Expanded Awareness – Beyond the Self

As I continue expanding my awareness, I’ve noticed a subtle but powerful shift.
I no longer operate only from self-interest — my thoughts naturally begin to include others.

The problems I feel drawn to solve are not just mine anymore.
They are shared struggles, collective concerns — and I feel responsible, not just affected.

Because when we operate only from self-interest, the ego often grows, and with it, our decision-making becomes clouded.
We become wrapped in fear — fear of what ifs, fear of loss, fear of judgment.

But when our thoughts are rooted in broader interest, something changes.
Fear dissolves.
Clarity emerges.
We act not from insecurity, but from purpose.
And that’s where true solutions — and true peace — begin.

This, I believe, is what real spiritual growth looks like:
When your circle of care widens beyond the self, and your actions begin to serve the whole.

🌺 One-of-a-Kind Experience: A Glimpse of Moksha

 

🌺 One-of-a-Kind Experience: A Glimpse of Moksha

One of the most unforgettable spiritual moments of my life came unexpectedly — during my first job.

My first employer had designed a beautiful foundation course for freshers, held in a peaceful, natural setting in a small town in South India. Every morning at 6 a.m., we were required to attend a yoga session — attendance was tracked, so there was no escaping!

These sessions included breathing exercises and pranayama, and toward the end of the month, we were introduced to Sudarshan Kriya.
The experience was indescribable — a glimpse of moksha, of complete freedom.
It felt as though everything was happening by itself, and I was merely a witness to the events, the body, the thoughts, the surroundings.

Later, when I listened to an Indian spiritual teacher describe Nirvana or Mukti, I was stunned — because the way he described that state exactly matched what I had felt in that moment.

Inspired by that feeling, I went on to do several advanced yoga courses over the years.
But that exact experience — that profound stillness and freedom — never came again.
Still, it showed me that such a state is real. It exists. And perhaps, I had touched it — just once.

Basics of brain development

How the Human Brain Develops – From Before Birth to Young Adulthood

1. When Does Brain Development Begin?
Brain cell (neuron) production in humans begins just 42 days after conception (called Embryonic Day 42 or E42). By the middle of pregnancy, most neurons have already been made. Once they are formed, these neurons travel to different parts of the brain and start forming connections with each other—this is how basic brain networks are built. By the end of pregnancy, important pathways like the thalamocortical pathway (which connects the thalamus to the cortex) are already in place.

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2. How the Brain Grows After Birth
Brain development doesn’t stop at birth. In fact, it continues for many years. During the preschool years, the brain grows quickly—becoming four times bigger and reaching about 90% of adult size by age 6.

However, the brain continues to change in structure and function throughout childhood and adolescence. These changes help children and teenagers develop more advanced thinking, learning, and behavior.

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3. Early Brain Connections and Pruning
At birth and during early childhood, the brain has many more connections between neurons than an adult brain does. Over time, some of these connections are removed (pruned) through a natural process. This pruning is shaped by a child’s experiences and environment. It’s what makes the young brain highly adaptable and able to learn quickly.

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4. What Happens in the Teenage Brain?
While the total size of the brain doesn’t change much during the teenage years, there are big changes inside:

• Gray matter (the part of the brain that contains neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and synapses) decreases, especially in areas involved in thinking and emotions. This happens because the brain removes unused connections to make it more efficient.

• White matter (made up of myelinated axons that help different parts of the brain communicate) increases, thanks to a process called myelination. Myelin acts like insulation around wires, helping signals travel faster and more smoothly.

These changes help improve thinking speed, problem-solving, and decision-making. Brain development starts in the back of the brain and moves forward to the front (prefrontal cortex), which controls planning, judgment, and impulse control. This is why full brain maturity isn’t reached until the mid-to-late 20s.

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5. The Balance of Brain Systems
During adolescence, the brain’s reward system (which drives motivation and emotions) develops earlier than the prefrontal cortex (which controls thinking and self-regulation). This imbalance is why teens may take more risks or make emotional decisions before their reasoning skills are fully developed.

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The First Steps in Brain Development: The Birth of Brain Cells

In the second week after conception, the embryo is a simple, flat, two-layered structure. By week three, through a process called gastrulation, it transforms into three layers. This is a major turning point in development.

One of these layers gives rise to neural stem cells—also called neural progenitor cells. These are the special cells that will eventually become all the different cell types of the brain and spinal cord.

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Key Stages in Brain Development

Here are the main steps in how the brain forms and changes over time:

1. Differentiation – When stem cells become specific types of brain cells.

2. Migration – When new neurons move to their proper places in the brain.

3. Proliferation – When cells multiply rapidly to build brain tissue.

4. Myelination – When axons are covered with myelin to speed up signals.

5. Cell Death in Glial Populations – Some support cells (glia) are removed naturally.

6. Synaptic Exuberance and Pruning – Extra connections are made, then pruned back based on experience.

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To Be Continued...
Source: National Library of Medicine – PMC Article

Bio Basis of meditation - How Meditation Shapes the Brain: A Glimpse into Neural Mechanisms

How Meditation Shapes the Brain: A Glimpse into Neural Mechanisms

This article explores the fascinating neuroscience behind meditation, highlighting how different styles of meditation impact brain structure and function.

Tools of Discovery

Researchers use several advanced imaging techniques to study the brain during and after meditation, including:

• Functional MRI (fMRI)

• Resting-state analysis (Default Mode Network)

• Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) for structural changes

• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to examine white matter pathways

• Functional and Structural Connectivity analysis

A meta-analysis using Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) combined data from studies using PET, SPECT, and fMRI. Findings reveal that meditation activates specific brain regions, depending on the type and depth of practice.

Brain Areas Activated During Meditation

• General Meditation: Activates the basal ganglia, entorhinal cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex.

• Focused Attention Meditation: Engages the medial gyrus (bilateral), left superior parietal lobe, left insula, and right supramarginal gyrus (SMG).

• Mantra-Based Meditation: Activates the right SMG, supplementary motor area (SMA) on both sides, and the left postcentral gyrus.

Expertise Matters

• Expert Meditators: Show increased activation in posterior brain regions, particularly the right SMG.

• Beginners or Short-Term Meditators: Exhibit stronger activation in frontal lobe areas.

Cultural Roots and Brain Patterns

• Buddhist-Inspired Practices (e.g., mindfulness, body scan, breath awareness): Increase activity in the frontal lobe, insula, and medial frontal structures, all associated with executive attention and self-awareness.

• Hinduism-Inspired Meditation: Activates a left-lateralized network including the postcentral gyrus, superior parietal lobe, hippocampus, and right middle cingulate cortex.

These meditative states often aim for samadhi—a non-cognitive, non-emotional state of pure awareness. Interestingly, such practices are linked to activation or deactivation in posterior brain regions, particularly the right supramarginal gyrus, an area tied to out-of-body experiences and self-transcendence.

Meditation Reshapes the Brain

• White matter changes: Short-term meditation can strengthen pathways connecting the anterior cingulate cortex to other regions.

• Gray matter growth: Regular practice may increase hippocampal gray matter, with notable gender-based differences.

• Slowed aging: Meditation might help slow age-related gray matter loss, offering potential neuroprotective benefits.

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A Quick Note on Psychedelics and Consciousness

Although separate from meditation, psychedelics also impact consciousness and brain activity. All classical psychedelics (like psilocybin) are 5-HT2A receptor agonists. These substances disrupt normal brain rhythms, likely by stimulating deep pyramidal cells, leading to desynchronized cortical activity.

• fMRI findings: Reduced blood flow and oxygen use in areas like the thalamus, putamen, and association cortices suggest decreased activity post-psilocybin.

• MEG results: Participants report vivid imagery, altered time/space perception, and even ego dissolution.

• Spectral analysis confirms major shifts in brainwave patterns and connectivity.

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Both meditation and psychedelics alter the architecture and dynamics of consciousness—but meditation does so through self-regulation, attention, and awareness. These findings invite further exploration into how inner practices can physically reshape the brain and transform the mind.

🕉️ My Inner Hypothesis of Life

 

I’ve always felt a deep pull toward spiritual wisdom — especially when I hear Vedic knowledge or life teachings that touch the soul. My eyes fill with tears, my heart softens, and I feel completely absorbed. It feels like something within me remembers these truths — as if my soul has heard them before.

I believe that within all of us is a common essence — the Parmatma — the silent observer, ever-present, witnessing everything. This divine source is beyond the mind and emotions, yet it gently guides us in the right direction when we choose to listen.

According to Hindu dharma shastras, our actions (karma) don’t end with this life. They carry forward, shaping our next life. At birth, our janam kundali is created, and it is believed to reflect our soul’s past journey. While I don’t have memories of my previous life, I often observe things that make me believe in this continuity — like how some children are born with extraordinary skills, while others must learn everything from the beginning.

But what if past lives aren’t the only truth?
I also wonder if we might be carrying the samskaras (impressions) — virtues and flaws — of our ancestors. Whether it's karma from a previous birth or tendencies inherited through generations, one thing remains clear: we arrive into this world already carrying something.

Yet I also believe in the power of self-purification through thoughts.
This is my personal goal — to purify my mind, to hold no ill will, and to avoid judging others. And I feel I'm progressing. When I remind myself that we are all made of the same divine essence, I begin to understand others differently. I realize people speak and act from their own experiences, pain, and need to protect themselves. That realization dissolves judgment and gives birth to compassion — or at the very least, forgiveness.

In challenging moments, if I can consciously shift my thoughts toward understanding and peace, I take it as a sign — a confirmation that I am on the right path.

And if my inner hypothesis is true — that the soul is divine, that pure thoughts can transform our being, and that all is One — then maybe, just maybe, I, too, can reach the param state.

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🙏 Thank you for reading.

If any of these reflections resonate with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts or stories. 

“Tat tvam asi” — “You are that (Divine)”
A reminder that the Divine lives within us.

Trick mind through senses - Phantom limb pain

This is super interesting finding, and it clearly indicates that how perception through our senses are very limited. Your mind can be easily be tricked through your senses.

Phantom limb pain

After you have part of your arm or leg amputated, there’s a chance you could feel pain in the limb that’s no longer there. This is known as phantom limb pain.

Causes

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes phantom limb pain. One possible explanation: Nerves in parts of your spinal cord and brain“rewire” when they lose signals from the missing arm or leg. As a result, they send pain signals, a typical response when your body senses something is wrong.

Mirror box therapy. Picture a box with no lid. It has two holes -- one for your remaining limb and one for the stump -- and a mirror in the center. When you put your limb and stump inside, you see the reflection of the intact arm or leg in the mirror. It tricks your brain into thinking you have both limbs as you do therapy exercises. Research shows this can help relieve pain in a missing limb.

Nadi Shodhan Pranayam

Q: Tell us something about ‘nadi shodan’ (alternate nostril) pranayama.
Gurudev H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji:
 There are 1,82,000 nadis/ energy channels in our body. When we breathe, these are activated and that is why we are alive. When we breathe through the left nostril, certain nadis are functioning and others function when we breathe through the right nostril. So when we alternate the breath through the nostrils, certain changes happen in the body and in our system. Our system gets purified. Fresh energy moves in the system and the stress is eliminated. The left nostril activates the functioning of the right brain and vice versa. So when we alternate our breathing, all the brain waves get synchronized. Biochemical changes happen in the body. The Endocrine glands function better and any imbalance in body is rooted out. There are many benefits of pranayama.