The astounding power of the brain

"It was this incredible, seductive, magnificent experience of the present moment which was pure euphoria."

Imagine being completely focused on the activity of the right hemisphere of your brain, the side that relates to creativity and consciousness. This is what it feels like when you can shut off the left hemisphere, the analytical side, the hemisphere that controls speech and tends to dominate our existence.

The description is remarkable, because it's what happened to Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist, as she was experiencing a stroke.

It happened in 1996, when a large clot disrupted the left side of her brain, leaving her severely incapacitated. After many years of therapy, Jill Bolte Taylor has returned to work and is reviewing what she learned during that experience. She has written a book called "Stroke of Insight" and was recently interviewed by Maclean's magazine (where her remarks quoted in this post originate).

The analysis of a stroke by someone who studies brain function offers a unique perspective, not only on how the body responds during such a traumatic injury, but also on the power of our often suppressed right-hemisphere brain functions.

Staying in touch with the right-brain means being able to tap into a deep reservoir of consciousness, of connecting to the universe at a different level. During her stroke, Bolte Taylor describes how she didn't feel fear, pain or worry; she no longer felt separate from her body: "...I was nothing more than cellular molecular life, if you will. When you stop and think about you as a living entity, a conglomeration of trillions of little cells, then you're very aware that you're 80 per cent fluid. I was a fluid in a very fluid environment. Everything was in motion."

She tells people that peace is within reach of everyone: "...I think both hemispheres are always functioning and deep inner peace is always present. It's always a choice. If' I'm attached to my drama, the pain in my past, and I'm not willing to put it aside, that's my left brain interfering with the purity of having that right-hemisphere consciousness."

These words echo those expressed by many ancient and modern philosophers. Bolte Taylor's insight provides some scientific support for them.

Her conversation with Maclean's magazine is a revealing read. The description of her stroke, as seen from her perspective is unique. You can find it here.

She has lectured also at various international conferences. You can watch her presentation at the prestigious TED conference.

Two related posts in this blog were "The present is the only thing that's real" and "Can humanity evolve to a new level of consciousness."

Winter's solace

Here we are, in the middle of winter, and my dad shows me this photograph he took the other day from his apartment window. I'm not sure if you agree, but this bench in the snow is not just a bench in the snow. The photograph conveys meaning.

Read into it what you will, but to me it speaks of hope, of friendship, of peace.

The image led me to some other thoughts:

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.
-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.
-Unknown

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
-Unknown (often attributed to Albert Camus)

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
-Victor Hugo


These leaped out from The Quotations Page.

Thanks to D. David Zane for his picture.
Look for more of his photographs in future posts.

A reflection

The first day of the year began in Southern Ontario with an abundant snowfall, followed by dropping temperatures promising a frigid first week of January.

This was a great day for reviewing plans and setting out goals for the next twelve months.

The New Year's Day church service focused on the idea of peace, and I noted the intersection point between all the major religions: peace is rooted in acceptance and living in the present; not re-living the problems of the past and not worrying about the future. If we focus on the present and fully absorb its essence, not allowing the mind to run wild, we might find peace.

Something to try this year.

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Related posts:

The present is the only thing...

Dalai Lama's words of wisdom...

Oxygen, a simple prescription...

What happens when the fighting stops

On this day each year, on the 11th day of the 11th month, when we remember and honor those who died in war, we not only reflect on the human sacrifice of conflict, but also on a sad irony: that the seeds of war are often planted at the moment of surrender.

Every generation, it seems, is burdened by the deeds of its predecessors.

As we seek to understand the conflicts in the Middle East today, our thoughts on this Remembrance Day go back to the First World War because of its pivotal importance.

It was supposed to be the "war to end all wars." Sadly, after nine million soldiers and five million civilians lay dead on all sides, and twenty-one million remained wounded, the peace treaty that was signed laid the foundation for yet another global conflict.

The Treaty of Versailles imposed such punitive measures on Germany that the treaty became a primary cause of the rise of the Nazi Party and the subsequent onset of World War II.

Now, as we reflect on the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan, we see a similar pattern replaying itself. As a result of poor management by the forces that ousted the previous regimes, the situation is grim: societies in chaos followed by the struggle for some semblance of stability. The disaffection and suffering of millions of civilians and subsequent exploitation of the situation by militant forces have resulted in insurgency and internal conflict; in short, a real mess.

At the end of the Second World War, the Allies faced a similar dilemma. While it's true that the power struggle between Russia and her Western allies sowed the seeds of a divided Europe, it's also true that the world responded very differently towards the countries in need. The cessation of hostilities led to the Marshall Plan and the rebuilding of Europe. The United States also led the rebuilding of Japan, another defeated power. As a result, Europe and Japan recovered, the seeds of the European Common Market (now the EU) were sown, and these nations became contributors to peace and stability in the world.

As we recognize the collective sacrifices of humanity at war, let us hope that we also remember that what we do when hostilities end is just as critical in honoring those who died and those who remain with us, on all sides of a conflict.

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Photo courtesy stock.xchng.

Words of wisdom

The Dalai Lama spoke some encouraging words during a speech in Toronto the other day.

His message is one that resonates because it reminds us that we are all linked together.

The Dalai Lama told his audience that one of the keys to peace in the world is good bonding, especially early in life. Maternal affection during infancy, he said, helps children have a warm-hearted approach to others. This eventually contributes to peaceful cities and peaceful nations.

"A healthy community must start from individuals," he was quoted as saying in the Toronto Globe and Mail.

"Today's reality [is that] everything is dependent and interconnected. Whether you love others or not, your existence depends on them, so you should consider others part of yourself."

The Dalai Lama encouraged his audience to "make this century the century of dialogue."

May it be so.