Further Details on Talk
Ben Felden will be presenting on the topic of Meditation, Buddhism & Science for 45mins with 15mins open discussion thereafter.
Presentation slides are provided here.
A holistic model has been developed to attempt to reconcile the scientific and religious methods of truth seeking. This model will be illustrated by examples of modern physicists, psychiatrists, psychologists.. and buddhist practitioners!
Some questions to get you thinking about Buddhism:
- Is the Vipassana or Insight tradition any more or less open or able to collaborate with international science than any other schools (e.g. Zen or Tibetan)?
- How does one determine the validity of a Buddhist path? By reference to lineage, science or both?
- Is traditional Buddhism diluted or enriched through exposure to science?
- Does Buddhism typically discourage western thinking, particularly of the scientific kind?
Some more questions regarding the science of meditation:
- Do the physiological and psychological effects of intensive meditation endure long after a retreat?
- Are particular kinds of practices better suited for particular types of people?
- What psychological conditions does meditation assist with, do nothing about, or worsen?
- Is it possible that science & psychology will enhance meditation practices well into the future?
Disclaimer: Ben doesn’t guarantee he’ll answer any of the above questions to anyone’s complete satisfaction however hopes to provide some interesting information and perspective to begin the journey!
Further comments appreciated below or welcome at the online message board.
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Reading List:
- Alan B Wallace (ed.) (2003) Buddhism & Science (see intro chapter here)
- Alan B Wallace (2006) Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism And Neuroscience Converge.
- Stephen Jay Gould (2002) Science & Religion in the Fullness of Life.
- Pascal Boyer (2002) Religion Explained
- James H. Austin (2006) Zen-Brain Reflections.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama (2005) The Universe in a Single Atom: How Science and Spirituality can serve our world. (see extract here)
- Susan Blackmore (2004) Consciousness
- Ch 25 The View from Within.
- Ch 26 Meditation & Mindfulness.
- Ch 27 Buddhism & Consiousness
- Ch 25 The View from Within.
Useful links:
- Toward the First Revolution in the Mind Sciences
- The God Experiments
- Zen Into Science
- Mind & Life Institute
- Buddhist Geeks
Effects of Meditation:
- The Physical & Psychological Effects of Meditation
- Meditation: Concepts, Effects and Uses in Therapy
- Research Demonstrating Harmful Effects from TM
- Does Mindfulness Meditation Improve Anxiety and
Mood Symptoms? A Review of the Controlled Research
Finally, websites Ben has begun developing:
Hello Ben,
There is a very good book written by an American Buddhist psychiatrist, Mark Epstein M.D, entitled “Thoughts Without a Thinker”. Basic Books, 1995.
The book discusses in great detail, annotated with case histories from his patients, how western Psychotherapy can be enhanced by Buddhist meditation. He has experienced that in some cases, where psychotherapy has reached a blocked standstill, the patient was enabled to move forward again because of insights gained through meditation.
You may already know of this book. I found it at Adyar at $26.95
Metta
Toni
By: Toni Kram on March 18, 2008
at 12:58 am
Hi Folks,
See also John Welwood “Toward a Psychology of Awakening” in which Welwood gives a beautiful synthesis of his Buddhist and psychotherapeutic worldviews. He draws primarily on mahamudra and on Zen and his psychological practice and approach is founded on Eugene Gendlin’s Focussing with whom he studied.
Welwood is very strong on human relationships particularly intimate relationships and his previous books have focussed on that aspect of our experience. This is a broader view but never loses focus (ouch!) on the importance of intersubjectivity…intimate inter-being perhaps.
Regards,
Simon
By: Simon Mundy on March 31, 2008
at 10:22 pm
If you found this book intriguing, you will definitely enjoy reading My Stroke of Insight – a Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey” by Jill Bolte Taylor, and her talk on TED dot com about her stroke which is an 18 minute talk you Must Not Miss! (there’s a reason it’s been forwarded friend to friend millions of times!).
When you read the book and see the TEDTalk, you’ll understand why this Harvard brain scientist was named Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People. Her unique experience, combined with her perspective as a neuroanatomist, and her sensitivity and awareness (not to mention beautiful writing style!) has produced something so powerful and so revolutionary that I think it’s going to become a transformational movement in itself. Oprah also did four interviews with her (that I was able to download on the Oprah website) that are also worth checking out.
I am trying to share Dr Taylor’s story with as many people as I can because I truly believe if everyone saw it the world would be so much better and people would love one another and no longer fight.
By: Lester on June 23, 2008
at 2:35 am