• Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
    Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
    Sign up Log in

Hard-wired For God?

BhagatSingh

SPNer
Apr 24, 2006
2,921
1,655
A new flurry of books, magazine articles and television documentaries announces the discovery that the human brain is apparently ready-made for spiritual experiences. One article on the subject was in Reader's Digest last December entitled "Searching for the Divine." It claimed boldly, "There is new evidence that humans are hard-wired to believe in God." Let's take a brief look at that new evidence, and then consider what it means in light of what the Lord has revealed.


The Evidence

The evidence cited in that article includes the results of research done by Professor Andrew Newberg, a radiologist at the University of Pennsylvania who teamed up with psychiatrist and anthropologist Eugene d'Aquili. The latter proposed a theory that brain function could produce a wide range of experiences, including the religious experiences reported by those having what they believed to be communion with the infinite, or being "one with the universe." They came up with the idea of doing brain scans of Tibetan monks meditating and Franciscan nuns engaged in deep prayer. And sure enough, they got the pictures they wanted.

There is part of the brain's left parietal lobe which they call the "orientation association area." It is apparently the region which helps recognize where the line is between the physical self and the rest of the universe. It requires a constant stream of neural information flowing from the senses to maintain that distinction. The scans showed that during the peak moments of prayer and meditation the neural information flow was dramatically reduced. They reasoned that with the brain deprived of information about the "real world", the person would experience the sense of the limitless feeling of unity with the universe, reported by those having the religious experience.


The Implications

What are the implications of their discovery that physical changes occur in the brain during spiritual experiences? As might be expected, a wide range of conclusions have been drawn both by them as well as other researchers and authors.

Preparing to do research for this article, I checked the Internet for articles and books on this topic and found that there is no shortage. The book which led to the above-cited article is entitled Why God Won't Go Away. Other popular-level books have titles like The "God" Part of the Brain, and Where God Lives in the Human Brain. There are also several higher-level presentations with titles that include words like "neuropsychology." So I drove to my local bookstore to look these books over, thinking to buy the best one as further source for this article. After perusing several, there was no way I would spend money for any of them. Why? Because they not only did not contain many more real results than I have already reported, they all suffered serious drawbacks.


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Results drawn from these brain scans present two problems. One sentence from The "God" Part of the Brain illustrates the first problem: "God is a concept created by our brain, and therefore has no external reality." Indeed, that sounds similar to what the original researchers postulated, that changes in the brain function would actually cause the perceptions of oneness with all things. In other words, this is a rehash of the time-honored "religious hallucinations" theory, cloaked in pseudo-scientific garb.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The second problem is the other extreme. It appears equally unfounded to claim this is a proof that God created the brain in such a way as be able to experience the infinite. It may well be true that God did indeed do such a thing, but this is certainly not a scientific proof of that hypothesis. It is only a proof that physical body changes can be photographed during a spiritual experience. Researchers could also have monitored heart beat rates, or brain waves shifting from beta to alpha to theta to delta waves. But human physical changes don't prove God exists. I personally don't expect a truly solid proof of God's existence to emerge before the Second Coming, because at present we are here to have our faith tested. We probably shouldn't expect a conclusive scientific proof of God just yet.
So what do these results prove? To me, they indicate that something physical is associated with an experience which may have been thought to be entirely spiritual or mental. For an atheist who assumed that one professing spiritual experiences must be lying, these results provide a rational explanation of why a person would indeed feel detached from the physical world during meditation. So they provide evidence for the mini-step in the spiritual enlightenment of the non-believer that at least the religious zealot is not necessarily lying. But this small step could be negated by a giant step backward if one then concluded that therefore God has been discovered to be nothing more than a temporary shortage of "reality" data arriving at the needed place in the cranium! To me, the experiment proves nothing about God at all.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]On the other hand, to the believer, these results could be encouraging. It may mean that is not only great prophets who can have spiritual experiences. Apparently all of us are "wired" in a way that, given the right environment, such as a formal meditation or prayer setting, God has provided a mechanism to block out the physical world long enough for us to glimpse the eternal. That is an encouraging thought which is what I believe I have learned from researching this article.


Brain or Mind?

To me, what appears to be at the heart of this and similar questions has to do with a gross confusion of the two words "brain" and "mind." What is the difference in meaning between these two words? In principle, they have clearly distinct meanings. The brain is, according to one dictionary, "the anterior part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of vertebrates, consisting of a mass of nerve tissue organized for the perception of sensory impulses, the regulation of motor impulses," etc. It clearly has an important function in running our body and being a central routing station for all the impulses coming in through the nerves.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]On the other hand, the word "mind" is defined to be the "conscious element, part, or process in a human or other being that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc." That is, it is the part of us we think with. The distinction between it and the brain is emphasized in one of the lesser definitions in one dictionary: "the psychic or spiritual being, as opposed to physical matter." The point here is that we have two distinct words which need not be confused: the mind is what we think with and the brain is the gray matter found in our skull. The confusion arises when we assume that all thinking occurs in the brain. For materialistic atheists, the equality of those two words is a "no-brainer" because most don't believe in spiritual matter. But there is a mounting corpus of evidence which implies that the mind and brain are not the same at all. The many out-of-body and so-called "near death" experiences indicate that the "mind" with which people think and remember is not in the brain after all, which may be part of a body lying lifeless on the operating table, but rather is in the spirit which can be separated from the body.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I personally try always to make a clear distinction between the concepts of "mind" and "brain", and it is amazing to see how much the two concepts are confused in everyday speech. We have been conditioned to believe that we think with our brain and that thought is only some sort of chemical reaction. Clearly chemicals and drugs can influence our thought processes, and electric probes into our brain can stimulate certain memories or actions, but there is still much to be learned in the complicated interaction between mind and brain. The two are clearly closely related; my only point is to attempt to maintain a distinction between the two words, yet not be surprised that atheist scientists tend to equate them.

What has God told us about the brain and the mind? It turns out that the word "brain" is not found anywhere in the scriptures, so we won't learn much about the brain there. The Lord tends to use the word "mind" when referring to the part of us which thinks. The word "heart" is also used, but that seems to refer more to the "feeling" part of us, which is also a kind of thought. Sometimes he uses both together, apparently to emphasize two witnesses or aspects of the same truth. For example, the Lord told Oliver Cowdery , "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart." (D&C 8:2).
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In conclusion, it is wonderful that scientists are performing experiments which provide clues to what occurs physically during spiritual experiences. But surely any explanation will fall short which does not take into account both our physical and spiritual aspects.
[/FONT]
 

Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
76
London, UK
The expanded consciousness, increased intuitiveness and use of sensory perception cause alterations in brain function. Scientist are moving towards pinpointing the changes in brain order, function and cell structure caused by altered brain waves resultant of the differing methods and planes of thinking.

I would say it is not only a matter of certain individual s being born with an inherent higher propensity towards god consciousness of a higher power but that the actual genetic brain condition is caused by the heightened consciousness.

There are four conditions of man from the basic existentialism, living in defence and reacting to life instances about us, to the thinking, to the self realised and ultimately to a state of spiritual awakening. The universal consciousness cited in the ancient Veda’s was recognised then as the ultimate state of consciousness and liberation of the soul. Ancient scriptures contain much of what is considered newsworthy, providing evidence of these startling allegories should not prove too difficult...
 

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
I would say it is not only a matter of certain individual s being born with an inherent higher propensity towards god consciousness of a higher power but that the actual genetic brain condition is caused by the heightened consciousness.

The above statement is why I find the conversation interesting. I myself read the science on the topic as stated above. The practices that lead to heightened consciousness open up new areas of functioning and alter existing areas of consciousness. But some see it the other way around. And others understand the relationship as reciprocal: spiritual practice heightens consciousness and heightened consciousness in tern influenced spiritual practice.
 

Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
76
London, UK
The opening mind and broadened perspective is a spiritual path culminating in a permanent altered spiritual state. Chemical changes occurring in the brain naturally alter cell structure resulting in a greater imagination and vision. We understand from our scriptures the requirement and pursuit of a higher consciousness, it is novel and heartening to know science too is reconciling and broadening its theoretical research in providing evidence for what is contained in ancient scriptures.

The brain can be likened to the engine of a car. As any motorist knows the greater the engine capacity, bhp and cc, the less effort and time required to accelerate to high speeds. The brain is similar in its functioning, in that the greater the expansion of consciousness, the denser the cell structure, the broader the imagination, the easier it becomes to resolve any philosophical enquiries and think faster without external application of literature or data.

It is said all truth is contained in the subconscious of the mind. Life and religion lead the mortal to his truth contained within. Inspiring post Bhagat Singh Ji ...
 

japjisahib04

Mentor
SPNer
Jan 22, 2005
822
1,294
kuwait
This is a million dollar question and Guru Nanak has replied: Nanak Likhiya naal. that humans are hard-wired to believe in God once they surrender."
Best regards
Sahni Mohinder
 

Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
76
London, UK
Hardwired is modern terminology for the capacity to comprehend Gurmat, a consciousness of the higher power, higher soul, greater self. Some strive lifetimes to gain it and are eluded, some are inherently of virtue and higher consciousness, whilst others make pilgrimages, recite many mantra’s and do great deeds to gain this inestimable wealth. In this age of Kalyug it is berated by those not in possession of this grace as superstitious nonsense, psychological delusion, paranoia and for some an unbalanced mind or mental instability causing awareness of a nonexistent phenomena unrealised by the closed minded indoctrinated against acceptance of anything spiritual or supernatural. It is a major breakthrough in this Holy War and ongoing battle indeed that Science is overcoming religious dogma top intercede and accredit the Creator with validity, and we laud each progressive step and advance in this awakening of the slumbering Father for his struggling and divided world.
 

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219


The brain can be likened to the engine of a car. As any motorist knows the greater the engine capacity, bhp and cc, the less effort and time required to accelerate to high speeds. The brain is similar in its functioning, in that the greater the expansion of consciousness, the denser the cell structure, the broader the imagination, the easier it becomes to resolve any philosophical enquiries and think faster without external application of literature or data.

It is said all truth is contained in the subconscious of the mind. Life and religion lead the mortal to his truth contained within. Inspiring post Bhagat Singh Ji ...

Something to reflect on in a serious way :)
 

BhagatSingh

SPNer
Apr 24, 2006
2,921
1,655
This is a million dollar question and Guru Nanak has replied: Nanak Likhiya naal. that humans are hard-wired to believe in God once they surrender."
Best regards
Sahni Mohinder
Why did you follow up your statment with "once they surrender"?
and surrender to what?
 

Archived_Member5

(previously jeetijohal, account deactivated at her
Mar 13, 2006
388
76
London, UK
Sikhism is a philosophy. There is no God in our faith but the Supreme Universal Spirit. Scientists would seek to prove some individuals more liberated than others have a higher measure of a certain chemical creating an energy force resulting in clarity of perception, intellectual erudition, moral mettle and a strong peaceable character.

If something remains remiss Bhagat Ji, please be concise in your critique to enable me to address the point in question...

God is a term used for this Supreme Truth and Light. There is no man in the sky with his cohort spying upon and controlling us. This life force energy or spiritual force requires identification and quantification. Once this is proven it is for the establishment, Church, State, Media, Monarchy top decide whether this quantifiable resource should be allocated to all that all become illumined in mind and spirit and free, or reserved only for the ruthless perpetrators of influence and holders of power.

Proving the Supreme Spirit still requires overcoming a demagoguery disinclined to lose their positions of power and status in according God rights. Whether mankind are permitted to escape the cycle of death and rebirth is reliant upon the funders of this research, the state itself a part of a trinity of power.. A harsh unpalatable but woefully true reality...

:work: :Missy: :nothingtoadd:
 

japjisahib04

Mentor
SPNer
Jan 22, 2005
822
1,294
kuwait
The wonderful reply is) – Nanak, in abiding by the Will of God, with the discerning intellect He has inscribed or Hard wired in every heart, We meet the Ordaining Formless God. And until and unless we learn to transcend this clouded mind full of falsehood and empty rituals one cannot break the wall of falsehood.
Regards sahni
 

japjisahib04

Mentor
SPNer
Jan 22, 2005
822
1,294
kuwait
Dear Pyreio Ji.
Keep on trying. Hundreds and thousands have been able to conquer mind. Gurbani cannot be wrong. Kaitai sidh budh nath kaitai kaitai devi vaise. kaitia surti sevak kaitai nanak ant na ant. In addition, I don't think so I am far away. Just waiting for that spotaneous moment.
Sahni Mohinder
 

❤️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN SPN MOBILE PLATFORM

Top