the Pineal Gland
The pineal gland, located in the center of the brains, is about a quarter inch in size, red-gray, and weighs about a tenth of a gram. Unlike other parts of the brains that occur in pairs, there is only one pineal gland. The location in the center of the brains and the presence in other species indicate that it’s in an older part of the brain.
The pineal gland is present in all (lower) vertebrates. It is sometimes called the “third eye”, because its functions are very similar to that of a true eye. The pineal gland possesses components that actually occur in an eye such as cornea, rods and cones etc.
Directly influenced by the light through our eyes, the pineal gland controls a lot in vertebrates including the circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle, the menstrual cycle, desire for sex, mating seasons, winter, seasonal flight patterns and many other “instinctive” behaviors.
Researcher Dr. Rick Strassman shows in various books (such as “DMT the spirit molecule” and “Inner paths to outer space”) the relationship between the pineal gland and production of dimethyltryptamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptamine). This chemical is found in many places in nature including grasses, fungi, animals, including humans. Our own pineal gland produces DMT.
In many ancient cultures, the pineal gland plays an important role. The Taoists, more than 4000 years ago, had extensive knowledge of the pineal gland. Gnostic texts from the second century, clearly refer to the pineal gland in relation to seven different energy centers. A man like Descartes called the organ “the seat of the soul.” The Vatican appears to be well informed as well. The greatest masterpiece of a pinecone ever made is in the Vatican in the form of a fountain.
Even the responsible figures of WW2 have been specificly looking into the pineal gland. (Http://www.williamhenry.net/spear.html).
The pineal gland is responsible for the production of our hormones such as serotonin and melatonin. Both are important neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers that enable communication between individual neurons. The pineal gland is most active in the morning when the sun rises. That’s why that is such a good time to meditate. He works closely with the pituitary gland and they are jointly responsible for how our life energy or “chi” flows through our bodies. The ancient Taoists call the area where the two glands are situated “the crystal palace.” In the past it was thought that with age, calcification occurred in the pineal gland because there is often some whitish deposits in this place. This would have been due to pollution and things like fluoride in our drinking water. The truth is otherwise and fluoride is in our drinking water for other reasons. An active pineal gland produces tiny crystals. Research has shown that these are piezoelectric crystals. This kind of crystal we know and we use them as antennas in radios. You could say that we carry our own transmitter/receiver in our heads. Distances become thus very relative units. History tells us that also substances like amrita and ambrosia are produced in the pineal gland. The place where the pineal gland is located is exactly between our spinal cord and brains. From there each part of the body is only split seconds away. It is the conductor of our body and the seat of our soul.
Dr. Strassman found several triptamines in both human blood and the fluids surrounding our brains and spinal cord, the so-called cerebrospinal fluids.
Strassman also explains how experiences with psychedelic drugs, meditative states, spontaneous near-death experiences and other phenomena, may be associated with the pineal gland.
Lyttle points to the universal mystical vision of God as an all encompassing white light and claims that, on a physiological level, this experience comes from chemical reactions in the pineal gland that is very light sensitive. Light, the eyes and the” third eye “or pineal gland form a triad that directly monitors and regulates normal or altered states of consciousness, and many bodily functions. These three factors are also directly involved in mystical states and the ‘psychedelic’ experiences.