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But they are only the beginnings of what many In view of these findings, it may well be imagined that authors are now seeing as a great further stride in __inter-brain coherence could occur among larger groups, evolution. Indeed, such a stride was seen many years and eventually most of our species, to result in the ago by Teilhard de Chardin, when he envisaged a linkage _ inception of Teilhard's noosphere. of human minds into a coherent whole, which he termed the noosphere.” The Need for Action Now While evolution is popularly thought to be a gradua It has been clear for some time that our world is process, with any significant change taking millions o coming to a crunch. Look at almost any aspect of our years, many big changes have in fact taken place _ present (westernised) way of life and it can be seen to relatively rapidly: so-called punctate evolution. The rate o be unsustainable. Obviously this cannot go on change in these instances, however, is nothing to the __ indefinitely. Yet this crisis is accelerating, almost by the kind of rapid change in the human psyche which now’ day. The human race is beginning to wake up to the seems necessary if we are to transform our world and need for concerted action, and many of us are thinking set it on a more healthy course. about what kind of action we are best suited to take. Is such a change possible? While such a rapid change Thus I and, | think, many others are no longer satisfied could not occur by classical (neo-Darwinian) selection, | with the thought that, with daily practice of various there is now increasing evidence for inheritance o Buddhist meditations or other traditional religions, we (some) acquired characteristics. This has been proved might eventually become enlightened—perhaps only to occur independently o after many lifetimes. The upbringing and even via the situation is now such that paternal line. The epigenetic . oe whoever feels the call must not mechanisms by which this In view of mes. fincing wait for personal enlightenment occurs are now fairly wel it may well be imagine but act now to the best of his or understood, and are . . her imperfect ability. particularly active in respect o that inter-brain coherence If the aforementioned results brain and behaviour and, could occur among larger of the Maharishi Institute and significantly, much more active d Il others are to be believed (and in higher primates and groups, and eventua YY the statistics are convincing), especially so in the human most of our species... then the possibility clearly exists to heal the whole world. Lamarckian type of evolution All we need is to enlist enough can indeed occur, and can meditators. There are now proceed much more quickly than if it depended on the several groups which are starting to do this. Perhaps elimination of those less than sufficiently fit to the principal and best- organised one is that started by species. By these means, a reproduce.*’ the Institute of HeartMath: the Global Coherence In order for a change in use to become heritable, itis Initiative (GCI).'' As presently constituted, the initiative ikely to be associated with some structural change. _ is gathering individuals and groups worldwide through ndeed, structural changes in the brain are well known _ the Internet and organising "webinars" and group © accompany intensive mental activity, such as playing = meditations to focus on specific issues, such as Haiti or a musical instrument, and recent intensive use of the _ the great tsunami—currently without specific attempts humb on mobile phones is accompanied by changes in at simultaneity, but this is planned to follow in due he relevant area in the brain in children. course. Some other groups are making similar Significantly, this change seems to be true also for __initiatives.'?'*""* meditation. Interest has been focusing on a region in The word meditation could comprise a large he pre-frontal cortex. This is relatively inactive under compendium of techniques. While the TM method has normal conditions, but becomes more active during had documented success, other methods could well be meditation. Furthermore, it tends to become better. The field is wide open to further exploration. permanently active in long-term meditators, in whom it The Institute of HeartMath” teaches a practice of "being even grows in cellularity. On the other hand, in those _ in one's heart", rather than in the head where most of us disabled by early experience of abuse, it fails even to feel ourselves to be. The success of this (amply shown develop properly.” Could this kind of change become __ in the way that those taking their courses become more eritable by means of these epigenetic mechanisms? effective in their work) depends on the effect of such Our species has undergone prodigious cultural and "heart focus" in quieting the fear-based stress of psychosocial evolution in only some thousands of years. competition in modern life, so that one's creative Could this evolution be underscored by some kind of faculties are allowed full play. It also, of course, greatly epigenetic inheritance—perhaps affecting brain facilitates human interaction so that co-operation mechanisms or even structure? increasingly takes the place of naked competition. In view of these findings, it may well be imagined that inter-brain coherence could occur among larger groups, and eventually most of our species, to result in the inception of Teilhard's noosphere. In view of these findings, it may well be imagined that inter-brain coherence could occur among larger groups, and eventually most of our species... course. 44 «NEXUS DECEMBER 2010 - JANUARY 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com