And over the next fourteen minutes or so, I’d like to share my thoughts about meditation, about why meditation is probably the single most important skill we can learn in today’s world, about how it helps our brain, and also a brief demonstration of the practice.
We’ve talked a lot about technology, and there’s absolutely no doubt that we have done amazing things because, as human beings, we have the most highly developed brain on this planet. The crown jewel of evolution is our brain, and because of that, we can create things, we can create technology, we have shaped and reshaped this planet, we can examine the smallest atom and contemplate and actually go into space and everything in between.
But look at the statistics and you realize that despite all these advances, despite all the technological and scientific progress, we have never been more miserable as a species. A recent survey came out in America and it said that 13% of Americans take antidepressants. And this was before the Trump election.
But India is no better, guys. Look at the statistics in our country now. We have at least 150,000 to 180,000 people who unfortunately kill themselves every year because of suicide in this country, and many of them aged between 15 and 29.
In a recent survey, they found that at least 40% of people living in corporate India who work in corporate India have stress, anxiety, and depression. You just have to examine our society: road rage, homicide, violent crime, divorce, isolation, loneliness—it’s all happening in this country.
Why is that? Why is it that we are able to advance so much, do so much with this brain, and yet we suffer so badly? Could the reason be that the source of our development and our progress is also the source of our pain and our suffering?
Because if you examine our brain, it’s unique. We have a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, which is more advanced, more developed than any other species. And it is that part of the brain that allows me to communicate with you, to produce an idea in the brain that becomes basically vibrations that travel in the air, are then interpreted as sound by your brain, and then you hear the idea, and then you, of course, interpret the idea.
It’s pretty remarkable what this brain is capable of. It’s because of this brain that we are not subject to the whims and fancies of the natural environment, that we can pause, we can think, we can contemplate the future. This brain is a virtual reality machine. You can actually contemplate multiple realities and decide what you want to do in your life. And that’s how, as a species, we’ve been able to do so much better than any other species. We’re on top of the food chain not because we are the strongest, weigh the fastest, but because of this unbelievable brain.
Yet, it’s because of this brain that right now, even though you are here, your minds may be elsewhere. Some of you are listening, but many of you are thinking, “I could watch a better show on YouTube.” It’s endless, this comparison. The brain is always saying, “What’s happening here? What could it be like?” This brain is saying, “Who am I? What is my story? And what is happening to me now? Does it fit in with my story, or do I want something different to happen?”
It is this part of the brain that compares your life and causes you dissatisfaction. You get a great job for a while, it’s nice, and then not so good. You want something more, you want a promotion. You get married, and well, you know how it happens.
It’s a very, very difficult brain, ladies and gentlemen. And the funny thing about this brain is that it’s not interested in your happiness, it’s not interested in your fulfillment. It’s only interested in your survival and you feeling significant.
You know, deep down in your brain, there is a part of the brain called the amygdala. And this has evolved over millions of years, and we share this with all mammals. It’s what keeps us alive. In fact, there are conditions, diseases, where the amygdala, which is deep within your brain, there are diseases where that part of the brain gets atrophied, it dies out. And when the amygdala goes away, there is absolutely no fear.
And wouldn’t it be nice to have no fear? Absolutely no fear? Not really. Terrible situation. A lady who had this disease, she would just walk out in the middle of the night in the most terrible neighborhood. A person held her up once at gunpoint, and she just looked at him. She knew she was supposed to be scared, but she could feel no fear at all. I think the robber got scared just looking at this lady.
So fear is important. It keeps us alive. It lets us know when we are under threat and when we must protect ourselves.
So what is meditation? Meditation is a way of gaining control over this unbelievably complex brain. And nobody taught us this in school. In school, all they did was feed us information into this brain. They gave us information that we stuffed into this brain. But at no point did they tell us how to use this brain. It would be like getting an amazingly sharp instrument, one that can cut and dissect, and actually does, that’s what the mind does, and we do not know how to use it. In fact, we don’t even know that it’s an instrument that should be under control.
Now, there are many, many techniques of meditation, and I have about three minutes to demonstrate the technique. So I’m gonna do that. We’re going to witness the breath in this technique because breathing is the only function, the only bodily function that is both under your conscious as well as unconscious control.
So, I invite you to take a deep breath, breathe in through your nose, and breathe out through your mouth. Go ahead and make a sighing sound as you breathe out, loud enough that the person next to you can hear that. Now, just allow your breathing to return to its natural rhythms, breathing through your nose again. Gently close your eyes and bring your attention to all the sounds around you. Now, there are so many sounds, and it’s interesting because there is the sound and then there is the interpretation of the sound. What you want to do is let go of the interpretation of the sound and really pay attention to the sound itself, to the tonality, the texture of the sound.
Now, turn your attention to your breath and just notice and observe how your body is moving with each breath. You don’t try to breathe, don’t initiate the breath, don’t hold on to your breath. Just notice as your body breathes in, your abdomen goes upwards and outwards, and as your body breathes out, your abdomen falls, relaxes. Just rest your mind on that movement of the abdomen, experience those sensations. That’s it. And bring your attention back to all the sounds around you and slowly and gently open your eyes.
I hope you’re feeling more relaxed. Please make this a part of your life. That way, you can master your mind, master your brain, and live a life of happiness and peace. Thank you.