Journey into the Brain - A New Take on Nirvana?

      Eastern spirituality seems to be the West's largest and perhaps most important import these days.  It seems that our hard-driven, overly-ambitious ways have caught up with us and we suspect there must be a better way. 

     We have turned, in large numbers, to the techniques and practices of ancient Eastern religions in record numbers - Buddhist temples now dot the American landscape and yoga classes and meditation centers have found their way to even the most backward of regions.  We are all desperately seeking nirvana.

     But what is it that we really expect to find and how are we going to find it?  Is nirvana out there somewhere or is it within?  Do we even know what we're looking for and will we recognize it when we find it?

    So many of us are looking outward to find the things or activities that will make us happy.  What I am beginning to realize through my own experience however, is that until I am able to find some inner peace, nothing I "do" is going to make me happy.

     Happiness isn't to be found in hobbies or new occupations, although those things can bring joy at times. As much as I do still believe that ridding ourselves of burdens and making room in our lives for the things that we enjoy is part of the path to happiness, I no longer believe that it is sufficient.   Trying to rearrange the exterior landscape of our lives without first redesigning the interior is doomed to failure.

       Great...so now that we have that established, how do we redesign the interior?  How do we cultivate inner peace?  Well, I haven't totally figured that out yet, but I'm pretty sure that there are greater minds than mine that have worked this all out.  That's why so many of us are looking to ancient spiritual traditions, isn't it?  They seem to be on to something and that something usually has to do with a quieting and focusing of the mind.   

     Our efforts to achieve inner peace come in many forms.  We may practice yoga, engage in creative writing, or paint, but most of us look to some variation of meditation as the most direct route.  Although there are as many types of meditation as there are people, it is commonly agreed that as we meditate, we are seeking to quiet the active, logical, thought-ridden part of our brains and to reach a level of peaceful calm, a transcendence of our worldly concerns and perhaps even a sense of unity with God, the Universe, nature (or whatever you choose to call it). 

     Breaking free of our habitual thought patterns can be much more difficult than we might imagine.  It's hard, if not downright impossible, to stop thinking isn't it?  To those of us who are novices, it may seem like we are trying to do battle with our own brains.  But are we?

     I believe that this inner peace we are so desperately seeking is already there inside each and every one of us.  It's just buried.  We're not so much fighting with our brains as we are seeking to rediscover and strengthen those parts that are chronically underutilized.  Especially here in the good old USA and in other capitalistic, materialistic parts of the world, the left hemispheres of our brains have become overdeveloped.  We focus so much time and energy on developing what are predominantly left-brained skills and activities because those skills and activities are what our society's value most.  The left hemisphere of the brain is our center for linear, methodical thinking.  It takes incoming data, compares it to past data, makes predictions for the future.  It labels, organizes, categorizes and analyzes.  This all helps us to get ahead in this crazy, fast-paced world.  But there is another side to the story, and to the brain as well.

     The right hemisphere of our brains is more focused on spatial skills.  It thinks in pictures, learns kinesthetically and is present in the moment...the now.  This is the part of the brain that we have buried underneath the refuse of our cluttered minds and, I believe, it is where our inner peace resides.  While I have no scientific evidence to back this up, it seems to me that the peace and tranquility we seek is already present in all of us...we just need to uncover, or rediscover, it.

     Is meditation the best way to to reconnect with the right side of our brains?  Does tranquility await us there?  I don't know for sure, but it seems like a viable theory, doesn't it?  A video that I watched recently seems to indirectly hint at just such a possibility.  In the video, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist from Harvard University, describes her personal experience with a brain hemorrhage that essentially shut down the left hemisphere of her brain.  While her presentation focuses on her subjective experience and she does not make any scientific claims nor link her story in any way to meditation, her description of her totally right-brained experience sounds eerily similar to the state of nirvana or bliss achieved by experienced meditators.  It's the kind of story that just makes you wonder...

     I encourage everyone to watch this amazing video.  You may totally disagree with my interpretation of Dr. Taylor's experience or you may also find that it motivates you to reconnect with the right side of your brain.  Whatever your take on the science or the story, you will likely find the video fascinating.  Dr. Taylor tells an amazing story of tragedy and triumph, of strength and courage in overcoming seemingly  insurmountable obstacles.  She will make you laugh, make you cry and, perhaps most importantly, make you think. Sincere thanks go out to my sister-in-law who originally sent me the link to this video. Check out Dr. Taylor's story and video here, and please come back and let us know what you think.  I hope you find it as powerful and as moving as I did.      

Comments

[Shilpan]

Lori -

Great article. Balancing our brain is vital in its sustained and spiritual growth. We all get clogged up on what pleases others more so than what pleases our soul to grow a well balanced life. I've just written an article on living in the present moment. When I read you article, it made lots of relevance to what was on my mind today.

Shilpan

[Lori@betweenusgirls]

Shilpan,

Thanks! Isn't it great when you read something on someone else's blog and it seems to be just what you needed to hear at that moment? I've had that happen too. Glad my post was relevant.