Some psycho-physiological aspects of ecstasy in recent research

Recent psycho-physiological research on ecstasy has not yet been absorbed by comparative religion. Traditional Western science distinguishes external from internal processes, leading to dismissal of reports from other cultures about holy men's extraordinary feats and of religious ecstatic states by psychiatrists. Renewed interest in consciousness within general psychology, marginal psychology, and the drug revolt of youth culture have provoked new speculation about human potential that may benefit comparative religion. Biofeedback research has been the most sensational experimental method, forcing many scientists to reconsider the view that the autonomic nervous system is completely independent of human will and control.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The intention of this article is to present some psycho-physiological perspectives of recent date concerned with the phenomenon of ecstasy. As almost none of this research has yet been assimilated by comparative religion, the focus here is on illustrating some of the background for renewed speculation on the relationship between psyche and soma. Traditional Western science has usually operated with a distinction between external and internal processes. Perhaps owing to this idea of the independence of our internal processes from our intentional consciousness, reports from other cultures such as those concerning the extraordinary achievements of holy men (e.g. their capacity to lie buried for days, or survive unclothed at very low temperatures) have tended to be ignored as fantastic rumours (which, to some extent, is certainly true) and myths. In a similar way the varieties of religious ecstatic states have often been countered with a shrug by psychiatrists. The recently renewed interest in consciousness within general psychology, together with what may be called marginal psychology and the drug revolt of youth culture have, however, provoked new speculation concerning human potential, speculation which in due time might also benefit comparative religion. From the perspective of comparative religion the primary concern is with cultural tradition and interpretation. Among our many new potential methods for better understanding ecstatic phenomena by means of experimental methods, biofeedback has been the most sensational one. It is above all the research in biofeedback that has forced many scientists to reconsider their view of the autonomic nervous system as a system completely independent of human will and control.