Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge

Description

Science has long treated religion as a set of personal beliefs that have little to do with a rational understanding of the mind and the universe. However, B. Alan Wallace, a respected Buddhist scholar, proposes that the contemplative methodologies of Buddhism and of Western science are capable of being integrated into a single discipline: contemplative science. The science of consciousness introduces first-person methods of investigating the mind through Buddhist contemplative techniques, such as samatha, an organized, detailed system of training the attention. Just as scientists make observations and conduct experiments with the aid of technology, contemplatives have long tested their own theories with the help of highly developed meditative skills of observation and experimentation. Contemplative science allows for a deeper knowledge of mental phenomena, including a wide range of states of consciousness, and its emphasis on strict mental discipline counteracts the effects of conative (intention and desire), attentional, cognitive, and affective imbalances. Just as behaviorism, psychology, and neuroscience have all shed light on the cognitive processes that enable us to survive and flourish, contemplative science offers a groundbreaking perspective for expanding our capacity to realize genuine well-being. It also forges a link between the material world and the realm of the subconscious that transcends the traditional science-based understanding of the self.

Get the book

Amazon.com

Search the book

eBay.com

Search the book

Other editions

• 

  Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge

  • 2007
  • 211 pages
  • Paperback
  • Columbia University Press

Similar books

• 

  How Institutions are Shaping the Future of Our Children: For Better or for Worse?

  By Catherine Dulmus, Karen Sowers

  Lammert, M., & Timberlake, E. M. (1986). Termination of foster care for the older adolescent: Issues of emancipation and individuation.

• 

  Reversibility of Chronic Disease and Hypersensitivity, Volume 5: Treatment Options of Chemical Sensitivity

  By William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel

  Dou, L., E. Bertrand, C. Cerini, V. Faure, J. Sampol, R. Vanholder, Y. Berland, P. Brunet. ... A. Timberlake, B. Sumpio, R. Pfragner, I. M. Modlin, M. Kidd.

• 

  Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults

  By William Ricci, Charles M. Court-Brown, Margaret M. McQueen

  Chendrasekhar A, Moorman DW, Timberlake GA. An evaluation of the effects of ... Chittiboina P, Wylen E, Ogden A, et al. Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the ...

• 

  Breast Pathology, An Issue of Surgical Pathology Clinics

  By Laura C. Collins

  Hartmann LC, Radisky DC, Frost MH, et al. Understanding the premalignant potential of ... D'Alfonso TM, Wang K, Chiu YL, et al. Pathologic upgrade rates on ...

• 

  Telepractice in Speech-Language Pathology

  By K. Todd Houston

  Stensland, J., Speedie, S., Ideker, M., House, J., & Thompson, T. (1999). The relative cost of outpatient ... Deal, J. L. (1987). Appraisal and diagnosis of ...

• 

  Addressing Adversity: Prioritising adversity and trauma-informed care for children and young people in England.

  By Marc Bush, Lord Victor Adebowale, Rebecca Adlington

  1 2 Howard, S. and Johnson, B. (2000) Resilient and Non-resilient Behaviour in ... 4 De Haan, L., Hawley, D. and Deal, J. (2002) 'Operationalizing family ...

• 

  Culture, Brain, and Analgesia: Understanding and Managing Pain in Diverse Populations

  By Mario Incayawar, Knox H. Todd

  ... are not fluent in the language/s of the medical care provider.72 Research ... Anglo-Americans have traditionally placed a great deal of emphasis on the ...

• 

  Image-Guided Spine Interventions

  By John M. Mathis

  This practical guide thoroughly discusses both well-established and new interventions that are applied to the spine for the purpose of pain relief.

• 

  New Mynursinglab -- Access Card -- For Maternal-Child Nursing (24-Month Access)

  By Pearson Education, Pearson Education, Inc., David P Pearson Education

  Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable.

• 

  Pearson's Medical Assisting (General)

  By Pearson Education Staff, Madan Dr Pearson Education

  If a picture paints a thousand words, imagine what video can do? Pearson Medical Assisting Videos help users learn the nuances and the details of many medical assisting procedures.