |
| doesn't want to give up control. After all survival is | | | | me... I am a certain body type (personality type or |
| more important that optimal health and well being so | | | | astrological sign)... this is not for me, it is for somebody |
| why take the chance. Maintaining the status quo is a | | | | who is different than me... I am special or I don't |
| safe bet. | | | | deserve it... I am too old for it." You name it; the |
| Old habits are hard to break. Biologically, old circuits | | | | suggestions come in many disguises. |
| don't disappear and it takes a lot of energy to | | | | Many of us fall into these traps. We are effectively |
| rearrange the brains wiring, grow new synapse and | | | | deprived of the spiritual growth and health benefits of |
| create new neurons. Disruption of old patterns causes | | | | meditation for a lifetime. What can we do to not be |
| anxiety through the limbic system which is the part of | | | | snared by the nooses? We can stay aware of these |
| the more primitive area of the brain and isn't as | | | | four nooses; identify them as the thoughts arise: "Oh, |
| malleable as the more recently evolved frontal lobes | | | | denial is coming to me this morning." Call them out for |
| that scientist are finding so easily altered by meditation. | | | | what they are as they arise and move toward that |
| The limbic system instills fear and uncertainty and | | | | cushion to in making mediation a habit. Over time and |
| causes old patterns of behavior to keep rising to the | | | | with repetition the brain will befriend the process and a |
| surface. | | | | new habit -of meditation practice- is instilled. |
| The Reasons Not To Mediate: The Four Nooses | | | | Even then it's easy to break the habit and fall back to |
| The reason it is so difficult to mediate or do anything | | | | the old neuronal circuitry so don't let your guard down. |
| new that challenges the status quo of the brain is that | | | | Beware of the four nooses! Use this knowledge |
| the older fear ridden limbic system doesn't like change. | | | | protect yourself from thoughts created by the brain to |
| Hindu monks and gurus have observed this behavior in | | | | keep control. Make mediation a daily habit and watch |
| themselves and their students for centuries. From their | | | | how quickly it will change your health, values and |
| understanding of our nature they have identified the | | | | emotional life. |
| four reasons that the mind consistently comes up with | | | | |