In this episode I host part 3 of a dialogue between Shinzen Young, meditation teacher and neuroscience research consultant, and Chelsey Fasano, a Columbia University neuroscience student.

We discuss oneness vs emptiness experiences, gamma brain activity and binding, Posner’s model of attention networks, and more.

Chelsey explores the surprising similarities between mystical experience, epilepsy, and orgasm; while Shinzen reveals the profound challenge of integrating esoteric states into practical life.

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Video version at https://www.guruviking.com/ep81-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-3-orgasm-epilepsy-mystical-experience/

Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics Include:

0:00 - Intro

1:28 - A model for the process of change that contemplative practice causes

3:07 - Chelsey’s epiphany about gamma and theta in advanced meditators

7:31 - Oneness vs emptiness as meditation experiences

10:36 - Reduction in suffering as increase in nervous system processing efficiency

23:01 - Integration and annihilation, and flow causing integration

28:06 - Gamma binding and the weakness of today’s meditation studies

35:54 - Hypothesising about gamma and binding

41:05 - Attention studies and gamma binding

52:03 - Posner’s model of attentional networks

1:00:26 - Limitations of current neuroimaging technologies

1:02:47 - Further hypothesising about gamma and binding

1:06:42 - Orgasm, epilepsy, and mystical experience

1:17:10 - The enormous challenge of integrating esoteric states into practical life

1:19:45 - When integration of the esoteric goes wrong

1:22:38 - Dr Jay Sanguinetti and part 4 cliffhanger

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#ShinzenYoung #ChelseyFasano #ChelseyLeeFasano #GuruViking #neuroscience #jaySanguinetti

Previous episodes with Shinzen and Chelsey:

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep72-shinzen-young-and-chelsey-fasano-tantra-neuroscience-and-true-enlightenment/

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep76-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-2-the-science-of-enlightenment/

Previous Interview with Shinzen Young:

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep37-shinzen-young-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/

To find out more about Shinzen, visit:

- www.shinzen.org

To find out more about Chelsey, visit:

- www.chelseyfasano.com

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James