This essay offers a critical psychological and philosophical analysis of the concept of faith. The author argues that faith, unlike trust and hope, does not rely on experience, evidence, or verification, making it a unique and potentially dangerous phenomenon in human consciousness. The paper traces the roots of faith from childhood magical thinking and the “oceanic feeling” (Freud) to its...
This research proposes to evaluate Transcendental Meditation (TM) as a complementary integrative practice in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders. Based on WHO data and the Brazilian context, the study highlights the high prevalence of anxiety and the need for therapeutic alternatives beyond the biomedical model. The research, conducted with adults diagnosed in the state of São Paulo, used online...
DescriptionThis preprint proposes a new biological classification for N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT): crisis-linked endogenous consciousness modulators (cECMs). Using six mechanistically grounded, falsifiable criteria—endogenous neural biosynthesis, deep evolutionary conservation, ultra-rapid pharmacokinetics, multi-receptor promiscuity, crisis-linked release, and induction of information-rich...
The evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and certain pharmacotherapies can effectively manage parasomnias, including hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations, although further research is needed to refine these approaches.
Background: Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic compound, has demonstrated long-term antidepressant effects, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications, particularly 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), may play a role in its therapeutic action. Unlike passive demethylation, which requires cell division and...
The Bhagavadgītā, a timeless spiritual and philosophical text, offers profound insights into the nature of existence, human purpose, and the path to liberation. Delivered by Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, its teachings transcend historical and cultural boundaries, addressing universal questions of life, duty, and the divine. This article explores the text’s holistic...
“Meditation means dissolving the invisible walls that unaware has built” This is said by the well-known spiritual Master Sadhguru. With this, he is suggesting that meditation means going beyond all barriers, conditionings and labels. Not only him, but all those who practice meditation and/or engaged with it in the same way or the other echo the same feeling that meditation takes you closer to...
Stress among young adults is a pervasive issue impacting physical and psychological well-being. This study explores the effects of mindfulness meditation on flourishing and hope among university students. A sample of 25 participants engaged in a structured intervention involving body scan meditation and gratitude journaling over 20 sessions. The Flourishing Scale (Diener et al., 2010); and The...
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterised by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, which significantly impacts both physical and mental health. Pharmacological treatments, while effective, pose risks of side effects and dependency. Meditation, a mind-body practice with ancient roots, has emerged as a promising, non-pharmacological intervention for managing insomnia.This review...
Mindfulness meditation (MM) interventions, such as Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in many university student samples. Practicing MM over long periods of time increases levels of trait mindfulness (TM), characterized by a general decrease in daily stress and anxiety levels and a proliferation of positive mindfulness habits and attitudes....
This study aimed at establishing the efficacy of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MBCBT) in treating PTSD symptoms among 50 paired couples (50 husbands and 50 wives) in selected PCEA churches in Nairobi County, Kenya. The couples were assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Those in experimental group were exposed to an MBCBT intervention for a period of 10...
Background: 'HELP Programme' featuring Heartfulness meditation presents a compelling strategy to nurture happiness among students. Recognized as a crucial component of students' educational journey, it contributes to enhanced academic performance, motivation, and social relationships. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of the 'HELP Programme' on...
This is an introductory article to the issue titled "Integrative Psychotherapy and Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness", developed with the intention of disseminating scientific knowledge on the field of human consciousness and its potential applications in mental health. For this issue, we have gathered experts from the fields of psychedelic-assisted therapy, neuroscience, psychology, and...
The article deals with the various theories and perspectives on the concept of space, including René Descartes’ understanding of space as a category, modern physicists’ view of space as a relative and derived medium, and the latest concepts of subatomic vacuum fluctuations. It’s also about mental spaces and a computer model that explains the generation of consciousness in interconnected systems...
A pre-print version of the article "A Concise Historiography of Classical Yoga Philosophy." In: Eli Franco (ed.), Periodization and Historiography of Indian Philosophy. Vienna: Sammlung de Nobili (Publications of the De Nobili Research Library, 37), p. 53–90.
Sufism is a phenomenon that arose from the middle of the 8th century due to several religious, socio-economic, political, ideological and ideological reasons. The somewhat limited thinking about metaphysical phenomena in traditional Islamic thought has prompted many foreign researchers to look for the roots of these teachings in other faiths and sources that allow for some superstition.
Background and Objectives: Pregnancy is considered a sensitive period in women's life, which is associated with many physical and psychological changes, and each person deals with it differently. Countless studies have confirmed the relationship between stress and anxiety during pregnancy and the mental and physical health of the child. The effectiveness of yoga –based mindfulness on quality of...
Abstract Modern publications on Hegelian anthropology and psychology testify to the growing interest in this topic. This is due to the increasing relevance of philosophical anthropology in the context of the “anthropological turn”, and also due to the need for meaningful semantics of psychological concepts for computer modeling. The present article is devoted to the epistemology of Hegel, and...
This comparative study is an effort to determine something of the notion of love between two of the great mystical poets, that is, Saint John of the Cross and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. There are a few distinctions in their other worldly viewpoints, like love, profound openness, language, and childhood in various settings and group environments. There is a reasonable sign of the likenesses in...
This paper argues that to progress with philosophical issues concerning brain-mind relations one needs to combine philosophical reflection and empirical research with theoretical model building. Philosophy and abstract theorizing alone do not carry us far, as will be illustrated by analyzing the views about panpsychism by the quantum physicist David Bohm, who builds his reasoning on quantum...
Existing theories about the nature of conscious sensations are discussed. The oldest classification system contrasts dualist theories (which say consciousness is an abstract entity) with monist theories (which say consciousness is a concrete entity). A more recent system contrasts process theories ("consciousness is a process, not a thing") with vehicle theories (consciousness is a property of...
The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of meditation on reaction ability. Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or as an end in itself. Psychomotor abilities were always considered to be the foundation for technical skill and tactical ability in any given sports. Despite its popularity,...
Abstract: Resilience is a character quality that enables people to successfully navigate difficult situations, change, and grow. Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to a state of consciousness that shows the mind is present and has a heightened and purposeful awareness of internal and external sensations occurring at a specific time. The aim of the present study was to investigate the...
Description Title: Iconographic Syncretism in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Comparative Analysis of Classical Mythology, Judeo-Christian Theology, and Western Literary Traditions Summary: This research paper provides a multi-disciplinary iconographic analysis of the 22 Major Arcana cards within the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot deck. Positioning the deck as a "living museum" of Western...