A Question about Entrainment for the Experts!

I'm wondering about the long term benefits of entrainment.

Does using LF tracks train the mind so that we'll eventually be able to enter deep states of meditation without needing to listen to LF entrainment music?
Theoretically, if new neural pathways are being formed by regularly using LF, the answer should be yes. I've been assuming that we would end up like the Buddhist monks who enter theta states easily after years of meditation and prayer. (Yippee!)

Have there been studies on this? Have any of you long term entrainment users discovered whether this is true or not?

Looking forward to your answers
Bhavya

 

Hi Bhavya, I have used all the LifeFlow tracks and although I still meditate with them out of choice (or maybe habit) yes, you are right. Through repetition, I understand that you will eventually be able to enter deeper states of meditation without LifeFlow.

I haven't really given it much thought until now - I guess you'll probably just know somehow. I have benefitted both emotionally and physically, letting go of many crippling and negative emotions. I live so much more consciously but I think I am only at the beginning of my spiritual journey. I am thoroughly enjoying every moment.

I think one of the great things I have realized is that whatever happens, I can always handle it now. In the grand scheme of things, most things that happen are quite insignificant anyway. Whoa, sorry, got a bit carried away there I wish you much peace and joy on your journey

 

Thanks for getting carried away Pollyanna! Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, especially related to spiritual pursuits!

It's hard for me to attribute progress on my path to one thing in particular, but I know that LF entrainment is helping me concentrate which is why I signed up to begin with. Without concentration, it's very difficult to have insight into the workings of the mind/body/spirit and it is surely that which brings all the benefits that we're looking for--just as you mentioned above.

Thanks for sharing your journey
In peace,

Bhavya

 

I am into meditation by concentrating on Hindu mantras and repeating them. The journey is very slow and a lot of distractions. any advices please.

 

I shamelessly copied this from a website made to answer questions for readers of the book : " The Quiet " by Paul Wilson:

The neural pathways are enhanced by brain entrainment. The more you "walk the neural pathway" so to speak, the wider it gets, i.e. the more you meditate with brain entrainment, the faster your left and right hemisphere of the brain will be interlinked, making the creative right hemisphere connect to the analytical left hemisphere. This pathway will continue to exist for as long as you keep using it, it is the way the brain works. When you quit meditation, after some time other neural pathways will be built, and the one you are working on now will be broken down. The only thing that differs is that through normal meditation it takes years to build a road brick by brick, with brain entrainment, you find that it is allready building a highway right from the start.

Hope it helps

 

Thanks Edwin!!! It really helps to picture out the whole thing!

Love,

Hirinaki

 

You said a mouthful here. I used to ponder this often. Anymore I just know that everything I do is part of the progression of the path I've chosen. Nothing is separate everything thing is united and becomes one in the moment.

gus

 

An orange is made out of several pieces too if you take out one piece, it is less whole, but still an orange.

Our progress is made out of our willingness to meditate, the hours put into it, LifeFlow, the insights we try to obtain through studies...

Take out one of them, you still meditate and will gain benefits from that.
I do think that the "whole orange" offers the most

 

Now I want an orange

 

Hi Namah
Welcome. Here are some thoughts on your question above:

You could start to use Life Flow because these CDs will definitely help your concentration if you use them regularly. You could begin with the free demonstration. You'll benefit from listening to Michael's free meditation course as well.

You mentioned mantras in the plural. Why not stick to one? It's easier for the mind to concentrate that way.

In addition to using Lifeflow, you could spend 4-7 minutes just concentrating on the breath several times during the day and evening . (You can use one of several places to feel the breath - the upper lip, the heart area or the belly. You can experiment to see which one works best for you.)
By spending a shorter time concentrating, you're less likely to be distracted and you'll leave your meditation time feeling more positive and with an appetite for doing it again. You can do this even every hour if you like. This doesn't work using the Lifeflow music because it takes 8 minutes to entrain the mind. However, I've found that using this method adds to the positive effect that LifeFlow makes on the mind.


Good luck to you
Bhavya

 

Would Bhavya please explain this statement. Do breath meditation and entrainment clash ?

 

Hi Platypus
(Love your name!)

No that's not what I meant. I myself use breath with entrainment and feel it's the best combination for me. All I was saying was if you want to be on the fast track to deeper concentration, in addition to doing longer meditations with Lifeflow, you can add some shorter, 5 minute meditations a few times during the day. Actually, those quickie meditations could use any number of objects of concentration - breath, mantra, visualisation, etc.

Sorry to have confused ....

Wishing you a great day
Bhavya

 

The truth of the 8 minute rule

How much time does it take for entrainment to reach its full effects?

The truth of the matter is that I state 8 minutes so as not to mislead you.

If you have little experience in meditation and sit down to meditate unaided by LifeFlow, you may sit for 10, 20, 30 minutes or longer and never achieve a deep, even state of Alpha brainwaves.

If you play the LifeFlow 10 track and sit down to meditate then in approximately 8 minutes you will be guided down to and remain longer and more consistently in that elusive Alpha state. However, it may not take the entire 8 minutes to reach Alpha. You may, as you relax because of the beginning entrainment process, slip down quite naturally into Alpha long before you hit the 8 minute mark.

The more proficient you become at entering a state of meditation, the more rapidly you reach your target state, with or without the entrainment aid of LifeFlow. When this is the case what the entrainment track does in addition to setting up the initial condition that allowed you to go into Alpha, is to help you remain in Alpha more consistently and for longer periods than you otherwise might.

For example, it rarely takes me more than a few moments to enter into a meditative state without assistance from LifeFlow, but I use the tracks anyway because they help "stabilize" my meditation at the level I choose.

Advice to you if you only have a few minutes to devote to meditation is there are still benefits to be gained that you will not want to miss out on especially when you are able to enter into meditation more and more quickly on your own as this will enhance your practise.

Listening to LifeFlow while simply relaxing can improve your experience of relaxation, which in turn can improve your sense of well-being, diminish stress, improve immune system function and have a host of other beneficial effects.

Benefits to be gained through meditation are absolutely staggering, therefore if you are extremely pressed for time, I encourage you, for a little while only, to wake up 30 to 60 minutes sooner and meditate to LifeFlow. You will benefit far more than you would by having the last hour of sleep and you will become proficient at entering these meditative states within a few moments.

Michael

 

Michael,
I keep forgetting the many other benefits LifeFlow has to offer; although upon being reminded they are obvious.
I've noticed that what you say about entering into meditation quickly is true. It seems that the mind becomes comditioned to it with practice. Upon setting quietly for a few moments just saying the usual mantra will induce a meditative state. Recently I've been trying to do this once every hour for 1 or 2 minutes. Some days I do better than others but it points out how quickly one can drop into a meditative state with a little practice.

BTW, just received #7 a few days ago. I believe it is the first in the series at delta level? It is awesome Michael.

gus

 

Lf7

Hi Gus,

Each LifeFlow track has a number as part of its name. That number is the entrainment frequency for that track.

This Link explains the frequencies associated to the different brainwave states.

LifeFlow 10, 9 and 8 are various levels of Alpha brain waves.
LifeFlow 7, 6, 5 and 4 are various levels within the Theta brain waves and
LifeFlow 3, 2 and 1 are various levels within Delta brain waves.

I'm glad you're enjoying LF7, that's one track I really enjoy too

 

Wow!!!!! That's really informative and I love your analogy--brilliant and thankyou!!!
Audreu

 

Thanks Michael, that makes sense now. I knew I was meditating faster of late NY

 

clarification

Michael,
Thanks for the link and clarification of the names of the frequencies. I am a relative novice when it comes to that stuff. I seem to have had the order of things mixed up a bit as well.
I'm glad one doesn't have to know all this stuff to reap the benefits .
We can learn as we go . . . sooo cool !

gus

 

Thanks

Michael, thanks for the explanations. Now that you mention it, it's logical that shorter meditations would also be enhanced by Lifeflow. Love those new neural pathways
Here's to more meditation and lots of benefits!
Bhavya

 

I'll drink to that