I believe you. And there is a way to maintain that higher sense of self. You claim that it was a "loss of self," however, scientists tend to think of that very same experience as attaining one's true self. I absolutely love what I heard this morning. "We tend to think of the universe as this superficially diverse thing, when it is really fundamental oneness."

And your testimony is one of many who have experienced a similar alteration of consciousness through meditation. Scientists believe if everyone practiced transcendental meditation, not as a religious act but more simply, a technique to ease stress, develop better thinking, and overall be more aware of your surroundings, then peace would permeate throughout our nation and we would all be better people because of it. Our creativity and our ability to solve problems would increase dramatically.

We all know our brains shrink as we grow older. Our elders become content with sharing their pearls of wisdom from many years of experience, but it doesn't have to end with pathetic advice. We could be more intelligent, creative, and happier by practicing transcendental meditation. Who wants to grow old without dreams or without the strength/confidence to achieve those dreams? It's possible through this technique, in my opinion because it stimulates regions in your brain to work coherently and simultaneously, when the data from an EEG would show you that your brain is responding and communicating less without that extra boost in consciousness.