Holosync Technology

[Rangeswar]

From my understanding, it is effective technology to help calm the mind. The claim is that it has a similar effect to meditation, in only a fraction of the time. It has apparently helped alot of people, although some people have reported disturbing side effects (i.e. headaches; ongoing depression; head trauma).

I had to return mine for a refund because I felt a sharp pain to the right side of the brain and injurous side effects after listening to The Dive (Holsync's first recommended cd) for only 21 minutes. But, then, I can't use mobile phones either due to lasting side effects, so I'm an extreme case.

[InnerSunTeach]

Rangeswar--maybe not so extreme.  It gave me devastating headaches.  I've heard the same from some others, although most do report good results.

[Tess]

Holosync is the easy mans way to doing meditation and they say it takes years off the learning of meditation.  I have news for you, there is no easy way.  You put your bum down on the mat and you close your eyes and listen to what you are saying to yourself.  It is free, it is easy and with little or no side effects.

There is no quick fix for meditation - you follow the path and it will treat you well.  Holosync is scarey....  I have said it on this forum all along.  Would love to do it - who wouldn't as a meditator to get to enlightenment!!?  Bum down on mat - 20 minutes day and night is all you need.

[Sueblue]

Actually, I found the opposite - I listened to the holosync demo and couldn't feel anything happening.

I can use entrainment, but two things make it work for me. (1) I prefer unmasked beats so I can hear them pounding away. No embedding in music or nature sounds for me. (2) I prefer the additional stimulus of flashing lights - either a flashing screen (like NP2) or LED goggles.

[InnerSunTeach]

I'm not sure the goal for some of these technologies is enlightenment, that is, in the sense of complete spiritual enlightenment.  Remember, we are still on Earth, and while we're here, we have to function here.  Some of us, most of us even, have to make the mortgage payments, feed the kids, and pay the bills.  Blissing out in a cave 24/7 isn't an option for most people.

There is actual research (lots of it actually) that shows that we perform better when we produce more alpha waves.  We are more creative when we produce more theta waves.  There is even some evidence that we're a bit more intuitive or psychic when we produce more delta waves, and some people can do this to some degree while still awake. 

There are health values, too.  The more alpha and/or theta, the healthier the heart, the better the circulation system, and even the breathing improves.  These benefits, in turn, affect the rest of the body in healthy ways, ultimately affecting the whole body. 

These benefits come simply by producing more of these kinds of brain waves, no matter whether you get them from meditation, from light/sound machines, or music (which can include embedded sound).  Although others' mileage may vary, I find the light/sound machines are the fastest and best way to reach these healthier states of mind--but I really don't consider them valid substitutes for meditation.  I do both, and strangely enough, I find that I have some of the best meditations when I am regularly going to alpha or theta--sometimes delta--with my light/sound machine.

[Tess]

I have always felt unsure about methods of using machinery to change the brain waves.  Meditation is natural.  You close your eyes and check into self.  I have read many posts of the people on forum who have ended up stressed and depressed just from holosync for one.  Should we be messing with our minds?  I am a baby in these sorts of things.  Tapping into ones thoughts is one thing - changing brain waves is totally something else.  It is like taking tons of vitamins and not trusting the body to produce what it needs  when you can simply eat good food and get your vitamins from the food.  I have worked with scientists and just for instance let us talk about green tea.  I asked the question: is it good for you - and they say green tea will do you no harm - and that is all the scientists who  make it are prepared to say.  It speaks volumes to me.  Don't we can make our own brainwaves by being quiet and checking into self and calming down the breathing to give us the alpha waves, beta waves, theta waves, etc!  Whatever we need at the time emotionally our bodies will know it.  Why push the body into doing something it doesn't want to do  at this  moment in time?.  If I am feeling tired do I really need alpha waves?  I need to relax and be quiet.  Surely our body and mind knows what it needs -

[InnerSunTeach]

People will choose their own way when it comes to the light/sound machines of course. 

That said, we "mess with our minds" all the time, mechanically, naturally, in many ways.  We go into a sort of trance when we read, when we watch teevee, when we're at a movie, when we listen to music.  Listening to different types of music can alter the mind positively or negatively.  You might feel one way listening to Brahms, another listening to pop music.  Music, in fact, will alter your brain waves.  Mozart, for instance, has been said to induce more alpha waves.  Your neighbor's noisy car, the jackhammer at the construction site, the little tyke next door beating on the pots and pans with a spoon--all of those sounds have rhythm, and as such, can induce different brain states.  Even in nature, sounds have their effect.  (And that's where I live, miles from almost anyone or anything.)

Even though I use (and swear by) my light/sound machine, I also meditate, have for many years in fact.

[Tess]

Very interesting - and I will  look into it.  Thank you

[Sueblue]

Let's not forget that entrainment isn't only for meditation.

It can be used to help you sleep, to reduce chronic pain, for relieving exam/test anxiety, helping you concentrate, etc.

[Tess]

What is is called - Brain Entrainment?  Brain Eve?  Is it a CD you listen to like Holosync?  I have been on line but couldn't find a sample to try it out.

Tess x

[Sueblue]

The term is "brainwave entrainment". There are a lot of firms out there selling CDs and downloads.

You could try these sites and see what you think:
www.transparentcorp.com (they do downloads and customisable software)
www.gobrainev.com (they sell CDs and downloads)

[Tess]

Sueblue, Watched the two sites and  it is too hype for me - simply awful, sales pitch full on - I am absolutely not interested in all the hype - sorry,  Please  tell me what it does and why it is better than sitting for 20 minutes with self to stop the chatterbox in me.  Quiet mind Sueblue xxx

[Sueblue]

OK, I think we're asking the wrong question here.

Tess, you have already found a way to achieve what you want to achieve, i.e. meditation states. Some people who haven't yet acquired your level of skill like brainwave entrainment to help them on their way - sort of like learning to ride a bicycle.

Other people like brainwave entrainment for other purposes - I particularly like it to give me a boost and make me feel more awake. Different horses for different courses.

I guess I didn't notice the sales spiel because I went to these sites already "sold" on the idea, from having read Michael Hutchison's books Megabrain and Megabrain Power.

[InnerSunTeach]

Wrong question--yes, that could be part of the problem.  Not all self-development or self-help is aimed at enlightenment.  While we live on Earth, we need the tools to do so effectively, so some of these technologies help with very down to earth things we need to do in our everyday lives.

I tried my first light/sound machine because my chiropractor at the time thought it might help with my migraines.  And he was right.  It did.  Trust me, when I'm in the throes of a migraine, enlightenment is the farthest thing from my mind! It was later that I started exploring its various settings and what they might do.  I was already meditating twice a day using TM--didn't really need a meditation-o-matic--but I was impressed with the different states and what I could do with them. 

Eventually I began experimenting with combining the L/S with my Silva practices, and found that some of the truly deep states were very good for distant healing work.  I still use it for that, with some pretty remarkable results.  Much more effective than hands-on work, which usually brings relief, but not complete resolution.

I think there are lots of reasons to use this kind of technology.  For me, enlightenment is pretty far down the list, but I'm sure everyone has their own list of reasons.  And some, like Tess, have a great command of their brain states, and probably don't need this kind of thing at all. 

I visited the websites you linked.  Have you used products from either of these?  If so, care to critique them?

[Tess]

 

  I hear what you are saying Sueblue.  I have done meditation from a young age.  However, I am always interested in other stuff.  For example I love my CD's of relaxation basking for 30 minutes into complete relaxation is wonderful - like a whole body massage.  If what you do is something similar then I would like to know about it.