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Zen and the Brain



Google Tech Talk (more below)

November 8, 2010


Zen and the Brain


Presented by Dr James Austin

ABSTRACT



What has been learned about the brain that helps understand how selfless insight-wisdom can develop on the long-term meditative path? Recent brain-imaging research clarifies the relationships between two key issues: 1) How we use both top-down and bottom-up modes of attentive processing; and 2) How we constructed an egocentric Self so strong that it so often generates suffering.

Speaker Info: James H. Austin



James H. Austin is Emeritus Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Austin is the author of his well known book Zen and the Brain, which aims to establish links between the neurological workings of the human brain and meditation. Austin has written two sequels to it: Zen-Brain Reflections (February, 2006), and Selfless Insight (2009). He was student of the late Rinzai roshi Kobori Nanrei Sohaku.

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20 thoughts on “Zen and the Brain
  1. So does he recommend top-down attention or bottom-up attention training for the mind? I must have missed it but is he recommending that external meditation is the best way to bypass the psychic-self therefore achieving Samadhi?

  2. There's a lot of talk about the brain and various functions, but precious little is actually linked or put into any context. Why are these different functions and their relations mentioned? He doesn't say. What does most of this have to do with the topic of meditation? Not sure because he doesn't say.

    Dr. Austin really is fantastic, but this talk was just very poorly put together. When data is mentioned, it needs to be in context so people know what is being said, why, and how it relates to the topic at hand. I feel like there's a truly great talk in here somewhere, just wish it came through.

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