I'm an Atheist who prays

Prayer is a unique form of meditation where, for a brief amount of time, our attention shifts away from the 'Self' towards acceptance of something 'Beyond self'.

From a neurobiological sense, this has a few interesting effects. There is reduced activity in the DMN or Default mode network which is the self-referential network active during day dreaming or thinking about oneself. When taken to its full extent, it leads to a state called 'Ego Dissolution

There is reduced activity in the Thalami - due to less attention paid to sensory stimuli.

There is reduced activity in the Amygdala - possibly due to less threat perception.

Psychologically, it helps to create detachment from a problem, thereby increasing calmness. There is similar (though not the same) to the effect of Stoicism.

And I haven't covered the effect of Faith in this discussion yet. That's a topic for another day.

[tanyaa]

I wanted to say this from so long..today I got the words..❤

[newfangled_ms]

My God .. now I know why I connect well to your content.. this is exactly what I feel but never understood how that's possible.. it's like your words are coming out from my brain 🎉 neurologically impossible but possible :)

[shilpakulkarni]

The world will be the happiest and peaceful place to live for our future generations if everyone develops such rational approach towards religion!

[Livingdlifemyway]

Amazing analogy. You have improved alot as a teacher. Keep it up dear.

[vindhyabaptist]

Perfect thanks I Resonate with this to perfection

[PawanKumar-jkyy]

There is some power who made us and we have to be in touch and have conversation and that's prayer for me that's it !

[Pratu]

As always you give a perfect explanation of everything thank you 😊

[shashankvishwakarma]

This is the exact case with me. I don't involve in any religious events and do not believe in any particular god, but prayer really helps me!

[DINESHPAL-elme]

finally I got someone who is, indeed like me in this aspect

[PPPJEE]

Dr. I used to believe in god like a blind since my childhood until i came to class 10
in my class 10 gradually i felt like the concept of god was illogical and gradually i lost faith in God
and after some months i realised the things that happened (i became an atheist unknowingly)
and this video literally sounds good to my ear as i am unable to believe in god as i used to do in childhood
but when i thought about your video and the analogy again, a thought strikes my mind
that yes it is not mandatory to believe in a particular Gym or a particular Trainer to Get fitter
but i think if we believe in the gym and in the trainer along with that attitude of getting fitter will not only help in getting fit but also the path becomes easier and doubt free and simple too
and similarly if we believe in god whatever we wish we can pray and also the trust in god will only help us to stay on the path and also may take down many pains

Now, again a different things is striking to my mind
our Ethics promotes us to ask questions and questioning is the only way to keep the inner child alive, but not questioning somehow makes the path easier.
basically i didn't have any question for you but it's just a thought process
thankyou doctor

[poojaaggarwal]

Not just a great doctor
But
Also a great philosopher

[NeemaSudhakar]

I think dr wanted to say I don't believe in one particular religion but I believe in god. You won't lift a dumbell if it's feather weight . You lift it because you believe it has capacity to change you. Actually it's not belief, you are most certain it will bring about changes. Which means drji is a theist

[bulchandanisaurabh]

To the point.

The point of prayer is to tell your subconscious mind that everything is perfect until it believes in it and makes it reality.

[ShivajiitheGreatest]

Thank you sir I got my Answer to itself ❤

[alka]

Stages of भक्ती - अनेक रूप भक्ती (believing in many Gods)... एक रूप भक्ती (believing that God is inside everything)... अरूप भक्ति (realising God is inside our heart)..
The third stage of भक्ती is nothing but our strong conviction in God's powers is turning into or ingraining strong optimism in our own *Subconscious mind*

[elite]

Felt like someone just said what I wanted to say

[sibiyaravi]

I turned to Atheist lookin ur videos but yeah as you told I show my gratitude to earth in the form of prayer❤

[dagarjyoti]

Their is no between Atheist and theist dono kuch Bina jana pkad kr bethe h,
Bhagwan ko manna nhi janna important h .
Jese aag jalati h ye hum maante nhi h jante h.
Upanishads are the way to know God.
I am so proud that I got birth in Bharat bcs of scriptures written here helps to touch the reality .jo sirf gyaan nhi experience bhi dete h,

[muneebkhan]

As a neurologist you can very well understand that praying with good concentration or a good Spiritual activity activates our Pre Frontal Lobe.
And yes. Deep down you are a religious person ( like every human being is Naturally but intensity varies) but you are not following any Organised Religion

[mayankshukla]

Sir, in which specific video I can understand how prayer helps neurologically?