Can anybody tell something about Theta wave meditation, induced by listening to spacey sounds through headphones, like in the following example?   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bURf8nwpSmM

Is it "K-proof"? Or is it better just to keep one's hands off this? Maybe it is charlatanry? Or simply just misleading? Or maybe indeed a good aid to reach a deep grounding?

And, apart from the above, what about meditating while listening to music? Genre?

Looking forward to read your experiences and thoughts on this.

namaste

johannes

My impression it's just music, way of interesting, but who and how many would seriously buy it?

Then the Theta talk might perhaps be a marketing strategy? I don't know.
May try to sleep over it, in case that isn't damaged yet...

Hi there!

Sorry to reply to an old post but as it happens I know lot about this..... I have used just about every system from Holosync, Hemisync to BrainWave Mind Voyages! I also have my own light and sound machine.  I would be careful with Theta waves.... In fact I would be careful before you use any of this stuff.  You can have positive effects but you can also develop brain wave hypersynchrony if you are not using it correctly (over a long period).  Essentially, these courses and that video you posted are using Binaural Beats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats).  Some companies have just added lots of meditative sound and hypnotic suggestion including NLP.

I am not being negative at all, lots of people have had great result with this stuff.  I would just suggest lots of research about exactly what frequencies you are listening to and the effects.  Personally, I have not had much luck with this myself.  Nothing profound as the real thing (meditation).  Then I am not susceptible to hypnosis either and I have personally trained with and been hypnotised (or at least tried to be hypnotised) by Dr Richard Bandler (student of Milton Erickson) and Paul Mckenna.  Of course I can't write that off completely though as my perceptions came from somewhere right?

Anyway, before I waffle on for too long..... you could start with BWG (Brain Wave Generator).  It used to be free (limited) and has a few tones you can play with.  You can even make your own.  I would be interested in your findings!  The key thing to be mindful of is surrender and not to create an attachment out of it.  If you feel Goddess is leading you that way then follow! ask your heart or use a pendulum.

Blessings!

Jeremy

Brainwave generator is still free. I've been planning to experiment joining sounds with yoga nidra, but never got to it.

http://www.bwgen.com/download.htm

I bought a Hemisync series for lucid dreaming, but it requires very regular practice (to the extent I wouldn't be able to do my regular Sadhana)  Hemisync and Holosync seems to be similar, except for the absolutely horrendous marketing from Holosync, where they promise miracles and "meditate deeper than a zen monk" and stuff like that.

I have had better results myself with traditional sadhana (including FST practices, and hatha/kundalini/kriya yoga practices)

I tried some of the Hemisync's bigger series, and it's a very good method, and a powerful set of practices. I am still not fully convinced of the brainwave stuff though, even though I know people who have had good experiences with it. Maybe I'll change my mind in the future, who knows.

My few cents is to you: Try it out for yourself. Listen to your heartvoice and your gut when you browse the webpages.

One thing is for sure though, it is not really a quicker or better method than other techniques. (just different)  If you have an affinity for it, it may work wonders. That's why there are so many ways to enter meditation.  As far as the mechanics behind brain sync technology, it aims to bring about the same as in many traditional techniques in order to awaken Kundalini, by balancing the opposites of ida&pingala, clear the nadis and nerves. I don't think it's counter-productive, unless you overdo it. 

Jeremy says that the key thing is to be mindful of surrender! And not create an attachment.  All the techniques are catalysts for transformation and to bring about meditation.

Namaste
Gustaf

Hi Jeremy,
Can you tell me anything you know about the BR-Q machine from Dahn Yoga?  I have been using it with what I feel to be good results, but your post has me a little concerned and I certainly want to avoid anything with NLP or anything subliminal.  I didn't research anything before buying it.....and what is brainwave hypersynchrony?  Thank you,
Jennifer

Quote from: Jennifer on Apr 26, 2008, 04:50:46 PM
Hi Jeremy,
Can you tell me anything you know about the BR-Q machine from Dahn Yoga?  I have been using it with what I feel to be good results, but your post has me a little concerned and I certainly want to avoid anything with NLP or anything subliminal.  I didn't research anything before buying it.....and what is brainwave hypersynchrony?  Thank you,
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer.

I have not used the BRQ Machine myself.  I have the Proteus.  First off I should say that I am not totally negative about it.  I have used binaural beats for years with no ill effects.  In fact, when I had a 'break down' some time ago my shrink recommended a light and sound macine.  Saying that he also had me on an Alpha-Stim effectively electric shocking my brain.... lol. 

On the machines there is typically no NLP or subliminal messaging just the binural beat and light patterns to match the frequencies making for more powerful entrainment.  What matters most with these machines is the frequency itself as this is what is giving the desired result.  The concerns with some of these programs is prolonged exposure to very low frequencies in the Thea/Delta range.  It is said that ADD/ADHD and other abnormalities (including brain damage) show the absence of Delta waves on EEG and normally stay in the low ranges.  There is lots of debate about this, even about meditation causing epeleptic fits (in those prone) for the same reasons. 

I have never had any issues at all but there are lots of people that have had not so good ones particularly with Holosyncs Awakening prologue.  Mostly because those products are in very low ranges.  Holosync are aware of this and attribute it to part of the process and call it the 'overwhelm'.  But others argue that the symptoms (Depression, anxiety, uncontrolled emotions etc) are actually symptoms of abnormal brain functioning.

Most of the bad press is perpetuated by Michael Hutchison who himself is a long term user of binaural beats.  Heres an intereting interview with him if you're interested - http://www.mindmachines.com/AVsJournal/article-AnE-InterviewMichaelHutchison.htm

Hypersynchony is basically when neurons fire at once in uncontrolled bursts and neuron excitation and inhibition become unbalanced (this would cause an irregular eeg reading or spikes)  The firing results from a combination of factors that interfere with normal brain functions but mostly due to abnormal connections between neurons or groups of neurons.  Essentially I think the idea is that prolonged entrainment creates abnormal connections and may lead to this state.  It is the firing that is called hypersynchony.  The fact is there is no solid evidence either way so we are all in one big experiment! But there are lots of medical studies showing the positive results.  Check your frequencies and find out what 'state' you are entraining.

Really, I think the only thing to worry about is overrated statements about what these programs do.  I would say though that based on the results of long term use (over 4 years) for spiritual growth or greater consciousness as the goal, I have seen 100 times more results in only 3 months with Nei Gong and Qi gong.  With an hour of serious meditation every day you can have drastic results.  Depends on the goal really.  I think you're fine â€" give it to Goddess and see if she gives it back.  If she does you won't have any concerns. 

Thanks for your comments which are very illuminative!
I took a look at binaural beats and experimented a bit with brainwave generator.
Leads me to the conclusion that this stuff might be useful for neurological research but less for meditative self exploration - well, at least that's my personal impression.
What disturbs me is that it is an outside stimulus that triggers the thing, a bit like hypnosis, which can get you very deep, but still it is not the real thing.
So I agree with you, better to reach deeper (higher?) states of mind from within, through meditation.
:-)
Johannes

I have had excellent results with HemiSync. I actually do Mystress' grounding while I'm doing them, and ask my DB to enhance the process for me. The combination works well for me. I especially like the Let Go and Offloading functions, because they're basically about surrendering stuff and I use them often. The Total Self function is very neat for opening the third eye. Enjoy!

Sabrina:
I actually do Mystress' grounding while I'm doing them

Interesting hint, Thank You!
Why not profit of 2th worlds, 'simulty'
A positive authentic experience is always worthier than the wise-assholishesd speculation, like i have notorious tendencies to(i hope it's dying gradually).
Different approaches may have different values though, and there may be (personal) circumstances, that may call for a grounding solo, rather than Your method; a thing of instinct i guess.

Learning to act on outside beats, is certainly of great relevance and value for a realistic approach to daily life. Knowing, that there is of course no real 'outside'.

Great that You are here again!

Juergen

Quote from: Johannes on Apr 30, 2008, 05:38:42 AM
Thanks for your comments which are very illuminative!
I took a look at binaural beats and experimented a bit with brainwave generator.
Leads me to the conclusion that this stuff might be useful for neurological research but less for meditative self exploration - well, at least that's my personal impression.
What disturbs me is that it is an outside stimulus that triggers the thing, a bit like hypnosis, which can get you very deep, but still it is not the real thing.
So I agree with you, better to reach deeper (higher?) states of mind from within, through meditation.
:-)
Johannes

Remember though that it is simply a tool, like any other form of meditation technique.  For example, japa (mantra repetition) can put you to sleep or into an unconscious trance if done mechanically or without feeling and focus.  If done with sincerity, focus and surrender, it can catapult you into meditative states.  That's why most of the binaural audio comes with meditation techniques. I don't think that the binaural audio will be nearly as powerful if you listen to it casually.

Johannes:
What disturbs me is that it is an outside stimulus that triggers the thing, a bit like hypnosis, which can get you very deep, but still it is not the real thing.

It always seems to come down that Hypnotists want to be (at least part time) Goddess for you, which smells so eeky; if they are 'hypnotic' or not; with maybe a few exceptions on the side of the very hypnotic ones -->offering a taste of the drug without making addictive(or vomit).

Then what is the real thing?  -- Self-hypnosis?

...tried a hemiSync mp3 with grounding and it felt like a fresh breeze and quite supportive.
While listening to it solo, becomes a bit boring with time

refreshened
Juergen

Different approaches may have different values though, and there may be (personal) circumstances, that may call for a grounding solo, rather than Your method; a thing of instinct i guess.

Oh, of course I do the grounding solo! I just find that it adds to the HemiSync functions if I do the grounding before or while listening to the CD. I find that it adds to the functions I learn when I use them later as well, by helping me get grounded while I do them.

It's good to be here...

Sabrina

  If done with sincerity, focus and surrender, it can catapult you into meditative states.  That's why most of the binaural audio comes with meditation techniques. I don't think that the binaural audio will be nearly as powerful if you listen to it casually.

This supports my experience with HemiSync exactly!

Sabrina