I'm not suggesting religion. I'm suggesting that you study Buddhism [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_and_science]. Religion is a man-made form of control invented to keep the poor from rising up to kill the rich. Religion is a wall between Man and God, not a bridge as they would have us believe. Don't let this let this realization rob you of your spirituality. "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."Booze Zombie said:
Meditation and prayer both have the same effect on your brain chemistry. It floods your brain with serotonin [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin]. Your problem is ultimately one of brain chemistry. You can influence your brain chemistry by controlling your physical action and internal dialog.
Call it whatever you want, but I'm sure your solution lies where science and mysticism overlap [http://www.spiritualcompetency.com/meditat/lesson8.asp]. Those monks have some of this shit figured out.
The Effect of Meditation on the Brain activity in Tibetan Meditators: Frontal Lobes
The figure below was obtained during an ongoing study of the neurophysiological correlates of meditation. Briefly, we have been studying highly experienced Tibetan Buddhist meditators using a brain imaging technology called single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). SPECT imaging allows us to image the brain and determine which areas are active by measuring blood flow. The more blood flow an area has, the more active it is. The image below shows the results from a baseline scan on the left (i.e. at rest) and during a "peak" of meditation shown on the right.
http://andrewnewberg.com/graphics/pet1b.gif
Two sets of images were taken, showing slightly different parts of the brain. The first image (above) shows that the front part of the brain, which is usually involved in focusing attention and concentration, is more active during meditation. This makes sense since meditation requires a high degree of concentration. The second image shows that there is decreased activity in the parietal lobe. This area of the brain is responsible for giving us a sense of our orientation in space and time. We hypothesized that blocking all sensory and cognitive input into this area during meditation results in the sense of no space and no time which is so often described in meditation. A more complex version of the model from which the hypothesis is based can be found in the paper by Drs. d'Aquili and Newberg entitled, "Religious and Mystical States: A Neuropsychological Substrate"
The figure below was obtained during an ongoing study of the neurophysiological correlates of meditation. Briefly, we have been studying highly experienced Tibetan Buddhist meditators using a brain imaging technology called single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). SPECT imaging allows us to image the brain and determine which areas are active by measuring blood flow. The more blood flow an area has, the more active it is. The image below shows the results from a baseline scan on the left (i.e. at rest) and during a "peak" of meditation shown on the right.
http://andrewnewberg.com/graphics/pet1b.gif
Two sets of images were taken, showing slightly different parts of the brain. The first image (above) shows that the front part of the brain, which is usually involved in focusing attention and concentration, is more active during meditation. This makes sense since meditation requires a high degree of concentration. The second image shows that there is decreased activity in the parietal lobe. This area of the brain is responsible for giving us a sense of our orientation in space and time. We hypothesized that blocking all sensory and cognitive input into this area during meditation results in the sense of no space and no time which is so often described in meditation. A more complex version of the model from which the hypothesis is based can be found in the paper by Drs. d'Aquili and Newberg entitled, "Religious and Mystical States: A Neuropsychological Substrate"
Might also be a brain tumor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4613759.stm
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8317
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43006-2005Jan2.html
http://www.physorg.com/news10312.html
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=13453&ch=biztech&a=f
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4770779
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3047291.stm
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web2/Benner.html
