In seeking solutions to complex and even abstract situations, generally we seek through the same plateau of shallow intelligence, which, by default, limits in-sight of advance nature. Conversely, functioning through a level of brain activity which promotes intelligence growth, is surly the wisest route. The question arises: how do we access and develop this potential of enhanced brain function for everyday use?
Growth of human intelligence is said to “level off” on reaching around age twenty. This age is generally when our stored or conditioned environmental mind-sets and indoctrinated belief patterns become the dominating thought force – when crystalized mental images have imprinted in our brain as personality and range of limitation or ability.Thus, by experiential association, these subjective templates join-up to comprise accepted life-style behaviour, perceptions and mood-anxiety states.
Due to this “levelling off” of intelligence growth, our life feels as if running on fixed mental programming over which we have no control. But, such “levelling-off” of intelligence production need not be the continuing situation. The reality is, through the brain’s reorganizing ability, we can reactivate this stalled intelligence process at any time, regardless of age, for, consciousness development adheres to no limitation or age determinant, for its expression.
Known also as human growth hormone, this innate intelligence lies in abundance within the Pineal gland in the centre of the brain awaiting reactivation. I say reactivation, because, it is this gland – through non activity — which is responsible for halting production of the intelligence hormone on our reaching late adolescence. To off-set this creative intelligence deficit, a natural remedying technique, of putting the Pineal gland back to work for maximum brain potential, is the obvious solution.
The practicalities of reactivation should therefore be a means of realigning the brain with a restructuring dynamic, whereby, through the plasticity of brain stretching, new neural pathways are formed, thus bringing about expansion of consciousness and greater ability of comprehension, through advance intelligence.
While the term transcending has been with mankind for centuries, science, relatively recently, is now putting this phenomenon into relatable language, calling it neuroplasticity through neurogenesis.
Neuroplasticity is a natural brain stretching function to facilitate production of new intelligence, and, neurogenesis is the term to describe formation of new nerve cells, referred to as neurotransmitters – brain links or triggers for clicking into the dormant wealth of natural creative happiness or genius-status.
In creating new neural pathways, the brain is then in the process of bringing about general body healing and well-being restoration, plus, creating coherence or enhanced communication throughout the entire brain.
Known colloquially as “use it or lose it”, scientifically this expression is termed synaptic pruning: a process where some neural connections or past experiences, become strengthened through use — through conscious living familiarity — while others die, through non use. The imperative being: creating new neural pathways in the brain for on-going consciousness or intelligence development by means of focused awareness or mindfulness.
The Remedy
In meditation, what some regard as a problem — the inability of staying focused – is actually a blessing in disguise. For, such is the progress dynamic, the modus operandi of initiating neroplasticity, neurogenesis, in the brain.
It works like this. Unable to place a physical weight on the brain like on a gymnasium bar, to exercise the brain, we use instead the mind’s habit of drifting in meditation as the weight. Each aware drift followed by a subtle conscious coming back to our focal point of attention for restart — such as a mantra — is thus pushing the brain weight.
Putting this into further meditational context, it is an established fact, that, the secret of learning a musical instrument – or anything new — is spaced repetition. In meditational terms, this spaced repetition of starting and restarting after each wandering, initiates neuroplasticity activity, thereby, neurogenesis capacity. In other words, by regular restarts in meditation, the brain’s ability of becoming focus-familiar creates the impetus for new neural pathways to establish in the brain.
Here, the “instrument” can be a new language, project, hobby, sporting achievement or even a relationship – something or someone we give ourselves to totally. So long as our “new” whatever involves daily spaced repetition, or attention, then the brain is creating new neural pathways of a creative nature, in this area.
This is why having as many happy, pleasant personal experiences as possible, is pivotal. The more pleasant the mental imprint of the experienced moment, the greater does our happiness bank swell. In this context, regular engagement of happiness is what brings about a natural integration or elimination of unpleasant memories, or, synaptic pruning. In other words, through non use, the imprint of engraved non desirable habits, become erased. Thus, by establishing natural happiness within consciousness, inner and outer happiness is lived spontaneously.
If we never take up music or a new project or language, meditation therefore becomes the easily available instrument of retraining the brain, of opening the Pineal gland whereby neuroplasticity and neurogenesis become active dynamics. This is the process of producing more gray matter, hence, new creative channels in the brain.
Think of a pebble dropped in to a still lake and the ensuing ripples. Such is the mantra effect in meditation for initiating neuroplasticty in the brain, and for the transformation of consciousness.