A new study uncovers the shared cognitive feedback loop in Buddhist meditation and speaking in tongues, suggesting a universal pathway to profound spiritual experiences.
Although Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues appear as diametrically opposite spiritual practices, they may share a profound commonality, according to a new study. Co-led by Michael Lifshitz, an assistant professor of psychiatry at McGill University and investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, alongside collaborators from Monash University and the University of Toronto, the study reveals a remarkable cognitive feedback loop at the heart of both practices.
This newly identified phenomenon, termed the Attention, Arousal and Release Spiral, describes a mental cycle that deepens states of focus and emotional surrender. The study’s findings, published in the American Journal of Human Biology, offer fresh insights into the ways humans can cultivate profound states of joy and tranquility.
“If we can understand this process better, we may be able to help more people access deep states of tranquility and bliss for themselves,” Lifshitz said in a news release. “In another sense, our findings may help to promote a sense of commonality and mutual respect between spiritual traditions. Despite differences in beliefs, we are all sharing a human experience.”
A Common Pathway to Bliss
The researchers discovered that both jhāna meditators and individuals engaging in speaking in tongues trigger a reinforcing cycle.
Each practice begins with a concentrated focus on an object — such as the breath in meditation or God in prayer — which in turn evokes a sense of joy. This joy facilitates an effortless focus that leads to a deep sense of surrender, further amplifying the spiritual experience.
“As far as we know, this spiraling dynamic leading to increasingly deep and effortless bliss is a novel idea in the psychological sciences,” added Lifshitz. “It’s fascinating that these radically different spiritual traditions seem to have discovered it and made use of it in different ways.”
To establish this link, the research team collected detailed testimonials from Buddhist meditation retreats and evangelical Christian worship services across the United States.
The participants described the nuanced shifts in their attention and emotional states during their practices. Additionally, their brain activity was recorded to provide physiological context.
While the full neurobiological results are still under analysis, preliminary findings suggest that both practices engage a cognitive shift, supporting a uniquely immersive spiritual journey.
The next research phase involves using advanced brain imaging techniques to observe real-time physiological changes corresponding with the Attention, Arousal and Release Spiral.
The study offers a pioneering perspective on the cognitive processes underlying diverse spiritual practices, potentially bridging gaps between seemingly disparate traditions. More importantly, it opens the door to broader applications, paving the way for strategies to help individuals achieve deeper states of bliss and tranquility.