Sculpting Project 15: Centering Moments: Week 2

Why do Centering Prayer?

1. To pursue a deeper relationship with God. Beyond words.
2. To receive the enormous variety of benefits that accompany a meditation practice.
It appears to me that we were built to meditate. I get this idea when I read the results of the many controlled laboratory and field studies that have been done to discover the results of practicing meditation. Meditation increases positive emotions, happiness, pain management and cognitive abilities. Meditation improves our social relationships and physical health.

Two sample studies.

First study by Richard Davidson PhD and associates studying the effects of meditation on brain and immune function.

An 8 week study on healthy individuals with a ‘wait list’ control group.
Subjects participated in a well-known mindfulness meditation program.
At the end of the 8 weeks subjects were vaccinated with influenza vaccine.

Study results:
1. Subjects who meditated had “significant increases in antibody titers to influenza compared to those on the ‘wait list.” (Greater immune function)
2. Subjects who meditated had “significant increases in left-sided anterior activation”. (The part of the brain associated with positive emotions was more active.)
Conclusions: A few weeks of meditation and we have boosted our immune system and increased positive emotions.

Second study out of UCLA studied brain structure.

Subjects meditated for 27 minutes a day for 8 weeks.

Study results: At the end of the 8 weeks small structural brain changes had taken place in the executive functioning part of the frontal lobe. ( The part of the brain that deals with decision-making, flexible thinking, putting together information, self-awareness and compassion was increased in size.)

(Bad news: Our brains thin out as we age. Good news: Meditation thickens our brains. The more we meditate the thicker it gets.)

There are many more studies that indicate the value of meditation on heart disease, chronic pain, skin disorders, depression, anxiety, panic, and substance abuse. As well as studies which show increases in the positives of life: happiness, savoring the present moment, enhanced relationships.

Studies with the elderly show improvements in intelligence, creativity, and cognitive flexibility.
We could go on to the increased ability to be in control of ones thoughts and emotions and remember the first and central benefit, deeper relationship with God.
It seems we are designed to meditate. There are many ways to meditate. Centering Prayer is one.