Science and Spirituality: Esoteric Role of Pineal Gland
Mystic functions of the unconscious mind, aura of one's vital energy and inner strength do not depend on the state and activities of the physical body. The same is true of the functioning of the endocrine systems and hence of the secretion and transmission of the hereditary (genetic) information, the development of an embryo and the enormous potentials of the cells. Thorough research in anatomy and physiology of human body has been able to provide only partial information about some of these aspects.
The pineal and pituitary glands are termed as the master glands because experts of neurochemistry regard these as the most important glands in the endocrine system. Hormones like androgen secreted by the pituitary gland are found to control not only the sex related activities but also the capability of decision making, soundness of thinking and space-time based perceptions. The savants of the science of yoga and consciousness associate the pituitary gland with the topmost extrasensory nucleus of consciousness-energy — namely, the sahasrāra chakra (the crown chakra). The conscience of an individual is described as linked with the omnipresent supreme consciousness-force through the medium of sahasrāra.
The pineal gland is supposed to play a key role in the manifestation of consciousness-force that regulates the cycle of the biochemical activities in an individual. It is said to provide linkage between the body and the mind. Renowned French philosopher René Descartes describes this gland as the connection between the material (jaḍa) components of the body and the consciousness powers (chetanā) of the mind. Divine consciousness inspires one's mind through the extrasensory energy-nucleus (called āgyā chakra in yoga-science) located here. This chakra is also supposed to govern intuitive experiences.
Anatomically, the pineal gland happens to be the smallest functional component of the human body. This tiny gland is conical in shape like a granule of gram; it is about 0.25 inch long and weighs around 100 mg. This gland is located between the cerebellum and thalamus and is connected with the upper layer of the third ventricle. Interestingly, this gland, which was until recently regarded by the modern scientists as an unnecessary component in the human body and was attributed as a remnant of the early phase of evolution of the human body, has now become a major focus of frontline research on human brain.
Melatonin — a hormone secreted by the pineal gland — is supposed to react with darkness and thereby maintain the circadian biorhythms that are associated with cyclic transitions of day and night. It is also found that this hormone affects activities of the neurons which participate in controlling the process of sleeping. Sensitivity to light is its main property that has been tested in several laboratories. This property is remarkably consonant with the linkage between the pineal gland and the āgyā chakra (third eye) as described in the scriptures on yoga sādhanā.
Greek Physician Herophilus had described (some time in 400 BC) this gland as the regulator of the thought process. Although, in the absence of visible identification of this gland, his views had raised controversies at that time, his conclusions matched with those of the ancient sages of esoteric knowledge and science of yoga who described it as the center of origin and source of orderly expression of discerning intelligence.
Size of the pineal gland is bigger in children as compared to that in the adults. Among adults, women, who are in general emotionally more sensitive than men, are found to have bigger pineal glands than that of men. Sir Cannon Alexander had presented the essence of his research in the dissertation titled 'The Power Within'. He writes that the pineal gland of compassionate and spiritually elevated personalities is usually more developed and bigger.
Every human is free from the entangling thralldoms of ego, selfishness and worldly affairs in childhood. Very few people enjoy the same purity of inner self, fairness, and truth of mind in the later phases of life. This is the reason why in most people the pineal gland shrinks gradually as they cross the threshold of childhood. One's emotional level has great impact on the neurobiological development and activities of this gland.
Dr. Crookshak's research work has made significant contribution in identifying the effects of the endocrine glands on physiology and psychology. He calls these as 'magical glands'. In his view, the physical and mental health of an individual and his inherent tendencies could be assessed in terms of the level and pattern of hormonal secretions in the endocrine system.
Dr. H.W. Graft and Dr. E. Baldwin Spencer — both micro anatomists — had carried out research on pineal gland in the late 19th century. Their results showed that this gland responds to the optical signals (light) received directly from the surroundings or transmitted through the nervous system as perceived by the eyes. This finding resembles with the interpretations of the third eye described in the yoga scriptures. Major results of modern research on the pineal gland concern the extraction and analysis of the hormones Melatonin and Serotonin secreted by this gland. These findings have elucidated some latent features of the gross body, which were unknown until recently.
In 1958, Dr. Morton B. Lerner of the Yale Medical School had extracted melatonin from the secretions of the pineal gland. This hormone is found to be responsible for photo-reactive effects of change in the skin color of frogs and fishes. In humans, it is considered to regulate emotional changes and excitations generated by fear and anger. The secretions of this hormone play very important role in puberty during the commencement of teenage. As the child passes through this transition period, the size of the pineal reduces gradually and the charge of controlling the sex related hormonal secretions is transferred to the pituitary gland.
As stated earlier, the master gland — pineal — is considered to be directly connected with the āgyā chakra (third eye). Awakening of āgyā chakra results in awakening of vivekā (prudence, wisdom, and righteous thinking) that gradually evolves into spiritual insight. If a person channelizes his creative talents, intelligence and virtuous potentials with the support of vivekā, then he can find and use the otherwise hidden treasures of the unconscious mind.
Awakened āgyā chakra purifies and illuminates the core layers of conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind, intellect and inner self — mana, buddhi, chitta, and ahaṁkār. This is a fundamental step in the sādhanā of manomaya koṣa. The mention in Purāṇas of "the burning of Kāmadeva because of the opening of the third eye of Lord Shiva" is an allegoric representation. It implies that opening (activation) of the sublime center of the pineal gland controls the erogenous secretions from the pituitary and thus restrains stimulation of the genitals. It also implies that the agile giant of mind can be restrained and refined by the sādhanās of opening of the āgyā chakra and the consequent awakening of wisdom and intuition.
Refinement of the power of this chakra and the inter-linked functional units of the master glands of the endocrine system opens up the ways of sublime transformation. The vast difference between the wretched (vile) and the elevated (elite) levels of personalities arise respectively from the underdeveloped or waned and the actively refined states of this chakra. This is because the activities of this chakra shape the mental status, attitude and flow of thoughts of a person, which in turn govern his conduct and deeds.
Renowned psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Kreman has separated another hormone from the brain tissues. This hormone named serotonin is densely present in the pineal gland and the junction cells. The pineal gland is a reservoir of serotonin, which is distributed by the junction cells to the other parts of the body. Further research work has shown that serotonin is an elementary form of melatonin and that its richness activates reasoned thought process. Another significant result was that the atomic structure of serotonin matches with that of LSD-25 (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) — a narcotic drug, which is prepared by extractions from a grass called rai.
Even a small amount of LSD induces intense intoxicating effects on the conscious mind. The hippies used to consume it for what they delusively confused as 'spiritual joy'. Medical experts, on the other hand, advise against its use because this drug can neutralize the activation of serotonin. The so-called feeling of delight and attainment of 'higher levels' of consciousness by consuming LSD is an artificial and illusive state of mind; because, the suppression by LSD of the activities of serotonin blocks the natural flow of thoughts and one feels 'thoughtless' as if one is in a state of 'trance'. This chemically induced suppression of brain-functions is hazardous as it prevents the natural hormonal processing and thereby destroys the harmony between the mind, brain and body.
The spiritual level of one's inner self has direct impact on the regulatory activities of the pineal and pituitary glands — including their roles in inducing and controlling the emotional and physical functions associated with sex. The greater the natural control of pineal on pituitary and the collective control of both on the genitals and sexual feelings, the more is the possibility of natural observance of chastity, augmenting of vital force, and awakening of the otherwise dormant centers of consciousness in the mind-body system and the corresponding rise in one's spiritual potentials to attain sublime levels of chetanā.
Appropriation of the serotonin concentration and naturally harmonious control over its activity is a challenging task, which is essential for spiritual growth. The excessive level of serotonin triggered by erogenous thoughts in the individuals transpires the vicious cycle of mutually supporting activities driven by concupiscence and related endocrine secretions and leads to fast decline in the possibilities of spiritual evolution. The sādhanā practices of yoga constitute a systematic method for focused awakening of the pineal gland followed by natural control over the entire endocrine system.
Every human being is bound within the world created by his own emotions, thoughts and deeds. His character too is the creation of his internal world. It is in his own hands to come out of the barriers which block the empowerment and sublimation of his consciousness reflected in the functions of his mind, brain and body.
The sādhanā of opening of the āgyā chakra have direct positive impact on the pineal gland and hence also on the entire endocrine system. Success of these sādhanās awakens one's vivekā and induces elevated flow of prāṇa (vital spiritual energy). The life histories of great personalities across the world show that they were empowered by the internal energy and strength of their vital force and they had used their talents for higher ideals with the help of their vivekā. As a result, their lives were endowed with such accomplishments that could be likened to divine boons.
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