{"id":1493,"date":"2026-06-10T17:10:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T17:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/10\/what-we-can-learn-from-birds\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T17:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T17:10:49","slug":"what-we-can-learn-from-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/10\/what-we-can-learn-from-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Can Learn From Birds"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.<\/strong>
President\/Medical Director
Alzheimer\u2019s Research & Prevention Foundation
Prevention Editor, Journal of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/em><\/p>\n

I once heard a Guru say that he got enlightened from watching birds. So I\u2019ve been doing that and I\u2019ve learned a lot. And I also did some digging and here\u2019s something interesting I discovered: Birds ain\u2019t dumb.<\/p>\n

In fact, they\u2019re one of the smartest creatures.<\/p>\n

I know what you\u2019re probably thinking. \u201cHow can that be? They have such a small brain.\u201d That\u2019s true, they do. But that little \u201cbird brain\u201d is packed with a tremendous amount of intelligence and ability. Research also reveals that birds can think and plan things out! But more than any thinking, what birds do is live a natural life, totally tuned in to their Creator and in touch with the Universe. They live according to their DNA.<\/p>\n

Here are some things I learned from our fine-feathered friends:<\/p>\n

Everybody\u2019s got to make a living.<\/strong> Not unlike us humans, birds spend a lot of time looking for the right food to eat. They don\u2019t think about it like we do. If we tune in to our higher self by meditating with Kirtan Kriya, discussed below, on a regular basis, we\u2019ll be intuitively guided to not only eat well, but also discover our right action and work, our Dharma. Living your Dharma is when you do the right thing to not only make a living but also help make the world a better place.<\/p>\n

You must do your Sadhana.<\/strong> Regular spiritual practice. Believe it or not, birds have a regular spiritual practice. If you study them like I\u2019ve been doing, you\u2019ll soon discover that they fly around in a group at the same time every day. They love to exercise and move those wings. And guess what? Scientists discovered that birds\u2019 wings have many endorphins, which boost their well-being. Birds are naturally spiritual.<\/p>\n

Chanting, not just silent meditation, should be an important part of your practice.<\/strong> I\u2019m telling you, the birds I\u2019ve been watching sing like crazy. And they sound so cool. They have many different sounds that they make. Sometimes they think I\u2019m a bird too, because I try and mimic their chants and they answer me back. It\u2019s fun. In fact, I\u2019ve been thinking about writing a song using one of their melodies.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s another reason Kirtan Kriya is so powerful.<\/strong> Together with touching your fingers in sequence: thumb to index, thumb to middle, thumb to ring, and thumb to pinkie. It involves chanting the mantra Saa, Taa, Naa, Maa for 2 minutes out loud, whispering for 2 minutes, silent meditation for 4 minutes, and then back out with 2 minutes in a whisper and 2 minutes out loud.<\/p>\n

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Beyond that,<\/strong> when we chant the mantra Saa, Taa, Naa, Maa out loud the conscious mind is cleansed to restore focus and clarity while reducing stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s whispered,<\/strong> the subconscious is purified to address the root cause of automatic behaviors, emotional triggers, and limiting beliefs.<\/p>\n

When we go silent,<\/strong> the unconscious mind is scrubbed of toxic thoughts that hold you back from being your best self. Many practitioners of Kirtan Kriya are delighted to enjoy these deep periods of thoughtlessness.<\/p>\n

The result<\/strong> is you become a balanced person with a clear mind. You replace deeply rooted limiting beliefs, negative patterns and emotional blocks with powerful empowering alternatives.<\/p>\n

No other meditation has all those effects!<\/strong><\/p>\n

SAFE Kirtan Kriya<\/strong> is a Simple, Affordable, Fast and Effective meditation that, when done for only 12 minutes on a regular basis, increases emotional clarity, inner peace, and joy by reducing internal resistance and self-sabotaging behavior.<\/p>\n

Moreover<\/strong>, Kirtan Kriya has a double washing-machine effect on your brain. It removes toxins from your brain, as seen in our research at West Virginia University in conjunction with one of the world\u2019s greatest meditation researchers. This work shows this meditation can reduce levels of amyloid in the brain \u2014 a potential factor in Alzheimer\u2019s disease. We know this due to its higher plasma concentration.<\/p>\n

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Furthermore<\/strong>, these results indicate the activation of the brain\u2019s vital glymphatic system \u2014 the brain\u2019s equivalent of the body\u2019s lymphatic system, which helps remove toxins, reduces neuroinflammation and helps you maintain overall brain and body health.<\/p>\n

Also<\/strong>, please recall that, in addition to the washing machine effect, Kirtan Kriya has multiple health benefits, including a profound anti-inflammatory action, proven by the reduction of multiple inflammatory markers such as Il-6 and a decrease in inflammatory genes.<\/p>\n

A maximum anti-aging action<\/strong> with an increase in the anti-aging biomarker chemokine eotaxin-1. Beyond that, our research has revealed that Kirtan Kriya increases brain volume, especially gray matter in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, frontal and visual cortex.<\/p>\n

Long term practitioners<\/strong> have a brain at least 12 years younger than their age, according to our MRI studies.<\/p>\n

In another seminal study of menopausal women called The Pink Brain\"\u2122\" Project<\/strong>, the group who practiced Kirtan Kriya, in addition to multiple other benefits, showed enhanced gray matter in their cerebral cortex.<\/p>\n

Opens up all your meridians<\/strong> which meet at the shoulders and are thus activated when you touch your fingers in sequence. This brings a stimulatory balance to your entire mind\/body spiritual system.<\/p>\n

Neuroprotective:<\/strong> An increase in the neuropeptide FGF factor that is neuroprotective.<\/p>\n

Rejuvenation:<\/strong> An observed increase of 43% in telomerase \u2014 the highest level documented to-date \u2014 as well as corresponding growth in telomere length, indicating significant gene rejuvenation. Telomeres are the tip of your DNA and when they\u2019re elongated it means a longer, healthier life.<\/p>\n

A powerfully enhanced brain function<\/strong> including an increase in executive function and memory loss reversal.<\/p>\n

Sanity:<\/strong> Is it possible that Kirtan Kriya may have a sanity restoration effect? I think so. With so much anxiety and depression seen in the world today as well as hyper stress from multiple wars and economic pressure, not to mention the stressful ravages thrust upon us from what I call Climate Stress \u2014 air pollution, climate change and global warming \u2014 sanity can be restored by the regular practice of Kirtan Kriya.<\/p>\n

The development of Authentic Intelligence.<\/strong> There is a lot of discussion about Artificial Intelligence, both pro and con. Even Pope Leo commented about it and said it takes us away from our humanity.<\/p>\n

How about we put that AI aside for the moment and think about being able to develop our own Authentic Intelligence or AI2? AI2 refers to the unique human driven capabilities of self-awareness, morality, and creativity.<\/p>\n

AI2 places emphasis on empathy,<\/strong> compassion, and love, thereby possibly fostering synergy with AI. Genuine person-to-person communication remains essential.<\/p>\n

AI2: The Evolution Revolution of Spiritual Fitness.<\/strong> Spiritual Fitness emphasizes the importance of seeking the sacred in life. It encompasses two dimensions of optimal wellbeing, both collectively and individually contributing to healthy behaviors and being linked with improved brain longevity: Divine Well-Being, or DWB, and Spiritual Fitness, or SF, both of which help create a buffer against illness, inflammation, anxiety, depression, and cognitive loss.<\/p>\n

DWB encompasses<\/strong> Acceptance, Self-belief, Independence, Persistent Personal Practice, Positive Relationships, and Purpose in Life.<\/p>\n

SF includes<\/strong> patience, awareness of our connection to the Creator, compassion, surrender to your spirit, inner peace, universal love, and enlightenment.<\/p>\n

Now we can share<\/strong> our knowledge, experience and wisdom with others in our family, friends, community, nation and the world to save the planet.<\/p>\n

One final thought for this article, although I have learned even more about what we can learn from birds since I started writing it. I discovered this last notion upon re-reading the writings of Larry Dossey, M.D., who wrote several best-selling books on the power of prayer and other aspects of non-local healing. Birds communicate via vibration and energetic signals. That\u2019s one great reason you always see pelicans, for example, flying together in perfect formation. We humans too can develop our intuition and communication skills by the practice of what yogis call \u201cJaap,\u201d or repetition of a mantra. There are many mantras, but our Kirtan Kriya sounds of Saa, Taa, Naa, Maa is very effective at not only producing a multitude of health benefits, but also the benefits of higher consciousness and an energetic Universal connection.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m standing on my third-floor balcony now, watching two lovebirds build a nest in a tall palm tree. They\u2019ve really got it together. It just comes naturally. We as humans can live up to our authentic natural potential, too, but it doesn\u2019t happen by itself. We must do Kirtan Kriya and\/or other aspects of spirituality \u2014 be it being in nature, reading the Bible, going to a service of some kind or volunteering. We really need to make it a priority.<\/p>\n

Reestablishing our authenticity is more important now than ever. After all, it seems the world\u2019s gone mad. But we can keep all this fire that we see on the outside from having a horribly negative effect on our mind, body, and soul.<\/p>\n

Like the birds I enjoy observing, we should use our natural instincts to become healthier, happier, and more fulfilled.<\/p>\n

We can become ourselves, only better.<\/p>\n

The post What We Can Learn From Birds<\/a> appeared first on Alzheimer\u2019s Research & Prevention Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.President\/Medical DirectorAlzheimer\u2019s Research & Prevention FoundationPrevention Editor, Journal of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease I once heard a Guru say […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1494,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alzheimer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}