Meditation and Hypnosis: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis January 1, 2017 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2017.1276361 via PubMed
Summary
Hypnosis and meditation are diverse psychosomatic techniques that can regulate both mind and body. While hypnosis is used for specific therapeutic goals, Eastern meditation has broader philosophical aims, seeking liberation from suffering and illusions. Both practices share features like focused attention induction and the ability to intentionally control biological and conscious processes.
Abstract
Hypnosis and meditation, as a whole, form a heterogeneous complex of psychosomatic techniques able to control mind and body regulation. Hypnosis has been pragmatically used for limited therapeutic targets, while Eastern meditation has much wider philosophical and existential implications, aiming for a radical liberation from all illusions, attachments, suffering and pain. The available data on the history, phenomenology, and neuropsychology of hypnosis and meditation show several common features, such as the following: (a) induction based on focused attention; (b) capability to reach an intentional control of both biologic-somatic activities and conscious-unconscious processes;