Explore all of Loch Kelly's practices and teachings on the Mindful Glimpses app, found at https://lochkelly.org/mindful-glimpses. This innovative meditation and wellness app offers daily micro-meditations, step by step programs, and simple-yet-advanced tools for awakening. What happens in the brain in the midst of meditation? Modern science is revealing a whole new world of inner understanding. In this episode, Loch and psychologist and researcher, Dr. David Vago, discuss the neuroscience of awakening. From both ancient and modern points of view they explore the relationship between brain networks and awareness, particularly interconnected nondual states. They discuss the system-wide effects of mindfulness on mental health and well-being, and dig into some interesting dialogue about the illusion of self-identity, and various flow states. After the discussion, stay tuned for a mindful glimpse meditation where you can experience awareness energy yourself. ►Guided Glimpse Meditation: Effortless Focus 1:13:57 Mindful Glimpse: Effortless Focus In this 8 minute guided meditation, you are invited to discover the view from the field of awareness energy. When we are looking from this interconnected field of awake consciousness we can focus effortlessly, and feel the unity of everything. ►Dr. David Vago As a Research Associate Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University, Dr. David Vago directs the Contemplative Neuroscience & Mind-Body Research Laboratory. He also maintains an appointment as a research associate in the department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Vago has over 15 years experience studying the basic neurobiological mechanisms supporting Mind-Body practices and the effects on mental health and well-being. A number of his ongoing research initiatives include Mapping the Meditative Mind, in which Dr. Vago has partnered with contemporary meditation teachers and scholars to investigate psychosocial and neurobiological mechanisms supporting states of meditation across the spectrum of formal meditative expertise. https://davidvago.bwh.harvard.edu/ International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR) - https://www.contemplativeneurosciences.com/ Studies referenced in this episode Mapping complex mind states: EEG neural substrates of meditative unified compassionate awareness https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29169033/ Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480633/ Loch Kelly is the creator of the Mindful Glimpses app, award winning author, psychotherapist, and meditation teacher known for his unique practical methods that support awakening as the next natural stage of human development. Backed by modern neuroscience and psychology, Loch introduces Effortless Mindfulness, an ancient form of nondual meditation that allows immediate access to our embodied awake nature which arises as calm, clarity, and compassion. ►MOBILE APP: https://mindfulglimpses.com/ ►WEBSITE: https://lochkelly.org/ ►PODCAST: https://podcast.effortlessmindfulness.com/ ►DONATE: https://lochkelly.org/donate The Effortless Mindfulness Podcast is brought to you by our 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity. Our mission is to make learning how to tap into your inner resources simple, teachable, and accessible to everyone. Chapters 00:00 Intro 3:36 What is same-ness? 13:06 Levels of Mindfulness 17:06 Characteristics of Awakening 24:40 Meta Awareness and Meta Cognition 32:29 Psychology Perspective 34:30 Neuroscience of Meditation 43:12 Shifting Between Operating Systems 47:15 Brain Activity and Awareness 53:35 Neural Activity in Meditation States 1:01:47 Panoramic Flow and Absorbed Flow 1:10:25 Final Thoughts 1:13:57 Mindful Glimpse: Effortless Focus