Some four decades back, my younger brother Dr. Behanan T. Kovoor of Yale University measured the rate of oxygen consumption and respiratory volume to show the relationship between psycho-physiological effects during pranayama. The effects of the different types of pranayama have been studied on the gas-exchange in the lungs and the blood-gas composition. It has been found that the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood during pranayama can produce changes in the excitability of the nervous system. The unusual pattern of the brain wave of a person in deep meditation clearly indicates the deranged state of his mind. No sensible person, who has any knowledge of psychiatry, will accept this state of abnormality as a desirable thing. Such unusual patterns of brain waves are common among schizophrenics.
Many people talk about a feeling of well-being after a session of meditation. Such feeling of euphoria is not uncommon when a person starts using alcohol or hallucinatory drugs like Ganja, LSD, marijuana, peyote, etc.
RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by shanehind on Feb 06, 2008 02:32 PM Permalink
Dear JGN, The Prakriya or the Usage of Pranayaam was founded some Thousands of Years Back in the Rich Vedic Age in India and else where in the World when the Vedic Era and High Morale Culture was predominent. There are many such things what you were saying in India which can not be proved wrong and the so called study and scientific approach used by your brother or any one will bear no effect or meaningful study at all as these things were given by High Spiritual, Knowledgeble People of India, If at all there is some thing wrond that is your Approch and Thought towards such great prakriyaas. Having little or no knowledge and commenting like this will never give credit so KEEP QUITE and dont BARK. Generally you westerners have little Brains, do you people think you are the most intelegent and Intelectuals to comment on such works and Kriyas which are used by the far cultured and Knowledgeble people like us? Unfortunately, the whole world of western and Turkish buggers have dominated us though we are very powerful being peace loving we never retaliated, but still these great things are alive and these are our legasy. So dear friend kindly ask your Brother to work again on this.
RE:RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by JGN on Feb 06, 2008 02:37 PM Permalink
Mr.shanehind, have you read the book, The Monk who sold his Ferrari" by Robin Sharma??? There are many unverified claims about yoga, meditation, etc in that book. Have you heard of any yogi in the Himalayas who are 200 years or 300 years old? How so ever you try, the life span of a human-being cannot extend beyond 120 years at the most.
And the way you have written itself shows your level of civilization. For your kind info, I am very much an Indian and of course Dr. A.T. Kovoor was also an Indin!
RE:RE:RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by shanehind on Feb 06, 2008 02:46 PM Permalink
JGN, Needless to read such books, now being an Indian you could not inculcate the greatness of the culture and Heritage of India, and your answer gives me a feeling that you are a Book worm who does not have any worldly knowledge and lives in dreams or idiotic thoughts. Coming to the Civilization, gentleman (Ha Ha)A civilized man would try to understand ones own culture, ones own civilization and promotes Heritage, you are the Biggest CRAB who is not fit to live in India. Coming to the life span of Human beings, better check in Himalayas you will find the people who are living for centuries go and check for yourself.
RE:RE:RE:RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by JGN on Feb 06, 2008 02:51 PM Permalink
>>>>>>>>>>>>>you will find the people who are living for centuries go and check for yourself...........be happy with your beliefs. No quarrels. What are the heritages you want me spread? Sati? Child-marriage? Untouchability? Caste system? Religious animosity?
Dear friend, better come out of the religious dogmas. I am a hindu and an upper-caste (not a good term to use, but to remove your misconception) one at that!
RE:RE:RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by Seshadri on Feb 06, 2008 03:54 PM Permalink
JGN, I do not mean to interrupt, but there are indeed yogis in the Himalayas who have supernatural durability powers....
RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by Seshadri on Feb 06, 2008 03:52 PM Permalink
JGN, the interpretations of studies are based on assumptions and as such a sweeping statement about pranayama should be construed... If the person you mention is a psychology, it only means that he has studied the subject. It does not confer on him the authority on the same.
Moreover, the relation between the prana, the soul and the brain cannot be understood by mere bookish knowledge; it is "Sukshma Gyana" requiring more than mere application of theories and research.
And comparing them with drugs does not help; it means your understanding is limited only to that extent. The goal of pranayama is concentration and determination which cannot be found in schizpphrenics and drug addicts!
I think inferences rather depend on the perception of the individual...
RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by JGN on Feb 06, 2008 03:57 PM Permalink
Dear Seshadri, I think earlier also we had exchanged messages. Yes, what you said is correct, it all depends on the perception of the individual.
RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by India Shining on Feb 06, 2008 02:12 PM Permalink
Then don't do pranayama. Who is forcing you? We like to do pranayama and we notice that we feel really good after we complete pranayama. And in fact, we have achieved superb health as a result. Please take your and your enlightened brother's research elsewhere. Neither you nor your brother are needed here.
RE:RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by JGN on Feb 06, 2008 02:32 PM Permalink
India Shining, nobody has stopped you from doing paranayama. The late Dr. A.T. Kovoor was a trained psychologist. It is upto the readers to accept his views or not!!!!
RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by vijay ranjan on Feb 06, 2008 02:27 PM Permalink
u must be from britain or europe, they are racist and believe that all inventions were made in europe. yoga is scientific and and proven by people. yoga has the power to make a person control over his body mind and death as guru mahesh yogi did in his final days. indians created stuff without spending crores and crores of pounds sterlings and without genocide, colonization, these europeans inventions turned the whole planet into a slum . cars polluted
RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by JGN on Feb 06, 2008 02:31 PM Permalink
Mr.vijay ranjan, it is really a pity that you have not heard of world renowned rationalist, the late Dr. A.T. Kovoor. He was a Keralite settled in Sri Lanka. Pl search to know about his untiring efforts to eradicate superstitions.
RE:RE:Dr. A.T. Kovoor on meditation
by shanehind on Feb 06, 2008 02:38 PM Permalink
YES JGN, UNFORTUNATELY IN INDIA WE HAVE SOME CRABS, AND KOVOOR MAY BE ONE OF THEM, YOU WESTERNERS ARE MORE SUPERSTITIOUS THEN US, SUPERSTITIONS IN INDIA HAVE SCIENTIFIC AND PROVEN BASE ( I CAN GIVE YOU VOLUMS OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHY SUCH THINGS ARE PREVAILING HERE, HOWEVER YOU HAVE LITTLE BRAINS TO UNDERSTAND)PLEASE DONT MISTAKE TO THAT OF WESTERN ONES.
RE:Con Yogi
by Deepak on Feb 06, 2008 01:48 PM Permalink
interesting ... i understand himalayas is a cold place, need warmth, but this is hot. You right about this thing ?
RE:Con Yogi
by Deepak on Feb 06, 2008 01:53 PM Permalink
Actually you know what ? I googled and found the same exact information on wikipedia. You were right on.
