Physiological characterisation of the 'meditative state' during intuitional practice (the Ananda Marga system of mediation) and its therapeutic value

Intuitional practice (i.p.), the Ananda Marga system of meditation, is a scientific mediative technique in which the subject concentrates on a particular gland and mentally incantates a 2-syllable 'mantra' synchronous with his breathing, the glandular site of concentration as well as the mantra are specific for a subject. The physiological responses of subjects performing i.p. are characterised in order to qualify the efficacy and benefits of i.p. on 'normal' nonadept individuals. During i.p., the percentage of waves in the alpha and theta bands increases; also the signal amplitude in this band increases markedly. The transformation of the e.e.g., state, resulting in an energy predominance at a lower frequency band, is an index of the therapeutic value of i.p. Further, the blood levels of glucose, lactate and pyruvate are reduced considerably during i.p. from their normal premediative values; the meditative state during i.p. can thus be-characterised as a wakeful hypometabolic physiological state. Long-term follow-ups on some regular practitioners of i.p. indicate that (i) chronic hypertensive subjects have been able to bring down and maintain their blood pressure at a normal value (ii) cigarette and drug addicts voluntarily gave up their addictions. © 1976 International Federation for Medical & Biological Engineering.