Last Updated on February 20, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org
Richard Davidson says in his book Altered Traits, which we haven t read, but we know it all the same because of the many reviews in the media about it. Richard Davidson says, that our brain is plastic, and that even a daily practice of 20 minutes is enough to change our brain in an objectively measurable way.
But how fast is this change? We don t know anything about the data of the studies which Richard Davidson did. And we ask ourselves: is Richard Davidson a good meditator and good teacher for meditation?
From other masters of meditation as for instance the Dalai Lama, we have the following information: The change caused by meditation is very slow, and can almost not be perceived if we practice on a daily basis. The Dalai Lama the 14 th sais, the change can be compared to the growth of a plant. We can t see it on a daily basis, but still it is there.
And who long does it take to have a break-through to become a spiritual master? Or how long does it take to become enlighted? Are these terms clearly defined in a way so that we can make scientific tests about it?
Spiritual teachers report to have had such a break-throughs after 13 years of solitary retreat, as for instance Dilgo Kihenze Rhinpoche. Other had such a break-through spontaneously without any mind training, as for instance Osho. Are these break-thoughs convincing, could such break-throughs be measured with scientific methods, and the results spread widely?
We found out that many of such meditation masters which had such a break-through came from rich families, which supported those. But is this possible also for anyone, for people which do not originate from a rich family? And are these teachers a raw model in our society, which can be established?
In Switzerland, in every village stands a church, and in every church preaches a priest. The are funded by church taxes. A business model that seem to work in Switzerland. But how does the business model of Laghsam Tibetan Meditation in Zurich work, which flies teachers from all around the world to Zurich on a regular basis? Aren t there many other meditation retreat centers with an in transparent funding?
To have more scientific data from long-term mediators could help to find a business model for masters of meditation which is funded in way which is accepted by the society, secure and transparent.
Secular mind training is a secular practice, and Tibetan meditation or Christian churches are spiritual practices, and these things should not be mixed up. But people which are familiar with these spiritual and secular traditions are close to each other. Will people which are interested in secular mind training also find a common path, as other people found a common path?