02007-12-03 | Brain, Buddhism, Santa Fe
Upaya Institute | Zen Center: ZEN BRAIN, SELFLESS INSIGHT
Instructors: James Austin, M.D., Roshi Joan Halifax, Al Kaszniak, Ph.D., Neil Theise, M.D., Jason Buhle
Description: Scientific interest in the relationships between Buddhism and neuroscience has dramatically increased, accompanied by the publication of both theoretical proposals and new laboratory investigations relating Buddhist practice to the brain. In this retreat/seminar, Roshi and four scientists who have contributed to this growing field of research and are each long-term Zen practitioners, will share with participants perspectives on what has been learned about Zen practice and the brain, how this research is relevant for practice, and how experienced practitioners can help sharpen the research questions being asked. During the retreat, discussion and presentations are integrated with Zazen practice.
January 16-20, 2008, at Upaya in Santa Fe. Click here for a PDF with more info.
02007-11-13 | Buddhism, Meditation
TED | Talks | Matthieu Ricard: Habits of happiness (video)
What is happiness, and how can we all get some? Buddhist monk, photographer and author Matthieu Ricard has devoted his life to these questions, and his answer is influenced by his faith as well as by his scientific turn of mind: We can train our minds in habits of happiness. Interwoven with his talk are stunning photographs of the Himalayas and of his spiritual community.
Just watched it on my phone. Great talk.
02007-10-31 | Buddhism, Philosophy
I was running some errands this morning when the iPod in shuffle mode served up a Q&A with Stephen Batchelor at Upaya – in 2005 or 2006. How appropriate, I thought, since he is here this week. He answered a question, which was not audible, saying something like this: You hear that a certain teacher is really free – free from what? Liberated from what? Enlightened about what?
In other words, everything is related and relative. One is free to breath, but one can’t be free from breathing. You cannot be free from cause and effect. You can be enlightened about one thing and be plain stupid about the next. Levels and lines, I can hear Ken Wilber say.
02007-10-23 | Buddhism, Philosophy
Being True Love
“Roshi, you’ve said you wouldn’t die until Zen was born in America. Has that happened?†“I’m a hundred years old. My ears can no longer hear stupid questions.â€
02007-09-07 | Buddhism, Guitar, Music, Musings, Philosophy
From an email exchange regarding meditation, music and the brain – in light of this article regarding OBEs (Out-of-Body-Experience). My friend wrote:
Read the article in the Economist. I have been reading books on neuroplasticity for the past several months. Fascinating stuff! Both Newsweek and the Economist have done articles on consciousness research in recent weeks. Tells me that the whole revolution in brain science is finally hitting the general population. Great material. As for OBE training for realization: Don’t see why it wouldn’t work. However, when you read the brain plasticity material, you realize that despite any “wow” experience, to actually learn, and therefore change the brain’s wiring, it takes time. Meditation over a long period is likely still necessary, despite the fact that you can get a bigger bang for your momentary experience out of Big Mind. Meditation and the “wow” are mutually supportive. One for the opening, the other for the real depth learning and benefit of the opening.
My response:
Agreed. You gotta do the time. Nothing might ever replace that, because even if you could “feed” a brain an experience via an implant or whatever – it is still somebody else’s experience because it isn’t in the body. I think if one could isolate the “guitar-related part” of a great player’s brain and transfer that to a novices brain – it would have only minor impact because there would be no physical roots. Those come from doing the time, whether it is in meditation or playing one’s instrument.
02007-08-31 | Buddhism, Philosophy
All sentient beings are essentially Buddhas.
As with water and ice, there is no ice without water;
apart from sentient beings, there are no Buddhas.
Not knowing how close the truth is,
we seek it far away – what a pity!
– Hakuin Ekaku Zenji
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