Warning! Reading This Could Change Your Life: Meditation part 2

This is my second article on meditation. I would like to talk a little about the neuroscience behind altered states of consciousness such as meditation, relaxation and hypnosis. I will also let you know about a not so old, but still relatively new and unique method of producing these deep meditative states quickly and easily.

I am about to introduce and explain the relatively new technology of binaural beats. This technology is fantastic and can bring you all the benefits that would otherwise take you over 30 years to acquire! You should be aware of how this technology works, and its potential benefits.

The discovery of binaural technology is mostly accredited to Dr. Gerald Oster. However, binaural beats were in fact first discovered around 1839 by Associate Professor Heinrich Wilhelm Dove, at the University of Berlin. Dove accidentally discovered that when two similar notes, which are only slightly shifted in frequency, are given separately to the left and right ear they cause a pulsation or beat type effect within the brain. It was much later, in 1973, when Oster released a paper called "Auditory Beats in the Brain", that their use in psychological and neurological research was discovered.

These beats are in fact different specific frequencies given to the left and right ear separately. They are designed to alter the listener's brain activity and they do this extremely effectively. The sound produced by using binaural beats can send anyone into deep meditative states in just a few short minutes. These states include Alpha (light trance), Theta (deep trance) and Delta (dreamless sleep). You merely put on some headphones, sit or lie in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and allow the sounds to do their work. You don't even have to try very hard to relax.

EEG (electroencephalogram) machines have been used in the past to monitor the brain activity of life-long meditators. These experts at meditation showed alpha, theta and even delta brainwave patterns while in a self-induced meditative state. Through binaural beat recordings you can create such states easily.

The alpha brainwave patterns are apparent during a relaxed state. When we experience this state, which we do constantly throughout the day, we are extremely susceptible to suggestion. This is the state that you enter into during hypnosis. Theta brainwaves allow for the absorption of huge amounts of information, whilst delta brainwaves are most apparent when you enter a state of deep, dreamless sleep. It is the delta state that is the main aim of such practices as transcendental meditation. Although for some, entering the delta state while still fully conscious can be very relaxing, for many it is not, as it is during such brain activity that internal change occurs.

The state of transcendental meditation is known to be of great benefit. It can stimulate the creation of certain chemicals needed by the body, and reduce things like blood pressure It is even said to slow down and reverse the effects of the aging process, although there is not a lot of research to support that at this stage. So the benefits of entering a deep meditative state are apparent, as are the benefits of using binaural beats to do it.

Scientists have long known that when brain patterns change they can affect the body. Chemical reactions take place as a direct result of these changing brainwave patterns. Such reactions in the body's chemistry usually result in positive changes throughout the whole physical system. In essence, binaural beats appear to have the same benefits and impact of very deep meditation. It has been shown that this technology produces precisely the same brainwave patterns as those produced by deep meditation. For normal people like you and I this is great news.

Normally it takes a life long commitment to learn transcendental meditation. Practitioners of such deep meditative practices devote many hours everyday to perfecting this technique. In fact entering even light states of trance can take years to learn and perfect. Now you can achieve these same states in minutes.

The binaural beat market is filled with manufacturers who offer some great titles. It is also possible to create your own, with the proper software. Unfortunately, and here lies the danger, you need a vast knowledge of brainwave patterns, and their effects on the mind and body, in order to create the correct carrier tones and beat frequencies. There are numerous forum postings that state the improper use of binaural beat technology has created negative and even damaging results in some people. This is why I would not recommend creating your own binaural recordings. Likewise, you should be very careful about where you get your recordings. Seek professional, qualified people who know what they are doing so that you know you are getting a quality product.

I myself, have had no dangerous effects using of binaural beats. However, if you are using binaural beats for personal development purposes, their use can be uncomfortable. All my experiences have been extremely positive, although not always pleasurable. As I progressed through using the program I am about to tell you about, quite a bit of tension and angst was bought up. It was unpleasant at times. Luckily, I had bought my program from a great company with a fantastic support team that helped guide me through those rough times.

The Centerpointe Research Institute, and the Holosync Solution that it produces, are the creation of Bill Harris. He created Holosync in 1989, is trained in hypnosis, as well as being a qualified trainer of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). He has studied contemporary psychology, quantum physics, the evolution of non-linear systems and the effects of a wide range of neuro-technologies on human behavioural change, evolution and healing. Holosync has also been endorsed by some top personal development trainers such as James Arthur Ray and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul author) both of whom appeared in the movie "The Secret".

Once you join the program, you are not on your own. This is a whole package system. Bill and his team offer a complete support system, from follow up emails, hints and tips, to telephone and email support. You may even find some of the participants (of which there are over 300,000!!) discussing their experiences and sharing advice on forums around the internet.

The downside of this program is that you need to listen to it everyday to get maximum benefits. It also comes in stages, as a course. However, Bill claims that you do not need to continue using it and can stop after any stage of the course is complete, while permanently keeping all the changes you've made. You can of course continue and go deeper into the program if you wish. The Holosync solution does create deep states just like meditation and it does remove emotional traumas that are hidden deep in the subconscious mind. To sum up - Holosync does exactly what it says it will do if you follow the instructions.

For more information on this and other personal development topics please visit www.mindstorming.com.au/blog