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Mystical Brain

This documentary reveals the exploratory work of a team from the University of Montreal who seek to understand the states of grace experienced by mystics and those who meditate. Filmmaker Isabelle Raynauld offers up scientific research that suggests that mystical ecstasy is a transformative experience and could contribute to people's psychic and physical health, treat depression and speed up the healing process when combined with conventional medicine. In French with English subtitles.
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Details

This documentary reveals the exploratory work of a team from the University of Montreal who seek to understand the states of grace experienced by mystics and those who meditate. Filmmaker Isabelle Raynauld offers up scientific research that suggests that mystical ecstasy is a transformative experience and could contribute to people's psychic and physical health, treat depression and speed up the healing process when combined with conventional medicine. In French with English subtitles.

Psychology and Psychiatry Religion, Beliefs and Ethics All subjects
  • direction
    Isabelle Raynauld
  • research
    Isabelle Raynauld
  • script
    Isabelle Raynauld
  • cinematography
    Peter Krieger
  • additional cinematography
    Geoffroy Beauchemin
  • sound
    Christian Bouchard
    Richard Lavoie
  • additional sound
    Olivier Léger
  • picture editing
    Dominique Sicotte
  • sound editing
    Denis Saindon
  • original music
    Luc Sicard
  • soloist
    Marilyn Carnier
  • production stills
    Alain Tremblay
  • camera assistant
    Marc Larouche
    Philippe Tremblay
  • production assistant
    Marc Larouche
    Philippe Tremblay
  • participation
    Mario Beauregard
    Vincent Paquette
    Daniel C. Dennett
    Maria Regina De Albuquerque Melo
    Esther M. Sternberg
    Gilles Bédard
    Richard J. Davidson
    William Grassie
    Susan Klunder
    Antoine Lutz
    Andrew Newberg
    Michael A. Persinger
    Matthieu Ricard
    Linda Saint-Pierre
    Jeffrey Schwartz
    Philippe Tremblay
    Wolfgang Achtner
    Michael J. Anderle
    Vanessa Anseloni
    Peatra Babe
    Nicolescu Basarab
    Andrea Dinndorf
    Neil Fournier
    Carollyn Hurst
    Sybille Lepper
    Johanne Lévesque
    Zachary Moran
    Gabriella Musaccha
    Clayton Naff
    Jack Nitschhe
    Marc Pouliot
    Manon Robert
    Thoudam D Singh
    John Teske
    Alex Thomas
    Mlle Tourbe
  • technical support - editing
    Danielle Raymond
  • on-line
    Sylvain Desbiens
    Denis Pilon
    Denis Gathelier
  • infographics
    Louise Overy
  • titles
    Louise Overy
  • translation
    Christine York
  • subtitles
    Christine York
  • foley
    Vital Millette
  • foley recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • re-recording
    Luc Léger
  • archival research
    Claire Bourbonnais
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • rights clearances
    Claire Bourbonnais
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • consultant
    Michel Seymour
    Bernard Brais
  • distribution officer
    François Jacques
  • administrator
    Manon Provencher
  • administrative staff
    Dominique Brunet
    Nathalie Cloutier
  • technical coordinator
    Richard Cliche
  • line production
    Christiane Germain
  • line producer - assistant
    Maryse Chapdelaine
  • production
    Colette Loumède

Education

Ages 15 to 17
School subjects
Ethics and Religious Culture - Ethical Values Ethics and Religious Culture - Religious Diversity/Heritage Health/Personal Development - Mental Health/Stress/Suicide Science - Biology
Have a debate in class about the question of, God creating the brain to use it vs. the brain creating God. Have a guest speaker come in who is trained in meditation and willing to give students a taste of the practise. Students should record their feelings immediately after each experience. Ask the class what they think about the impact of a stable mind on a person's health. For example, do they think that if a person has a lot of stress in their life, they are more prone to being sick? To end this lesson, ask students if they think this area remains a great debate because there hasn't been enough scientific research on and the effects of religion on well-being.

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