Jaganmohanlal Pandita Sadhuwad Granth

Author(s): Sudarshanlal Jain
Publisher: Jaganmohanlal Shastri Sadhuwad Samiti Jabalpur

Page 337

१८८ पं. जगन्मोहनलाल शास्त्री साधुवाद ग्रन्थ
( ang
Responses to Meditation
It is observed that during the beginning of meditation, eye movements become slow and in deep meditation there are no eye movements. The muscular activity is slight. Most data suggest that heart rate decreases during the period of meditation. Das reported that in general, there was very little variation in the cardiac rhythm during meditation. However, as an exception to this general trend, in one subject during Samadhi, Das reports that the heart rate increased by 5 to 10 beats per minute. T. Hirai found the acceleration in pulse rate during Zazen between 80 to 100 beats per minute.
Very few studies have assayed blood composition during meditation. In one study by Wallace no significant change in pH during meditation was observed. However, he found significant decrease in blood lactate in meditation. Hiraj also reported decrease in the amount of lactic acid in the blood.
Wallace had described meditation as a "wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state.” The elicitation of the physiological changes is viewed as a hypothalamically integrated response, referred to by Benson as the "relaxation response." Benson suggests that meditation is only one among many methods by which the relaxation response may be evoked.
Oxygen consumption significantly lowers in meditation. The studies of Dhanaraj, Wallace, Sugi and Gharote are in agreement to report the lowering of the metabolic rate during meditation.
Meditation involves periods of prolonged sitting in one posture. Although one might expect the prolonged sitting to provide a metabolic rate higher than the basal rate, the metabolic rate during meditation is below the basal metabolic rate. The rapidity with which the decreases in oxygen consumption occur in meditation, surpasses normally seen oxygen consumption decrease in sleep which vary from 10% to 20% below basal levels.
The average plasma cortisol values for the long term meditators were less than for the control group according to Jevning et al. The finding suggests a decreased level of adrenal cortical activity as a result of long term meditative practice.
Udupa reported that the bolld levels of acetylcholine and cholinesterase were significantly greater in the group trained in meditation.
Wenger and Wallace reported Galvanic skin resistance during the course of meditation to Increase markedly.
Applied Research
Most of Yogic researches seem to have been undertaken to study the application of yogic techniques and routines for the control of various problems related to health and disease.
Although Swami Kuvalayananda started clinical work as an applied aspect of Yoga in 1920s, no clinical research in Yoga seems to have been undertaken until 1950s.