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Is consciousness uniquely human? or do other living things have varying degrees of it? (image credit: shutterstock) humans once assumed our planet was the physical center of the solar system , so it's no surprise that we also think highly of consciousness, the apparently unique quality that allows our species to contemplate such matters. But what is consciousness? the topic has been extraordinarily controversial in the scientific and philosophical traditions. Thinkers have spent an immense amount of time and ink trying to unravel mysteries, such as how consciousness works and where it resides. The short answer isn't very satisfying. Scientists and philosophers still can't agree on a vague idea of what consciousness is, much less a strict definition. Interestingly, the expanded awareness induced by the psychedelics such as lsd appears to resemble natural altered states. Artists, for example may experience expanded aesthetic awareness. Mozart, it has been reported, would receive the sense of a musical composition all at once. He would then dictate the music to his wife while engaged in some other activity, such as reading a newspaper. Mystical states may be invited by meditation, itself an altered state, or profound insights may arrive like an 'enlightening' bolt. In
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Brain Imaging Reveals How Mindfulness Program Boosts Pain Regulation
Mar. 4, 2022 mindfulness meditation is a stress-management practice with ancient lineage that cultivates nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, often by objective criteria: subjective experiences mindfulness program boosts pain regulation how mindfulness meditation reduces pain recognizing our voice and feeling in control mindfulness: no structural brain change found 'near-death experiences': new guidelines psychedelics and consciousness: new study the brain on psychedelics. Brain Circuit for Spirituality? Whether you are a staunch atheist, a reserved agnostic, or a devout believer, you are equally likely to find the effects of religion on human brains astonishing. Religious belief can increase our lifespan and help us better cope with disease. And, research in the field of “neurotheology” — or the neuroscience of theological belief — has made some surprising discoveries that are bound to change how we think about spirituality. For instance, some scientists suggest that religious experience activates the same brain circuits as sex and drugs. Other research has suggested that damage to a certain brain region can make you feel as though someone’s in the room when nobody’s there. The Benefits of a Spiritual Life Spirituality offers a worldview that suggests there is more to life than just what people experience on a
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How to Grow Spiritually
Whether you realize it or not, you are on a spiritual journey. The moment we are born, we embark on a process of growth and development. We learn, we discover, we fall, we get up, we get stuck, we move forward. No two journeys are the same, but there is a structure to the process and useful ways we can facilitate our advancement. To assist us along the way, we can draw on the wisdom and guidance of gifted psychics who connect us to our higher purpose, provide clarity, and give us hope and inspiration. It is possible to grow spiritually strong in 28 days, but in order to proactively begin a spiritual journey it is important to truly understand what spiritual development is. Are you committed to your spiritual growth, but struggle to balance life in the modern world with your desire to become more spiritual? if so, you’re not alone. In fact, at some point, almost everyone asks how to live a more spiritual life, and lead a life that is alignment with their own values. Regardless of your religion, background, family-status, or career, spirituality is something that we innately need, in one form or another. In this
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