The Chardinian Noosphere and Chicken Salad
We used to operate a small coffee and sandwich shop. We offered nine different kinds of sandwiches, all of which are roughly equally popular. One day my daughter reported to me that is seemed everyone who came in ordered a chicken salad sandwich. Why did on this one day chicken salad more than triple in popularity? The common vernacular answer is “There is something in the air.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jesuit priest and philosopher, might say, “Yes, there is something in the air, and it is the collective consciousness.”
Chardin's theory was that there is a collective consciousness emanating from the interaction of human minds. This collective consciousness, he called the noosphere (from the Greek word for mind, nous). The noosphere is evolving and integrating with conscious human though until it reaches total integration which he called the Omega point.
This may seem like pretty far out stuff, but why is it that sometimes everyone seems to get the same idea? Is the collective consciousness whispering in people’s ears, “Eat chicken salad today.”?
Attitude is Contagious
Have you ever been in a room with friends, having a pleasant discussion, when in walks a newcomer? Sometimes the newcomer is ridiculously happy and excited. Perhaps everyone laughs at first, but as the newcomer shares his excitement, soon the spirits of everyone in the room are lifted. At other times the newcomer may be despondent and depressed. Soon people begin to leave because of the uneasiness everyone is feeling. There is a collective consciousness of everyone in the room. The introduction of a newcomer can affect that consciousness either positively or negatively. Either way, soon everyone is feeling it.
Collective Consciousness on a National Scale
The history of America is the history of dissenters. From the Federalist Papers to Henry David Thoreau to John Reed, America has prided herself in her dissenters. These dissenters usually develop a following, but are generally forgotten except in the halls of academia. But in 1968 America was reshaped by the voice of dissention.
The early 60’s were as American as apple pie. Popular music was dominated by folk songs sung by clean cut young men like the Kingston Trio and The Brothers Four. But in 1968 everything changed. Why did previous dissenters have to settle for a small following, while in 1968 there were so many dissenting voices that it became a chorus of dissent that changed the direction of the country forever. It was something in the air.
Prayer, meditation and visualization are ways of putting something into the air. It joins the noosphere of collective consciousness and rejoins the world of tangible reality, sometimes in very dramatic ways.
Several business leaders are discovering the power of meditation to enhance imagination and focus in business decisions. Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, requires that his executives meditate three times a day. Thomas Edison, perhaps the greatest inventor of the previous century, had developed a very advanced meditation technique. He was known to say that when he was faced with a particularly difficult and complex problem, he would put himself into a form of trance - and stay there until the solution presented itself.
What he was doing was getting his conscious mind out of the way, and allowing his subconscious mind to work on the problem.
Be sure to follow the blog so you don't miss Meditation Part 3.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Meditation
This is the first post in a new series about meditation. If you follow this blog, you will be emailed about future posts on the subject.
Meditation has long been the domain of religion and spirituality. Every religion practices its own form of meditation. Catholics use the rosary as a meditation guide to help them focus on events in the life of Christ. Zen Buddhist monks practice zazen which is a meditation on the unity of body, breath and mind - and ultimately of all things. Protestants meditate on the Bible reciting Bible verses several times, each time emphasizing a different word allowing the full meaning of the text to sink in. Sometimes religious groups believe they have discovered the right way to meditate. In my opinion, there is no wrong way to meditate. In fact, meditation has left the confines of sanctuary and monastery and found its way into sports and even business.
I define meditation very broadly as any mental exercise that incorporates breathing, relaxation, and focus. This practice has made its way into sports under the term, visualization. Visualization is a type of meditation that incorporates relaxation and focus on such visual concepts as the perfect golf swing, the perfect swim stroke, or just plain winning. Many Olympic athletes take time each day to relax and focus on receiving the gold medal. Does it work?
The 1980 Soviet Olympic Team
In 1980, the Soviets conducted a visualization experiment. They divided the athletes into four groups. The first group practiced as usual. The second group devoted 25% of their practice time to visualization. The third group devoted 50% of their practice time to visualization. The fourth group devoted 75% of their practice time to visualization. At the 1980 Olympics, the group that spent 75% of their time practicing physically and devoted 25% of their practice time to visualization won the most medals.
The moral to that story is simple. Visualization works, but it is no substitute for practice. Visualization can enhance and empower practice sessions, but not replace them.
The DC Experiment
John Hagelin hypothesized that if enough people meditated in a city, they could measurably reduce the crime rate. In 1993, an experiment was conducted in the nation’s capital. About 500 people gathered in Washington DC and began meditating toward the specific purpose of reducing the crime rate in the city. At the end of 4 weeks, the crime rate had dropped about 2%. Then there was a marked increase in the number of individuals meditating. By the end of the eighth week, there were almost 4,000 people gathering and mediating. By the end of the 2 month experiment, the crime rate had dropped 23 %.
Clinical Trials
There have been a few clinical trials on the effects of intercessory prayer (a form of meditation) in the treatment of disease. In 1988 the Southern Medical Journal reported a significant better recovery of heart patients that received intercessory prayer as part of their therapy. A similar study with rheumatoid arthritis patients was published in 2000 in the same journal. Again, patients who received in person intercessory prayer had significantly improved recoveries.
To some, measurable results from prayer, meditation and visualization seems spooky and mysterious. There is really nothing mysterious about it. Mind, body and spirit are interconnected. We have all experienced how strengthening the body gives strength to the mind and spirit. Illness that affects the body, can also affect the mind and spirit. Why must we start with the body? Doesn’t it stand to reason that if we strengthen the spirit, the body and mind will follow?
More to come later. Don't forget to follow the blog.
Meditation has long been the domain of religion and spirituality. Every religion practices its own form of meditation. Catholics use the rosary as a meditation guide to help them focus on events in the life of Christ. Zen Buddhist monks practice zazen which is a meditation on the unity of body, breath and mind - and ultimately of all things. Protestants meditate on the Bible reciting Bible verses several times, each time emphasizing a different word allowing the full meaning of the text to sink in. Sometimes religious groups believe they have discovered the right way to meditate. In my opinion, there is no wrong way to meditate. In fact, meditation has left the confines of sanctuary and monastery and found its way into sports and even business.
I define meditation very broadly as any mental exercise that incorporates breathing, relaxation, and focus. This practice has made its way into sports under the term, visualization. Visualization is a type of meditation that incorporates relaxation and focus on such visual concepts as the perfect golf swing, the perfect swim stroke, or just plain winning. Many Olympic athletes take time each day to relax and focus on receiving the gold medal. Does it work?
The 1980 Soviet Olympic Team
In 1980, the Soviets conducted a visualization experiment. They divided the athletes into four groups. The first group practiced as usual. The second group devoted 25% of their practice time to visualization. The third group devoted 50% of their practice time to visualization. The fourth group devoted 75% of their practice time to visualization. At the 1980 Olympics, the group that spent 75% of their time practicing physically and devoted 25% of their practice time to visualization won the most medals.
The moral to that story is simple. Visualization works, but it is no substitute for practice. Visualization can enhance and empower practice sessions, but not replace them.
The DC Experiment
John Hagelin hypothesized that if enough people meditated in a city, they could measurably reduce the crime rate. In 1993, an experiment was conducted in the nation’s capital. About 500 people gathered in Washington DC and began meditating toward the specific purpose of reducing the crime rate in the city. At the end of 4 weeks, the crime rate had dropped about 2%. Then there was a marked increase in the number of individuals meditating. By the end of the eighth week, there were almost 4,000 people gathering and mediating. By the end of the 2 month experiment, the crime rate had dropped 23 %.
Clinical Trials
There have been a few clinical trials on the effects of intercessory prayer (a form of meditation) in the treatment of disease. In 1988 the Southern Medical Journal reported a significant better recovery of heart patients that received intercessory prayer as part of their therapy. A similar study with rheumatoid arthritis patients was published in 2000 in the same journal. Again, patients who received in person intercessory prayer had significantly improved recoveries.
To some, measurable results from prayer, meditation and visualization seems spooky and mysterious. There is really nothing mysterious about it. Mind, body and spirit are interconnected. We have all experienced how strengthening the body gives strength to the mind and spirit. Illness that affects the body, can also affect the mind and spirit. Why must we start with the body? Doesn’t it stand to reason that if we strengthen the spirit, the body and mind will follow?
More to come later. Don't forget to follow the blog.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Feed Your Brain
I don't know if you think about your brain very often, but you should. Your brain is very important to you. It is, after all, responsible for making the decision about whether or not to make an investment, start a new business, or marry someone you care about. Ultimately, your brain is going to determine whether you succeed or fail in life. That being said, perhaps you should consider how to take better care of it.
Your brain is the central control unit of your life. It weighs just over 3 pounds, but consumes 1/5th of the oxygen you breathe, 1/4th of your blood flow, and 1/3rd of your water intake. Those are not just meaningless trivia. Oxygen, blood flow and water fuel your brain, and you can actually improve brain function by increasing oxygen, blood flow and water.
1 - Improve hydration of your brain by drinking enough water.
Most people do not have adequate fluid intake. According to the Mayo Clinic recommended water intake varies according to a number of factors including general health, gender, activity level, etc. However, on average a female requires about nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day. The average male requires about thirteen 8-ounce glasses each day. Other fluids count towards total fluid intake. However, diuretics, like coffee, count for less than a full cup.
You may have never noticed subtle improvements in your thought processes on days you are fully hydrated, but you have probably noticed the inverse. If someone is acting stupid, people often say, "They must have been in the sun too long." If you have ever spent a good deal of time out of doors in the sun without proper hydration you have probably experienced headaches and deterioration of clear thought. The same can happen indoors in a dry environment, but it generally takes longer.
2 - Increase blood flow to your brain with aerobic exercise.
Research has shown that regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain. It has long been known that exercise improves attitude and promotes emotional stability. This is due to the increase of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and other neuro chemicals. Studies in the US and Europe have clearly established that the same exercise that is good for your heart also improves motor function, auditory attention, and memory. One study of students demonstrated that aerobic exercise was related to scholastic success in reading and math.
Everyone who can move should perform 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Start where you are. Build slowly. You don't have to run a marathon, just get your heart pumping and your blood flowing. You will not only start to think better, you will live longer - not a bad side benefit.
3 - Increase oxygen flow to your brain with regular deep breathing.
Deep breathing exercise is a fundamental part of many religions as well as exercise programs. Navy Seals, chess masters, and the Blue Angels have all developed specialized breathing techniques to improve brain oxygen levels in high stress environments.
I practice deep breathing in conjunction with meditation each morning as I plan my day. I alternate between upper breathing, which improves imagination and creativity, and lower breathing, which improves peacefulness and well being.
Your life is a series of decisions made in your brain. Feed your brain so you will be equipped to make good ones.
Your brain is the central control unit of your life. It weighs just over 3 pounds, but consumes 1/5th of the oxygen you breathe, 1/4th of your blood flow, and 1/3rd of your water intake. Those are not just meaningless trivia. Oxygen, blood flow and water fuel your brain, and you can actually improve brain function by increasing oxygen, blood flow and water.
1 - Improve hydration of your brain by drinking enough water.
Most people do not have adequate fluid intake. According to the Mayo Clinic recommended water intake varies according to a number of factors including general health, gender, activity level, etc. However, on average a female requires about nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day. The average male requires about thirteen 8-ounce glasses each day. Other fluids count towards total fluid intake. However, diuretics, like coffee, count for less than a full cup.
You may have never noticed subtle improvements in your thought processes on days you are fully hydrated, but you have probably noticed the inverse. If someone is acting stupid, people often say, "They must have been in the sun too long." If you have ever spent a good deal of time out of doors in the sun without proper hydration you have probably experienced headaches and deterioration of clear thought. The same can happen indoors in a dry environment, but it generally takes longer.
2 - Increase blood flow to your brain with aerobic exercise.
Research has shown that regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain. It has long been known that exercise improves attitude and promotes emotional stability. This is due to the increase of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and other neuro chemicals. Studies in the US and Europe have clearly established that the same exercise that is good for your heart also improves motor function, auditory attention, and memory. One study of students demonstrated that aerobic exercise was related to scholastic success in reading and math.
Everyone who can move should perform 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Start where you are. Build slowly. You don't have to run a marathon, just get your heart pumping and your blood flowing. You will not only start to think better, you will live longer - not a bad side benefit.
3 - Increase oxygen flow to your brain with regular deep breathing.
Deep breathing exercise is a fundamental part of many religions as well as exercise programs. Navy Seals, chess masters, and the Blue Angels have all developed specialized breathing techniques to improve brain oxygen levels in high stress environments.
I practice deep breathing in conjunction with meditation each morning as I plan my day. I alternate between upper breathing, which improves imagination and creativity, and lower breathing, which improves peacefulness and well being.
Your life is a series of decisions made in your brain. Feed your brain so you will be equipped to make good ones.
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