Buddhist mind control?

[Sharp_Kid]

I found this article rather interesting.
If anyone can find something more official on this subject than the Telegraph, I would be interested to read it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...2/wbudda22.xml

[ANDY-J2]

I've been practising meditation for several years and it definitely helps to relieve stress and gives one a sense of well being however I wasn't aware that it could bring about physiological changes in the brain.I have however read the works of Herbert Benson,an American physician who has done a great deal of research into the benefits of meditation and positive thinking.He studied extensively Buddhist meditation techniques and concluded that the superhuman feats of endurance which Buddhists often perform are possible because they are able to control their body's metabolism by focusing their mind and banishing all negativity.Buddhists call this phenomenon "wild woman" because a woman will perform superhuman feats in order to protect her child-if her child is in danger she will find a strength and determination that she never knew she possesed.Benson concluded that every human being has a vast untapped reservoir of positive energy which has the capacity to heal and increase one's sense of happiness and well being and he proposed that Buddhists can somehow tap into this energy source by using meditation and by overcoming all negative thoughts and emotions.Christians who pray however may also achieve the same results-it is not however that God is answering their prayers but rather that they are tapping into reserves of positive spiritual energy which everyone posseses.Benson concluded that there was nothing that Buddhists achieve which any individual whether atheist or religionist could not also achieve by means of employing positive thinking.Benson's best known work on the subject Timeless Healing has become a best seller world wide.As a literary critic stated of the book-

"Now, the radical finding of Dr. Bensons research is that belief in God makes a difference in healing.If a person meditates regularly using a spiritual phrase they are more likely to heal than those who use a secular word such as "peace".The persons religion doesnt matter. It seems that God is an equal opportunity healer."

[Sharp_Kid]

Originally posted by ANDY-J2
".....God is an equal opportunity healer."

This is one of the most amusing quotes I've read here for quite some time.
I think I shall make an effort to dig that book out at the library.

[Sharp_Kid]

Originally posted by TomSawyer

For the first time, I agree with Andy, in that prayer is meditative, especially when one prays without words.

I nearly agree.
I would say prayer is meditation with religious attachments.
I'm pretty sure I'll be corrected on that though.