By
John D. Mudie, Ph.D.,
Abstract
We propose an interpretation based on Polyvagal Theory that the suffering discussed by the Buddha happens when a person’s Sympathetic Nervous System is active.
We also discuss some of the ways to alleviate suffering by changing the balance of the Autonomic Nervous System by activating it’s Ventral Vagal Branch and enhancing the experience of well-being, calm, peace, acceptance, and connection and caring.
Abstract
We propose an interpretation based on Polyvagal Theory that the suffering discussed by the Buddha happens when a person’s Sympathetic Nervous System is active.
We also discuss some of the ways to alleviate suffering by changing the balance of the Autonomic Nervous System by activating it’s Ventral Vagal Branch and enhancing the experience of well-being, calm, peace, acceptance, and connection and caring.
Purpose
To alleviate suffering through introducing a physiological perspective on the understanding of the cause of suffering and by suggesting ways of alleviating suffering.
Polyvagal Theory
Porges (2011) proposed Polyvagal Theory to describe the workings of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), the involuntary nervous system which controls heart, lungs, stomach etc. and emotions.
According to Dana (2022 pg.14) the ANS has two major branches, the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS) . The PSNS has two branches, the Ventral Vagal Branch (VVB) and the Dorsal Vagal Branch, (DVB).
Dana (2022, pg. 6) further describes the properties of these states as
| Name | Property |
| Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) | “System of Action; filled with chaotic energy, mobilized to attack, driven to escape, anxious, angry” (Dana 2022, pg. 6) which can be viewed as being self-centered (Me me me, I want what I want and it’s especially important I get it NOW.) or ” I am in danger and need to get out NOW” |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System): Dorsal Vagal Branch (DVB) | “System of Shutdown: just go through the motions, drained of energy, disconnect, lose hope, give up” (Dana 2022, pg. 6) Primitive reaction of freezing to avoid predators, no action. (Like a tortoise retracting into shell.) |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System: Ventral Vagal Branch | “System of connection: meet the demands of the day, connect and communicate, go with the flow, engage with life” (Dana 2022, pg 6) Feelings of calm, safety, connection with and caring for others, acceptance of whatever is happening. (a place I like being in!) |
The various parts of the Autonomic Nervous System
Buddhism (Tricycle ,2022) as can be viewed from a Polyvagal Theory Perspective
The First Noble Truth
The truth of the Unsatisfactoriness (dukkha sacca),
Most people live with an active SNS, and are in an Ego state dominated by fear, anger, fighting and isolation. Experiencing these emotions and actions causes pain and suffering and is not much fun.
The Second Noble Truth
The truth of the cause of the unsatisfactoriness (dukkha-samudāya sacca)
The ego (which happens when the SNS is active) desires things to happen the way it wants. As this rarely happens to its liking, a person with an active SNS (and in the ego state) experiences fear, anger and fights to get what it wants. This is very unsatisfactory and can be labelled as suffering.
The Third Noble Truth
The truth of the cessation the unsatisfactoriness (dukkha-nirodha sacca)
If a person can change the balance of their autonomic nervous system to a more active VVB of their PSNS, (a humble state of mind) they will be able to accept their current situation (which will include accepting not getting the things their ego wanted) and feel more peaceful, calm and connected. Isn’t that nice!
The Fourth Noble Truth
The truth of the way leading to the cessation of unsatisfactoriness (dukkha-nirodha-gamini-paṭipadā sacca)
The eight-fold path (Right view, Right intention, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, Right concentration) are all actions proposed by the Buddha which are consistent with activating the VVB of the PSNS as they are humbling actions which reduce the activity of the SNS and increase the activity of the VVB of the SNS.
Discussion
Out of the recommendations by the Buddha, Buddhists have developed rituals which have been proven scientifically to increase the activity of the PSNS
Meditation has clearly been shown to increase the activity of PSNS.
Prostrations as part of the Muslim rituals have been shown to activate the PSNS (Chamsi-Pasha, M., & Chamsi-Pasha, H. 2021 p. 94)
Conclusion
It appears that a scientific approach incorporating a Polyvagal Theory perspective can be used to generate an understanding of the success of Buddhism in alleviating suffering and achieving health and wellness by taking the actions recommended in the eight-fold path by Buddhism e.g. meditation, prostrations etc. and activating and residing in a VVB state of mind with it’s comitant experience of well-being, calmness and connection with others.
But there is some recent scientific evidence (Brook et al 2013) that device-assisted slow deep breathing may be more effective than meditation in lowering blood pressure through relaxation and thus producing more experience of health and well-being, the desired result of a Buddhist practice. Device-assisted breathing might prove to be a useful adjunct to the standard Buddhist Practices.
Acknowledgments
I wish to express my gratitude to Cheri Huber of the Zen Monastery at Murphy’s, CA for teaching me the practice of zazen, to Dr Lissa Rankin for introducing me to the importance of the Autonomic Nervous System in our lives and especially Dr Petra Mudie for her critical reviews of earlier versions of this paper.
References
Amihai, I., & Kozhevnikov, M. (2015). The influence of Buddhist meditation traditions on the autonomic system and attention. BioMed research international, 2015
Brook, R. D., Appel, L. J., Rubenfire, M., Ogedegbe, G., Bisognano, J. D., Elliott, W. J., … & Rajagopalan, S. (2013). Beyond medications and diet: alternative approaches to lowering blood pressure: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension, 61(6), 1360-1383.
Chamsi-Pasha, M., & Chamsi-Pasha, H. (2021). A review of the literature on the health benefits of Salat (Islamic prayer). Med J Malaysia, 76(1), 93-97.
Dana, D 2022, Anchored, Sounds True, Boulder, CO
Gunaratana, Bhante, (2011) Mindfulness in Plain English, Wisdom Publications, Somerville, MA,
Nomadrs(2016), The number one cause of suffering according to Buddhism (and what you can do about it). https://nomadrs.com/number-one-cause-suffering-according-buddhism-can/
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation (Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology). WW Norton & Company.
Shakespeare, W (1606) Macbeth
Tricycle (2022) What are the four noble truths https://tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism/what-are-the-four-noble-truths/
Funding
Preparation of this manuscript was unfortunately not supported by any outside source,
Request for Donation
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