Meditation and HD
Part 3

A look at how meditation may delay the onset of many symptoms of HD

Meditation and everyday life

After reading about meditations' potentially significant influence on the brain, many readers are probably at least a little bit curious about how to implement meditation into their own lives. As a word of caution, the possibility that there was a pre-existing difference in brain function between the monks and the novices in the study can't be ruled out. In other words, there may have been a confound in the study because individuals who have high levels of gamma wave activity to begin with may be more likely to become monks. However, the researchers are fairly confident that this is not the case because the monks who had spent the most years meditating had the highest level of gamma wave activity. This "dose response" - where higher levels of a drug or activity have greater effect than lower levels - is what researchers look for to assess cause and effect. Thus, the researchers are also confident that anyone who begins to meditate will be able to experience its benefits. Unfortunately, practicing meditation can be incredibly daunting for novices because they think they have to achieve some form of transcendent state. The monks, however, insist that their state of mind isn't dependent on any superhuman leaps into higher consciousness. It's much more pragmatic than that: it's as simple as training the mind to think differently.

The monks describe meditation as simply a form of mental exercise. Pichitr Thitavanno, a prominent Buddhist, explains, "Despite the importance of the mind, most people appear to take care of the body far more than the mind, often neglecting its exercise or training. They have three meals a day, take a bath twice, provide the body with clothes for the purpose of adornment in a variety of ways, and give it regular and well planned exercise in the form of sports and walking. Even in the case of medicine, the body as a rule receives priority in care and attention, with the mind all this time being neglected and regarded as almost nonexistent. The mind is left uncared for until it becomes dusty, dirty, and polluted because of lack of exercise, training, and development." In light of this fact, Buddhism introduces the ways and means of strengthening and exercising the mind. Buddhists believe that a mind well-trained and strengthened in the proper manner will help bring peace and progress both to the individual and to society as a whole. It is important to note that Buddhists do not believe that one must become a Buddhist in order to experience the benefits of meditation. Similarly, Davidson believes that the monks' brains differed so dramatically from the novices not because they are Buddhists who practice meditation, but because they frequently engage their minds in mental training. In other words, meditation serves as a form of mental exercise that strengthens the brain, in much the same way that running or working out serves as a form of physical exercise to strengthen the body.

It is very important to note that meditation isn't just performed by Buddhists. Nor is there only one form of Buddhist meditation. Nor does one have to believe in the other precepts of Buddhism to benefit from some of the Buddhist methods of meditation. There are secular meditation courses as well as religious.

Just as physical exercise can seem daunting to a person who has never worked out before, mental exercise such as meditation can seem daunting because it is unfamiliar and may feel unnatural. The key is to start off slow and come up with a routine that suits you. It is also important to realize that there is no right way to meditate; there are many different traditions of meditation and many different ways to meditate. In Davidson's study, he had the novices practice mindfulness-based meditation, which is a state of alertness in which the mind does not get caught up in thoughts or sensations, but lets them come and go, much like watching a river flow by. This type of meditation is a good way for beginners to start. To begin, sit quietly for 10 to 20 minutes while concentrating on a single object or on the flow of your breath. When your mind begins to wander, note the new thought or sensation and then gently bring your concentration back to your original focus.

Another major form of meditation known as Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2,500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills. The practice, which was taught by the Buddha, is non-sectarian and has universal application. It does not require conversion to Buddhism. While the meditation practices themselves vary from school to school, the underlying principle is the investigation of phenomena as they manifest in the five aggregates: matter or form, sensation or feelings, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. This process leads to direct experiential perception.

Another major form of meditation is that of Shambhala. Shambhala training is a nonsectarian path of spiritual training that emphasizes the cultivation of fearless, gentle, and intelligent action in the world. This action arises out of trust in innate human goodness and the inherent power and sacredness of the world, connecting with both through meditation practice as well as mindful activity in everyday life. Shambhala training welcomes people of all religious traditions as well as those who follow no particular spiritual path.

The practice of Japa meditation is the technique of using mantras (sounds) to open the heart and mind. The repetition of the sound is supposed to calm the senses and the mind and affect the chemistry of the body. One does not need to be religious to experience the benefits of Japa meditation. Mantras (sounds) can be whatever one chooses - they do not need to be religious mantras. For example, during an inhalation, one might say "I am" and during an inhalation one might say "at peace." This practice allows the mind to focus and concentrate, and clear away other thoughts, emotions, and distractions which normally divert energies.

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Last Modified: 04/12/2007

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