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Spiritual Phenomenon in the Light of Bio-technology 2
By
Swami Brahmeshananda

III -- Psycho-Neurology

This branch of physiology identifies the areas of nervous system associated with spiritual phenomenon and mental modifications, thoughts, emotions, instincts, etc. Recently a new discipline called Neurotheology has come up. It studies the neuro-biology of spirituality and religion. Its aim is to identify regions of the brain which are associated with spiritual experiences, especially the sense of the presence of God or God realization.

Andrew Newberg and Eugene D'Aquilli used a brain-imaging technique called Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) to determine regions of brain which respond to altered states of consciousness during prayer and meditation. The experiments were carried out on Tibetan Buddhists and Franciscan nuns. They recorded an increased activity in the frontal lobe area of brain-it "lights up" at the peak of meditation. They also found that there is reduction of activity in parietal lobe of brain. Parietal lobe is also known as Oriental Association Area (OAA) since it controls our sense of space. It requires continuous sensory inputs to do its job. During intense meditation, no activity was observed in OAA. During transcendental spiritual experience, OAA is dormant and boundaries between self and other worldly things are dissolved. A state of absolute calmness and contentment is attained-self appears united with God. The temporal lobes help to relate religious symbols or images to feelings, thus triggering a sense of awe. When the temporal lobes are artificially stimulated, a sense of divine presence is felt.(Divine Experience and Neurobiology, by P. N. Jha, Times of India, Thursday, July 4, 2002)

Using an ordinary motorcycle helmet, modified with electro-magnetic coils, Dr.Persinger was able to artificially induce a profound spiritual experience. This device works by inducing very small electrical signals with tiny magnetically induced mechanical vibrations, in the brain cells of temporal lobes and other selected areas of the brain. These lobes produce what are called "Forty Hertz Component" of brain waves detected in electro encephalogram. These "FHC" are present during waking and dream state, but are absent during deep sleep. These FHCs are important for the experience of the personal self or reality. By suppressing the FHCs the sense of individual self is reduced. This is what Dr.Persinger's helmet does. When brain is deprived of self-stimulation and sensory input required for defining itself as being distinct from the world, the brain 'defaults' to a sense of infinity. So the experience of self simply expands to fill the perception of the world. One experiences becoming one with the

world.(http://www.bidstrup.com/mystic.htm)

Neuro-scientists have given another interesting explanation for "God realization." There are two temporal lobes in the brain: the right and the left, which are connected to each other. Sometimes this connection gets disturbed by sickness, stress and strain, the FZ components also get disorganized and then the normally silent right hand sense of self is experienced by the left hand sense of self. The scientists call this God experience-an experience of another self within the self!!

The electro-magnetic helmet experiment is interesting. Although the experiment is described, we don't have the follow up to show whether there was any change in the character and conduct of those who were subjected to it. It must be emphasized that in spiritual traditions, such 'God experiences', or experience of unity, etc. are not granted to disciples without years of arduous practice of spiritual discipline, for two reasons:

1. Without due preparation, they would not be able to retain it and keep it up, and

2. More importantly, such 'God experiences' granted or obtained without proper purification can have dangerous repercussions for the individual or society. It is on record that such "stumbling upon truth" has resulted in bringing out the angel as well as the devil out of the person.

Another point to remember, therefore, is that spiritual life is not merely an isolated experience-it is a phenomenon, which includes transformation of character and conduct as well as rigorous spiritual practice. In the long run, the spiritual phenomenon leads even to total change in the nervous system, to the extent of changing the psychic and physiological reflex actions, as had happened in Sri Ramakrishna.

IV -- Psycho-Surgery

Psycho surgery is the scientific method of treatment of mental disorders by means of brain surgery. Although such a surgery was performed in 1894 by a Swiss doctor, this operation of destruction of the frontal lobes of brain for treatment of emotional disorders was technically advanced by Sir Victor Horsley in UK and Harvey Cushing in USA. Later in 1931, operation called lobotomy, or leucotomy was developed, which consisted to severing nerve-fibre tracts between the thalamus and frontal lobes by using a special knife called leucotome. Later a quick and easy procedure called "Trans orbital leucotomy" was developed which could be done within few minutes under local anaesthesia. Thus in 40's and 50's more than 50,000 persons were subjected to lobotomy all over the world, based on very scanty and flimsy (and even unwarranted) evidence for its scientific basis. Soon it became evident that although lobotomy was able to control severely agitated and violent behaviour and becalm psychotic patients, there were many undesirable side effects. Pre-frontal lobotomy produced "zombies"-persons without emotions, apathetic to everything and reduced drive and initiative. They also lost several important higher mental functions such as socially adequate behaviour and the capacity to plan actions.

With the advance of minimally invasive surgical techniques such as functional stereotactic neurosurgery, physicians were able to destroy with high precision much smaller areas of brain involved in emotional control. These small lesions have virtually no effect on intellectual or emotional spheres, and are generally very effective in controlling violent behaviour.

Since 1970's, development of radio surgery has allowed surgeons to remove tiny bits of brain tissue without opening the skull. Surgeons are now able to pinpoint with great accuracy areas, nuclei, or fibres inside the brain by high-tech methods. However, the indications for such surgery are highly selective and only 200 surgeries are performed every year in USA. (The History of Psychosurgery by Renato M. E. Sabbatini, PhD)

It is obvious from this historical review and latest update of psycho-surgery that its scope is extremely limited. It is indicated only in mental abnormalities which cannot be cured or controlled by anti-psychotic drugs or psychotherapy. Needless to state that such procedures cannot have anything to do with spiritual experience, life, or phenomenon.

Religion is not merely spiritual experience. It means complete transformation of personality-even changing the whole physiology. Conquest of lust, greed and anger are essential parameters of spiritual evolution. Can this be attained artificially through surgery? Although greed, lust, anger and similar other emotions are considered evil and hindrances to spiritual life, the solution does not consist in destroying them altogether. They must be transmuted and sublimated. Destroying the neural centres responsible for these will be like killing a restive, uncontrolled horse rather than breaking it. These emotions are forces which must be sublimated. Anger must be carefully controlled and directed against those factors which stand as hindrance in spiritual life. Lust means desire for union, and it must be directed towards God.

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Contributed By Swami Brahmeshananda

About the author
Swami Brahmeshananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Mission, a world-wide religio-spiritual organization, founded on the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, a man of God, by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda who preached the philosophy of Vedanta all over the world. At present the Swami is working at Chandigarh, India, in the capacity of President/Secretary of Chandigarh Ashrama. He can be contacted at:   E-Mail


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