THE INNER ALCHEMY OF BUDDHIST TANTRIC MEDITATION: A QEEG CASE STUDY USING Low RESOLUTION ELECTROMAGNETIC TOMOGRAPHY (LORETA)

Abstract

Indo-Tibetan Buddhist T~mtric practice employs struClured self-healing meditations aimed at awakening emotional and spitiruai qualities or energies whose seed already resides within us. This profound transfi)rmative pranice. with wrirren records dating back to at least 400 c.E., is investigated from several diverse orienrations: depth psychology. neuropsychology, and neurophysiology. from a Jungian perspecrive. the psychological process of this pracrice involves the re-collection and development of these energies to engender emotional and spirirual growth. Using a phenomenological task analysis. the various nemocognitive processes involved in such practice are identitied. Finally. we analyze the qU3mitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) characreristics of a Buddhisr ex-monk during various aspects of a self-healing meditation practice. The QEEG was recorded with a Lexicor Neuroseatch 24 ,md data analyzed using NeuroRep, NeuroGuidc. LORETA-KEY and EureKa!3 software. EEG rderence database, as well low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA), Staristical comparison of baseline and meditation conditions using LORETA revealed areas of brain activation consistent with those reponed in previolls neuroimaging studies. The QEEG results are discussed in the context of the phenomenological processes involved in the differenr types of meditation as well as with results of previolls srudies.