You gave a conference called “The Place of Transcendental Experiences in the Brain”. What does "transcendence" mean here?
There is a definition expressed as "transcendence" in English and translated as transcendence in Turkish. However, I think this term does not have the same connotation in everyone because people's spiritual feelings, expectations and the way they experience them are quite different. A picture that includes many situations such as spirituality, spirituality, worship, ecstasy, dhikr, meditation, yoga, prayer, retreat, etc. passes before my eyes. These are so diverse and different, but what they have in common are the emotions that people feel while experiencing them.
So, if we examine this scientifically, what do we come across?
Again, there is something else that is very clear. One thing is that while these are felt, some physiological, chemical and even structural changes occur in our body and brain.
Examining science and spirituality from similar windows seems like something distant, do you think?
These experiences have always existed in human history. History presents what people believe and the activities they do in line with these beliefs. The sad thing is that while spirituality is so much in our lives, scientific circles and clergy remain so distant from each other. Sometimes the clergy ignored science and sometimes it was the other way around. When we look at the issue from the scientific perspective; Science is concerned about proving the information it reveals, and in the absence of concrete data, it approaches the accuracy of the information put forward with suspicion. Therefore, for centuries, science has been either indifferent to spirituality and related experiences or had to stay away.
How can this be prevented?
Nowadays, technological tools are widespread. With its use, interest in this field has increased and fortunately, very important studies have begun to be carried out in this field.
What kind of research has been done?
As a result of the research, people have intense interest in During religious life (prayer, dhikr, ecstasy, meditation, etc.), blood flow to some parts of the brain increases, and when continued for a long time at regular intervals, the brain's areas especially responsible for memory and attention increase. It has been shown that there are new cell connections and even new brain cell formation in human brain.
At the same time, data has been published showing that these activities play a role in improving a person's physical health and increasing resistance to diseases.
How does it happen that they really relax and feel at peace during these activities and that some biological changes occur in the long term?
While we do certain activities using our body, our brain also moves into the appropriate position.
There is a circuit in our brain that is active at that time. In other words, just as certain brain regions are activated when we are hungry or thirsty and meet this need in the form of a circuit, there is a circuit containing brain regions that interact with each other in a similar way during spiritual experiences.
We do this in our brain. What is needed first to activate it?
Let's explain it this way: first it is necessary to want, to decide, that is, to intend. The part of the brain that ensures this and comes into play first in an action initiated with intention is the part where our forehead is (frontal region).
This area is about thinking logically, deciding what is right and wrong for us, predicting the most appropriate action and Responsible for activities such as implementation. In other words, when we believe and want, this region is active and comes into play, but when we do an action without believing or being convinced enough, there is already a deficiency in the beginning.
What is the next stage?
The next stage after wanting and deciding is to focus attention. The region related to this (anterior cingulate) allows us to disconnect from external stimuli and focus more on the emotions within us, while doing this, it slightly reduces the blood flow to the brain region (parietal region) that maintains our sense of time and space.
What does this do? Benefit?
A slight decrease in the activity of this region allows the person to distance himself from time and space and feel in a different dimension or to feel a different dimension.
This feeling enriches internal perceptions. It is necessary for. At the same time, this area also receives sensations such as pain and suffering from our body. Decreased blood flow to this area It allows neither pain nor pain to be felt less.
Interesting!
This is also possible to explain why some people can be resistant to pain during intense mystical experiences. is happening. In order to prevent focusing and preventing the feeling of being in a different dimension, the activities of a separate brain region must also decrease.
What is that region?
This region (amygdala) is especially dangerous for us. It is a structure that is functional for sudden and quick reactions for our immediate protection, but sometimes we can trigger it with unfounded anxiety and fear and it comes into play as if there is a danger situation. However, during religious activities, the person should be quite relaxed, not anxious. For this reason, this region should reduce its activity, just like the parietal region.
Can you give an example?
Since the amygdala is intended to protect us, even the slightest signal of danger may be detected. He even takes the message seriously. For example, a dog barking, a sudden brake sound, as well as a person's internal expressions such as "Oh, I'm ruined, my life is dark", also stimulate the amygdala. In other words, if our fears, anxieties and worries stimulate this region, we cannot find the state of peace we are trying to achieve.
Because when the activity of the amygdala increases, blood flow to both the attention center (anterior cingulate) and the frontal region decreases. In other words, our attention is distracted and we are prevented from making appropriate decisions and starting work with willpower.
Well, before or during a religious or spiritual activity, our fears such as hell, fire, sin, etc. Do you think we can find peace if fears like these start us to worship?
No, because these thoughts will constantly stimulate the amygdala and even if we try to do that prayer, it will not relax us. This point is especially important when giving religious education at a young age, because what we learn at a young age is much more permanent and has an impact on every aspect of our lives. Children learn to learn by questioning like adults at older ages, but they take what is taught at a younger age as a pattern. For example, expressions such as if you do not do this, it will be written as a sin, you will go to hell, etc., equate religion or spirituality with fear, and when this child grows up, he will devote himself to this activity. Even if he wants to do what he wants, the information encoded in the amygdala does not allow this and it will be very difficult for him to feel that peace.
I think we have a mass problem in terms of sending messages. How can we change this?
Especially when giving religious information to children, educators and parents; Instead of images containing fear and punishment, they should give messages containing more love and peace. In this way, spiritual experiences will be more enjoyable and the person will feel better both physically and spiritually after this experience.
Young people today may turn to activities such as the use of certain substances to feel better and to achieve more intense emotions. Although these substances provide short-term pleasure, they can cause addiction in the long term and make their lives unbearable. When an option such as believing, concentrating and sustaining, and feeling peaceful is undermined by wrong messages, the groundwork can be laid for young people to turn to harmful pursuits.
Finally, what can we say?
So, To summarize, our brain is equipped for spiritual experiences and is a mechanism that will make us feel better when used appropriately. However, it is up to us to decide whether to use it or not…
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