Extraordinary Brainwave States

More than once I have heard a wonderful anecdote about  Thomas Edison's approach to problem solving. It involved a unique method of accessing the creativity of his subconscious mind.

As I heard it, Edison would sit in a chair with two tin pie plates on the floor, one on either side of him. Then he would hold a handful of ball bearings in each hand, close his eyes, and allow himself to nod off, all the while thinking about the particular problem he was looking to solve.

Eventually he would begin to fall asleep. As he did so, his body would begin to relax and his brain would shift into what he called 'the twilight state', that place between waking and deep sleep. When his body was relaxed enough, his hands would no longer be able to hold on to the ball bearings and they would fall onto the pie plates. The crashing sound of metal on metal would jerk him awake and, hopefully, he would awaken with a new idea on how to proceed with whatever project he was working on.

History is full of examples where revelations, discoveries, inventions, and innovations were arrived at through the act of meditation or other meditative activities:

During 40 days of fasting, meditating, and praying, Jesus resisted all sorts of evil temptations, attained his oneness with God and found his way to divine grace.

Richard Branson claims his best work is done lying in a hammock on Necker Island and staring off into space.

Mikao Usui received the secrets to Reiki while meditating.

Even though he states that one shouldn't approach meditation as the means to solve a specific problem, David Lynch says his use of Transcendental Meditation has increased his intuitive capacity.

Toshiharu Fukai credits insights he received from meditation as critical to his development of Sosei Water.

Gautama Buddha is said to have achieved Enlightenment after 49 days of meditation, and through this experience discovered The Four Noble Truths, the central tenets of Buddhism.

Dr Herbert Benson, in his book The Breakout Principle gives examples of activities - everything from doing needlework to taking a shower - which allow people to solve problems or remove blockages to creativity.