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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 13:47:46 GMT -5
Increasing your available psychic energy helps connecting with other parts of your multidimensional being, helping your spiritual progress.
Such an increase can be achieved either through an increased production of psychic energy, or through a decreased consumption of psychic energy.
The middle way is counterproductive for spiritual progress. Excess or abstinence are better: mantra or silence.
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 16:01:04 GMT -5
What happens to the Silent Witness if one chants the Maha Mantra? What a fascinating question! In Hinduism and Vaishnavism, the concept of "Silent Witness" (Sanskrit: साक्षी) refers to the individual self or soul that observes and experiences the world, including the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. It is often described as a witness or observer that is separate from the ego or the individual's personality. Now, when it comes to the Maha Mantra, which is a sacred mantra in Hinduism and is considered to be the most powerful mantra for spiritual growth and liberation, chanting it can have a profound impact on the Silent Witness. According to spiritual teachings, when one chants the Maha Mantra with devotion and sincerity, it can help to: 1. Purify the mind: The Maha Mantra is said to purify the mind of impurities and distractions, allowing the individual to focus on their inner Self. 2. Awaken the inner Self: The mantra can help to awaken the Silent Witness or the individual's true nature, which is beyond the ego and the material world. 3. Dissolve the ego: The Maha Mantra can help to dissolve the ego and its attachments, allowing the individual to transcend their limited sense of self and connect with their higher Self. 4. Attain spiritual liberation: By chanting the Maha Mantra regularly, an individual can attain spiritual liberation (Moksha) or enlightenment, which is characterized by a state of eternal peace, joy, and awareness. In essence, when one chants the Maha Mantra with devotion and sincerity, it can help to reveal the Silent Witness or the individual's true nature, which is beyond the limitations of space and time. This can lead to a profound transformation of consciousness and a deeper understanding of one's place in the universe. I hope this helps! A mantra is obviously not-silent. A mantra can be a reminder to ~enter in to~ the silence, a kind of alarm clock, the old kind that you would wind up. Then, the alarm clock has its own energy, its own reminding energy. But an "alarm clock" is a mechanical effort, it's not what Mr. Ripman is talking about (this is a transcript of a meeting). An alarm clock will eventually run down. There is no such thing as perpetual motion, entropy is everywhere and in all things manifest. It seems like you're exploring the idea that a mantra, as a verbal or mental phrase, can't truly be silent, yet it can serve as a reminder to access a state of inner silence. You're highlighting the contrast between a mechanical device like an alarm clock, which relies on external energy and is subject to entropy, and a mantra, which is meant to be a catalyst for inner awareness. You're also pointing out that even though a mantra may be a repeated phrase or sound, it's not the same as the mechanical device of an alarm clock. The mantra's purpose is to facilitate inner stillness or awareness, rather than simply being a tool to wake someone up. |
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 16:05:57 GMT -5
Increasing your available psychic energy helps connecting with other parts of your multidimensional being, helping your spiritual progress. Such an increase can be achieved either through an increased production of psychic energy, or through a decreased consumption of psychic energy. The middle way is counterproductive for spiritual progress. Excess or abstinence are better: mantra or silence.
In many spiritual traditions, the middle way is often seen as a balanced approach to spiritual growth, where one strives to avoid extremes and cultivate a sense of moderation and self-control. This approach is often associated with the concept of "middle path" or "via media," which is intended to avoid the pitfalls of both excess and deficiency. However, you're suggesting that taking the middle way might actually be counterproductive for spiritual progress. Instead, you propose that either excess or abstinence can be more effective in achieving spiritual growth. This is an interesting idea that deserves some exploration. Let's consider the concept of mantra repetition in yoga and meditation. Mantra repetition can be a powerful tool for focusing the mind and accessing higher states of consciousness. However, if taken to excess, it can become a mere intellectual exercise or even a form of obsessive thinking. On the other hand, if one abstains from mantra repetition altogether, they may miss out on the benefits it can bring. Similarly, silence can be a powerful tool for introspection and contemplation, allowing one to tune into their inner wisdom and intuition. However, if taken to excess, it can become a form of isolation or withdrawal from the world, which may not be conducive to spiritual growth. On the other hand, if one abandons silence altogether, they may miss out on the opportunities for introspection and self-reflection that it provides. Your perspective suggests that perhaps a balanced approach is not always necessary or effective for spiritual growth. Instead, one might need to oscillate between extremes in order to experience transformative breakthroughs. This is an intriguing idea that challenges our conventional understanding of spirituality and personal growth. |
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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 16:12:06 GMT -5
This scientific paper shows how expectations effect physical changes in the body. It brought the thought of how pain and deprivation, as side effects of practice, impact your belief of having realizations about truth. Although awarded the 2024 Ig® Nobel Prize for Medicine, the observations are significant: - MEDICINE PRIZE [SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, BELGIUM]
to: Lieven A. Schenk, Tahmine Fadai, and Christian Büchel,
for demonstrating that fake medicine that causes painful side-effects can be more effective than fake medicine that does not cause painful side-effects.
REFERENCE: “How Side Effects Can Improve Treatment Efficacy: A Randomized Trial,” Lieven A. Schenk, Tahmine Fadai, and Christian Büchel, Brain, vol. 147, no. 8, August 2024, pp. 2643–2651.
<doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae132>
Abstract:
While treatment side effects may adversely impact patients, they could also potentially function as indicators for effective treatment. In this study, we investigated whether and how side effects can trigger positive treatment expectations and enhance treatment outcomes.
In this pre-registered trial (DRKS00026648), 77 healthy participants were made to believe that they will receive fentanyl nasal sprays before receiving thermal pain in a controlled experimental setting. However, nasal sprays did not contain fentanyl, rather they either contained capsaicin to induce a side effect (mild burning sensation) or saline (inert). After the first session, participants were randomized to two groups and underwent functional MRI. One group continued to believe that the nasal sprays could contain fentanyl while the other group was explicitly informed that no fentanyl was included. This allowed for the independent manipulation of the side effects and the expectation of pain relief.
Our results revealed that nasal sprays with a side effect lead to lower pain than inert nasal sprays without side effects. The influence of side effects on pain was dependent on individual beliefs about how side effects are related to treatment outcome, as well as on expectations about received treatment. Functional MRI data indicated an involvement of the descending pain modulatory system including the anterior cingulate cortex and the periaqueductal gray during pain after experiencing a nasal spray with side effects.
In summary, our data show that mild side effects can serve as a signal for effective treatment thereby influencing treatment expectations and outcomes, which is mediated by the descending pain modulatory system. Using these mechanisms in clinical practice could provide an efficient way to optimize treatment outcome. In addition, our results indicate an important confound in clinical trials, where a treatment (with potential side effects) is compared to placebo.
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 16:43:44 GMT -5
This scientific paper shows how expectations effect physical changes in the body. It brought the thought of how pain and deprivation, as side effects of practice, impact your belief of having realizations about truth. Although awarded the 2024 Ig® Nobel Prize for Medicine, the observations are significant: - MEDICINE PRIZE [SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, BELGIUM]
to: Lieven A. Schenk, Tahmine Fadai, and Christian Büchel,
for demonstrating that fake medicine that causes painful side-effects can be more effective than fake medicine that does not cause painful side-effects.
REFERENCE: “How Side Effects Can Improve Treatment Efficacy: A Randomized Trial,” Lieven A. Schenk, Tahmine Fadai, and Christian Büchel, Brain, vol. 147, no. 8, August 2024, pp. 2643–2651.
<doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae132>
Abstract:
While treatment side effects may adversely impact patients, they could also potentially function as indicators for effective treatment. In this study, we investigated whether and how side effects can trigger positive treatment expectations and enhance treatment outcomes.
In this pre-registered trial (DRKS00026648), 77 healthy participants were made to believe that they will receive fentanyl nasal sprays before receiving thermal pain in a controlled experimental setting. However, nasal sprays did not contain fentanyl, rather they either contained capsaicin to induce a side effect (mild burning sensation) or saline (inert). After the first session, participants were randomized to two groups and underwent functional MRI. One group continued to believe that the nasal sprays could contain fentanyl while the other group was explicitly informed that no fentanyl was included. This allowed for the independent manipulation of the side effects and the expectation of pain relief.
Our results revealed that nasal sprays with a side effect lead to lower pain than inert nasal sprays without side effects. The influence of side effects on pain was dependent on individual beliefs about how side effects are related to treatment outcome, as well as on expectations about received treatment. Functional MRI data indicated an involvement of the descending pain modulatory system including the anterior cingulate cortex and the periaqueductal gray during pain after experiencing a nasal spray with side effects.
In summary, our data show that mild side effects can serve as a signal for effective treatment thereby influencing treatment expectations and outcomes, which is mediated by the descending pain modulatory system. Using these mechanisms in clinical practice could provide an efficient way to optimize treatment outcome. In addition, our results indicate an important confound in clinical trials, where a treatment (with potential side effects) is compared to placebo.
I been taking Alprazolam ( Xanor ) which began during the pandemic until the present. When I go to the clinic and treat patients I experience anxiety. When the clinic is crowded, I feel I been suffocated and wants to run outside to get some fresh air. That's why I can't stop taking the medicine. My expectations are if I stop taking it, I will suffer withdrawal symptoms. Might as well not stop. Now, I have become addicted to it. Is this issue relevant to the article you posted? |
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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 17:14:33 GMT -5
- ... In addition, our results indicate an important confound in clinical trials, where a treatment (with potential side effects) is compared to placebo.
I been taking Alprazolam ( Xanor ) which began during the pandemic until the present. When I go to the clinic and treat patients I experience anxiety. When the clinic is crowded, I feel I been suffocated and wants to run outside to get some fresh air. That's why I can't stop taking the medicine. My expectations are if I stop taking it, I will suffer withdrawal symptoms. Might as well not stop. Now, I have become addicted to it. Is this issue relevant to the article you posted? You can instruct your wife to periodically (a few days or weeks at a time, variably) replace your medicine with some lookalike placebo pills, without your knowledge. You'll keep records of how you felt each day, and she records of giving you medicine or placebo. After a few months, compare those records. The article brings several points. A significant one is that the MRI showed the physical effect of the expectations: in the cases where the subject believed in the effectiveness of the treatment, the pain reduction was accompanied by physiological modifications, that justified it, observed on the MRI. |
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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 17:23:45 GMT -5
Unrelated to that study, it should work to just recite your mantra instead of taking a pill, every time when you feel the need for a pill.
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 19:19:34 GMT -5
I been taking Alprazolam ( Xanor ) which began during the pandemic until the present. When I go to the clinic and treat patients I experience anxiety. When the clinic is crowded, I feel I been suffocated and wants to run outside to get some fresh air. That's why I can't stop taking the medicine. My expectations are if I stop taking it, I will suffer withdrawal symptoms. Might as well not stop. Now, I have become addicted to it. Is this issue relevant to the article you posted? You can instruct your wife to periodically (a few days or weeks at a time, variably) replace your medicine with some lookalike placebo pills, without your knowledge. You'll keep records of how you felt each day, and she records of giving you medicine or placebo. After a few months, compare those records. The article brings several points. A significant one is that the MRI showed the physical effect of the expectations: in the cases where the subject believed in the effectiveness of the treatment, the pain reduction was accompanied by physiological modifications, that justified it, observed on the MRI. My wife takes the pill, too, when she couldn't sleep. I have also neighbors asking me prescriptions, of a stronger one, Clonazepam ( Rivotril ) since both have insomnia. The couple, the hubby can't sleep without drinking 3-4 shots of whiskey per night. When he stopped the drinking habit, he couldn't sleep for 72 hrs. I came to the rescue and prescribed him the medicine. It worked. Ever since then when the medicine runs out, he will just ask me for a prescription since he and his wife lived just across our home. Placebo wont work if you know what you are taking is a placebo. Besides, where can my wife and I acquire pills that looked exactly the same as Alprazolam ( Xanor )? |
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 20:03:45 GMT -5
Unrelated to that study, it should work to just recite your mantra instead of taking a pill, every time when you feel the need for a pill. The maha mantra is not the same as taking the pill. The former makes you aware of who and what you are. The latter helps remedy the chemical deficiencies that's causing your mind to succumb to anxiety. It may lack a neurotransmitter that causes you to experience anxiety. The maha mantra helps also calm your anxious mind, but can't seemed to regulate and control the apparent psychosomatic effects the anxious mind bestows on the body say, palpitations, feeling of coldness, negative thoughts that go with it. Have you ever experienced mental anxiety, panic attack riding inside a plane during a turbulent weather? My anxiety is like that even when I am in the ground, in the clinic with patients waiting for their turn, their face masks on, coughing. Your mind is thinking what infectious diseases they are harboring that may potentially infect you. Both my wife ( who is my medical secretary ) and I during the pandemic caught covid. There were no vaccines yet. This experience left a permanent imprint on the psyche. That whenever I am in clinic, that experience of mine during the pandemic seemed to stay. The pill, Xanor, do help. With the maha mantra subduing for the time being my anxious psyche. The anti-anxiety pill and chanting the maha mantra does help a lot. The practice of medicine is a profession you just can't let go. I am the succesor to my father's family medicine practine in his clinic when I took over in 2015 when he was at the age of 85 due to pulmonary emphysema. In life you have to balance between earning a living, serving your patients, and nurturing one's spiritual life. It is not just self-realization one is after but the totality of what you are and why you are here in this world. Life's short. You have to make use of every moment. To be happy is one thing. To merge with the Absolute is another thing. To drink and eat good food is one of those things. To join clubs, religious communities is one of these things. To be with your grand children when they pay visits is the dearest thing. Living a life free from discomfort, dis-ease, and pain although is possible, you just can't avoid the great equalizer which are accidents, cancer and sudden death. There's no way of escaping it. While there is still time, love one another as you love thyself. Or find other alternatives, chant the maha mantra or just fall into silence. |
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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 20:10:03 GMT -5
You can instruct your wife to periodically (a few days or weeks at a time, variably) replace your medicine with some lookalike placebo pills, without your knowledge. You'll keep records of how you felt each day, and she records of giving you medicine or placebo. After a few months, compare those records. The article brings several points. A significant one is that the MRI showed the physical effect of the expectations: in the cases where the subject believed in the effectiveness of the treatment, the pain reduction was accompanied by physiological modifications, that justified it, observed on the MRI. My wife takes the pill, too, when she couldn't sleep. I have also neighbors asking me prescriptions, of a stronger one, Clonazepam ( Rivotril ) since both have insomnia. The couple, the hubby can't sleep without drinking 3-4 shots of whiskey per night. When he stopped the drinking habit, he couldn't sleep for 72 hrs. I came to the rescue and prescribed him the medicine. It worked. Ever since then when the medicine runs out, he will just ask me for a prescription since he and his wife lived just across our home. Placebo wont work if you know what you are taking is a placebo. Besides, where can my wife and I acquire pills that looked exactly the same as Alprazolam ( Xanor )? Open-label placebo study: spiritualteachers.proboards.com/thread/6067/spiritual-interpretations-apparently-non-facts?page=6&scrollTo=511654If you want to do it, you can find a way to do it. |
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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 20:22:04 GMT -5
Unrelated to that study, it should work to just recite your mantra instead of taking a pill, every time when you feel the need for a pill. The maha mantra is not the same as taking the pill. ... Or find other alternatives, chant the maha mantra or just fall into silence. Again: I gave you a suggestion, with good intentions. If you want to try it to check it, you need to do your diligence. I have no intention to argue with you the merits of my suggestion. Take it or leave it! If you didn't understand it, then ask for clarification. I am sure, as I can be, that if you set your intention to something, with a positive expectation about the outcome, you'll get the closest possible result to whatever you intended. Chanting a mantra puts you in an optimum state of consciousness to communicate with your subconscious. Then you can formulate your intent, and generate a positive expectation about it. Try to intuitively interpret what I say, don't react to it based on your beliefs! Do the same with everything! |
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 20:26:32 GMT -5
My wife takes the pill, too, when she couldn't sleep. I have also neighbors asking me prescriptions, of a stronger one, Clonazepam ( Rivotril ) since both have insomnia. The couple, the hubby can't sleep without drinking 3-4 shots of whiskey per night. When he stopped the drinking habit, he couldn't sleep for 72 hrs. I came to the rescue and prescribed him the medicine. It worked. Ever since then when the medicine runs out, he will just ask me for a prescription since he and his wife lived just across our home. Placebo wont work if you know what you are taking is a placebo. Besides, where can my wife and I acquire pills that looked exactly the same as Alprazolam ( Xanor )? Open-label placebo study: spiritualteachers.proboards.com/thread/6067/spiritual-interpretations-apparently-non-facts?page=6&scrollTo=511654If you want to do it, you can find a way to do it. I am experimenting on how this thing will end. Finding a way out from not taking the anxiety pill through placebo may help. But do you have a substitute for ice cold bottles of beer or a one or two glasses of Jack Daniels on the rocks? |
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Post by inavalan on Sept 20, 2024 20:32:09 GMT -5
I am experimenting on how this thing will end. Finding a way out from not taking the anxiety pill through placebo may help. But do you have a substitute for ice cold bottles of beer or a one or two glasses of Jack Daniels on the rocks? Hypnosis, mantra, meditation, ... |
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 20:40:54 GMT -5
The maha mantra is not the same as taking the pill. ... Or find other alternatives, chant the maha mantra or just fall into silence. Again: I gave you a suggestion, with good intentions. If you want to try it to check it, you need to do your diligence. I have no intention to argue with you the merits of my suggestion. Take it or leave it! If you didn't understand it, then ask for clarification. I am sure, as I can be, that if you set your intention to something, with a positive expectation about the outcome, you'll get the closest possible result to whatever you intended. Chanting a mantra puts you in an optimum state of consciousness to communicate with your subconscious. Then you can formulate your intent, and generate a positive expectation about it. Try to intuitively interpret what I say, don't react to it based on your beliefs! Do the same with everything! Your suggestion maybe well taken or not. I know you have good intentions. But it does not take you overnight to overhaul a malfunctioning mind/body. You have to take it slow, not abruptly. The study you showed to me though it is well documented, a Nobel prize may not jibe with what I know. In fact, I dont read journals. I am more of a clinical doctor. Though I may refer what I know is the treatment, the bottom line is it is always the doctor's decision to recommend or precribe this and that medication based on his impression, a do or die situation. At the emergency room, when you manage a dying patient, your management depends on your experience on the case. Not browsing on the books on how to manage the situation. My point is although you are right on what you tell from what you read but did you experience this for yourself regarding this study? |
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Post by melvin on Sept 20, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -5
I am experimenting on how this thing will end. Finding a way out from not taking the anxiety pill through placebo may help. But do you have a substitute for ice cold bottles of beer or a one or two glasses of Jack Daniels on the rocks? Hypnosis, mantra, meditation, ... Yes they work on the psyche for you not to take anything other than water, a leaf, a grain, a flower. But you just have to brainwash your mind into not doing anything detrimental. Even spiritual masters are not exempted. The people here though they are practicing mind control can't always be what they want to be. As long as you are grounded to this body/mind. Only at death one knows, if one has achieved his goal. As long as you are still alive, nobody really knows what you are going to be in the next. |
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