Meditation's Altered State Of Consciousness: A How And Why Guide

Meditation is an ancient practice that has been used for millennia to achieve altered states of consciousness. An altered state of consciousness (ASC) is any mental state that significantly differs from a normal waking state, often induced by physiological, psychological, or pharmacological means. While the use of psychoactive drugs is a common method of achieving ASCs, meditation provides a safer alternative that can lead to similar or even more profound changes in consciousness.

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in various Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and has more recently been adopted in Western cultures through practices like yoga, Zen, and Transcendental Meditation. The technique involves focusing on something specific, such as an object, a word, or one's breathing, while ignoring external distractions and achieving a state of relaxation and well-being.

Research has shown that meditation can induce ASCs, with 45% of respondents in a study reporting that they had experienced non-pharmacologically induced ASCs through meditation at least once in their lives. These experiences can include a range of sensations, from derealization and unitive experiences to out-of-body sensations and perceptions of non-physical lights. While these experiences often lead to positive outcomes, a significant minority of individuals also report negative or even life-threatening suffering, highlighting the need for better support and understanding of these states.

Meditation is a powerful tool that can lead to deep relaxation and altered states of consciousness. However, it is important to approach it with caution and ensure that it is taught and practiced safely, as the potential for negative outcomes exists alongside the possibility of positive transformation.

Meditation is a safe way to alter consciousness without drugs

Meditation is a practice that has been used for thousands of years in various forms and traditions. It is a technique that involves focusing on something specific, such as an object, a word, or one's breathing, with the goal of ignoring external distractions and achieving a state of relaxation and well-being. This state of focused attention is known as a trance, and it is this state that alters the consciousness of the meditator.

Research has found that regular meditation can have positive physiological and psychological effects. It has been shown to reduce stress and depression, promote well-being, and assist in controlling blood pressure. Meditation has also been found to induce an altered state of consciousness, with brain imaging studies revealing that experienced meditators in a meditative state have more prominent alpha and theta waves. Additionally, studies have shown declines in heart rate, skin conductance, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide elimination during meditation, indicating a more relaxed physiological state.

Meditation is a safe and effective way to alter consciousness without the use of drugs. Unlike psychoactive substances, which can easily and profoundly change our consciousness, meditation is a natural and drug-free way to achieve altered states of consciousness. While meditation can lead to unusual and challenging experiences, it is a safe practice that can be done by anyone. However, it is important to note that a significant minority of people who meditate may experience negative or even life-threatening effects, and better support and understanding of these experiences are needed.

In conclusion, meditation is a powerful tool for altering consciousness without drugs. It is a safe and accessible practice that has been shown to have many positive effects on mental and physical health. By focusing the mind and achieving a trance-like state, meditation can lead to altered states of consciousness that differ from our normal waking state. While meditation is generally considered safe, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and to seek guidance from experienced teachers to ensure a safe and beneficial practice.

The practice can lead to a higher spiritual state

Meditation is an ancient practice that has been used by various Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism to attain a higher spiritual state. In modern times, it has been rediscovered by psychology due to its therapeutic potential and ability to calm the mind.

Meditation is a technique that involves focusing on something specific, such as an object, a word, or one's breathing, with the goal of ignoring external distractions and achieving internal relaxation and well-being. It is a safe and simple activity that can be easily practised by anyone. During meditation, individuals aim to attain a state of relaxation and altered consciousness by ignoring external distractions and focusing on their internal state.

Research has shown that regular meditation can have positive physiological and psychological effects. It can help mediate the effects of stress and depression, promote well-being, and assist in controlling blood pressure. Brain imaging studies have indicated that meditation can induce an altered state of consciousness, with experienced meditators exhibiting more prominent alpha and theta waves. Additionally, studies have shown declines in heart rate, skin conductance, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide elimination during meditation, suggesting that the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is suppressed, leading to a more relaxed physiological state.

Meditation has also been associated with unusual experiences and enhanced psychic or psi abilities. Some people report precognition, telepathy, clairvoyance, synchronicity, memories of past lives, out-of-body experiences, and other exceptional experiences during or around their meditation sessions. These experiences are often comforting and healing, providing individuals with a sense of unity or "oneness" with the world around them.

In conclusion, the practice of meditation can lead to a higher spiritual state by calming and relaxing the mind, improving physiological and psychological well-being, and providing individuals with unique and transformative experiences. It is a powerful tool that has been used for thousands of years to attain a deeper connection with oneself and the surrounding world.

It can cause unusual experiences, such as out-of-body sensations

Meditation is considered an altered state of consciousness. An altered state of consciousness is a change in one's normal mental state, and it can be induced through meditation, as well as trauma, accident, drugs, and certain foods.

Meditation can cause unusual experiences, such as out-of-body sensations. Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are reported by approximately 15% of the general population at some point in their lives, and they also occur in 65% of persons who come close to death and survive. While most OBEs are spontaneous, a small number of people claim to be able to have these experiences voluntarily.

During meditation, some people report having out-of-body experiences where they feel located in space away from their physical body. This can be a liberating sensation. However, if one is sitting up during meditation and their physical body slumps, it can bring them back to their body very rapidly. This is why conscious, intentional OBEs are usually done with the body in a horizontal position.

Some people also report having out-of-body experiences while floating in a sensory reduction tank, which is a form of floating in a highly saline solution that allows one to float effortlessly without muscle tension. The water is as warm as the skin, pitch dark, and silent. In this environment, without any cues to determine one's bodily position, small inhalations that increase buoyancy can generate an incredible feeling of ascending, as if being beamed up into a UFO. Similarly, exhalations that reduce buoyancy can create a sensation of descending into an abyss.

In addition to OBEs, other unusual experiences during meditation can include precognition, telepathy, clairvoyance, synchronicity, and memories of past lives. These experiences are not well understood and require further investigation.

Meditation can be used to treat anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are characterised by excessive fear and worrying about future threats, which can have negative behavioural and emotional consequences. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a diagnosable condition that tends to persist for long periods. It is characterised by a "persistent and excessive worry" where individuals can lose rational perspective and "expect the worst even when there is no apparent reason for concern".

Meditation can also help us to develop body awareness, which involves mentally scanning the body and making us more attuned to physical sensations. This technique can provide a safe place that can be accessed whenever anxiety starts to creep in.

Research has shown that meditation can be an effective tool to reduce anxiety in patients with GAD. For example, a randomised controlled trial found that mindfulness meditation led to greater reductions in anxiety symptoms and improved stress reactivity compared to an active control group.

It is important to note that meditation is not a quick-fix strategy and should be used as a component of an overall treatment program for severe anxiety or diagnosed anxiety disorders.

It can also help with controlling blood pressure

Meditation is a technique that can induce an altered state of consciousness, which refers to any condition significantly different from a normal waking state. This state can be recognised by the individual or an observer as a deviation from their subjective experience of psychological functioning. While altered states of consciousness can be induced by various methods, including hypnosis, sensory deprivation, and psychoactive drugs, meditation is a simple, safe, and effective way to achieve this state without the use of external substances or stimuli.

Meditation has been found to have numerous benefits for mental and physical health. One of its key benefits is its ability to assist in controlling blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition that can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke if left untreated. Through regular meditation, individuals can learn to manage their blood pressure and reduce their risk of these associated health problems.

The practice of meditation involves focusing on something specific, such as one's breathing, while ignoring external distractions and achieving a state of relaxation and well-being. This focused attention on the internal state can lead to a reduction in stress and a calming of the mind, which has positive effects on blood pressure. During meditation, the body's sympathetic nervous system response is suppressed, resulting in a more relaxed physiological state. This reduction in stress and increase in relaxation can lead to lower blood pressure and a healthier cardiovascular system.

Research has provided evidence to support the benefits of meditation for blood pressure control. For example, a study by Barnes, Treiber, and Davis (2001) found that Transcendental Meditation® had a positive impact on cardiovascular function in adolescents with high normal blood pressure. Additionally, Walton et al. (2004) discovered that meditation practices could help lower cortisol and CVD risk in postmenopausal women. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of meditation as a tool for controlling blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health.

Meditation has also been found to have broader benefits beyond blood pressure control. It can help manage stress and depression, promote well-being, and assist with conditions such as insomnia, muscle pain, and headaches. Furthermore, meditation has been linked to enhanced brain function, with studies showing increased brain responsiveness to sensory stimuli and improved coordination between the two brain hemispheres.

In conclusion, meditation is a powerful tool that can induce an altered state of consciousness and provide significant benefits for controlling blood pressure. By practising meditation regularly, individuals can achieve a calmer mind, a more relaxed body, and improved overall health, ultimately reducing their risk of cardiovascular issues associated with high blood pressure.

Frequently asked questions