Page 26 - 11-18-Issue redo (1)

DON’T FUEL IT, COOL IT

NEUROTHEOLOGY:

HOW GOD

CHANGES

YOUR BRAIN

Based on new evidence, neuroscientist Andrew Newberg and therapist Mark Robert Waldman offer breakthrough
discoveries. Andrew Newberg, M.D., www.andrewnewberg.com is a pioneer in the field of Neurotheology which is
the field that links spirituality and the brain. He is co-author with Mark Waldman of How God Changes Your Brain and
Born to Believe. Mark Waldman’s research on spirituality, meditation, consciousness, business values and the brain has
been published in peer-reviewed journals throughout the world, and he has appeared on national tv and radio. www.
markrobertwaldman.com

One of the emerging academic disciplines that many seekers are honing in on these days is the whole field
of “neurotheology.” Basically what is going on here is the application of scientific method to the study of
God.
We know, for example, what the brain looks like when it is 6. Not only do prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress, but
focused on anger. Brain scans also reveal what the brain looks just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow down the
like on forgiveness. The question is then, what does the brain aging process.
look like on God?
7. Intense, long-term contemplation of God and other spiri-
Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Waldman have co-authored tual values appears to permanently change the structure of
a book entitled “How God Changes Your Brain.” In the first those parts of the brain that control our mood, give rise to our
chapter they write, “We are currently studying Sikhs, Sufis, conscious notions of self, and shape our sensory perception on
yoga practitioners, and advanced meditators to map the neu- the world.
rochemical changes caused by spiritual and religious practices.
Our research has led us to the following conclusions: 8. Intense prayer and meditation permanently change numer-
ous structures and functions in the brain, altering your values
1. Each part of the brain constructs a different perception of and the way you perceive reality.
God.
9. Contemplative practices strengthen a specific neurologi-
2. Every human brain assembles its perceptions of God in cal circuit that generates peacefulness, social awareness, and
uniquely different ways, thus giving God different qualities of compassion for others.
meaning and value.
Our contemporary neuroscientists are telling us what the mys-
3. Fundamentalism, in and of itself, can be personally ben- tics have been telling us for millennia:
eficial, but the prejudice generated by extreme beliefs can Sit . . .
permanently damage your brain. Stay . . .
Be.
4. Contemplating a loving God rather than a punitive God
reduces anxiety and depression and increases feelings of secu- Looks like when you come right down to it that the best thing
rity, compassion, and love. you could do . . . is absolutely nothing. So . . . next time
you’re wondering about your spiritual practice and whether or
5. Spiritual practices, even when stripped of religious beliefs, not all that prayer and meditation is really workin’ for ya . . .
enhance the neural functioning of the brain in ways that im- You can take it from the saints of antiquity or the scientists of
prove physical and emotional health. modernity . . . you bet it is.
WAT PUNYAWANAR AM

Brevard County’s Learning Center Of The Buddha’s Teaching, Meditation And Thai Culture
4490 Aurora Road Melbourne 321-255-1465 www.watpun.org
Visiting Hours: 7AM to 8PM Daily We are predominately Thai but many from other
Meditation 7 to 8AM * 7 to 8PM Daily cultures join us. We have several Monks and Nuns
Thrift Shop:Wed to Sun 9AM to 4PM of the Dhammayut Order in residence.
Thai Food Served Sunday 10AM - 2PM
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