Deep wellbeing is a form of wellbeing that is independent of external circumstance.
It involves the reduction, or even the cessation of judgemental thinking, anxiety and much more. It can strongly alleviate worries around our mortality.
It is something we intuitively know is possible, yet somehow, we often keep ourselves locked into old patterns.
But what is it?
Modern neuroscience is bringing a new clarity about how the brain works. Bringing this understanding to meet with insights and learnings from ancient religious practices, we can come to a new understanding of not just what deep wellbeing is, but also how to bring it into being.
Predictive Processing
To give a small taster of the neuroscience: according to the theory of Predictive Processing, we don’t perceive the world around us as it is - rather our brain is a complex and immensely clever prediction engine. It makes predictions as to what is out there, then validates this against direct experience. It converts colours and sounds into chairs, cups, people. It turns out this takes much less energy to do - without it, we’d need much, much larger brains.
Prediction Error
But these are just “predictions” - what the brain thinks could be there. Like when you see a friend from a distance, and when you get close you realise it isn’t them. This was what neuroscientists call “prediction error”. Once the brain noticed prediction error, it swiftly makes and adjustment prediction. Once it finds a prediction that does not create an error, it stops - it assumes that this is what is there in front of us.
When it comes to objects around us, this is generally fair enough. However, when it comes to inner experience - emotions, our own perspective on our lives, or the bigger questions such as “who am I?” or “what am I doing here?” it starts to get problematic. We make predictions about who I am, without there being clear opportunities for “prediction error” to adjust them.
Deep wellbeing arises when these assumptions are questioned, and seen for what they are. This triggers a shift, as our being adjusts to this new way of seeing things.
This is where the Odoki Method, along with similar approaches, help us reach Deep Wellbeing: they help us prepare, then to look.