Neuroscience meets Yoga

Some topics to get a glimpse of the Mind/NoMind of a Buddha.

1. Neuroscience of consciously entering sleep
2. Neuroscience of being aware in NREM sleep (first 2 REM cycles)
3. Neuroscience of the Direction of Attention
4. Neuroscience of “the sound of one hand clapping”
5. On Bodies of Consciousness and BioElecetricity/Kundalini or BioEnergy
6. Neuroscience of Phenomenologically consistent description of consciousness states
7. Neuroscience of True Silence
8. Neuroscience of the Perception of Time
9. Neuroscience of being aware in sleep (all REM cycles)
10. The Consciousness Tower or Advaita Theory (A U M .) of Consciousness

I am describing my ideas as a potentiality within every human born on this planet. For example, let us say that a seed fell on a new island with no trees for the first time. It is tough to say that it will become a tree one day just by looking at that seed. But it will then produce flowers and fruits. Birds will come and rest on its branches, eat those fruits, and excrete those seeds in different parts of the island. And those seeds will produce more trees. So, a single seed can potentially fill an entire island.

Similarly, a correct approach to understanding consciousness leads to a restful and peaceful life if rightly understood. We can investigate how the mind works by understanding the thinking process and the nature of thought, the “gap” between thoughts, “inner dreaming” or “covert thinking” as a background process of the mind, which is the prime cause of mind wandering. Especially understanding mind wandering can help transform human consciousness and understand the nature of awareness. Ten Bulls of Zen or states of consciousness described in the Mandukya Upanishad is an excellent way to understand this process. In addition, there are multiple stage-wise processes described in various meditation traditions. My goal is to do an objective science-based description of these phenomenologies into a unified umbrella framework.

When awareness runs deep during the waking state, it continues into the night, and one is attentive even during sleep. Dreams are typically subconscious, deep sleep is typically unconscious. Some exciting phenomena are Lucid Dreams, “Yoga Nidra,” “Jagrat Sushupti” or Lucid Sleep. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the scientific study of lucid dreams and the MPE or Minimal Phenomenal Experience. Lucid Sleep is the doorway to a “Science of Consciousness that is phenomenologically consistent.” We spend so much time studying Coma, Unresponsive Wakefulness state, and Anesthesia. Also, there is considerable interest in the Altered States of Consciousness, and neuroscientists study the impact of drugs like LSD, Psilocybin, and another group studies meditation. But, I would not describe meditation as an Altered State of Consciousness. True meditation continues 24/7, without effort, and hence a Yogi is meditative.

A good theory of consciousness must therefore explain the phenomenology of “lucid dreamless sleep.” Proper experiments are necessary, as is typically done for Sleep studies. Muscle Atonia, Eye Movements, EEG activity, breath movements, heart rate variability, and the like. I am most interested in how awareness modulates these phenomenological experiences of a consciousness state by describing objective properties of the mind. And, then we may have the true union of Neuroscience with Yoga.