“The individual is cosmic.”

Gamma

Beta

Alpha

Theta

Delta

Problem solving,concentration

Busy, active mind

Reflective, restful

Drowsiness

Sleep, dreaming

Two Studies on Junction Point

• In 15 non-meditators, matched with 15 meditators, EEG patterns at the waking/sleeping transition were not significantly different from TM sessions (except in duration).

• In all 10 meditators in another study, rise and fall of alpha activity occurred at the transition between waking, sleeping, and dreaming.

Is there EEG evidence for Cosmic Consciousness?

• During reported experiences of “witnessing sleep”, alpha activity typical of T.C. occurs along with the delta activity of deep sleep.

A study of individuals reporting the experience of Cosmic Consciousness showed higher frontal EEG coherence during a number task. Responses also better matched the task demands. This measurement is part of the “Brain Integration Scale."

During TM Practice

Eight YearsFour MonthsTravis, 1991

Eyes Open

Eight YearsFour MonthsTravis, 1991

Four Months TM Practice

Eyes OpenTMTravis, 1991

Eight Years TM Practice

Eyes OpenTMTravis, 1991

Bhagavad-Gita

• Ancient Textbook of Human Development

• Textbook of Yoga

Philosophy of Action

“Yogastha˙ kuru karmåˆi”

Established in Yoga, perform action

(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2:48).

A preparation for more dynamic, fulfilling activity.

What is Yoga?

Yoga = Union

Yoga is the complete settling of the activity of the mind

(Yoga Sutra 1,2)

Balance of mind is called Yoga(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2, 48)

Yoga is skill in action(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2, 50)

“Yoga is the basis of an integrated life, a

means of bringing into harmony the

inner creative silence and

the outer activity of life.”

(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2, 48 – Commentary)

How is this relevant to education?

On the one hand, a need for diversity. . . and on the other, a need for some principles of unity, since without it . . . even the studies of any one student are atomic or unbalanced or both.

— 1945 Harvard report on General Education, The Red Book

Beyond diversity, the college has an obligation to give students a sense of passage toward a more coherent view of knowledge and a more integrated life.

— Ernest L. Boyer, College, The Undergraduate Experience in America

“Yoga, or Union of the mind with the divine intelligence, begins when the mind gains

transcendental consciousness: Yoga achieves maturity when this transcendental

bliss-consciousness or divine Being, has gained ground in the mind to such an extent that, in whatever state the mind finds itself,

whether waking or sleeping, it remains established in the state of Being.”

Growth of Higher States of Consciousnessin Terms of Yoga

• Yoga is skill in action – Constructive thinking, experiential intelligence

• Balance of mind is called Yoga – Self (ego) development scale

• Yoga is the most settled state of

mind; He who is perfected in Yoga – Experience Questionnaire

Experience of transcending:the state of Yoga

It’s more simple than words do it justice. I

realize that I had been transcendental, and

it’s incredibly appealing. It only happens

spontaneously. In other words, you can’t try

to get there, but there is a very familiar “not

trying” that makes it easy.

No flowery language can adequately

describe the experience: it is simple and

blissful, and makes me feel clean and

refreshed, like after bathing in a cold lake.

“Yoga is the most settled state of mind”(Yoga SËtra, 1:2)

During TM I feel a sense of extreme silence and peace with my self. A sense of serenity comes over me and I feel at ease.

“Yogastha˙ kuru karmåˆi” Established in Yoga, perform action

(Bhagavad-G¥tå 2:48).

I seem to have entered a realm consisting of full bliss and peace. Afterwards I feel extremely replenished, and ready for action.

I feel energized and yet extremely relaxed. So much potential energy, it is unbelievable. The world is my playground, I am silent within myself, where I sit calmly, yet I am ready to go out and act, conquer.

Growth of Cosmic Consciousness – Witnessing Activity

It’s happened to me exercising and dancing. I feel a really strong connecting between myself, the activity I’m performing and the environment where it’s taking place. Yet, it’s not really me performing, I feel more like a witness but still that sense of bliss is there. I still enjoy it deeply.

This is an experience that has been growing and fluctuating in my awareness. Sometimes it goes away for awhile, but it always comes back. It can be continuous for long periods of time, but sometimes it is still overshadowed. One of the most dynamic examples of this experience was the first time I recognized it. I was kayaking through a very challenging rapid . . .

A natural and unnoticedstate of universality.

Not overwhelming or exciting,it’s quiet and easy.

It just feels like my awareness is expanded – I am very calm and fully aware of all my surroundings, but more of my awareness is beyond them. It is like looking through a wide angle lense – my mind just opens outwards.

Witnessing Sleep

The experience comes and goes from month to month. The experience is that one is aware and time passes very quickly.The awareness is lively, and witnessing the body go through the motions of repair and rest.

I feel an evenness in consciousness from waking through sleep and dreaming.

When I wake up, it felt like coming back from somewhere where I was nourished with peace and silence, it was a fulfilling energy. I felt so integrated with everything else. I felt extremely awake in the level of silence.

It’s hard to say how often this happens – on a subtle level it’s there a lot, on a more expressed level more rare. When I settle down I just have a feeling of complete comfort & happiness, it lasts until I wake up & then the happiness changes to be more lively.

Whenever I sleep early, I have this experience.

As long as I have been getting enough rest in my life, I can experience myself as being wakeful during sleep time & then wake up feeling rested.

This is a very subtle thing for me, but when I am on the program and rested, I enjoy sleep. It is so refreshing. I have been having this blissful quality in my sleep for awhile, but it was only after it went away that I recognized it.

Experience Questionnaire

Analysis of the Experience Questionnaires of 126 students found significant positive change during undergraduate years for

• Frequency of Transcending (p = 0.004)

• Frequency of Witnessing Sleep (p = 0.002).

Growth in Constructive Thinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Global(18–90) (p< 0.001)

Behavioral Coping

(9–45) (p =0.004)

EmotionalCoping

(10–50)(p= 0.002).

CategoricalThinking

(10–50)(p= 0.06)

Fr

Sr

Norm