Superhumans: The remarkable brain waves of high-level meditators | Daniel Goleman | Big Think

Superhumans: The remarkable brain waves of high-level meditators
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People who have meditated for thousands of hours exhibit a remarkable difference in their brainwaves. Psychologist and author Daniel Goleman says we can actually see what happens in the heads of those who have achieved "enlightenment" and the results are unprecedented in science.
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DANIEL GOLEMAN:
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist, lecturer, and science journalist who has reported on the brain and behavioral sciences for The New York Times for many years. His 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence (Bantam Books) was on The New York Times bestseller list for a year and a half.
Goleman is also the author of Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything. The book argues that new information technologies will create “radical transparency,” allowing us to know the environmental, health, and social consequences of what we buy. As shoppers use point-of-purchase ecological comparisons to guide their purchases, market share will shift to support steady, incremental upgrades in how products are made - changing every thing for the better.
His latest book is Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body, which he has co-authored with Richard Davidson reveals the science of what meditation can really do for us, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Daniel Goleman: My co-author of the book Altered Traits is a neuroscientist, Richard Davidson. He has a lab at the University of Wisconsin. It’s a very large lab, he has dedicated scanners, he has about 100 people working there, and he was able to do some remarkable research where he flew Olympic level meditators-who live in Nepal or India typically, some in France-he flew them over to the lab and put them through a protocol in his brain scanners and did state-of-the-art tests and the results were just astounding. We found, for example, or he found that their brain waves are really different.
Perhaps the most remarkable findings in the Olympic level meditators has to do with what’s called a gamma wave. All of us get gamma for a very short period when we solve a problem we’ve been grappling with, even if it’s something that’s vexed us for months. We get about half second of gamma; it’s the strongest wave in the EEG spectrum. We get it when we bite into an apple or imagine biting into an apple, and for a brief period, a split-second, inputs from taste, sound, smell, vision, all of that come together in that imagined bite into the apple. But that lasts very short period in an ordinary EEG.
What was stunning was that the Olympic level meditators, these are people who have done up to 62,000 lifetime hours of meditation, their brainwave shows gamma very strong all the time as a lasting trait just no matter what they’re doing. It’s not a state effect, it’s not during their meditation alone, but it’s just their every day state of mind. We actually have no idea what that means experientially. Science has never seen it before.
We also find that in these Olympic level meditators when we asked them, for example, to do a meditation on compassion their level of gamma jumps 700 to 800 percent in a few seconds. This has also never been seen by science. So we have to assume that the special state of consciousness that you see in the highest level meditators is a lot like something described in the classical meditation literatures centuries ago, which is that there is a state of being which is not like our ordinary state. Sometimes it’s called liberation, enlightenment, awake, whatever the word may be we suspect there’s really no vocabulary that captures what that might be. The people that we’ve talked to in this Olympic level group say it’s very spacious and you’re wide open, you’re prepared for whatever may come, we just don’t know. But we do know it’s quite remarkable.
Read more: bigthink.com/videos/daniel-go...

[@bigthink]

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[@niapsievil7002]

Fuck of

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[@sabitamahela]

Shut up. Who ever had become smarter by subscribing?

[@soulreaperichig0]

Yep, it's true. As a psychologist, I was always a bit sceptical about meditation. I read a lot of research papers and our college conducted a few experiments on a few participants. The results were remarkable. In just 90 days, the grey matter area had literally become denser. I couldn't believe my eyes. We believe further research in this field could lead to a break through in dementia.

[@sisnegelicayan8266]

It could help people going through tough mental stress like me alas i quit its too diffulicult for me at least for now

[@sisnegelicayan8266]

It aint easy as i thought it would be

[@Manish-tz6vf]

@@sisnegelicayan8266 brother engage in activities that requires good amount of attention, but no thoughts... Like coloring etc.

[@jacobturnage]

Mr.Sceptic young psychologist here, thank you for this comment!!

[@bigfishartwire4696]

Would you mind sharing the titles of those papers?

[@Zenkka]

"Olympic level meditators" I should put that on my LinkedIn bio

[@openyoureyes3308]

Lying to get a job, your not the first

[@passport3763]

Cute

[@polyseed12]

Olympic level masterbater

[@TheRockteem]

haha...

[@yalee7949]

Henri Kirsi Olympic level KZbin watcher

[@glynemartin]

_"Late to the party you are."_ - Yoda.

[@yosen7638]

😂💗

[@aabra6265]

Hahaha

[@ashleygood2541]

I love this. Is this actually from Yoda?

[@rosenguyen4181]

Hahahaha

[@rajikage3098]

Lmao

[@universalhologram7266]

Guy's I've been meditating for about a year now and I am just able to feel those gamma waves. It happens while meditating I feel an immense amount of joy, it's so hard to put into words.

[@pbhello]

Thanks for sharing! Could you please share your meditation routine - duration, type, etc.? Thank you

[@muhmahdyy]

bro how long do u meditate

[@emmillyy.]

I do this too! 1h 40m in the morning, contemplating certain beliefs i hold, getting to the core, replacing those beliefs with beliefs that suit me. Pomodoro (25m work, 5m break) 6 times around, 40m meditation and repeat til i sleep! Its amazing, i hit 100k in 12 days in my business just bc i can focus more and just feel so much happier!

[@user-Void-Star]

@@emmillyy. do compassion meditation it will be faster.

[@Theunfortunate_soul]

How do you meditate? Do you use an app for guidance or something?

[@coollary1]

Ive spent over 10k hours playing video games in the past 10yrs. Imagine if i meditated instead...

[@mrksgb8607]

Start doing it now. The best time to plant something was ten years ago. The second best time is now. Start now. PS: that’s acctually a quote

[@Yogakshema_vahamyaham]

@@mrksgb8607 yeah from Lao Tzu or Confucius.

[@jan-nn9ix]

Video games increase grey matter in the hippocampus there was a study on super Mario bros

[@scorpio9643]

@@jan-nn9ix yes supposedly fucks up your neuron connections making it hard for memory and learning

[@petrol_prophet]

Scorpio sounds about right lol

[@nooffence2769]

Meditation isn't only sitting down quietly and closing your eyes, it is about being meditative all the time... It is about being at peace and Harmony with everything!

[@mungbean6693]

best summary ever!!!

[@dashdandelion3681]

@@mungbean6693 hit up daniel p brown's book "Pointing Out The Great Way" and his interviews for the best summary ever ;-) NO JOKE.

[@mungbean6693]

@@dashdandelion3681 thanks for the recommendation :)

[@ACDCvirus]

Because it's a true peace and those people who aren't able to sit still are the ones getting into Problems

[@nooffence2769]

@@ACDCvirus yes you are very much correct, to sit still you must have some peace in your body and mind! but I'm saying that most people do it for the sake of sitting calmly to think instead of letting all thoughts vanish and being totally blank inside the mind! specially in the west people do it without knowing what it's meant for and what possibilities it could open for them, it's like giving them pen and paper but they don't know how to write on it and most just end up scribbling on it!

[@thebrainwavehub]

Sign me up for the Meditation Olympics

[@saintvierra6841]

Lol . it's amazing...I use to be a meditating Buddhist all day sometimes several hours at nite but it's something I cant EXSPLAIN for some..

[@RoxanneGutierrez010]

You would have no life. Just sleeping, drinking, eating, shitting and meditating. 62,000 hours is A LOT of hours.

[@meditationsilence7378]

@@RoxanneGutierrez010 there a ocean of bliss that opens up in deep silence of meditation

[@subratvishwas611]

When i meditate i feel some sort of happiness. This happiness doesn't relate to any thought or anything it is indescribable it is just happiness without any reason.

[@balrajjadhav5694]

That kind of happiness is called Anand. Parmanand: When that kind of happiness is for long term.

[@kallumama648]

Sat chit ananda

[@emmillyy.]

Happiness due to dopamine isnt true happiness. It's more of a drug kind of thing. Satisfaction with everything is the only true happiness! Strive for this!

[@subratvishwas611]

@@emmillyy. you are right thank you very much.

[@Leto85]

I meditate an hour in the morning as a minimum. I do it since around a year ago. I've read somewhere that the participant will gain results in two years, but to be honest I have gained the positive results much sooner and with 1 year down the line I'm only halfway there! I really recommend meditation to everyone. It's an ancient practice that still works.

[@Hardeneer]

what does it do exactly

[@Leto85]

@@Hardeneer It helps quieting the mind.

[@zaryabalikhan695]

And how do you perform that

[@Leto85]

@@zaryabalikhan695 Sitting still in meditation position and focusing your thoughts on your breath. When your mind starts wonder, accept that and focus again on your breath. The way I see it it's all about belief; it'll only work for you in time when you believe in it.

[@andreasanchez2815]

How do you do it exactly ? You close your eyes and what else ? Lol 😭 Idk what you’re supposed to think of

[@gokuafrica]

Take a shot whenever he says Olympic level meditators

[@BlckHippy]

The results will be astounding

[@gokuafrica]

@Carl Cruton 😂😂

[@jatinmukkawar1640]

LMAO wtf

[@JohnSmith-yi9cp]

Just take a hit. U will feel better and still be alive after

[@aryapaar]

we'll become olympic level alcoholics then

[@capthook1]

I’ve got 274 hours so far, here’s to staying on track!!!

[@jk3266]

Can you please tell me the method of your meditation.

[@letsdomath1750]

I have over 112+ hours of yoga nidra (probably past 200 by now, but this is only counting the sessions that satisfied at least an hour per day). If I am counting Trataka, Ajapa Japa, Vipassana (from KZbin as I wasn't able to go to a retreat before the pandemic), Kirtan Kriya, Madhyadasha, Antar Mouna, etc., I should have at least another 50 to 100 hours.

[@Travelwiththennarasu]

@@jk3266 vipassana meditation ....and its not about time.... its the journey to purify oneself

[@essayellohemee]

@@Travelwiththennarasuhello! A fellow vipassana meditator! have you been able to continue your practice over the lockdowns and quarantine period? I haven't meditated a day.

[@abhinavr3867]

That higher state of being is called “Samadhi” - described extensively in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras - the Vedic text that first described Yoga & Meditation. It has been explained really well in English by Swami Vivekananda in his book Raja Yoga

[@spiritlevelstudios]

Thank you, found a copy, interesting. I haven't read a book in years, but this one seems worth reading.

[@meghrajuikey]

Do not use the word 'invented', say discovered.

[@abhinavr3867]

@@meghrajuikey noted

[@middlewayers]

Meditations were not discovered by Vedas or yoga sutras.. Meditations are part of Sramana Tradition which is older and different to Brahmin tradition..and Patanjali Yoga Sutras are Asanas which are a different thing

[@redpillmatrix3046]

@@middlewayers yoga sutras has raja yoga and dhyana mentioned which is meditation. it's not only about asana.

[@Shmyrk]

So I can either meditate for 62,000 hrs, or just constantly imagine I’m biting into an apple for the rest of my life?

[@MrKarma-bv5dp]

Lol If gama waves were the only difference between the brains of meditators and non-meditators sure but its not.

[@forrestl5597]

if you focus intensely and practice all imagining biting into an apple, that would be called meditation.

[@mjaskowski1]

That's exactly what meditation is.

[@CollapseDev]

@@mjaskowski1 Any conscious thinking or internal use of thought and imagination like Guided imagery or concentrating with closed eyelids leads one into lower brain activity, relaxation and towards sleep with the ultimate level being epsilon but these states are too drowsy and amnestic for humans. This is why hypnotized individuals appear spaced out, there's a lot of imagination frequency going on here and a lot of Theta and thus deep relaxation and drowsiness. To go in the direction of what this video is talking about is to go the entire opposite-to deactivate the imagination and be aware of your body-an kind of external awareness and that's why they keep emphasizing breath awareness so falling asleep becomes less likely. In my practice I also maintain a slight rigidity/tenseness of my arms which simultaneously keeps my brain processing external stimuli and thus drastically prolonging mental alertness allowing me to get to the point where you can leave your body consciously. All of this meditating that takes years is simply a misunderstanding of common biology and most meditators can get past the first 5 minutes it takes to quiet their conscious thinking but they will almost always get stuck in the hypnogogic imagination realms which is an drowsy internal focus that's very hard to shake off and also energy draining rather than rejuvenating. The human body can only restore in the lowest brain wave states or the highest brain wave states. There's no middle. Just thought it was important to make this clarification, I had been struggling with hours of meditation in the past that always ended up falling asleep until simple logic came to the conclusion to remain slightly stiff and with an external focus on my breath I was able to easily meditate more consistently rather than luck, my breathing went from warm (lower brainwaves) to fresh and cold (higher awake waves) and it felt good. Good feelings!

[@shabuqazi86]

Youre funny

[@shreeyamd]

62,000 hours meditating, man. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, determined the necessary prerequisite hours of practice required for becoming World Class at any skill to be 10,000 hours (approx.). This is like 6 times the amount. No wonder you turn into The Hulk. (That was the "Gamma" wave joke, btw)

[@openyoureyes3308]

🎤

[@JT-xj1pg]

Joke isn't funny tho

[@kareldegreef3945]

time is relative ……. everything is ;-)

[@openyoureyes3308]

@@kareldegreef3945 time is relative to gravity only, not perception

[@Zajcooo]

that's more than 7 fucking years of meditating non-stop, holy shit

[@jero3933]

Don't make spirituality a competition now I know what you're saying by stating Olympic level meditators but it's not a competition it is a journey.

[@edgarduartegutierrez9860]

Just don't meditate with the expectancy of a "journey" although it probably is. To successfully meditate, one must not concentrate on the future rewards but how peaceful the present becomes. More than a journey, it is a state

[@Q-BOT]

Isn't it just sitting and breathing?

[@jero3933]

@@edgarduartegutierrez9860 yeh you're right it's a state

[@snigdhasamanta365]

Very true

[@usernametaken2tekken]

It's not a journey. It's a dance! Thus spake Alan.

[@Enso.]

This is the kind of content I subbed for.

[@kennethj1956]

Every time he says "Olympic Level" I take a shot!

[@airmanjoe]

Mr. Johnson Yeah that got to be kind of cringey. Pretty sure meditation isn't an event in the Olympics.

[@Enso.]

@@airmanjoe it's a research term. An easy analogous way to reference the top ~.1% of meditators, defined as 62,000hrs+ (7 years straight of meditating) Source: have contributed to similar studies

[@arete7884]

people losing their minds over simple word play is exact reason why we need meditation, most people are insane/

[@veganbackpacking-8559]

Or people that jump to conclusions too fast. For me the word was also making me cringe but more because I thought 'oh be damned, the Americans made meditation into a winnable sport..'. But good to read it's meant as a research term :)

[@Brainstorm69]

This is fascinating if you think about it. And I really appreciate the willingness and openness of those OLYMPIC LEVEL mediators to be put into MRI scanners. Exciting to be alive at such a time in history were ancient meditation practices and science meet. Edited for clarity

[@Mangyek0]

Why do you assume neditation = Buddhism?

[@Brainstorm69]

Hi Akash, great point. I did not mean to equate meditation with Buddhism. I was more thinking of the collaboration between the Dalai Lama & Neuroscientists like Richard Davidson.

[@LittleKooool]

Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism and not Buddhism is originally associated with meditation.

[@Brainstorm69]

Hi De karma, you are definitely right. My comment was more alluding to modern Buddhist traditions have close ties to Science. I did edit my comment for clarity :)

[@LittleKooool]

@@Brainstorm69 ok :)

[@haveagudday8068]

I've once feel these "spacious" feelings in my mind while i'm meditating. I've feel it multiple time, but not at every meditation session i do. It feels truly peaceful.

[@hellucination9905]

Can you please describe it more?

[@muhammadshahroz3311]

When we are 100 percent focused on our meditation object whether it is breathing or mantra we feel it in our every meditation session but sometimes we think we are focused in meditation but we were not thats when we doesn't feel that power

[@Obinsfnubf447]

You can induce it easily by listening to gamma tones.

[@marvinbeckmann7914]

62.000 Hours is basically meditating 8 hours a day, every day for 21 years.. lol

[@techgawwd2202]

you can skip sleep.. once you get to meditative state.. meditation itself don't mean anything.. getting into meditative state and being there is main goal here.. so yea, once you've hit that state through practice.. you can skip 8 hrs sleep.. just get 2 hrs if you need and you can do it. :P

[@Fomites]

@@techgawwd2202 Are you sure of that? My guess is that you are guessing.

[@ralfkruger300]

I did a Vipassana 10 day retreat once, and on the last two days, they asked us to try and meditate through the night. It worked for me, and I felt not much different than if I had slept. I have not been able to repeat that experience (I haven’t tried hard though). It is my plan to go to a sleep lab after I do my next retreat and see what they measure.

[@techgawwd2202]

@@Fomites I'm sure of it.. In India, there are many yogis who have got into that state where they sleep sometimes an average of 1 Hr/Day.. but this practice isn't easy at all.. you have to give up many things to get there..

[@srikanthreddymec07]

@@techgawwd2202 What's the use of this though? Sleeping 1 Hr/day? What will someone gain by doing this consistently? I can understand that there may be situations where this is helpful, but doing it daily is of no use in my opinion

[@thedude870]

would be really interesting to do the same tests with people who used psychedelics such as lsd, psilocybin, dmt or mescaline to know wether they are long-term "enlightened" or "awake" just like these high-level meditators, or if they're only "enlightened" during the trip itself - if you can even compare it to the mental states of meditators/if there's similar gamma-wave activity in the brain (if at all).

[@sentientbeing9781]

Meditating is like sailing towards a higher state of consciousness, using psychedelics is like using a space rocket to get there.

[@alexrodriguez9520]

True stuff my guy

[@thedude870]

yeah, but i'm wondering if this state (the gamma-waves he's talking about) persists, if it even existed in the first place, or if it vanishes after the trip

[@kunfoopanda]

I met a saint long time back and I asked this question to him. He smiled and said that psychedelics are used by many beginners as the mental state of trance is a little similar to what you get from meditation but the state they get from meditation is hundreds and thousands of times more intense. That state may persist for hours but you would feel that it's been for a few seconds only. In psychedelics it's just the opposite... it's like it slows the time. He told me many other things but I can not recall most of it as I was too young :D

[@felixlarssonrudfeldt3287]

If you want to know more about the long term effects of psychedelics use you could read the new book by Michael Pollan who's done some research on it. Also, if you don't want to read the book, he's been interviewed by Sam harris on his podcast "The Waking Up Podcast" and by Joe Rogan on his podcast "The Joe Rogan Experience". samharris.org/podcasts/127-freedom-known/ kzbin.info/www/bejne/qquXdKWNesSDZsk

[@sunshinespecial]

Well, everyone here are wondering how many days are to be devoted for attaining such meditative highly energised mind. The answer is practice meditation daily, each hour of the day. How?? By becoming aware of your thoughts, by focussing on whatever your mind is talking or any thoughts which are popping up, pay attention to them. Actually for me, meditation is not simply sitting idle by clossing eyes, but it is focussing on our thought process..either when we are are talking to someone or having our meal..simply concentrate on your thoughts..Best wishes guys. Love from India. Namaste 🙏🏻😊

[@crisprcrispr229]

Super I also practise when I go walk, travelling in bus etc. It can be practise anywhere. Mediation is being aware of your thought and giving direction to your thought you desired.

[@janehughart9290]

I’ve been meditating every morning now for the past few months and I have already noticed my outlook on life is beginning to change. I feel generally more calm, focused and find it easier to get into a “flow state” if you will.

[@alireyes4219]

So no one is gonna talk about how we didn't get footage of the experiment, any graph, any video of the brain waves....?

[@LVXMagick]

Probably in the full episode of superhumans this was taken from, not for sure but worth looking.

[@engopys5574]

There is a video documentary of 'Ripoche' mingyur monk. Do check it out.. It shows results on gamma

[@jeffheyer7783]

I was wondering the same thing.. like that would actually be pretty remarkable if true, but why not show is a picture?

[@FreyParadox]

I've been trying to explain this feeling to my friends for fricken years. Thank you.

[@naarad_muni9440]

Hahahah, the comments section has a collective PhD in "meditation and mindfulness".

[@blackmuskveetandoor2487]

😂😂😂

[@alekvillarreal3470]

Collective PhD lmao

[@Rezin_8]

I learned to meditate in 1991, I was 6....IM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS GIFT ....THANKFUL FOR KARATE SENSAI, AND PARENTS FOR PAYING FOR LESSONS....

[@wokk9543]

6?

[@bhalesh]

*Olympic Level Procrastinator* Anyone? 🤔

[@adityachoksi8446]

Same pinch bhai

[@neo69121]

ooooh yeah im olympinc lecel masturbator AND procrastinator

[@kavanpatel3836]

Hau Bhai...apde pan Olympics level procrastinator Che😆

[@adeshb2150]

Procrasturbation you mean?

[@jatinmukkawar1640]

Hahahahaha

[@johnnysodak7261]

Funny how once again scientists discovered something "never known before". This video should be named the eastern were right :D

[@devarshraval4692]

no the eastern weren't right. Nobody is right.

[@democrat8176]

Eastern people are leaving such practices... If we want rest just engage in recreational activities or Sleep... Or talk with friends or do something productive activities like gardening etc. than sitting without doing nothing, but eating only 😊

[@democrat8176]

@Michael Terrell II your viewpoint is nice.

[@johnnysodak7261]

@@devarshraval4692 thank you for your input.

[@johnnysodak7261]

@Michael Terrell II it isnt anti-science.. and I dont disrespect science by any means. But when something just isnt possible and just doesnt exist, but then suddenly scientists make such a "discovery" well... thats ridiculous :D

[@jonathanjordon4769]

I met the Karmapa and meditate d with hundreds of monks. Proper meditation is insane it’s beyond words. I am so glad l had that experience.

[@thomasrobertfitness]

I just had an amazing experience within a group meditation with 70 people in a meditation facility. I’ve been practicing meditation for about 10 years now, however this experience was somewhat heightened,amplified that liberated me from underlying anxiety. 🙏🏻

[@willumpfirst904]

The image of the monk is Drugu Choegyal Rinpoche. He is just amazing.

[@breatheism]

It really is amazing, the power we all have inside us. All it takes is some relaxation and focus!

[@jeffreyohler2599]

2:29 I love when modern science shows that old views & perspectives of living aren't completely irrelevant. Especially if the science is shining light on the spiritual realm.

[@diprajkadlag]

I was always wondering about the said results of meditation, the eternal bliss until i had a moment of that bliss, a drop of that nectar which did not last longer. I tried again to get that but failed. Then I heard from OSHO that if expect for that bliss and sit for meditation it is hard to get, rather don't expect u will get that someday again. At that MOMENT i could feel the heat in my brain, could see some bright light but that bright light was not from the light falling on my closed eyelids but from where the light is processed inside the brain, truly experiencial. It has convinced me so much such that i am meditating about 1 hour around the sunrise and sunset. I found these times most suitable and best for meditation. Everyday i sleep right after when i cease my thoughts in my sunset meditation. That is why i do it on bed such that it is easy to drop my body down and enter into deep sleep directly. In the morning i feel like a baby depending on the quality of meditation.

[@xFlared]

It's restructuring your entire mindset and perspective on life bit by bit daily. Repeating it. Ingraining it. And then keeping it subconscious while maintaining your conscious part calm and clear. Meaning the monkey brain is put to rest. It's like lifting weights and initially requires a bit of internal suffering before becoming as effortless as sleeping.

[@Philosia]

Exactly.👍 Is it from your own experience? If not then try my blog suggestions to experience it.

[@heyven565]

It's astonishing thinking how versatile and flexible our brains can be in just one life time (not talking revolutionary).Depending on what you spend time on your brain will adjust to it.You take too much instagram and Facebook doses your brain will get used to the constant and rapid change of information and photos that it is going to be hard for you to concentrate for an extended amount of time in one subject.In other way it shortens your (focus span).A different example would be on language.We are so well adjusted to it, that we speak in language, we think in word, we can even experience in words just like the word apple is connected to certain sensations or other words to emotions. In the same way it might be that people with such high count of meditation hours can experience everything to its fullest with mere thoughts.I mean hell they might think of going on a trip and literally be on vacation and back within a few hours of meditation😂 And we will just die having not get a single glimpse of our brain's full potential.

[@Manish-tz6vf]

But the secret is they don't die but end up understanding their true nature which is not physical.

[@danynata9337]

@@Manish-tz6vf well, depends on what you mean

[@danynata9337]

@Learning History I just wanted to understand what he meant

[@danynata9337]

Actually yeah, I might have spoken like I knew the truth. I still wanted to understand what he was saying. Its funny because I think I know the truth without knowing that I think that (or rather that my positions are right), your comment has made me ponder this

[@donnekucukdevecii6914]

Well. For a couple of years I was stressed and depressed and anxious all the time. I had no answer and I wasn't moving on in life. For a couple of days I'm meditating. I listen to gamma, alpha, beta, theta and delta waves as well and do yoga on the mornings and right before sleep. I never felt so light and relieved. You learn to accept your feelings and just let it be. You learn to focus. And in this couple of days the quality of my life increased. My days are more fulfilling and harmonic.

[@0ptimal]

I did similar when I was going thru a phase of not sleeping hardly at all for weeks. One evening I tried meditation, it went well and I slept like a baby for the first time in awhile. I was amazed.

[@donnekucukdevecii6914]

@@0ptimal that's nice to hear.

[@LeeJayRobertson]

The power of meditation is astounding ✨🙏🏻✨

[@William_Clinton_Muguai]

"There is a state of being which is not like our ordinary state. Sometimes it's called liberation."❤️❤️❤️

[@quantumhorizon7514]

Apologies in advance if I sound rude but was the research paper published? Is there a way for us to access the paper if it was actually published? Thank you!

[@Hagh12375]

Quantum Horizon watch in Ebsco (Psyndex and psycarticles) there are Papers that are Published. I Hope you have Access to them

[@Joeyblannn]

Ur really nice

[@needlessoptions]

Bruh this the least rude comment of all time haha

[@higorguedes4413]

I'm offended with this comment

[@badreeddibe3868]

even if the papers wre published, they could b ofc evaluated and criticised....

[@krissifadwa]

I love Daniel Goleman's view on meditation. He explains it so pragmatically.

[@Columbia-Brightlight]

It's true: Meditation connects one to the authentic, divine, kind and compassionate Self, too often bashed & diminished by dogmatic, child-hating teachers, preachers and parentoids. Even therapists. I had one who absolutely condemned it. Luckily, freed myself by meditating! 🕊

[@linconjeet7061]

Dear sir, Thanks for this great video. Actual meditation starts only when feeling of compassion in a human reaches its maximum level. Yes you are very right that there are no words in human dictionary for the feeling of Enlightenment. To better understand above phenomenon please read Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji.I am sure Your all questions would be answered. may waheguru ji bless you

[@Philosia]

It ends with attainment of highest level of compassion. How can it start at such high level, then what is left?

[@Raghu_vijai]

That state is called "Blissful state" and every human beings can achieve this by practicing Yoga and Meditation 🙏🏻

[@cloudlessvision4192]

I learned a few years ago that balance is the key to a happy and successful life, and a huge part of achieving that balance is to instill rituals into your everyday life - a nutritious balanced diet, daily exercise, time for yourself through meditation, reading, journaling, yoga, daily reflection, and setting goals. Good detail video👌👌

[@oshix3844]

This video must share everywhere all over the world ... I really meant it ..🙏☺️

[@saammahakala]

No joke. I meditated for three months, if you can call it that, more like deep breathing with an app I downloaded to my phone along with quieting my thoughts, after which a deceased Guru appeared to me in two sequential identical dreams where the second one I was able to stay asleep several seconds longer where I got to see a framed picture of his star pupil above his chalkboard., oh yeah, he was dressed as a modern-day school teacher, he was also an Indian gentleman with a short manicured white beard wearing a sky blue turban with a tiny jewel in its center. Anyways, after seeing his star pupil I woke up and searched the internet for past Gurus where I was able to identify them both thanks to his pupil in that framed picture. I went to a local church that was started by that pupil back in the 30's., I think, and participated in a 3-hour meditation class, my one and only btw, and seven hours later while doing my dishes my point of sight receded upwards to a single eye?? I was looking out of my pineal sphincter., Galen was wrong about it being a gland. I got to see a 180° half-spherical view of the inner workings of this body's skull while still being able to see the dish in my hands through the two eye shaped portals floating in the ether down below. I was also able to see the two hemispheres of this body's brain crackling with electricity as well. It was a brief electrifying experience to say the least. Shared this with one of the "brothers" in the church based down south and they refunded my tuition, which I was okay with since I could detect the arrogance and ignorance of that "brother." I wouldn't want to be a part of an organization that not only has a litigious mindset but are completely ignorant of their Guru's teachings.

[@mr_flow_inhaler8465]

Sheesh that's a hell of a experience. I woulda loved to have undergoed that bruh

[@hansdumbf7608]

Olympic Level Meditators?!!!? LMFAO!!! Imagine the Meditation Olympics...

[@sugarfree1894]

This seems very true, Tibetan Buddhists monks I've met are the coolest, most relaxed, light-hearted, unflustered and unflappable, steady-state, warm and stable people I know. At the same time, if you try to mess with them in any way you will get fully nowhere. They are a delight to be with.

[@meditationamsterdam]

This is very easy to explain, and does not take years of meditation, but rather correct use of the mind. And to the question of what it feels like.... amazing :0)

[@alixnorman7389]

This makes me think of synaesthesia; the crossover of senses which is ever-present. Anyone know how it might affect gamma waves?

[@sondresolstrand]

Yes, does anyone know which waves are most present in synesthetes? Is there even a difference? I would be thrilled to see some research on this

[@Trapinnewyork44]

😭😭 This really touched my heart and soul♥️♥️

[@chanakyasinha1173]

that eye,r u ring owner ,your own your precious

[@TheNiveaman]

Sounds like a fundamental satisfaction, self-confidence and optimism (which overall already are scientifically known as markers that put the whole organism on "live") - you could say it's a mindset that fully embraces life

[@seankeikbusch9404]

Daily meditation has utterly transformed my life. It's the number one thing I recommend to anyone seeking my advice.

[@nirmalyamisra]

in our first year of engineering a group of krishna consciousness people took me and a bunch of other guys to a camp for 2 days. we woke early , did dancing prayers, had veg food, discussed about their life and they are trying to communicate to us. after two days we came out of the building and for an hour or two I was in a completely different state of mind like see all these common ignorant materialistic fools around us. but slowly i relapsed into the same common hood.

[@waldog1079]

anyone else’s mouth subconsciously watered when he mentioned thinking about biting an apple

[@RoyalEasternTrading]

Thank you for sharing this information, truly fascinating....

[@sjuvanet]

i have already seen this video, but stumbled upon it again. dis dope

[@RTFosmark]

I was going to go pro, but decided to keep my meditation at the amateur level so I still had a shot at the Olympics.

[@merlinmountroyal3497]

62000 is about 8hours/day for 21 years or like 3hours a day for 56 years (it is feasible as I did much more)

[@alidelatierra]

When i did shrooms i experienced ego death, then such a strong experience of feeling one woth the universe and love connecting the whole universe together. I meditated for like 2 hours and it was the most peaceful and mind opening experience. I havent been able to meditate so peacefully and with such a clear mind and connection with the universe

[@Fomites]

Well then it was the mushrooms, not the meditation.

[@GK-qc5ry]

How many grams did you take and was it your first time?

[@alidelatierra]

@@GK-qc5ry I took an eighth and it was my second time

[@alidelatierra]

@@Fomites it was both

[@artist172]

gamma is pathway solidification. Honestly if it spikes when you've figured something out or receiving sensory input.... it's your brain solidifying connections or coming to understand something or recalling something that you understand. meditation is the practice of being present in the moment, which means that every moment you're brain is making connections. in the case of "Olympic" meditate-rs their brains are programed to constantly take input and be aware of pretty much everything at almost every moment.

[@0ptimal]

Maybe gamma is understanding? Knowing?

[@joshuamontgomery2298]

"Olympic level" made me laugh a bit but sad that this sort of thing is put into the realm of human societal accomplishments rather than spiritual attainment that was never meant to be measured but rather experienced and is. The big think is not to think, just be.

[@canilo_7672]

that was very well said.

[@TheCHOMPERsimulation]

I reach a weird level of gamma whenever I'm having a spiritual experience (I mean heightened senses, etc.). What does this mean?

[@redlightclinicdrummer]

I would really love to get this done on me. I can feel the same things you describe and not only do I meditate but I'm a drummer and have been for almost 20 years and im only 21! Drumming it's self has made me feel this way so i would like to see what's up

[@donniering7782]

For people who are interested: All meditation doesn't have to be cross-legged. Some people are physically incapable. Use a chair and sit straight, listen to the sound of your breath. Go on walks every day and use your mental space to listen to the sounds of your footsteps. Practice visualization focus when you have spare mental space. One that has created extraordinary bliss and a sense of oneness for myself is the visualization of a brilliant sun in the center of my chest. Engage deeply in day to day activities by focusing on the gross sensations involved, which will diminish random thought processes while doing seemingly mundane activities. All of this is meditation practice. There is rarely no opportunity to develop a more meditated mind in your moment to moment life.

[@kl8455]

a straight back is the most important point of posture. even a brief 30 second meditation has benefit. great explanation.

[@pinkfloydguy7781]

Oda Sesso said “There is little to choose between a man lying in the ditch heavily drunk on rice liquor, and a man heavily drunk on his own ‘enlightenment’!”

[@fdsdfsdfsdfsify]

Great explanation on the state of mind that You might form whilst meditating, been practising meditation for about 1,5 years now, number one thing you actually might notice is that your previous self was pretty much in a tunnel vision, guided by other peoples beliefs in you and having little to no control over how you interpret every day experiences. Secondly - there is nothing that you are not mentally unprepared to handle, be it getting negative out come of a scenario that you hoped will be good, has no effect on your state of being and you say to yourself - it is what it is, life goes on and don't hesitate even for a split second to accept the outcome for what it is. And lastly, you start seeing and experiencing things more and clear, sort of confidence, even if you don't feel confident, me as a antisocial person (don't go to meet ups/party's etc.) still can talk and express my ideas/opinions freely without feeling any privilege or need to step on other people and appreciating every person/creature you can just for them existing on the same planet as yourself.

[@cindylindsay6851]

I am using muse head gear and mind monitor app to track this in my own meditations to see when I get Gamma on top. Sure enough, expanded awareness and compassion or gratitude meditation do elevate gamma above other wave forms. I am not a top meditator, so I believe this can help all of us reach those states. Perhaps if we do it enough, we can walk around in everyday life at elevated gamma. Or perhaps if we practice compassion in everyday life, as those monks likely do, that we will come to it that way.

[@TheNesbittExperience]

I love it! Great piece, Big Think! 🙌🏻🙏

[@garyji]

The big takeaway: "We don't know what sustained gamma waves really mean." Unless "olympic level meditators" with sustained gamma wave readings are actually experiencing sustained stabilized pure consciousness, then we could not say that gamma waves are related to or a symptom of enlightenment. More research would be interesting.

[@patinho5589]

Or just do it’s so that you know what it means for yourself from the inside.

[@shikharsingh8267]

Anyone who really knows this, how many hours of meditation would be required to reach this state? And, what technique? Basically, shed some light on this please.

[@shikharsingh8267]

@Bob Smith it is a full time job then. Right. If it really is so good, might be worth pursuing

[@blisswkc3344]

Thank y’all so much dearest 🌹 Y’all such an inspiration 🥰 Be Blissful Eternally 🙏😇🌈

[@findhealthtips]

💕💕 after watching this, now there should not be any questions for the benefits of meditation.

[@CR-nh6sx]

Meditation is one of the best gifts India has given to this world.

[@desinasa4102]

india has given a lots of gurus and still india is shit.

[@markbeltra4927]

Before Indians ppl used to meditate just did not say that any ppl in ancient pages used to

[@yasashiiyuuyake]

"We have no idea what that means experientially." Did you ask them?

[@grant6991]

I don't think science has advanced enough tools for that yet

[@yasashiiyuuyake]

@@grant6991 "experientially" refers to subjective experience, meaning they can just ask the monks what it feels like. It's not like with lab rats where all you can do is scan their brains and observe behaviour.

[@grant6991]

@YasaYu thats the joke. Sometimes the most obvious answers are missed by science because we are caught in the paradigm of using fancy tools to try to prove everything when qualitatively we could reach the same place by just asking them

[@yasashiiyuuyake]

@@grant6991 And I took your reply seriously oops. The comment in the video was perplexing, but I do know some studies actually compare the brain scan data to the monk's subjective reports, so it's not completely hopeless.

[@sanjakaric5538]

They were in trans ,so they couldnt ask them hehe

[@FeGoinHeem]

I feel like I’ve experienced some level of this after starting to practice radical acceptance. It is life changing!

[@scentsoftravelmeditation]

1:44 Wow I just watched a video about Brain waves and it said “we don’t know how Gamma waves are generated” but I thought meditation would surely increase it because I know I have very levels of all good cerebral waves. Then I clicked on this video and you confirmed my analysis as true :)

[@surajdas647]

i spent a lot of time watching animes... what differences had it resulted if i had meditated instead

[@unseen2021]

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of sapho that thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains. The stains become a warning. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

[@williamromero-auila7129]

Sí

[@iditbudha3017]

Truly it is quite spacious and it is hard to know when living in reality and all these thoughts within along the vision are different away beyond reality

[@Iamthenoi]

As someone who's experienced this; you're right to question what that's like experientially, it's really like nothing else.

[@rohitrajput6043]

Yoga and meditation is so good ....you can feel it the moment you start it doing

[@kylemesa3959]

Neat finding! We also have higher levels of gamma when experiencing new things, and these people were flown to another country and included in a cutting-edge scientific study in a laboratory so the entire trip sounds like a new experience. I'd like to see this same test done on Olympic level meditators who are familiar with the equipment and are in a familiar place.

[@DickEnsaiyu]

Meditation is the state of being at peace. It shows that Disturbed individuals are never at Peace so their spirit strays and their soul oppressed and the body slowly deteriorates although it hasn't died yet.

[@questeye8167]

I can take the stress and pressure on command away like as if it was never there thank u for this video

[@c011in]

Where did the high level meditators spend their talent points?

[@dumpsterjedi6148]

Patience, luck, and intelligence

[@harikeshsingh3996]

Its NIRVANA.

[@arranhc]

Meditating

[@amiwije]

The most valuable thing - on themselves

[@wonkyj7149]

Penis size

[@georgekrish3424]

NEPAL has silently produced such persons!! got to learn from those✊

[@samreplete1842]

George Krish but seems like me being from Nepal lot of people I encounter aren’t doing meditations now a days!!

[@georgekrish3424]

Yaah!! although most people don't practice ,still the proportion of those practising meditation is more than that of other nationalities!!

[@willumpfirst904]

lol the monks are from TIBET. The image in the beggining is Drugu Choegyal Rinpoche.

[@takeiteasyasmr]

I appreciate this short video, it definitely crimes my curiosity to continue to learn more

[@yudy92]

I tthink as you described with biting the apple, it being a you to the present moment. With meditation, types of meditation, they bring you to the present moment as well, and then with other types they bring that present moment focus into another level of consciousness.

[@kuntalsarma5106]

What a coincidence, since today I have started to read his book 'Emotional Intelligence".

[@openyoureyes3308]

Your path is clear 🖖

[@sultanofswingdrift3021]

To bad there is no "emotional intelegence" Get rid of that book it's boogey-wogey

[@maya-cc2sx]

@@sultanofswingdrift3021 there is emotional intelligence wdym

[@FarwalkEverwill]

Now it's called being woke af.

[@babygorl9541]

no. completely different things.

[@misnomer5557]

Buddha means “the one who woke”

[@Ultraclutch777]

baby gorl クリームシチュー美味過ぎ yeah completely different

[@fico_m]

Na. "Woke af" is just lefty masturbation

[@dgaf2219]

Filip Martinovic 😂💀GAZER GAZER

[@lucyoriginales]

I want to know how do those meditators levitate and what lights in their brain and what composition chemically and interactions are going on.

[@Fomites]

Oh come on - they don't levitate.

[@sohambhattacharjee951]

I have always believed that God lies inside us and having true control over our mind , body and soul is the way to unite with Him. Meeting with Him is the simple act where we actually meet ourself. This video just strengthened my belief. There are a lot of folk songs in Bengali that deals with this concept. Moner Manush by Lalon Fakir rings a certain bell.

[@MorganMango]

Great video but every time he said 'Olympic-level meditators' I kept thinking of an Olympics games where all the athletes are monks in orange robes competing against each other.

[@agentsquid9079]

same

[@tayaotto3484]

Sooooo sounds like more research has to be done......this seemed vague and the study of extreme persons..... wished for more content on this piece n what his point is since there is a longer interview.

[@Timetravel1111]

Wonderful that this is shared and being studied.

[@houdinididiit]

Very interesting and no surprise. Has there been a comparative examination with different subjects who use high levels of concentration? In particular, I'm wondering about classical and jazz musicians? I just can't imagine a high level composer or improvisor not having unique EEG signatures. It might not be Gamma, but I suspect there's something going on.

[@cellardoor199991]

1:53 I imagine that's what "cloud 9" is. I felt this several times, but not in a while. I miss it. Also, I keep reading that it makes gray matter more dense . Good, itll keep my mind sharp.. Time to meditate again.