Zen Brain: Exploring The Connection Between Neuroscience And Meditation

DaltheJigsaw

This past August, more than 50 people gathered in the Circle of the Way temple at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to explore the connection between neuroscience and meditation. This is the fourth year we have done so.

Why? This is a Zen center that is inspired by the example set by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who nearly 30 years ago began a dialogue with Dr. Francisco Varela and myself that was to eventually become embodied in the Mind & Life Institute, an organization that supports and sustains dialogue and rigorous scientific inquiry into meditative states.

Over the years His Holiness has enjoyed relationships with many scientists, including Varela, Sir Karl Popper, and David Bohm. His Holiness said:

With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roshi-joan-halifax/zen-brain-exploring-the-connection-between-neuroscience-and-meditation_b_964925.html?ref=buddhism

shays860

I love neuroscience. especially in regard to religion and meditation. I went through a phase where i think i read about every decent book on the market about the subject.

DaltheJigsaw

I love neuroscience. especially in regard to religion and meditation. I went through a phase where i think i read about every decent book on the market about the subject.

Any suggestions?

tmottes

Upaya Zen Center has their past Zen Brain talks available through their podcast section of their webpage (http://www.upaya.org/dharma/). They are quite informative and intriguing.

Joan Halifax Roshi is a pretty amazing person who has setup programs around hospice and end of life considerations, as well as an outreach program to the local prison: sharing the dhamma or just meditation. Here is a link to their programs (http://www.upaya.org/action/

DaltheJigsaw

Upaya Zen Center has their past Zen Brain talks available through their podcast section of their webpage (http://www.upaya.org/dharma/). They are quite informative and intriguing.

Joan Halifax Roshi is a pretty amazing person who has setup programs around hospice and end of life considerations, as well as an outreach program to the local prison: sharing the dhamma or just meditation. Here is a link to their programs (http://www.upaya.org/action/

Thank you for sharing!

shays860

Zen and The Brain is really good. I imagine it is probably a little outdated because from at least the nineties if not earlier and advances in neuroscience are still being made all the time. It is a very large and dense book. I didn't read it all... It might be better to rent or check out if possible. It was written by a practicing zen monk though so in that sense it is probably one of the best you'll get. I believe the author wrote another book later after his meditation practice progressed significantly. I still need to pick that one up myself.

I just found a link to zen and the brain in pdf...
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Zen-The-Brain-by-James-Austin.pdf

Andrew Newberg is pretty good. I read one called How God Changes Your Brain by him but he's got a few others on the subject.

Holy crap, I have more than I thought so I'm just gonna start naming.
Buddha's Brain Rick Hanson *
My Stroke of Insight Jill Bolte Taylor
The Spiritual Brain Mario Beauregard
The Mindful Brain Daniel Siegel
This is Your Brain on Joy Earl Henslin (Christian)
High Performance Mind Wise
Zen and the Brain Austin *

And less spirirual but good pop neuroscience
The Mind and the Brain Schwartz *
Evolve Your Brain Dispenza *

I enjoyed the ones with Stars most

DaltheJigsaw

Zen and The Brain is really good. I imagine it is probably a little outdated because from at least the nineties if not earlier and advances in neuroscience are still being made all the time. It is a very large and dense book. I didn't read it all... It might be better to rent or check out if possible. It was written by a practicing zen monk though so in that sense it is probably one of the best you'll get. I believe the author wrote another book later after his meditation practice progressed significantly. I still need to pick that one up myself.

I just found a link to zen and the brain in pdf...
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Zen-The-Brain-by-James-Austin.pdf

Andrew Newberg is pretty good. I read one called How God Changes Your Brain by him but he's got a few others on the subject.

Holy crap, I have more than I thought so I'm just gonna start naming.
Buddha's Brain Rick Hanson *
My Stroke of Insight Jill Bolte Taylor
The Spiritual Brain Mario Beauregard
The Mindful Brain Daniel Siegel
This is Your Brain on Joy Earl Henslin (Christian)
High Performance Mind Wise
Zen and the Brain Austin *

And less spirirual but good pop neuroscience
The Mind and the Brain Schwartz *
Evolve Your Brain Dispenza *

I enjoyed the ones with Stars most

Thank you so much!

shays860

No prob

Dakini

Leon (and gang), that My Stroke Of Insight book is REALLY mind-opening! A good, well-paced read, too. I highly recommend it. Written by a neuroscientist observing the effects of her own stroke, which left her left brain functions dead, leaving the right brain (the intuitive side) free to do its own thing, unchecked by the rational left brain. Lots of Buddhistic things happened as a result.