Studies of advanced stages of meditation in the tibetan buddhist and vedic traditions. I: a comparison of general changes.

A comparison of studies on advanced Tibetan Buddhist meditators in the Himalayas and long-term Transcendental Meditation practitioners reveals parallel improvements in sensory acuity, perceptual style, and cognitive function, indicating stabilization of attentional awareness. These changes, along with increased EEG coherence and brain function, are consistent with growth toward total brain functioning and full mental potential, often accompanied by improved health parameters. A second article will discuss how these findings relate to enlightenment.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article is the first of two comparing findings of studies of advanced practitioners of Tibetan Buddhist meditation in remote regions of the Himalayas, with established results on long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation programs. Many parallel levels of improvement were found, in sensory acuity, perceptual style and cognitive function, indicating stabilization of aspects of attentional awareness. Together with observed increases in EEG coherence and aspects of brain function, such changes are consistent with growth towards a state of total brain functioning, i.e. development of full mental potential. They are usually accompanied by improved health parameters. How they may be seen to be consistent with growth of enlightenment will be the subject of a second article.