Available historical data indicate that Meditation was developed in ancient Greece during 3500-2500 BC followed by India between 2700-1500 BC. Meditation was first described in yoga, in the Book of wisdom, the Veda about 4000 years ago, and presented by Patanjali1 in an abridged form about 2500 years ago. But meditation found a modern and more disciplined expression in Vipasana meditation of Lord Buddha (500 BC). However, first comprehensive scientific evidence in favour of all-round quality of life came from Transcendental Meditation (TM) of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.2 In addition to increased intelligence, performance and reduced tension most outstanding finding was reversal of aging process after long term practice of TM, however, TM requires rigorous training of seven days and uttering of Mantras given by a Guru to be practised morning and evening.

Saral Meditation based on TM was introduced after years of research on Veda and other forms of Meditation available world wide. It requires training for 3 consecutive days but without Mantra and has been proved equally effective as TM3-5 except reversal of aging process which will require another one year to assess for long term effects. One of the outstanding results of Saral meditation has been reduced practice, only once in 24 hrs against twice of TM. It has been shown that consciousness of breathing at other times when mind is free has reduced the practice once in a day compared to twice in TM.6

Saral Meditation - 7 steps

Methods of Saral meditation have been described earlier.7 They are reproduced in short for ready reference.

Number of studies have been conducted to assess the value of meditation during health and disease. Biochemical studies have indicated that after 10 days of intensive Vipasana type of meditation, there was an improvement in mental activity with greater tranquility of mind as evidenced by a significant increase in the neuro-humoral contents of the blood such as ceatecholamines, histamine, acetylcholine and their related enzymes and with a decrease in the cortisol level.8 Wallace and Benson who conducted extensive studies on Transcendental meditation9 observed that the EEG showed an increase in the alpha wave activity indicating greater tranquillity of mind. They also observed a decrease in the heart beat and a 20% decrease in oxygen consumption. There was also marked increase in skin resistance in several subsequent studies. This method has been used clinically in case of hypertension, drug addiction, alcoholism, etc. with beneficial results. By coupling meditation with biofeedback, one can successfully treat a large number of patients with stress disorders. Recently, OM meditation has been shown to decrease heart rate.10

The promotion of mental health can also be obtained by using other methods of meditation : Zen meditation as practised in Japan, Suffism as in the Middle east and Autogenic training as in Western countries. Kundalini meditation has also been used with great benefit not only for improving the level of consciousness but also in the treatment of certain mental illness.8 Recently, Lama Gangchen has described a meditation for World peace11 and claimed to cure certain mental illnesses.

There is a great scope for the use of meditation in the preventive, promotive and curative aspects of mental health. However, there is an urgent need to conduct scientific study and to develop standardization of mental health so that people all over the world can use it. Recently, TM has shown to reduce tension and incidence of diseases.2 More recently, in a preliminary study, Saral meditation has been shown to reduce sleeplessness,12 reduce blood pressure, reverse aging process and converts loneliness to solitude.13

Saral Meditation and brain function

Our brain vibrates like heart beats, while heart beats 72/min, brain does so per second. Rhythms of this energy are measured in cycles per second (CPS) by electroencephalogram (EEG). Generally about 14 CPS and up (usually up to 21) are called Beta waves, about 7 to 14 are Alpha waves, 4-7 Theta and 4 and below (up to zero) are called Delta.

When you are awake during in the work a day world, you are in Beta or outer consciousness to use mind control terminology. When you are day dreaming or just going to sleep but not quite there yet, or just awakening but not yet awake, you are in Alpha; mind control people call this “Inner consciousness”. When you are asleep you are in Alpha, Theta or Delta, not just Alpha alone. It has been claimed that with mind control training you can enter Alpha level at will and still remain fully alert.14

Being in beta or wide awake does not produce any particular feeling. You might feel confident or fearful, busy or idle, engorged or bored, the possibilities are endless. In the deeper levels, the possibilities are limited for most people. Life has taught them function in Beta, not Alpha or Theta. All these deeper levels are pretty much limited to day dreaming, the edges of sleep itself. The Alpha dimension has a complete set of sensing faculties like the Beta. In other words, we can do difficult things in Alpha than we can do in Beta (Fig. 1).

Analysis show that most people (about 95%) function in the range of Beta wave14-21 for most of their activities mostly physical and less of mental. Alpha waves are slow,7-14 some people (nearly 5% of population) function in this range even eyes open. Others can develop it by regular practice or meditation. In a preliminary study, it has been demonstrated that practice of Saral meditation between six months to one year makes one’s brain function in Alpha range even when awake.

It has been claimed that middle of Alpha (10½) roughly 10 cycles of brain frequency to be the centre of human intelligence. It is the crossover point where both brain hemispheres - right and left function according to the need of the moment. It is the optimum frequency at which to educate human intelligence, in the use of all its sensing faculties. Only 5% of us think at this optimum frequency naturally. The rest of us need to develop this (Fig. 2). It has been shown that practice of Saral meditation makes your brain function at deeper and deeper level depending on one’s devotion and long term practice attaining superconsciousness (Theta level). One can function in Delta level only during deep sleep however, instances can be cited where many great personalities attained samadhi, Delta level of unconsciousness but conscious within.

Purpose of this article is to highlight that fact that one can easily make use of both sides of brain, thereby improving memory, intelligence, personality and performance and reduce the aging process by regular practice of Saral meditation once in 24 hours (Fig. 3), leaving the attainment of spirituality (superconsciousness) which will come automatically depending on one’s set of mind according to his or her religious belief. Saral meditation converts tension into complete tranquillity (Fig. 4) which is the beginning of attaining self consciousness guided by the Law of nature, protecting the body and mind from all wrong impulses, in order to attain all round quality life.