John Stuart is among many of the pioneers who are helping us understand the evolutionary worldview in a meaningful and truly spectacular fashion. So often we hear about evolution and think that it is a meaningless and hopeless perspective. It’s all just random? It’s all just a big fluke? And while there is randomness and luck involved in our universe, this explanation does not satisfy a human mind that seeks meaning. We are meaning making creatures and therefore a worldview that is based on meaninglessness is deeply unsatisfying.

In this clip, John helps us understand a little bit about how an interpretation of evolution that leaves room for human creativity and storytelling is arising. He encourages us to begin studying the dynamics of our universe and the engines of evolution. In doing so, he says, we are taking part in the evolution of the human which is our destiny. Quite the perspective! And anything but meaningless and hopeless!

We are living in an unprecedented time: a new universe is being revealed to us thanks to the efforts of an incalculable number of humans who have dedicated themselves to the scientific enterprise and to understanding reality through evidence. This beautiful four-part lecture is profound in its breadth as well as implications. While the scientific language and method can sometimes seem cold and devoid of meaning, this is a misunderstanding.

Rather than remain intimidated by the intricacies of the findings brought to us from the domains of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, anthropology, sociology, psychology and cosmology, we would be wise to dive into these areas to understand what we can, to glean what it is that is being discovered. We must not be afraid of the new. We must be courageous and open our minds and hearts to a universe that is beyond anything humans have ever imagined. And if we can manage to tap into the magnitude of the insights that are suggested in this distinguished lecture, we will be rewarded in ways inconceivable to the intellect. Enjoy!

Over the years, scientists have begun to explore how meditation affects the brain. Many fascinating studies have sought to understand how the various brain waves (e.g. beta, alpha, theta and delta – and even gamma) are activated during meditation practice. Essentially, Western scientists with access to EEG machines and/or other brain monitoring devices, invited long-term meditators (i.e. Tibetan Buddhists who have meditated for 30+ years) to sit down and have their brains monitored. Many interesting results have come forth from this research.

Several decades ago, some scientists got curious to see if they could re-create any of those meditation effect through the use of sound or light. Binaural beat technology was born. Essentially, these early pioneers discovered that by introducing sounds that were sending different amplitudes or waves to each ear, a reverberation would happen within the skull creating or mimicking meditation effects and it was found that the brain would compensate and create a new, balanced frequency between 2 slightly off kilter sounds. So, for example, they started playing with the carrier frequencies which could be modified depending on the number of Hertz being introduced to each ear. A well researched and highly interesting approach to all of this has been developed by iAwake Technologies.