DR. JAY KUMAR

Only in the past decade have we truly been able to start mapping the human brain of people during deep meditation, prayer, intense spiritual experiences, and religious epiphanies. Neural scans of the brains of Carmelite nuns, Zen Buddhist masters, adept Indian Yogis, and indigenous shamans when in deep and profound states of transcendence all report similar findings. There exist specific areas in the brain that fire when we connect to the sacred and pray to the divine. The primary areas are the temporal and frontal lobes in the brain where this phenomenon occurs. Watch video While I don’t advocate that these areas of the brain are the cause of religious experiences, there does appear to be a correlation between these areas of the brain and heightened spiritual states of consciousness. Even more astounding is that the results indicate that when these exact same areas of the brain are intentionally triggered using a magnetic device for those who claim to be atheists, similar experiences of awe and reverence for something transcendent are felt. The findings imply the possibility that regardless if you’re a true religious believer, a secularist, or an atheist, the same neural mechanisms of the human brain are responsible for processing the sacred and the divine.

So what exactly accounts for the reason our brains are wired to fire during contemplation, prayer, and meditation? One possible explanation into the neurobiology of belief in the divine might be an evolutionary strategy for survival of the species. If you’re wondering how religious belief in a transcendent being might have been key for survival of our species, it likely has to do with a biological need we humans have to make sense of the world. Imagine our early human ancestors having to cope with the hardships of a brutal life of surviving constant threats to survival. In the same way that human emotions such hope, faith, and trust might have evolved within the human psyche to cope in times of calamity and constant uncertainty, our human brain might also have developed a neurobiological mechanism for humans to survive in times of strife and suffering. That evolutionary trait would have created a neural structure in the human brain, ultimately passing down to us modern humans.

Another way to examine the issue is that religion might have evolved in the same way that humans developed the need for language. Regardless of the human neurobiological necessity to believe in a higher power, it appears that every human brain is wired to experience the divine, even in atheists! In the same way that every human brain is wired to acquire and speak a human language, it’s possible that every human brain is equally capable and neurologically wired to experience the divine. You might even think of religion as a form of language, a sacred language that enables us to communicate with the aspects of life that cause us wonder, awe, and reverence for the sacred. Just as every healthy brain of a baby is capable of acquiring any language in the world, similarly every human brain has the ability to acquire a religion. In the same way that English really isn’t inherently better than French, Arabic, Mandarin, or Swahili to express human thoughts and to share conceptual knowledge, likewise no religion is inherently better equipped to experience the numinous and divine. When viewed in this light, it really begins to seem pointless for humans to squabble over which religion is inherently superior to another. In the same vein, it would appear illogical to argue that English is ultimately better equipped to express human thoughts and ideas than Hebrew, Swedish, or Japanese.

Even if you choose not to believe in a divine power or subscribe to a particular religion, there are equally many positive health benefits to cultivating a spiritual practice. Whether you choose to practice prayer, meditation, mindfulness, or silent contemplation in nature, your brain experiences the same neural effects, all of which have tremendously beneficial health benefits for the body. Numerous studies indicate that regular prayer or meditation reduces stress while promoting immune system function and greater levels of wellbeing. Even more remarkable is that belief in a benign rather than a punitive deity reduces anxiety and increases feelings of love and compassion for self and others. By far the most amazing news to come out of contemplative neuroscience is that regular prayer and meditation can literally rewire your brain to change your attitude towards life for the better. 

Ultimately, the human need to experience faith and to commune with divine might have been a biological tool for survival among our early ancestors. It is likely this evolutionary reason why we observe that every human culture throughout history and every indigenous society observed around the world all have a form of religious worship. Just as the human species evolved areas in the brain for linguistic communication, neuroscience is equally suggesting that religious communication with the divine accounts for the universal human need to experience the sacred. While the ability to acquire a language is still a crucial and fundamental trait for human expression, it might just be that religion and faith are an equally necessary means for humans to engage with the sacred, the holy, and the divine elements of existence.

Dr. Jay Kumar
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I often like to say that we are nothing more than “humans in divine play.” We are all aspects of a universal divine energy choosing to have a wordly experience in the physical body. Many of the religious and spiritual traditions of the world express the common belief that we are merely spirits, who consciously chose to incarnate into the physical plane in order to express and celebrate the divine and sacred love of creation. The Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda, poetically describes that just as oil is present in every part of the olive, so too does love permeate all aspects of the universe. The way in which universe celebrates love is through YOU. Each and every one of you is a sacred aspect of divine creation, and you each carry within the divine spark of love that burns passionately at the core of your being.

Knowing that everyone embodies the eternal spark of divine love within, why is that so many choose to experience confusion, loneliness, fear, emptiness, drama or apathy in life? Why do you choose to close your hearts to the sacred universal love that, like the oil forever present throughout the olive, permeates all aspects of existence? To answer this question, I offer you a quote from the contemporary Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron, who so accurately states in her very eloquent way, “The only reason we don't open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don't feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we can look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, will we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else's eyes.”

The key to experiencing genuinely nurturing relationships and to receiving authentic love in your life occurs only when you are able firstly to embody and love unconditionally ALL those aspects within yourself that comprise your true being. Only by accepting compassionately without judgment all that you are–your light, your joy, your truth AS WELL as your pain, your vulnerability and your fears will you be able to extend unconditional love to all areas of your life and to all those in your life.

One of the fundamental tenets being advanced in the field of quantum physics is that the universe appears to operate on the “law of resonance and attraction.” Additionally, theories from cognitive studies and neuroscience suggest that your thoughts are just fluctuating energies of consciousness. Since the universe is fundamentally comprised of energies vibrating at various frequencies, the frequency of energy that your thoughts resonate on and the belief systems you project will attract that exact same energy into your life. Simply put, whatever you believe about your Self is exactly what you experience. Your thoughts, thus, literally do create your reality! The universe is nothing more than an objective and impartial mirror that reflects back on to you EXACTLY what it is you believe about the world and about yourself. If for example, you are vibrating on a frequency of fear or self-loathing, the universe will simply mirror back to you situations, people and relationships that not only match, but also reinforce these patterns and belief systems. If, however, you choose to resonate on the frequency and energy of unconditional love and abundance, beginning first with yourself, the universe reflects back on to you these qualities that, in turn, manifest in all aspects of your life– especially in your relationships!

This principle, known as the “law of resonance and attraction,” can easily be seen by a simple experiment. Placing two identical pianos in the same room, when you strike a key on one piano the exact same chord will begin automatically to vibrate in the other piano. This phenomenon of “resonance and attraction” occurs for you, as well, understanding that ultimately you, everyone else and the universe are governed by the same rules of physics. Just as the second piano mirrors back the same note from the first piano, similarly the universe and others reflect back to you whatever energy and frequency you emit. You attract what you resonate!

Your body also contains various energy centers, known in the Indian tradition as chakras. These chakras, although not physically visible, are the portals through which divine energy enters and manifests in the body. You can also think of these chakras as vibrating energy centers that, like the piano, emit frequencies. The chakra said to be located near the heart is known in Sanskrit, the ancient sacred language of India, as anaahata and loosely translates as “the place where nothing clashes or comes into conflict.” Only when you abide as an integrated whole honoring, accepting and truly loving all that you are, do you release all the clashing and conflict that you hold onto in your heart. Just as the pianos react to different frequencies, you also respond to every  vibration of energy produced by your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs you hold about yourself. When you are able to embrace all that you find in discord within you and hold in harmony all aspects of yourself that you carry in your heart, only then can you truly begin to taste the divine nectar of the fruit of love! As the medieval poet Rumi masterfully writes, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

I invite you to commemorate this Valentine’s Day by acknowledging and embracing all that you hold onto in your life that prevents your body, mind, heart and soul from truly opening to the power of love that is all around and permeates the very fabric of existence. Observe and become a compassionate witness to all those aspects in life that you notice acting as barriers for you to be in harmony with universe and your spirit. You may ask yourself, “What is it that I hold onto physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that prevents me from experiencing this divine love and joyous relationship with my divine being?” Again without holding judgment toward these barriers you carry within you, dedicate your Valentine’s Day to embracing and cherishing ALL THAT YOU ARE! For the more you can experience compassion and love to yourself, the more will you be able to revel in the love that awaits you! I think this quote from Leonardo Buscaglia sums it up quite nicely, "Love yourself. Accept yourself. 
Forgive yourself and be good to yourself. 
Because without YOU, the rest of US are without a source of many good things!"

Even though Valentine’s Day occurs once a year, why just let this day of the year be the one when you celebrate love. LET EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR, EVERY MOMENT of your life become an ecstatic and conscious celebration of LOVE, not only to others but also to that sacred and most important relationship of all–the one with your Self. As you honor the sacred and beautiful divine being that you are, may your love and light shine forth fully and brightly and know that the world would be a much dimmer place without you here! 

Dr. Jay Kumar

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