The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice
This paper is a call for the development of a neuroscientific research protocol for the study of the impact of Tantric practice on the autonomic nervous system. Tantric texts like Abhinavagupta’s Tantrāloka map out a complex meditative ritual system in which inward-gazing, apophatic, sense-denying c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/7/11/132 |
| _version_ | 1818650527165054976 |
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| author | Jeffrey S. Lidke |
| author_facet | Jeffrey S. Lidke |
| author_sort | Jeffrey S. Lidke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper is a call for the development of a neuroscientific research protocol for the study of the impact of Tantric practice on the autonomic nervous system. Tantric texts like Abhinavagupta’s Tantrāloka map out a complex meditative ritual system in which inward-gazing, apophatic, sense-denying contemplative practices are combined with outward-gazing, kataphatic sense-activating ritual practices. Abhinavagupta announces a culminating “bi-directional” state (pratimīlana-samādhi) as the highest natural state (sahaja-samādhi) in which the practitioner becomes a perfected yogi (siddhayogi). This state of maximized cognitive capacities, in which one’s inward gaze and outward world-engagement are held in balance, appears to be one in which the anabolic metabolic processes of the parasympathetic nervous system and the catabolic metabolic processes of the sympathetic nervous systems are simultaneously activated and integrated. Akin to secularized mindfulness and compassion training protocols like Emory’s CBCT, I propose the development of secularized “Tantric protocols” for the development of secular and tradition-specific methods for further exploring the potential of the human neurological system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:51:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e6666e6eeee440992cc156d8910bf71 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:51:38Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e6666e6eeee440992cc156d8910bf712022-12-21T22:08:03ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442016-11-0171113210.3390/rel7110132rel7110132The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric PracticeJeffrey S. Lidke0Department of Religion and Philosophy, Berry College, Mt Berry, GA 30149, USAThis paper is a call for the development of a neuroscientific research protocol for the study of the impact of Tantric practice on the autonomic nervous system. Tantric texts like Abhinavagupta’s Tantrāloka map out a complex meditative ritual system in which inward-gazing, apophatic, sense-denying contemplative practices are combined with outward-gazing, kataphatic sense-activating ritual practices. Abhinavagupta announces a culminating “bi-directional” state (pratimīlana-samādhi) as the highest natural state (sahaja-samādhi) in which the practitioner becomes a perfected yogi (siddhayogi). This state of maximized cognitive capacities, in which one’s inward gaze and outward world-engagement are held in balance, appears to be one in which the anabolic metabolic processes of the parasympathetic nervous system and the catabolic metabolic processes of the sympathetic nervous systems are simultaneously activated and integrated. Akin to secularized mindfulness and compassion training protocols like Emory’s CBCT, I propose the development of secularized “Tantric protocols” for the development of secular and tradition-specific methods for further exploring the potential of the human neurological system.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/7/11/132apophatic-kataphaticautonomic nervous systemŚrī YantrakuṇḍalinīsādhanāsynesthesiaTrika-KaulaAbhinavagupta |
| spellingShingle | Jeffrey S. Lidke The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice Religions apophatic-kataphatic autonomic nervous system Śrī Yantra kuṇḍalinī sādhanā synesthesia Trika-Kaula Abhinavagupta |
| title | The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice |
| title_full | The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice |
| title_fullStr | The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice |
| title_short | The Potential of the Bi-Directional Gaze: A Call for Neuroscientific Research on the Simultaneous Activation of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems through Tantric Practice |
| title_sort | potential of the bi directional gaze a call for neuroscientific research on the simultaneous activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems through tantric practice |
| topic | apophatic-kataphatic autonomic nervous system Śrī Yantra kuṇḍalinī sādhanā synesthesia Trika-Kaula Abhinavagupta |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/7/11/132 |
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