There is no doubt that meditation can afford control of bodily processes. In fact it has been proven beyond all reasonable doubt that some people can do these things. Some form of mental training is likely the reason, whether it is within a school of meditation or something that has been developed on one's own.
Let's break it down. In fact, consciously directing the breath rather than letting the body regulate the breath itself, is one of these acts. Incidentally, focus on the breath as well as directed breathing also forms the basis for a number of meditative practices - anapanasati is about observing the breath (though not trying to consciously affect it, but the slowing down and deepening of breath is a natural effect of the process once you get more concentrated/absorbed). Pranayama, as in yoga, consists of directed breath. Tai Chi also deals with breath control, as does a number of martial arts (I used to practice Nahate karate and was taught to apply a particular type of belly breathing).
Anyone can do conscious breath control, although it is also a process that is normally regulated without us paying attention, so it is uncontroversial.
How about heart rate? Well, when we relax our heart rate tends to drop. Conscious, directed relaxation practice coupled with awareness of results would surely lead to improvements of this process. In fact I remember my friend's father, an ice hockey player, would let us kids check his pulse when he was sitting in his armchair, and he was able to make his heart beat faster and slower without moving. He did not practice meditation or any other Eastern practice as far as I know, so I think he must have stumbled on it on his own.
But with heart rate and breath we are still dealing with processes that are fairly uncontroversial. However, there are other bodily processes which are usually not immediately accessible by will. Personally, I am firmly convinced that most or even all of them are accessible with enough application of the right practice.
The Tibetans have a form of yoga practice called
tummo (inner fire) which seems to be similar to directed kundalini energy. A Dutch guy, Wim Hof, has practiced this technique and is able to raise his body temperature at will. He has proved his ability beyond any reasonable doubt:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Hof .
Note that it seems to take some time to become a real master though, Hof has practiced for 40 years... but either way, he is living proof that it works. So now we just need to practice...
I now am able to support my grand father mental and physical state
Sounds interesting. Could you please expand on the method you use and the effects?
Edited by Godof Smallthings, 14 January 2013 - 11:30 AM.
