The Science of Spirituality: Measuring the Immeasurable
In recent decades, what was once thought to be the exclusive domain of mystics and philosophers is now increasingly being studied through the lens of neuroscience and psychology. The idea that spirituality can be examined scientifically might seem paradoxical, yet it reflects a growing curiosity, one shared by ancient traditions and modern researchers alike, about how contemplative practices shape our minds, bodies, and inner lives.
As a spiritual practitioner, and a student Yogic Science, I resonate most with researchers who approach these questions from the inside out, those who begin with a committed spiritual practice and then seek to explore the neurobiological impact of that experience. In contrast, more secular or sceptical researchers may begin by questioning the validity of the practice itself, seeking objective proof before they allow its meaning to unfold.
Both approaches have merit. But they lead to very different kinds of questions and different kinds of outcomes.
Quantifying the Sacred
There are a few traditional institutions of yoga that have been exploring the science of spirituality for generations. Their research into yoga, prānāyāma, devotional chanting, and meditative states continues to affirm what practitioners have long known: consistent engagement with these practices transforms our physiology, perception, and emotional resilience.
What's evolving now is how this knowledge is being measured. While early studies leaned heavily on subjective reports or physiological markers like heart rate variability, more recent approaches are adopting contemporary research tools such as micro-phenomenological methods, to capture subtle, first-person experiences in a structured, repeatable way.
Still, the question arises: What counts as "effective" when studying the soul? In some cases, research seems more concerned with productivity, stress reduction, or clinical outcomes than with deeper existential transformation. While these findings are useful, they don’t always touch the true heart of spiritual practice, which isn’t about fiscal gain, performance optimisation, or intellectual superiority but about inner liberation, connection, and awakening.
Transpersonal Neurobiology: An Emerging Bridge
This is where the study of Transpersonal Neurobiology (TPNB) offers a fascinating and timely development. TPNB explores how altered states, mystical experience, and non-ordinary consciousness (often cultivated through breathwork, meditation, plant medicine, and somatic practices) interact with and shape brain function.
It invites us to reframe the nervous system not just as a stress-response mechanism, but as a bridge to expanded awareness. For those without a spiritual framework or cultural access to practices of meaning, through religion, art, poetry, or nature, TPNB offers an accessible and evidence-based doorway into something greater.
At its best, this field helps restore the soulfulness of science. It recognises that the brain is not separate from consciousness, and that spiritual experience is not a deviation from “normal” brain function, but an essential part of what makes us human.
In Closing
The “science of spirituality” is not new. It has been explored for thousands of years through yogic texts, contemplative rituals, and lived inquiry. What is changing is the language, the metrics, and the audience. As spiritual practitioners, we don’t need to abandon the mystery to engage with science. We simply need to remain clear in our intention: that the aim of practice is not control, prestige, or productivity but presence, connection, and awareness.
When aligned with these values, research can deepen our understanding of what it truly means to awaken, not only as individuals but as a collective species in transition.
Suggested Next Reads:
Spiritual Competencies in Clinical Practice – Cassandra Vieten
Science of Pranayama – Swami Kuvalayananda, Kaivalyadhama
Waking, Dreaming, Being – Evan Thompson
The Stormy Search for the Self – Christina & Stanislav Grof