I recently read CONNECT by Ilchi Lee. What an amazing journey! In the book, Lee introduces us to Pineal Gland Meditation, a powerful way to “find clarity and expand our consciousness” and rediscover our true nature which we’re disconnected from in our modern world.

This might be the reason why many of us are unhappy, frustrated, stressed out, stuck, depressed in life, at work, in relationships, and we can’t find a solution to turn our lives around. We can’t see the positive, the beautiful, the happy side of our existence. Lee provides an excellent explanation which is what I always sensed for years: We’re simply disconnected from our true self.

THE AUTHOR

Ilchi Lee is a Korean meditation expert, New York Times bestselling author, educator, mentor, and innovator who has dedicated his life to teaching energy principles and developing methods to nurture the full potential of the brain and to help people harness their own creative power. For this goal, he has developed many successful mind-body training methods, including Body & Brain Yoga and Brain Education.

DISCLAIMER

• Change Your Energy (Host site of Brain Recharge, Brain Education TV, and CONNECT by Ilchi Lee) sent me a free copy of the book in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced by Change Your Energy or Ilchi Lee in any way.
• I am not affiliated with Change Your Energy or Ilchi lee.

WHAT I LEARNED

Lee argues that everything in the visible world today is disconnected (people, objects, nature). For this reason, we feel we are separate from others and from the world. As a consequence, we start comparing ourselves to others, and we get driven to be superior to others by making more money, gaining a higher status, and looking for better glory and success. However, this behavior will only lead to more disconnection from our inner world and more emptiness in our life.

While reading the book, I realized that Lee and I are on the same mission: helping our clients “recover physical health, relieve mental anxiety, and develop happiness by reconnecting with the true self.” We do this in different ways, but our goal is the same: we want to help them achieve well-being, live, and work better. This is how I guide my clients every day with Life-Work Balance.

I agree completely with Lee that people’s connection with themselves has been cut. In my coaching practice, I focus on the disconnect between our genes, our biochemistry, the way we are programmed as human beings, and modern society leading to stress, chronic disease, and loneliness as the main results of busyness and hyper-connectivity in this digital age.

Lee also mentions that this challenge regards a much bigger picture, including “climate change, gender inequality, the wealth gap, military conflicts, trade disputes, and religious conflicts.” The solution lies in recovering the connection “with your body, with your true self, and with people in the world.”

As Lee suggests, we need to look at our own inner world, not the world outside of us. If we are not connected with ourselves and aligned, our body, our brain, and our heart will be negatively impacted. This is why I love to coach with a holistic approach: everything is connected and works beautifully when our system is aligned and balanced physically, mentally/emotionally, and spiritually.

How can we solve this problem? In the book, Lee provides the answer: through our pineal gland, a small endocrine gland in our brain that produces melatonin. This gland plays a huge role in my coaching practice as it controls our circadian rhythm (or biological clock), and it’s known as the center of spiritual connection in the brain.

Another reason why I loved CONNECT is that both Lee and I adore the amazing brain and use neuroscience to help others. Not only our brain is our executive center, where our “thoughts, memories, and intellectual knowledge” are developed and stored and used; the brain is also where consciousness and every energy reside. I was very curious to learn about the ancient Korean mind-body training methods that are part of Lee’s practice, the book went into great detail to explain.

When I read, “You could say that your brain is the holistic expression of your physical, mental, and spiritual essence,” I was completely sold! This is the reason why I got certified in brain fitness a few years ago: I strongly believe our brain is extremely powerful for our own well-being, and it holds the secret to vibrant life. We underestimate its valuable presence in our daily life, and we just label it as our “personal computer,” but it’s much more than that!

The book is divided into 4 parts that, combined, took me through a wonderful journey:

1. Problems due to our disconnection
2. Training to connect our body, soul, and divinity
3. Brain Education
4. Testimonials

I was happy and relieved to discover that anyone can practice Pineal Gland Meditation, it’s not only for seasoned individuals. I’ve been meditating for a few years now, but I would not consider myself “seasoned.”

Lee explained the Pineal Gland Meditation practice with a step-by-step approach (first connecting with your body, then with your soul, and ultimately with your divinity) that was extremely helpful, along with different meditation methods, and guidelines. He also included (in great detail) the five steps to becoming the “Master of Your Brain” thanks to his Brain Education program (which is available at his Body & Brain Yoga Centers – Resources below) – I took plenty of notes!

Lee’s powerful story (included in the book) gave a clear idea about his transformation, from a pessimistic view of life as a boy to becoming a teacher and sharing his wisdom, then starting to believe in himself, and using his self as the substance of who he was (and still is), not the self through his thoughts and emotions. I’m forever grateful for Lee’s decision to help others!

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

After I read the book, I couldn’t wait to try Pineal Gland Meditation myself, and I did practice it almost every day for a couple of weeks. Even though it took me a while to find the right flow, it was such an eye-opener! The first time I tried it I was in “discovery” and “experimenting” mode and it didn’t feel much different from a regular meditation practice. I realized I didn’t put enough effort. But after a few days, I was able to move into “concentration” mode, and I felt the difference! I experienced changes after the first week: I was able to increase my problem-solving abilities, I was able to see things more clearly, from different perspectives, and find better solutions – for myself and for my coaching clients. It’s amazing when you try these enlightening experiences: the power of your soul and of your brain is truly immense!

TAKEAWAYS

CONNECT is a very timely book considering the difficult times we’re all living in, between the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of global warming, and political and social unrest.

Thanks to CONNECT, I reinforced my view of how powerful we can be: I am the creator of my world, and you can be, too. It just takes a full understanding of who we are within ourselves. With Pineal Gland Meditation you can gain clearer clarity, improve your intuition, build your spiritual practice, connect to yourself and others.

Let’s not stay at the surface as our materialistic world teaches us. As Lee says, we are more than our body and brain; we are all precious beings with souls. Everyday life, with our negative thoughts and emotions, is silencing our soul too often. We need to go deep physically, mentally, and spiritually. Once we’re able to elevate our consciousness, we can reconnect with our true values and truths. We’ll then realize that we’re all interconnected.

We’re all one.

Together, we can live better and make the world a better place.

Let’s bring hope and change to our life and the life of others. Let’s start today. Together.

Let’s activate the energy we have inside our consciousness and let’s use it to change the world. We deserve it; our future generations deserve it as well.

All we have to do is CONNECT.

Ilchi asks readers to share their own experiences and awakenings they’re received through the book, and encourages them to leave a review. You just read mine. Will you follow me and connect with your true self?

BEST QUOTES FROM THE BOOK

“We need to discover who we really are to escape from suffering.”

“You can love others only as much as you love yourself.”

“We have a hard time finding meaning and motivation in work because we can’t discover the meaning of our existence.”

POWERFUL QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOK

“Who are you?”

“Are you connected with yourself?”

“Where in your life are you standing right now, and with what mindset?”

“Did you bring the brain with you today?”

KISS OF APPROVAL?

YES!

CONNECT gets my Kiss of Approval.

If you meditate consistently, you know that the practice can elevate your consciousness. I strongly recommend that you give Pineal Gland Meditation a try and I can guarantee you that it will bring that elevation to an even higher level, allowing for physical, energetic, and spiritual healing.

RESOURCES

To know more about Ilchi Lee, visit the following links:

Connect By Ilchi

The book’s official website. Visit to learn more about Pineal Gland Meditation and other exercises shared in the book. Find all of the meditation tools introduced in the book to enhance your practice. Other book formats are also available.

Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi Classes

The 100 Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi centers in the United States are one of the best ways you can make the meditations, exercises, and principles introduced in this book a meaningful part of your daily life. They offer classes, workshops, and individual sessions based on Ilchi’s Brain Education principles and methods. The expert instructors and center community also provide advice and support for your continued growth in life creation.

Brain Recharge App

Brain Recharge is a web service an app with more than 100 brain-based guided meditations curated for total mind-body wellness. Brain Recharge meditations activate your brain power and natural healing ability with light, sound, and vibration. Its content is backed by 40 years of research from meditation expert and creator of Brain Education, Ilchi Lee. To learn more, visit BrainRecharge.com or download the app at your favorite app Store.

Brain Education TV

Brain Education TV is a lifestyle and consciousness movement YouTube channel created by Ilchi Lee. It features videos of brain tips, inspiring stories, meditations, and exercises that help you take back your brain to create the life you want. Learn more at YouTube.com/BrainEducationTV.

Sabrina Cadini

Holistic Precision Life Coach, Brain Wellness Coach, and Life-Work Balance Strategist helping busy professionals and high achievers live and work better by prioritizing themselves. I use different modalities (epigenetics, neuroscience, chronobiology, and positive psychology) to implement effective lifestyle changes.