I was talking with one of my close friends last night and she shared about an intensive class that she had just taken on self-discovery. I think that it’s great whenever a practice or teaching helps you to think in new and different ways. I truly think that you can learn something from practically anyone. It was in that same spirit that I agreed to review Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment. (I am a Christian, so I have different convictions than some of the teachings in the book.) However there were several takeaways worth noting…
Let’s start with the areas of agreement. I agree that the mind is powerful – that if you change your mind, then you change your life. Conviction really does lead to action. The authors offer up some interesting scientific insights regarding reprogramming your brain/ mental habits. It was exciting to be reminded that we can create new mental networks even as adults.
I also appreciated the suggested ideas for mental growth. Some were obvious – physical exercise; caloric reduction (30%); DHA (there has been a lot of talk about that lately) and intellectual stimulation (including meditation). Curcumin (which is found in tumeric) was an unexpected recommendation. The authors also talked about therapies for enhanced energy production including hyperbaric oxygen and glutathione, but I’m not that “cutting-edge”.
The neuroscience themes interested me the most. However, the book was not only from a neuroscience angle, but also from a shamanism angle. Unlike the book authors though, I don’t think that enlightenment is really based on biological science. I don’t think that you can remain in a paradisical state by powering up your brain. (Different religions call this state different names. Christians call it heaven.)
The second portion of the book focused on shamanism. The shaman’s gift (Light Body, The Great Perfection, etc.), shamanic exercises and such. Although that section did not appeal to me personally overall, there were a couple of tidbits that I appreciated. I liked the Hippocrates quote in the fasting section: “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” I also took note of the “radical forgiveness” shamanic exercise. Forgiveness is a good practice for all of us!
Anyway, the book ends with a five week program. Although I won’t be following it, I looked through the different components. Each week has diet, fasting, dietary supplements, physical exercise, shamanic exercise, meditation and relationship guidelines. I will be putting into practice one of the ongoing relationship suggestions: “Cultivate relationships with people who uplift and inspire you.”
In any event, I’m going to be passing the review copy of the book on to my friend for her to pick and choose which aspects of it fit her life. If shamanism and/or neuroscience are topics that intrigue you, then take a peek at Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment. (If you do, let me know what you think!) Meanhwile, you can see a brief clip from one of the co-authors Dr. David Perlmutter below:
