EEG Alpha Blocking Correlated with Perception of Inner Light During Zen Meditation
Pei-Chen Lo, Ming-Liang Huang, Kang-Ming Chang
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 2003 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x03001272 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Zen-Buddhist practitioners who had been practicing meditation for years |
| Interventions | meditation blessing |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Citations | 64 |
| Key findings | A significant correlation was observed between perception of inner light and EEG alpha blockage, and significant alpha blocking occurred during a blessing in experienced meditators. |
Abstract
According to the experimental results and practitioners' subjective experience, we report some hypotheses that may account for meditative phenomena during the practice of Zen-Buddhism. Orthodox Zen-Buddhist practitioners, aiming to prove the most original true-self, discover and uncover the inner energy or light on the way towards their goal. Perception of the inner light can be comprehended as resonance. Uncovering the inner energy optimizes physiological and mental health. In the meditation experiment, a significant correlation was observed between perception of the inner light and electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha blockage. We further examined this phenomenon by recording the EEG from subjects during a blessing that the subjects did not know being given. During the blessing period, significant alpha blocking was observed in experimental subjects who had been practicing meditation for years in preparation for being in resonance with the inner light. This report provides a new insight into the debate that meditation benefits our health.