Welcome to the Commune podcast. This is Jeff Krasno.

Lately, I have become increasingly interested in mechanism or how things work, specifically how our bodies work.

I find that understanding mechanism leads to changes in behavior, because when we

understand the how, it makes the why way more obvious. I've become that annoying kid,

eat your vegetables, son. But, but why? Because they're good for you. Well, why are they good for

well, because they have nutrients and stuff. Well, but why do I need nutrients and stuff? Well, you see where this goes. But once you understand how your body metabolizes food, then you also know why you should eat a particular way. And it becomes easier and way more obvious to adopt healthier eating habits.

Today I look specifically at meditation.

We all sense that meditation is good for us.

But why?

Well, because it relieves stress.

But why?

Well, on this episode, I look at the physiological and psychological mechanisms at

play when we meditate as a means to understand why we should do it for our physical and

spiritual well-being. Away we go.

Why should we meditate?

What are the benefits conferred by a meditation practice?

And how does the practice of meditation really alter the experience of consciousness of what it is like to be alive moment to moment? Well, these are the topics I want to

tackle. And I'll start by conveying an experience that I have every day. Well, I walk down the

hallway in my house

and I peer into my daughter's bedroom and I'm absolutely convinced that she is the

world's greatest meditation teacher ever simply because she is prolific at

sitting on her ass and doing nothing. Now I'm kind of joking and I'm kind of

...