BRAIN CHEMICALS AND MEDITATION

  The PATNAJALI Sutra Yoga is also called Raj Yoga Sutra  and has instruction for mediation and what happens when you have achieved highest levels of concentration or Samadhi. But modern day science has done some investigation on the meditation and try to find it's effects on mind and body. There are many chemicals that are involved in brain function or the response of the brain to certain situations. It is well known that the mediation causes mind to be calmer and the blood pressure  and heart rate are down  and there are certain health benefits of the meditation. So, I thought of talking about the science of these chemicals . 

  There are many chemicals in brain , but some important ones are DOPAMIN which has function of pleasure , SEROTOTINE which has function in happiness  and then there is GABA which is related to Calmness of the mind . The NOR-EPINEPHRIN is a chemical which is related to physical or mental agitation and it is increased in conditions like Anxiety disorder or PTSD. So the studies have been done on these chemicals and it was noted that those who did the mediations for longer time years etc. had higher levels of Serotonin and that was detected before mediation and it increased after meditation. The urinary excretion was increased . As mentioned above serotonin is related to HAPPINESS. The good chemicals Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA - all were increased and when functional MRI was done then  it showed certain areas of the brain light up showing increased blood flow and then secretions of these chemicals . So the effect on Body and Mind was that of lower blood pressure , heart rate  and calmness of the mind . The blood sugar was also lower as cortisol levels were also reduced . The cortisol is a stress hormone as we need higher blood pressure and heart rate  and sugar to fight physical stress .  

    So the chemicals that make us agitated are reduced and chemicals that make us calmer are increased. But the areas of brain are involved in decision making, are also improved. So the mediation has value in our modern day stressful life to handle mental and physical stress. 

SOME SYMBOLISM IN RAMAYAN

   Lot has ben talked about the Symbolism in Mahabharata .and not much in Ramayana and many of us have several questions about the the  things that has happened in Ramayana. Again I have tried to find out the reasoning  and some answers to the questions about the behavior of Lord Rama towards Seeta.I have not come to 100 % explanation. But some things we can agree and some may sound like good explanation. The 4 brothers Rama, Lakshmana , Bharat and Shatrughna  represent 4 PURUSHARTH. But that maybe for some other time . Today I will talk about Ravana. The Ravana's father was sage Vishrava and his father was one of the sons of Brahma - MANAS PUTRA -born of mind . He is also one of the 7 starts or Rushi in SAPTARUSHI . He was married to a Rakshasa princes named KAIKASHI. They had 4 main or commonly known children.(There are more ) I thinks these represent mixture of 3 Gunas. The father was sage  and mi=other was daughter of a Rakshsha King  and so we may have mixture of Satvic and Tamasic Gunas As all of us have all 3 Gunas all the time with predominance of one at a given time. So the children born of these  had the same . The Bibhishan was more Satvic . The Kumbhakarn was more Tamasic . The Ravan was mixture of Rajasic and Tamasic. and Shurpankha was same combination but more Tamasik than Rajasic.

     The 4 sons of Dasharatha represent 4 Purusharth ,namely DHARM,ARTH ,KAMA AND MOKSHA. Lord Rama represent DHARMA righteous action. The Lakshmana represents KAMA or attachment ,the Bharata represents MOKSHA and Shatrugnha represents ARTH. All the behavior good or bad has some desires behind it and so Rama and Lakshman were together . Moksha is devotion for the Lord and so Bharata  did not rule or had any earthly pleasures but was working as King with Rama's PADUKA on the throne. 

  The 3wifes or the queens represent 3 GUNAS The Lord Rama's mothe KAUSALYA represents Satvic Guna. The KAIKAI represents Tamasic Guna and SUMITRA the mother of twins Lakshmana and Shatrugnha represent Rajasic Guna. (her sons had KAMA and ARTH as Purusharth) Why was Kaikai's son was Bharata who wants MOKSHA , I do not have answer.

  I may do little deatil on this some other time .