Countless spiritual leaders make this clear in their writing and in the process agree with modern science. Swami Muktananda says:

Man goes to great trouble to acquire knowledge of the material world. He learns all branches of mundane science. He explores the earth, and even travels to the moon. But he never tries to find out what exists within himself. Because he is unaware of the enormous power hidden within him, he looks for support in the outer world. Because he does not know the boundless happiness that lies inside his heart, he looks for satisfaction in mundane activities and pleasures. Because he does not experience the inner love, he looks for love from others.

The truth is that the inner Self of every human being is supremely great and supremely loveable. Everything is contained in the Self. The creative power of this entire universe lies inside every one of us. The divine principle that creates and sustains this world pulsates within us as our own Self. it scintillates in the heart and shines through all our senses. If, instead of pursuing knowledge of the outer world, we were to pursue inner knowledge, we would discover that effulgence very soon.

With my music I create a change. I see it. So really I am using my music as a weapon. I play music as a weapon. The music is not coming from me as a subconscious thing. It’s conscious. I’m consciously doing what I am doing. What I mean is that whatever I want to do is in my mind. Man can have complete control of his mind. That’s what knowledge is about. To be able to control one’s mind.

There is neural activity but a loss of signal. Music might be a useful metaphor. What is perceived as synchronous or beautiful or joyful is the expression of an extremely complex orchestrated process. A symphony, for example, consists of a wide range of instruments being played with great skill to a score and under the supervising coordination of a conductor. In the audience we do not attend to the component parts, except perhaps when things go wrong. We embrace the totality of it.

The voice I hear and that speaks to me in a coherent and meaningful way is not a vibration of air molecules or the agitation of hair cells in the inner ear. The voice and the meaning I attach to its utterances are internally represented or constructed. It seems that this inferential process is what goes awry in psychotic states.

Spirituality and clarity go together. Spiritual practices aim at expanding the mind and the heart, and most spiritual teachers recommend some form of contemplation as the core of the practice. It may be yoga, sitting, insight, or a method more tangible and sensuous, such as music, painting, flower arranging, or dance. You can learn a great deal about contemplation from one of the ancient systems of meditation, but you can also be contemplative in ordinary ways adapted to your personal lifestyle.