Vastu Foundation Course 1 (MAHAVASTU Consultant- NEHA PARIK)

As we have read, doing meditation in the NE zone provides a state of increased awareness and insights. So, it becomes an ideal zone for doing meditation. However, a bedroom in NE zone is not advisable as it may confuse the mind. Sounds contradicting, Isn’t it?

In order to understand the logic behind this we need to understand how our mind functions during meditation and during sleep and what are different brain states or brain wave frequency a human being works at.

P.S. (I have included a glossary of terms used during explanation at the end of the write-up for the reference for the reader)

Let’s first try to understand the sleeping and meditation activity.

Sleeping is an activity of complete relaxation of conscious state; a state of rest for mind and the body. Meditation is a state where you can control your mind and body and feel every breath. Meditation is the transition of beta to alpha and (sometimes) theta brain wave frequencies to attain a peaceful state of mind.

In meditation you are aware that you are meditating. A state called 'turia' avastha - apart from wakefulness or dreaming states. In sleep you are tired, you dream and are not aware that you are asleep.

Sleep suppresses the brain into a restful state, whereas meditation keeps the brain's function organized and alert, though in a state of rest.

We shall note that meditation cannot completely replace hours of sleep!

North East zone supports Meditation

As the zonal attributes of NE zone supports our mind into a state of increased awareness; allows interaction at Manomaya Kosha, Vigyanmaya Kosha and at times Anandmaya kosha – this zone becomes ideal to connect ourselves to higher self and get supreme guidance.

Sleeping is an integral part of our life, and as research shows, it is incredibly complex. The brain generates two distinct types of sleep—slow-wave sleep (SWS), known as deep sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM), also called dreaming sleep. Most of the sleeping we do is of the SWS variety, characterized by large, slow brain waves, relaxed muscles and slow, deep breathing, which may help the brain and body to recuperate after a long day.

Both REM & NREM are equally important for memory consolidation and facilitation of long term memory. Different yet equally important restorative work happens during deep sleep (stage 3)

1 and REM sleep (stage 4).Deep sleep is crucial for physical renewal, hormonal regulation, and growth. Sleep serves to reenergize the body's cells, clear waste from the brain, and support learning and memory. It even plays vital roles in regulating mood, appetite and libido. However, as the attribute of the zone, NE (increased awareness) interferes into normal sleep cycles and sleep spindles. Poor sleep cycles can cause grogginess, a lack of concentration and more. Without deep sleep, you're more likely to get sick, feel depressed, and gain an unhealthy amount of weight.

The brain rehearses newly learned info in SWS. Slow Wave Speed is needed for declarative memory needed during conscious recall and Non declarative memory (implicit) during unconscious recall. Since, the brain could not function properly during sleep to record memories of the day, often the residents sleeping in NE zone might complain of forgetting things and experiencing confused state of mind.

As human beings age, the biological need of the body for NREM SWS sleep cycle decreases gradually and hence the elderly may be permitted for a NE bedroom.

GLOSSARY

Our brain does not reside in one single physiological state during the day but instead cycles through periods of differing neural & metabolic activity associated with distinct biological states, most obviously of waking up and sleeping. Sleep itself has been broadly divided into REM sleep and NREM sleep.

The brain generates two distinct types of sleep—slow-wave sleep (SWS), known as deep sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM), also called dreaming sleep. This mode is bizarre: a dreamer's brain becomes highly active while the body's muscles are paralyzed, and breathing and heart rate become erratic.

REM – Rapid movement of eyes, dreaming & paralysis of voluntary muscles; period of sleep characterized by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness and by darting movements of the eyes under closed eyelids. Consolidation of emotional & procedural memories happens during REM. During rapid eye movement sleep is the time when new information is processed and stored into our memory banks. It does semantic consolidation & enhances procedural memory.

NREM – Non Rapid eye movement is a period of sleep outside periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Stage 3 non-REM sleep is the period of deep sleep that you need to feel refreshed in the morning. It occurs in longer periods during the first half of the night. Your heartbeat and breathing slow to their lowest levels during sleep. NREM is associated with Declarative memories. There is a neural impact of sleep on memory. NREM Sleep 2 spindles generated in the thalamocortical circuit meditates sleep dependent consolidation of procedural & declarative memory. NREM SWS is important for sleep dependent memory consolidation.

2

Sleep spindles emerge - These are peaks of brain activity considered essential in maintaining communications within the brain itself, as well as memory and learning. It is a rapid burst of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep that may be important for learning and memory.

For general health and wellness purposes, we need all the types of brain waves and also the brain to have the flexibility and resilience to be able to balance the brain wave activity as necessary for what we are doing at any one time.

What causes brain waves? At the root of all our thoughts, emotions and behaviors is the communication between neurons within our brains. Brainwaves are produced by synchronized electrical pulses from masses of neurons communicating with each other. Brainwaves are detected using sensors placed on the scalp. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the depiction of the electrical activity occurring at the surface of the brain. Most waves of 8 Hz and higher frequencies are normal findings in the EEG of an awake adult.

Types of Brain waves

Beta waves are the brain frequency of more than 13 cycles per second when the conscious mind is focused, alert and active. Logical thinking happens in this state of mind.

Alpha waves, a meditative state, help us improve our memory, and can even better our intelligence. It has been found that the alpha waves are waves of relaxation, the accelerated learning of Super learning.

Theta waves are associated with dreaming sleep, super learning, creativity, daydreaming, and deeper meditation. This is the state with emotional surges, self-reprogramming, and spiritual experiences.

Delta waves, like other brain waves, are usually associated with the deep stage 3 of NREM sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep (SWS), and aid in characterizing the depth of sleep. This is the state of the Subconscious mind when no judgement is taking place; it is associated with very little critical thinking. REM and NREM sleep cycles are required by a person to re-energize mind and body.

Happy Reading, Happy learning!

Marking of Center : (basics)

• Draw the outline of all the walls.

• Join them to make a basic square

• now draw the diagonals to join ends

• The points where these diagonals meet will be the center point of the given space.
  
  
  

The 5 elements of effective thinking.

This simple and beautifully written book explains how the attributes of 5 elements (Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Space), can be used to form the basis of highly effective thinking. It talks about the principles, based on the characteristics of 5 elements, that help us in understanding the unknown, finding creative insights and transforming our life. These principles can be taught, learned, and applied broadly across various disciplines and professions.

I am briefly introducing these principles.
You may find this learning beneficial. These can be used to get a better and a deeper understanding of any subject, we wish to learn and master. Starting with the element

Earth :

Earth : Grounding your thinking : Understand deeply.

Don’t face complex issues head-on; first understand simple ideas deeply. Clear the clutter and expose what is really important. Be brutally honest about what you know and don’t know. Then see what’s missing, identify the gaps, and fill them in. Let go of bias, prejudice, and preconceived notions. There are degrees to understanding (it’s not just a yes-or-no proposition) and you can always heighten yours. Rock solid understanding is the foundation for success.

Fire : Igniting insights through mistakes: Fail to succeed.

Fail to succeed. Intentionally get it wrong to inevitably get it even more right. Mistakes are great teachers—they highlight unforeseen opportunities and holes in your understanding. They also show you which way to turn next, and they ignite your imagination.

Air : Creating questions out of thin air: Be your own Socrates.

Constantly create questions to clarify and extend your understanding. What’s the real question? Working on the wrong questions can waste a lifetime. Ideas are in the air—the right questions will bring them out and help you see connections that otherwise would have been invisible.

Water : Seeing the flow of ideas: Look back, look forward.

Look back to see where ideas came from and then look ahead to discover where those ideas may lead. A new idea is a beginning, not an end. Ideas are rare—milk them. Following the consequences of small ideas can result in big payoffs.

The Quintessential Element : Engaging change: Transform yourself.

The unchanging element is change—by mastering the first four elements, you can change the way you think and learn. You can always improve, grow, and extract more out of your education, yourself, and the way you live your life. Change is the universal constant that allows you to get the most out of living and learning.

Summing up the basics :

Strive for rock-solid understanding (Earth).

Fail and learn from those missteps (Fire).

Constantly create and ask challenging questions (Air).

Consciously consider the flow of ideas (Water).

The authors states the attributes of Earth, Fire, Air and Water to be the building blocks of effective thinking and says that the resultant fifth element (Space) in reality, is the transformation that occurs within us, due to the influence of the other 4 elements. This theory, resonates very well with the Mahavastu philosophy and principles.

A book worth reading, understanding and imbibing. And, of course, remembering that learning is a lifelong journey, where each of us remains a work-in-progress!