scholarly journals Meditation as an Alternative State of Consciousness

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Bani Narula

This paper provides an analysis of meditation as a new way of managing stress, tension and crisis. Contemporary psychology of mediation has gained worldwide significance and acceptance to seek solace and solutions for modern problems. Originally mediation was meant to help deepen understanding of the mystical and sacred forces of life. But, these days, it is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction. Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment and enhance personal and spiritual growth. It is an altered state of consciousness or altered state of mind, which is a temporary change in one’s normal mental state without being considered unconscious. Meditation provides a way for personal empowerment to become more in control of one’s thinking, emotions and behaviour. Therefore, as per the perspective of modern psychology, meditative practices hold utmost significance in augmenting the understanding of mind-body relationship.

2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Martindale

The Russian Formalists and Czech Structuralists argued that foregrounding devices such as deformation and deautomatization are central to literature. They saw that such devices build a pressure for novelty into literature. Literature must change constantly because readers gradually become used to and bored with initially novel and interesting deformations. Formalist and Structuralist theorists saw that literature should change but could not explain the direction in which it would change. They hypothesized that the direction of change is determined by extra-literary sociocultural forces. I argue that this hypothesis may be wrong. If we examine the way in which people think of novel word combinations in the first place, we can formulate a theory that explains the direction of literary change. Production of novelty often involves movement away from ordinary waking consciousness toward an altered state of consciousness. Within the confines of a given style, to produce something even more novel, poets must regress to an even more altered state of consciousness. The state of mind in which a poem is produced to some extent determines the words used in the poem. Given that the pressure for novelty is always present whereas other forces acting upon poets vary, we can predict the direction in which poetry tends to move from the alterations in consciousness required to produce ever more novel poetry. Statistical analyses of several poetic traditions show that this is, indeed, the main direction in which poetry evolves.


Author(s):  
Martti Nissinen

The prophetic performance is typically associated with a specific state of mind variously called ecstasy, trance, or possession. This chapter demonstrates that an altered state of consciousness appears as a prerequisite of the prophetic performance in ancient Near Eastern, Greek, and biblical texts. One of the designations of Mesopotamian prophets, muḫḫûm/maḫḫû, implies an ecstatic performance, and many biblical prophets engage in ecstatic behavior, seeing visions, and making spirit journeys. In Greek sources, the divine possession of the Delphic Pythia is taken for granted, and also the prophets of Didyma, Dodona, and Claros are believed to have been influenced by the divine spirit. Neither the Greek nor the Near Eastern sources specify how the altered state of consciousness was reached. The essential thing was that they were divinely inspired, not how the inspiration manifested itself.


Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel

This chapter discusses shamanism, explaining the ethos and mythology of several indigenous societies, and how these belief systems relate to the design of art and music. First, a general overview of shamanism is provided, which outlines the typical role and function of a shaman. An explanation of the shamanic visionary experience, a type of altered state of consciousness, is then provided. Following this, the chapter explores a variety of visual art from indigenous shamanic cultures, including examples from San, Native American, Huichol, Tukano, and Shipibo traditions. The sound and music of shamanic and trance cultures is also discussed, with reference to Vodou, Tukano, Mazatec, Kiowa, and Mayan examples, and relevant field recordings. Through the course of this discussion, the chapter establishes a view of how shamanic art and music invoke a sense of the spirit world, which informs the subsequent discourse of Inner Sound.


1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan E. Bahamon-Dussan ◽  
Gastone G. Celesia ◽  
Madeleine M. Grigg-Damberger

Author(s):  
Sorina Ioana Mişu

AbstractA teacher’s work during the school year should be seen as a marathon or as a sprint? This paper intends to contribute to the expanding body of literature on the work-engagement issues of education employees from a perspective of strategic human resources management. It investigates how the length of their working contracts influences the level of engagement shown for their work. It was assumed that the existence of an indefinite or a fixed-term work contract brings up aspects such as stability, predictability and coherence for a teacher’s work, all thought to be parts of a positive engagement state of mind. Nevertheless, the acknowledgement and the acceptance of a short time collaboration could bring just as good results if the focus remains on the present moment. In order to gain a better understanding it was performed a quantitative research materialized in a questionnaire, answered by school teachers employed under both forms of contracts. The findings of this study are of value for any of the educational field stakeholders as the system’s human resources are the most valuable asset for a qualitative result. In the end, implications of a predominant engaged or disengaged stuff will be discussed and human resources management suggestions will be made.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Eszter Spät

Abstract This article studies the “book,” or defter, of Yezidi seers in Northern Iraq. Following an oral religion in an Islamic environment where only “people of the Book” enjoyed legitimate status and social acceptance, Yezidis have developed various strategies to compensate for the absence of a written sacred book. The most unique among these is the phenomenon of “falling into book,” which refers to the altered state of consciousness experienced by some Yezidi seers. “Falling into book” provides the seer with a glimpse into both the past and the future, thus serving as a source of divination and prognostication, which ranges from addressing personal problems to foretelling the (usually apocalyptic) fate of the Yezidi community and the world. Thus the “book” of the seers is perceived to be a kind of “heavenly knowledge,” equal or even superior to the revealed texts of bookish religions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-21
Author(s):  
Anna Agrusti ◽  
Federica Pederiva ◽  
Alessia Cerrina ◽  
Flora Maria Murru ◽  
Mariasole Conte

Altered state of consciousness in infants can be the sole sign of a compromised intestinal blood flow. The article reports the case of an infant with inconsolable crying and lethargy with an omphalomesenteric duct remnant causing small bowel volvulus.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayani Basu

Hypnosis, an induced trance state, poses significant effects on the brain and this phenomenon is considered a viable, cost-effective and safe therapeutic method that boosts the quality of life.


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