David DeSteno

When we meditate or when we say the rosary, if you're Catholic or if you're Hindu and you chant, recite certain mantras, it alters our breathing rate.

And what it does is it typically slows it down to about six breaths a minute and it increases the exhalation rate.

What does that do?

It sends signals back up to our brain that we are in an environment that is safe and

and one in which we should care about other people.

Because think about it.

Jonathan, if you get anxious, you can feel your heart rate go up.

If you're angry, you get tense.

Your breathing increases.

That's your brain telling you, get ready for something.

But the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the heart and lungs, is a two-way street.

And so if we take control of that breathing, we send a message back up to the brain that is, it's okay.

You're among people who care for you.

You should care back.

And so it puts you in a situation where when you then get the teaching, either from the Buddhist teacher who is giving you things to think about while you're meditating, or from the prayers that you recite when you're saying the rosary that are...

You should be good.

You should be cared.

You should care for others.

You should be grateful.

The brain is already in a position to be receptive to that, right?