ബ്രഹ്മാനന്ദരഹസ്യം | Neurobiology of Mystical Experience | Dr C Viswanathan

ബ്രഹ്മാനന്ദരഹസ്യം | Neurobiology of Mystical Experience | Dr C Viswanathan .Delivered on 25.12.2017 at the Swathanthralokam 2017 Seminar, Malappuram, Kerala. This presentation begins with an introduction giving two reasons why a scientific study of the mystical experience is important now.: (1) The Brahminic world view derives its ultimate epistemic authority from the mystical experience of ancient 'rishi's.As part of the enlightenment style critique of religious reason, we need to examine the biologic explanation for this 'experience' (2) In recent times, "spirituality without religion" is gaining wide popularity, even among atheists. This idea too is based primarily on the very same experience, derived through meditation and described as 'mystic' in other circles.
In the first part, the neurobiological mechanism behind the sense of 'self' is examined in some detail. The function of the left and right orientation association areas (OAA) of brain is explained. The neurobiological insights provided by the 'rubber hand illusion' , various experiments at Henrik Ehrsson's lab, and Olaf Blanke's observations about out of body experiences are also discussed.

In the second part, neurobiology of rituals is explained. By showing how mood shifting rhythmic behaviours like singing dancing , running, having sex etc; affect sympathetic system, and ultimately OAAs, the concept of a "unitary continuum" (Newberg) is introduced. As Newberg has explained, " these religious experiences exist along the same neurological continuum, and like all nonspiritual unitary states, their intensity is determined by the degree to which the orientation area is blocked from neural flow"

However, total 'deafferentation' of OAA is seldom achievable through rituals, and this is attained through recruitment of attention association areas in brain, during the practice known as 'meditation'. This would be discussed in a later presentation.

Видео ബ്രഹ്മാനന്ദരഹസ്യം | Neurobiology of Mystical Experience | Dr C Viswanathan канала Kerala Freethinkers Forum - kftf