The Harvard Divinity School Augmented and Virtual Reality Collective hosted an event Thursday featuring a series of speakers and demonstrations examining the ways in which technology can influence neuroscience and meditation.

At the event, speakers presented medical and scientific research related to the mind. Dr. Jeffrey D. Rediger, a Harvard Medical School professor and Medical Director at McLean Hospital, described studying a hundred cancer patients who had experienced spontaneous remission.

He said the trends challenged his skepticism of spiritual and psychological healing methods.

In medicine, were embarrassed by them, we call them flukes. After a while, after you talk to these people, you start to see this pattern, Rediger said. I think these things happen outside of what we understand about the physical laws of nature.

MIT research scientist Andreas Mershin spoke about the importance of nurturing curiosity.

If we sustain it, if we ask better questions, we start becoming a much more powerful community and much more powerful individuals, Mershin said. Questions are more powerful than answers.

Also at the event, Baruti KMT-Sisouvong, director of Cambridges Transcendental Meditation Program, evaluated the role of transcendentalist thought on the individual and society.

Technology demonstrations following the speaker portion of the event. They included demonstrations of When We Die, a virtual reality program designed to prompt contemplation of mortality, and Chi, an app designed to provide a virtual reality simulation of Tai Chi.

The Virtual Reality Collective hosted the group Consciousness Hacking, a Cambridge-based association of thinkers at the event. Consciousness Hacking is a collective that aims to explore technology as a pathway towards psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, according to the groups website. Their research focuses on technology and neuroscience.

This is hopefully a community that lives their questions, which is totally exciting and exactly what I hoped for, said Adam H. Horowitz, a leader of Consciousness Hacking and a co-organizer of the event.

Those goals are similar to the work that the Augmented & Virtual Reality Collective hopes to tackle.

I came to HDS essentially to ask the larger question of what kind of world we are building in this technological landscape, and how can we build for well-being and really the whole human being, said Tim L. Gallati, a student at the Divinity School and founder of the Augmented & Virtual Reality Collective.

Staff writer Jordan E. Virtue can be reached at jordan.virtue@thecrimson.com.

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HDS Event Explores Overlap of Meditation, Technology, and Medicine - Harvard Crimson

By Jayam Anantharaman

Human beings are the only species in Gods creation who make an issue out of nothing. Animals take life as it comes, but when man fails to do a certain thing or to possess certain things, he gets angry and slips into a depression. An individuals decline begins with desire and ends in misery. To keep the mind happy, we have to learn to be content with minimum wants.

Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita, From attachment desire, from desire anger, from anger infatuation, from infatuation, aconfused mind that results in loss of reason and leads one to ruin. Gradually, by rearranging your priorities, you experience peace and calm. Bringing the mind under control is not a one-day exercise. It takes time to get into the habit. Meditation also helps the mind to concentrate and enables you to achieve great results.

Like meditation, music, too, has a tranquillising effect. Those of us who perform arduous physical or mental work will benefit by listening to good classical music or bhajans early in the morning before starting the workday. Good music is atonic; it has a healing effect.

People suffering from digestive disorders, diseases of the nervous system and backache can obtain great relief by listening to soothing music.

Likewise, by submitting yourself to natures grandeur watching a sunrise or sunset in the mountains or by a beach, or sitting near a waterfall you feel both ennobled and humbled. The Divine makes its presence felt in our lives, saving us from possible decline.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Meditation, music heal - Economic Times (blog)

For Americans of all political persuasions, the last few months have been a nervous, unsettling time. Tensions that were buried under the surface are out in the open. Scary possibilities that seemed remote now feel plausible. If you're a news junkie or the sort of person who gets into arguments on social media, it can be hard to fall asleep, knowing the next breaking story or tweet could mean another major upheaval.

On the other hand, it's a great time to be a company that helps people deal with their unwanted anxiety. The week after the presidential election, Calm, the maker of an eponymous guided-meditation app, saw its rate of sales spike by more than 50 percent, according to co-founder Michael Acton-Smith. "There are a lot of very anxious, stressed people out there," he says.

He used to be one of them. Calm is Acton-Smith's third startup. His first was the online retailer Firebox.com. His second, Mind Candy, made a video game that had 80 million registered users.* Despite the success, Acton-Smith found it hard to relax. He suffered from fatigue, headaches, and "the whirring mind of an entrepreneur, waking up at 4 a.m., thinking of all these things."

Acton-Smith had long had a vague sense a mindfulness practice was something that might help him. With a friend, Alex Tew, he had even purchased the domain Calm.com in 2011 with plans to start a digital content business around mindfulness; Tew was an avid practitioner. But it wasn't until 2014 that Acton-Smith, during a long sabbatical, finally dove into the literature on meditation and began practicing it himself.

Once he experienced the benefits firsthand, he was all in. He joined Smith in San Francisco, where they set out to create products that offered the benefits of simple mindfulness training--restful sleep, improved focus, relief from stress--without the hippie-ish spiritual or cultural trappings that sometimes put people off.

Calm's core product is The Daily Calm, a 10-minute guided meditation on the app led by Tamara Levitt, the company's head of content, who has been studying various mindfulness practices for more than 25 years. Each day's meditation emphasizes a different aspect of mindfulness. After much debate, Acton-Smith, Tew, and Levitt agreed the meditations should only be available for that day and then disappear.

It turned out to be a crucial decision, Acton-Smith says. The offering encourages users to adopt Calm as a true daily habit, rather than stockpile the lessons for hypothetical later use like those back issues of The New Yorker on your nightstand you tell yourself you'll read someday. The idea of disappearing content also nicely echoes the mindfulness principle of acknowledging a thought and then letting it go. (Calm now archives a small number of its most popular Daily Calms.)

Without raising any outside money, Calm has become "very profitable," says Acton-Smith. It booked $7 million in revenue in 2016--app subscriptions cost $12.99 per month, or $60 per year--and anticipates more than $20 million this year. More than 8 million people have downloaded the app, and while some content themselves with the limited free offerings, "I've been amazed how comfortable people are paying" for the premium subscription-only tier, he says.

Besides the Daily Calm, the company's offerings include nature scenes and soundscapes, and "Sleep Stories," short, soporific tales read in a lulling voice. There's a Calm coffee-table book, and eventually Acton-Smith plans to do apparel and possibly even a Calm-themed hotel. He believes there's an opportunity to build a brand that will be "the Nike for the mind," likening the public awareness of meditation today to the state of exercise in the 1960s, before the jogging and aerobics fads. "I think we're right at the start of a new wave that's developing around mental fitness," he says.

It only helped, Acton-Smith says, when a competitor, Headspace, raised $30 million in 2015. Prior to that, he says, investors regarded mindfulness as a niche interest. Now, "People realize this is not niche. This is extremely mainstream." That said, Calm isn't eager to follow suit: "We're quite excited about continuing to grow under our own steam," he says.

Acton-Smith is an avid Calm user himself and reports much improved sleep since his Mind Candy days. A regular meditation practice is an asset to anyone doing a startup, he says. "It helps smooth out the huge highs and crushing lows that come with being an entrepreneur. No one wants to follow a leader who's screaming one minute and stressed and upset the next."

Of course, it's partly thanks to such a leader that Calm has become so popular since November. It could be a very profitable four years.

*Correction: Owing to a transcription error, the original version of this story said Moshi Monsters had 18 million registered users, rather than the correct number, 80 million. This story has also been edited to reflect the timing of Michael Acton-Smith's purchaseof Calm.com and his role at Mind Candy.

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This Meditation Startup Is Turning Stress Into Profits - Inc.com

Some people become vegetarians because they love animals. Some, as comedian A. Whitney Brown put it, because they hate plants.

But vegans are committed. Not only do they not eat food that harms or kills animals, some dont even want food that inconveniences animals.

Like honey. Hardcore vegans will not eat honey because, as Noah Lewis of vegetus.org puts it, the simple fact is that the bees are enslaved. Similarly, some vegans will not eat sugar because, while it comes entirely from a plant, some sugar is whitened by using bone char, which comes from animals.

Although the vegan diet lacks in meat, dairy and egg products or because of it the diet can be better for you than that which the standard American eats. In 2009, the American Dietetic Association took the position that vegetarian and vegan diets reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and lead to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

It can be healthy, but there are some things to watch out for when on a vegan diet: You have to make sure to get enough protein and vitamin B-12 and calcium, iodine, vitamin D, iron, zinc and n-3 fatty acids.

Fortunately, a well-balanced vegan diet provides all of these essential nutrients, though you may want to take vitamin B-12 supplements, just in case.

Still, cooking a well-balanced vegan diet can be difficult, at least if you want to stick to what most Americans think of as normal ingredients. Many vegan recipes attempt to re-create meatless versions of familiar meat-based dishes, and to do so they rely on such potentially off-putting ingredients as vegan chicken, egg replacements and nondairy cheese.

Other recipes use soy products such as tofu and tempeh for their protein, and it is one of these that I tried first in cooking a vegan diet for a day.

Mee goreng, which is a type of stir-fried noodles, is popular street fare in the Philippines. When I have had it before, it always had meat in it, usually chicken or shrimp or both.

But then I came upon a vegan recipe for it using tofu, and tofu fans are sure to be instantly hooked.

If they like spicy food, that is. As with a lot of street food, mee goreng usually packs a kick. If you want it milder, simply trim down or eliminate the amount you use of sambal oelek, the all-purpose Indonesian and Malaysian ground chili paste.

Also, as is the case with much street food, mee goreng tends to be a little oily. The recipe calls for 5 tablespoons of oil for four to six servings; I got by with four tablespoons, but that is still a quarter cup of oil.

Do you need it? Yes. The oil brings the dish together, from the spicy sambal to the faintly bitter bok choy to the sweet sauce made from equal parts of soy sauce, brown sugar and molasses.

The tofu, which has the amazing ability to soak up all the flavors in which it is cooked, serves as a protein-rich punctuation to the meal.

For my next dish, I dispensed with the tofu and received my protein in the form of garbanzo beans, which are also known as chickpeas.

Indian-style vegetable curry with potatoes and cauliflower (that name seems a little over-descriptive to me) is another spicy dish. I like spices; sue me. If less fiery food is more your style, you can use a mild curry powder (but I wouldnt use much less) and leave out the serrano chili.

This dish benefits greatly from the mutually complementary flavors of potato, cauliflower, garbanzo beans and curry.

A bit of tomato paste and a cup of coconut milk make it deeply satisfying, yet it is so healthful that youll practically pat yourself on the back for eating it.

It is the kind of dish that calls out for basmati rice; if you have it, use it.

Finally, I made a vegan version of one of the least vegan dishes I could think of, pancakes.

Pancakes pretty much need eggs, milk and butter. If you try to make them from just flour, water, sugar, salt, baking powder and a little oil, youll wind up with paste.

Or so I thought. But then a colleague passed me a recipe for vegan pancakes that she swore was excellent. And she was right.

I dont know how this works.

I dont understand how they hold together without becoming slightly sweetened hardtack. Im guessing the oil has something to do with it, but we are only talking about a single tablespoon for 10 smallish pancakes.

These vegan pancakes are fine the way they are, but I incorporated a couple of additions suggested by my colleague: I added two tablespoons of soy milk (almond milk would also do) and a teaspoon of vanilla, just to make the pancakes even better.

They are a perfect foil for maple syrup. And maple syrup doesnt inconvenience any animal.

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The vegan diet meatless masterpieces | Food | theeagle.com - Bryan-College Station Eagle

Footwear News

13 Stylish Shoes That Are Completely Vegan Footwear News Shopping vegan and being on-trend while doing it can be a real challenge. Most fashion-minded brands favor the use of leather on soles or as lining, making it difficult to find shoes that are completely made without animal products. Luckily, we ...

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13 Stylish Shoes That Are Completely Vegan - Footwear News

Cinnaholic, the cinnamon roll-serving vegan bakery chain, is looking to expand into other cities, which will include Austin. The California-based confection shop focuses on customizable vegan rolls with 20 different frostings (banana cream, cake batter, maple, orange), and 22 toppings (brownie bites, coconut, marshmallows, jam, pie crumble). It also serves up vegan cakes, brownies, cookies, and cookie dough.

After its two Dallas location, Austin was naturally the next step, according to Daryl Dollinger, Cinnaholics president of franchising. The company is currently scouting locations in South and Central Austin, as well as around campus. Its aiming to nail down an address or open by the end of 2017.

Cinnaholic was founded in 2009 in Berkeley, California by Shannon and Florian Radke, who appeared on Shark Tank. There are 13 bakeries right now in America, with two in Dallas. For its expansions, its looking to franchise into other states as well, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere in Texas.

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Vegan Cinnamon Roll Bakery Chain Eyes Austin Expansion - Eater Austin

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Rice Krispie treats are reminiscent of childhood snacking. But they werent as wholesome as they tasted. Sure, they were cereal based, but they were smothered in sugary marshmallows and butter, so they were more of a sugar rush than anything else. Even so, its hard not to crave Rice Krispie treats, even as an adult. Luckily, with a few tweaks, these yummytreats can take a deliciously healthy turn, so you can indulge in a childhood favorite (but with the metabolism of an adult).

These vegan Rice Krispie treats feature quinoa, nut butter, seeds, and coconut, and get lightly sweetened with brown rice syrup.

Original Rice Krispie treats call for the Kelloggs cereal. Naturally, the cereals main ingredient is rice. However, its the second ingredient on the list that makes a seemingly harmless cereal lose its charm: sugar. And for those with gluten sensitivities, take notice: Kelloggs Rice Krispies cereal contains malt.

To avoid packing in sugar and gluten when you can easily avoid it, purchase a gluten-free puffed brown rice. I used Arrowhead Mills version for this recipe.

Meanwhile, these treats are sweetened with brown rice syrup. Like most high-calorie sweeteners, brown rice syrup must be used in moderation and cannot be considered fully healthy just because its derived from brown rice. However, brown rice syrup contains no fructose or sucrose, and can thus be considered safer than high fructose corn syrup or ordinary sugar. Feel free to use another liquid sweetener in its place, such as honey, maple syrup, agave, or coconut nectar.

I love the popped quinoa, because it adds crunchy texture (and some fiber and protein) to each bite. When it comes to the add-ins, dont feel restricted to the ingredients listed. Once you master this recipe, start to get experimental! Try tossing in carob chips, dried fruit, different nuts and seeds, or even swap the cashew butter for a different kind of nut butter.

Vegan Rice Krispie Treats Recipe with Cashew Butter and Quinoa

Enjoy a childhood classic without all the sugar and animal-based fat with this vegan rice krispie treats recipe with cashew butter and quinoa.

Ingredients

Instructions

Calories per serving: 212

Fat per serving: 13.1g

Saturated fat per serving: 6.1g

Carbs per serving: 20.9g

Protein per serving: 4.7g

Fiber per serving: 2.3g

Sugar per serving: 9.2g

Sodium per serving: 55mg

Related on Organic AuthorityMallows Gone Gourmet: Make Your Own Organic, Chemical-Free MarshmallowsForget the Eggs: Make Tie-Dye Vegan Marshmallows for EasterGluten-Free Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

Aylin is founder of GlowKitchen, a food blog with an emphasis on vegan and gluten-free fare. Aylin has been living in Istanbul, where she is founder and CEO of a cold-pressed juice and healthy foods company JS (www.jusistanbul.com).

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Vegan Rice Krispie Treats are a Drool... - Organic Authority

Ron Pickarski has many fond memories of growing up in Petoskey, even to the point of substituting for a Petoskey News-Review carrier a few times to make some extra money.

"I used to play at the old pond near the area of Walmart," said Pickarski, who now resides in Boulder, Colo., as the founder, president and culinologist of Eco-Cuisine, Inc., a US vegetarian and vegan foodservice company. "Before the highway along the waterfront was put in, I remember the officer I think his first name was Frank directing traffic on Mitchell Street down in front of the Perry Davis Hotel to get continued north."

Pickarski also recalls working at his parents' restaurant, Sophie's Lunch, located on the corner of Mitchell and Emmet Street which was open 24 hours.

In 1980, Pickarski was the first vegetarian chef to compete in the International Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt, Germany, and then competed in the Culinary Olympics again in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996, winning seven medals with vegan cuisine.

With 50 years experience in professional kitchens ranging from fine dining to quick service restaurants, Pickarski's specialty has been research and development of natural, vegan foodservice savory speed scratch products with pulses designed for chefs to cook with and build into their menus.

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Quick Read: Food as health, Petoskey native Pickarski an internationally renowned vegan chef - Petoskey News-Review

WWSB ABC 7

New Bradenton Noise Ordinance Causing Frustration WWSB ABC 7 Most of it is just relaxing music in the beer garden." Elwonger says the new policy will have little impact, dubbing it a business killer and arguing the cap on late night noise stifles nightlife and slows revenues as customers head to St. Pete where ... and more »

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New Bradenton Noise Ordinance Causing Frustration - WWSB ABC 7

PUBLISHED: 16:22 30 March 2017 | UPDATED: 16:27 30 March 2017

Alex Lewis

Professor Richard Wiseman - credit Antje M Pohsegger

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The secret of happiness could be having short sleeps during the day, new research by a Hatfield professor suggests.

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Professor Richard Wiseman, who lectures psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, probed the effects of sleeping habits on the self-perceived happiness of over 1,000 people.

He said: Previous research has shown that naps of under 30 minutes make you more focused, productive and creative, and these new findings suggest the tantalising possibility that you can also become happier by just taking a short nap.

Similarly, longer napping is associated with several health risks and again, this is in line with our results.

His research subjects classified themselves as either no nappers, short nappers (under 30 minutes), and long nappers (over 30 minutes).

The short nappers were the happiest (66 per cent of the group) but the no nappers were close on 60 per cent, with the long nappers trailing on 56 per cent.

The research also revealed that 43 per cent of 18 to 30-year-olds take long naps, compared to just 30 per cent people over 50.

The professor added: A large body of research shows that short naps boosts performance.

Many highly successful companies, such as Ben & Jerrys and Google, have installed dedicated nap spaces, and employees need to wake up to the upside of napping at work.

He will demonstrate how to get the perfect nap at the Edinburgh International Science Festival on Monday, with the help of relaxing music and soothing green projections.

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Hatfield psychologist probes day-time sleeping - Times 24