The Challenges and Opportunities of Buddhist Music Discipline in a New Era-The Practice and Application of Mind and Body System in Chinese Buddhist Chanting

Religious music is an inevitable and important topic when exploring the significance of the“new”or“deep”dimension of religion or spirituality.Traditional Chinese culture influenced Chinese Buddhist chanting practices,developing special melodies,languages,and meaning,and establishing special mind and body practice system spanning thousands of years.Advances in music therapy,meditation,and vocal research give the Chinese Buddhist chanting mind and body practice system enough theoretical support to facilitate the construction of the discipline in the modern era.This paper adopts the scientific approach to tracing and analyzing the origins of the body and mind system in Chinese Buddhist chanting practice and reviews how the system benefits the mind and body and modern society in general.This paper also examines the issues confronting the standard and development of special chanting skills in Chinese Buddhist music in the modern era.

Effects of a Single-Dose of Mind-Body Practice on the Heart Rate Variability, Brain Activity and Shooting Performance in Archers: A Pilot Study

Objective: Factors affecting performance of archery are categorized into psychological, skill, and fitness perspectives. Increase in attention, relaxation and parasympathetic system activity is believed to enhance the shooting performance of archers during competition. This pilot study aims to investigate the effects of single-dose of Tai Chi practice on archer’s performance and the feasibility of an investigation protocol under a competition scenario. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a crossover study design. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were conducted to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi practice on the archer’s autonomic nervous system activity, attention and relaxation through electroencephalography investigation, and shooting performance when compared with stretching as control. Results: The protocol of the study was found to be feasible during a competition setting. No significant difference was detected in the outcome measures under the two intervention conditions. Participants after practicing Tai Chi were found to improve significantly in their shooting performance (p = 0.021). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that a real-time measurement of autonomic nervous system and brain wave activities in the competition field was feasible and it did not hinder the archers’ performance. There was a significant improvement observed in the shooting performance of archers after Tai Chi practice when compared with baseline. The findings of this pilot study provide the basis for the conduction of a larger RCT study to examine the potential beneficial effects of Tai Chi practice on archers.

Effectiveness of mindfulness based cognitive therapy on weight loss, improvement of hypertension and attentional bias to eating cues in overweight people

Objectives:Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity are dramatically ever-increasing across the world.Therefore,this study was to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy(MBCT)on weight loss,hypertension,and attentional bias towards food cues in a group of women affected with this condition.Methods:A total of 45 participants were selected out of women referring to the Nutrition and Diet Therapy Clinic affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Iran,and then randomized into three groups of 15.The first experimental group was subjected to an energy-restricted diet therapy together with MBCT during 8 sessions,the second group took the diet therapy alone,and the third group received no intervention.Body mass index(BMI),hypertension,and attentional bias towards food cues were correspondingly evaluated before,at the end,and four weeks after the completion of the interventions.Results:The results of this study revealed that MBCT,along with diet therapy,had been significantly more effective in weight loss,decrease in BMI,lower systolic blood pressure(SBP),and attentional bias towards food cues compared with the diet therapy alone(P≤0.01).MBCT had no significant impact on the decline in diastolic blood pressure(DBP)in participants in the follow-up phase.Conclusion:This study demonstrated that MBCT along with the conventional diet therapy was more effective in weight loss,decrease in BMI,hypertension control,as well as attentional bias towards food cues than the diet therapy alone.

Applying the Chinese Shichen for a Healthy Body and Mind

Gall Bladder MeridianThe Gall Bladder Meridian works dynamically in Zishi(from 11 p.m.to 1 a.m.).Going to sleep before Zishi means that the gall bladder is able to complete the process of metabolism.In the morning,people will feel refreshed with no dark circles around the eyes.Reminder:Stay relaxed,keep warm and sleep well.

The effects on students＇ physical and mental health of colleges and universities carrying out ideological and political education

In the background of modem education, ideological and political education and health education in universities play an important part in quality education. In higher education, ideological and political education and health education plays a role in their respective fields. Ideological and political education determines socialist direction of education and promotes the development of quality education. Mental health education starting from individual students, which improves student＇ s personality, promotes the comprehensive development of students; further promote the development of quality education. We can say that physical and mental health education and ideological and political education are supplementary to each other as well as enrich and expand health education, ideological and political education.

Hempel＇ s Dilemma and the Threat of Being Misjudged

Recently P.Bokulich suggests a newway to grab the first horn of Hempel’s Dilemma.His strategy is to define "the physical" with "the stuff recognized by currently well-understood parts of physics",such as Quantum electrodynamics,as far as the mindbody problem is concerned.I argue that the physicalism doctrine formulated following Bokulich’s suggestion is still under the threat of being misjudged and also will not be welcomed by the physicalists.After considering some potential objections,I conclude that Bokulich’s strategy fails.

A Final Solution to the Mind-Body Problem by Quantum Language

Recently we proposed “quantum language”, which was not only characterized as the metaphysical and linguistic turn of quantum mechanics but also the linguistic turn of Descartes = Kant epistemology. And further we believe that quantum language is the only scientifically successful theory in dualistic idealism. If this turn is regarded as progress in the history of western philosophy (i.e., if “philosophical progress” is defined by “approaching to quantum language”), we should study the linguistic mind-body problem more than the epistemological mind-body problem. In this paper, we show that to solve the mind-body problem and to propose “measurement axiom” in quantum language are equivalent. Since our approach is always within dualistic idealism, we believe that our linguistic answer is the only true solution to the mind-body problem.

The Mind-Brain Problem Bose-Einstein Statistics, Temperature, Heat, Entropy God and Other Elementary Particles

The purpose of this research is to apply the Einstein’s principle of relativity to solve the mind-brain problem and to generate all Standard Model Particle masses. Our approach is somewhat analogous to the dualistic idea of Descartes. Instead of a pineal gland, wherein the brain interacts with the mind, we propose during the developmental stages of the human fetus the tiny brain begins to communicate with the smallest structures of spacetime. This interaction occurs as the fetus brain begins to emit thermodynamic low heat energies, which are then absorbed into the smallest structures of spacetime saturating the interstices of the fetus brain. Think of these heat-energies like Morse code instructions. Since these kinds of interaction involve spacetime, with brain matter-energy, and that our main guiding principle is that of relativity, our research resulted in a general relativistic wave equation, wherein the n-valued heat-energies emitted by the brain-field-matrix Bμv, is identified as the energy momentum tensor of general relativity. The spacetime mind-matrix (Mμv) is likewise identified as the Riemannian curvature matrix. Together they form a general relativistic expression given by: Mμv +Pμv M=cBμv. Here c represents the combined general relativistic constants. By detaching the energy momentum tensor Bμv from the general relativistic wave equation, converting it to an operator, and then combining the time component with the Bose-Einstein equation, resulted in a brain temperature function capable of calculating precise heat-energies emitted by the brain during the formation of the fetus mind. As the fetus brain becomes more complex, it further organizes the mind. At some point self-aware consciousness is evoked within the spacetime mind. The same equation (relabeled to distinguish it from the mind-brain equation) can be applied to generate all Standard Model Particle masses.

The effects of Tai Chi exercise on cognitive function in older adults:A meta-analysis

Background:Cognitive impairment is prevalent among older adults and results in degraded quality of life for older adults.As the population ages,this may cause a huge burden to society.Research has demonstrated that physical exercise is beneficial to cognitive function.The purpose of this meta-analysis was to critically assess the effect of Tai Chi exercise on global cognitive,executive,and memory functions in older adults.Methods:After a thorough electronic search and selection,eight studies were included in this meta-analysis with two cross-sectional and six intervention studies.Nine variables included in this meta-analysis were:mini mental status examination(MMSE),Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale(ADAS-cog),trailmaking test part A(TMA),trailmaking test part B(TMB),digit span test forward(DSF),digit span test backward(DSB),visual span test backward(VSB),verbal fluency test(VFT),and word delay recall test(WDR).The effect sizes and forest plots of these nine variables were generated.Results:Four(MMSE,DSB,VSB,and VFT)out of nine variables were significantly improved after Tai Chi exercise with the effect sizes ranged from 0.20 to 0.46(small to medium).MMSE represented global cognitive function,and DSB,VSB,and VFT represented memory function.Conclusion:Tai Chi as a mind-body exercise has the positive effects on global cognitive and memory functions,and more consistent positive effects were found on memory function,especially verbal working memory.

The Significance of Image Schema in Embodied Cognition

As a recurring pattern of sensory-motor-affective experience, image schema is not only a concept discussed in linguistics and psychology, but also a significant one in the study of embodied cognition. Through analyzing the features of image schema considered by the authors as embodiment, recessiveness, sedimentation, logicality, scientificity, and dependency to cognitive metaphors and reviewing the definition of embodied cognition, the paper argues that image schema is an integration of bodily property and mental property, and accordingly a core and inseparable concept of embodied cognition by bridging body and mind. Image schema can help to explain how abstraction and inference generate from body-environment interactions, thus making the theory of embodied cognition more persuasive and reliable.

Study on the Organic Correlation of Prana Energy

Since India＇s philosophical discussion on the correlation between the mind and the body, the goal achieved through practice has been imbued with much meaning under the influences of yoga. Self-transcendence can be reached through self-discipline that is founded upon the fundamental change and potential for existential practice. The mind and the body do not comprise a binary relationship but instead maintain an intimate relationship bound by the medium of organic energy of breathing, breath, and pr^0a. Of these medium that form the relationship, the pr^-0a has a natural healing tendency, which has been well documented within classics such as Upani.sads and Bhagavad G^ta. Classic yoga explains that pr^0a imbues within it a vivacious passion and energy that will connect the human body with the human mind. Thus, the pr^0a functions as bio-energy. From ancient Indian philosophy to Buddhism, yoga therapy actively utilizes practice as a main element. In particular, the Patafijali yoga＇s methodology details the organic correlation within its eight limbs （支） yoga practices. The prana is breath. This is the only sense in which Patafijali has used this word. Breath is called prana because it moves on continuously throughout the body and reaches the basic circle of the individual self. It pervades mouth, nostrils, heart, navel region and toes. As a result, it is a healing method that achieves far more than the scientific healing methods common in society.

Fermion field in the vicinity of a brane

A mechanism that enables fermions to live outside of but be localized near a brane is proposed based on the field-theoretical framework. Two types of fermion fields are considered: one is localized to the brane through the Yukawa interaction, and another is localized through the fermion interaction. It is shown that, besides the well-localized zero-mode, there exists a light mode continuum of which oscillating components are delocalized. As a consequence it is possible to assume existence of invisible material particles that live outside the brane on which we reside and beleaguer visible particles. A possible extension to the mind-body problem is discussed.

Participation in Mind-Body-Spirit Programs and Length of Stay in a Residential Addiction Treatment Facility: A Retrospective Analysis

Length of stay in treatment is thought to be the best predictors for long-term recovery from substance use disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between participation in mind-body-spirit (MBS) therapeutic programs and length of stay in a residential treatment facility. A retrospective analysis of data from 1719 subjects who were admitted to a 30-day residential program for substance use disorders (SUD) was conducted. Subjects participated in MBS programs that included yoga, acupuncture and meditation. We examined the effects of subject participation in MBS programs for subjects who left against staff advice (ASA) and those who successfully completed the residential program. A higher percentage of subjects with severe heroin use disorder left ASA compared with subjects with severe alcohol use disorder (16% vs. 9%, respectively). Most subjects from both substance groups who failed to complete the 30-day treatment program, left within the first two weeks of stay (59% of alcohol group and 75% of heroin group);however, again, the percentage of heroin users leaving during the first two weeks was significantly greater compared with that of alcohol subjects. We found a highly significant, positive correlation (r = 0.56, p < 0.01) and a statistically significant increase in LOS for all subjects, regardless of the substance type, and the number of MBS program sessions attended showing an association between MBS participation and increased LOS. These data support the inclusion of MBS programs as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy for SUD in combination with traditional counseling to help develop a sustainable long-term recovery.

What is Mind,What is Consciousness,and Where This Resides

The main purpose of this paper is to respond to the questions what is mind and consciousness and where this resides.The answers are based on the frontline Informational Model of Human Body and Living Structures(IMHBLS),which shows that mind and consciousness can be described by the activity of the Informational System of the Human Body and Living Structures(ISHBLS),consisting of seven informational components,each of them with specific activity and functions,inter-correlated to support the immaterial/informational manifestation of the body expressed by mind and consciousness.The basic concept of matter-related and virtual information results as a consequence of the operability of the physics,chemistry,biologic,or mathematics laws,which actually act as informational operators,such processes are informationally driven and manifested finally as a“media-like functions”of mind and consciousness,on the“screen/display”of prefrontal cortex.The mind is therefore described as the capacity of every individual to access the data field of own life experience,where the thought acts as an informational operator,which can activate the required information from internal/external reality.Consciousness is the result of the info-representation of the explored reality,accumulated by the momentary connection,and compared/combined with the life experience,serving as judgment reference/criteria.The question is discussed in relation with the localization of consciousness,showing that this resides in the brain,as a result of the activity of ISHBLS.The discussion on the experimental evidences concerning the minimal basic components necessary and sufficient to sustain consciousness,compared with the results of the informational model,indicates the cortico-thalamus axis,in a full agreement each other.One of the basic findings is that the activation of consciousness is operated in two steps,one consisting in a feed-forward reception and another in feedback perception for recognition of the info-significance,which is fully supported by the recently reported experimental results.The phenomena of intuition,inspiration,premonition,“deja vue”,retrocausality,and intentionality are discussed.This model unifies the eastern and western concepts/models on consciousness and mind,explaining the energetic Yung/Yin Chinese model by YES/NO-informational Bit-type behavior,the Plato’s ideas/forms by“information”concept as a participating component of reality,Aristotle’s materialist view with matter structuration(assisted by information),and archaic model of the seven“chakras”at human,as vital informational centers connected with the body.

Embodiment of Rationality:Philosophical Interpretation of Embodied Cognition

Under the influence of European rationalism,which holds that human rationality is higher than,or at least independent of human sensory cognition,the first generation of cognitive science advocates for disembodied cognition,manifesting the concept of dualism of mind and body.With the development of cognitive science in the 1980s,the second generation of cognitive science redefines the relationship between mind and body,thought and behavior,and reason and feeling and puts forward the concept of embodied cognition,representing monism of mind and body.It is claimed that the formation of concepts,categorical cognition and the evolution of rational thinking are characterized by embodiment,which is the necessary condition and basis for the formation of human rationality.The current study traces the shift of cognitive science from dualism to monism of mind and body and explores the relationship between rationality and sensibility from the perspective of philosophical basis and interpretations,with an aim to achieve a better understanding and thorough interpretation of human rationality.In this heated discussion about embodied cognition,there are still some fundamental questions that need to be further clarified,such as the essence and mechanism of human cognition,the ways that human body participates in cognitive activities,especially imagination and reasoning.The research paradigm of embodied cognition and its relevant theory have not been established and developed yet,and empirical research from interdisciplinary perspectives is far from enough to provide hard evidence for embodied cognition.

Healing Dysfunctional Identity: Bridging Mind-Body Intervention to Brain Systems

In this paper, we aim to use an innovative model to integrate applied work on a fast-acting mind-body intervention, Mind-Body Bridging (MBB), with theoretical work based on psychology and neuroscience. In an affect-object generative inference and regulation (AGIR) model, we propose that functional dynamics between two systems, the affect-object thought generation system and the cognitive control system, can guide an individual to achieve homeostasis within self and harmonious relationships with others. We used Neurosynth (www.neurosynth.org), an automated meta-analysis database, to identify potential brain substrates underlying the key components in the AGIR model. Based on the findings, some brain regions are implicated as the key cortical substrates in this model, corroborating our central hypothesis that a hallmark of mind-body wellbeing can be characterized as a low-frequency anti-correlantion between 1) the cognitive control system including the dorsal anterior/middle cingulate cortex, and 2) the affect-object thought generation system including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex. MBB provides an efficient strategy for responding to and dissolving a fundamental problem that impairs mind-body wellbeing, i.e., unrealistic identity-grasping consisting of self-centered embodied expectations of self and others. We demonstrated how theoretical and applied work could be integrated by drawing evidence from the neuroscience literature to support the AGIR model, and then we applied the AGIR model to elucidate how MBB might work.

Holistic Psychopharmacology and Promiscuous Plants and Principles of Ayurveda

Consistent neglect of complex psychobiological processes involved in human health and diseases often leads to phar-macological discrepancies between preclinical and therapeutic observations. Numerous other pharmacological paradoxes arise from common practices of using dosing schedules in preclinical studies not identical to those in clinical studies. An Ayurveda centered holistic psychopharmacological strategy evolving from our efforts to identify plants potentially useful for preventing and combating illnesses and diseases could be a more rapid, rational, economically feasible, and realistic one for resolving such discrepancies and paradoxes. In this article, some observations made recently to experimentally very this conviction with the use of some well known medicinal plants are summarized and discussed in short. In addition, usefulness of the strategy for identifying edibles potentially useful for health care purposes, or for more objectively understanding “Ayurvedic biology” is pointed out.

Transdisciplinary Team in Rehabilitation of Unconscious Brain-Damaged Persons: Grounds and Practice

The main features of early rehabilitation after severe brain damage are discussed in the article. The most important component for the entire rehabilitation process and the subsequent life of the patient is considered restoration of consciousness. Team seems to be a key factor in regaining consciousness along with the restoration of vital functions, movement, cognition, and behavior in these patients. The basic working principle is feedback to any minimal movement, or vegetative signal of a patient, beyond specific professional targets. A network of feedbacks with a patient and between professionals, that is, free flow of information, can be built only through work in a transdisciplinary team mode. The net of feedbacks with the patient and inter-professional ones builds up the team as Non-linear Complex System. Characteristics of “Team-Patient” system status are energy, entropy, and complexity. Teamwork techniques are individualized for resulting optimization of system condition. Increase of complexity is a powerful tool for propulsion of recovery process. Then consciousness may appear as a result of system self-organization. The article reflects the authors’ view on interdisciplinary studies of the phenomenon of consciousness through its impairment and recovery. It focuses on the work of the “proper rehabilitation team”, the mechanisms of its action and methods for researching the occurring phenomena.