Buddha's Brain

Rick Hanson

Description

If you change your brain, you can change your life.

Great teachers like the Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, and Gandhi were all born with brains built essentially like anyone else’s—and then they changed their brains in ways that changed the world. Science is now revealing how the flow of thoughts actually sculpts the brain, and more and more, we are learning that it''s possible to strengthen positive brain states.

By combining breakthroughs in neuroscience with insights from thousands of years of mindfulness practice, you too can use your mind to shape your brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom. Buddha''s Brain draws on the latest research to show how to stimulate your brain for more fulfilling relationships, a deeper spiritual life, and a greater sense of inner confidence and worth. Using guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, you''ll learn how to activate the brain states of calm, joy, and compassion instead of worry, sorrow, and anger. Most importantly, you will foster positive psychological growth that will literally change the way you live in your day-to-day life.

This book presents an unprecedented intersection of psychology, neurology, and contemplative practice, and is filled with practical tools and skills that you can use every day to tap the unused potential of your brain and rewire it over time for greater well-being and peace of mind.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Popular psychology
• Mind

Informations

• Publié par: New Harbinger Publications
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 0001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781572249981
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

B uddha’s

RICK HANSON, PH.D. with MDRICHARD MENDIUS, Foreword by DANIEL J. SIEGEL, MD Preface by JACK KORNFIELD, PH.D.

the practical B neuroscience of rain the pra B ctical neuroscie d nce h of a’s B rain ud happiness, love & wisdom

“A wonderfully compreensive book. he autors ave made it easy to understand ow our minds function and ow to make canges so tat we can live appier, fuller lives.” —Saron Salzberg, autor ofLovingkindness

“Solidly grounded in te latest neuroscientific researc, and supported by a deep understanding of contemplative practice, tis book is accessible, compelling, and profound—a crystallization of practical wisdom!” —Pilip David Zelazo, P.D., Nancy M. and Jon E. Lindal Professor at te Institute of Cild Development, University of Minnesota

“his is simply te best book I ave read on wy and ow we can sape our brains to be peaceful and appy. his is a book tat will literally cange your brain and your life.” —Jennifer Louden, autor ofhe Woman’s Comfort Book andhe Life Organizer

“Budda’s Brain is a significant contribution to understanding te interface between science and meditation in te pat of transformation. Illuminating.” —Josep Goldstein, autor ofA Heart Full of Peaceand One Darma

“Budda’s Brain is compelling, easy to read, and quite educational. he book skillfully answers te central question of eac of our lives—ow to be appy—by presenting te core precepts of Buddism integrated wit a primer on ow our brains function. his book will be elpful to anyone wanting to understand time- tested ways of skillful living backed up by up-to-date science.“ —Frederic Luskin, P.D., autor ofForgive for Goodand director of Stanford Forgiveness Projects

“I wis I ad a science teacer like Rick Hanson wen I went to scool.Budda’s Brainis at once fun, fascinating, and profound. It not only sows us effective ways to develop real appiness in our lives, but also explains pysiologically ow and wy tey work. As e instructs us to do wit positive experiences, take in all te good information tis book offers and savor it.” —James Baraz, autor ofAwakening Joyand cofounder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center

“Wit te mind of a scientist, te perspective of a psycologist, and te wise eart of a parent and devoted meditator, Rick Hanson as created a guide for all of us wo want to learn about and apply te scintillating new researc tat embraces neurology, psycology, and autentic spiritual inquiry. Up-to-date discoveries combined wit state-of-te-art practices make tis book an engaging read.Budda’s Brainis at te top of my list!” —Ricard A. Heckler, P.D., assistant professor at Jon F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA

“An illuminating guide to te emerging confluence of cutting- edge neuropsycology and ancient Buddist wisdom filled wit practical suggestions on ow to gradually rewire your brain for greater appiness. Lucid, good-umored, and easily accessible.” —Jon J. Prendergast, P.D., adjunct associate professor of psycology at California Institute of Integral Studies and senior editor ofhe Sacred MirrorandListening from te Heart of Silence

“Budda’s Brainwill sow you ow mental practices, informed by te contemplative traditions, can increase your capacity for experiencing appiness and peace. his book provides a scientific understanding of tese metods, and clear guidance for practices tat cultivate a wise and free eart.” —Tara Brac, P.D. autor ofRadical Acceptance

“his book enables us to understand te wys and ows of our uman operating system so we can make more informed actions tat allow us to live our lives more fully, compassionately, and wit greater well-being and kindness towards oters and ourselves. Wat I find exciting aboutBudda’s Brainis Rick Hanson’s ability to clearly delineate te root causes of suffering and explain pertinent ways we can actually cange tese causes and effect lasting cange on all levels of our mind, body, and interpersonal relationsips. His informative, relaxed, and easy-to-read style of writing made me want to pick up tis book again and again and dive ever more deeply into te complexities of our uman engineering. Budda’s Brain is now on my recommendation list for all my students and teacers-in-training.” —Ricard C. Miller, P.D., founding president of Integrative Restoration Institute

“Numerous writings in recent years ave exacerbated te traditional rift between science and religion; owever, tere as been a refresing parallel movement in te opposite direction. Neuroscientists ave become increasingly interested in using first-person introspective inquiries of te mind to complement teir tird-person, Western scientific investigations of te brain. Buddist contemplative practices are particularly amenable to suc collaboration, inviting efforts to find neurobiological explanations for Buddist pilosopy. Stripped of religious baggage,Budda’s Brainclearly describes ow modern concepts of evolutionary and cognitive neurobiology support core Buddist teacings and practice. his book sould ave great appeal for tose seeking a secular spiritual pat, wile also raising many testable ypoteses for interested neuroscientists.” —Jerome Engel, Jr., MD, P.D., Jonatan Sinay Distinguised Professor of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Psyciatry and Biobeavioral Sciences at te University of California, Los Angeles

“Budda’s Brainmakes a significant contribution to te current dynamic dialogue among neuroscience, psycology, and Buddist disciplines of mind training. Drawing on te wisdom born of teir own meditation practice and teir scientific backgrounds, te autors point again and again to te possibilities of te deep transformation of our minds and lives.” —Cristina Feldman, autor ofCompassionand he Buddist Pat to Simplicity

“Recent developments in psycology and te neurosciences ave led to clear and powerful insigts about ow our brains work and ow tese neurological functions sape our experience of te world. hese insigts are profoundly congruent wit te wisdom tat as been developed over tousands of years in te contemplative traditions. he autors ofBudda’s Brainave given us a concise and practical guide to ow tese two currents of knowledge can be used to transform our capacity to engage bot ourselves and oters wit wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness.” —Robert D. Truog, MD, professor at Harvard Medical Scool, executive director of te Institute for Professionalism and Etical Practice, and senior associate in critical care medicine at Cildren’s Hospital, Boston

“A clear introduction to some basic principles of neuroscience and darma.” —Roger Wals, MD, P.D., professor at te University of California, Irvine, and autor ofEssential Spirituality

“Budda’s Brainbrilliantly reveals te teacings of te Budda in te ligt of modern neuroscience. his is a practical guide to canging your reality. his is your brain on Darma!” —Wes “Scoop” Nisker, autor ofEssential Crazy Wisdom and editor ofInquiring Mind

B uddha’s B rai n

the practical neuroscience of happiness, love & wisdom

RICK HANSON, PH.D. with RICHARD MENDIUS, MD

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

Publiser’s Note

his publication is designed to provide accurate and autoritative information in regard to te subject matter covered. It is sold wit te understanding tat te publiser and autors are not engaged in rendering psycological, financial, legal, or oter professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, te services of a competent professional sould be sougt.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyrigt © 2009 by Rick Hanson New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 5674 Sattuck Avenue Oakland, CA 94609 www.newarbinger.com

Acquired by Melissa Kirk

All Rigts Reserved

Printed in te United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hanson, Rick.  Budda’s brain : te practical neuroscience of appiness, love, and wisdom / Rick Hanson wit Ricard Mendius.  p. cm.  Includes bibliograpical references.  ISBN-13: 978-1-57224-695-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)  ISBN-10: 1-57224-695-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Neuropsycology. 2. Happiness. 3. Love. 4. Wisdom. 5. Buddism and science. I. Mendius, Ricard. II. Title.  QP360.H335 2009  612.8--dc22 2009023477

11 10 09

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First printing

capter 1

capter 2 capter 3

capter 4 capter 5 capter 6 capter 7

capter 8 capter 9 capter 10

Contents

Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Introduction heSelf-TransformingBrain

Part One HeCausesofSuffering

heEvolutionofSuffering he First andSecond Dart

Part Two appiness

Taking in te Good Cooling te Fires Strong Intentions Equanimity

Part Hree Love

Two Wolves in te Heart Compassion and Assertion Boundless Kindness

v vii ix 1 5

23 49

67 79 97 109

121 137 157

capter 11 capter 12 capter 13 Appendix

Part Four Wisdom

Foundations of Mindfulness Blissful Concentration Relaxing te Self Nutritional Neurocemistry References

iv Budda’s Brain

177 191 205 227 235

Foreword

udda’s Brainis an invitation to use te focus of your mind to B arness te power of attention to enance your life and your relationsips wit oters. Syntesizing ancient insigts from con- templative practice in te Buddist traditions wit modern discov- eries from te field of neuroscience, Drs. Rick Hanson and Ricard Mendius ave assembled a tougt-provoking and practical guide tat walks you step-by-step troug awakening your mind. A revolution in science as recently revealed tat te adult brain remains open to cange trougout te lifespan. houg many brain scientists ave in te past stated tat te mind is just te activity of te brain, we now can look at te connection between tese two dimensions of our lives from a different perspective. Wen we con- sider te mind as an embodied and relational process tat regulates te flow of energy and information, we come to realize tat we can actually use te mind to cange te brain. he simple trut is tat ow we focus our attention, ow we intentionally direct te flow of energy and information troug our neural circuits, can directly alter te brain’s activity and its structure. he key is to know te steps toward using our awareness in ways tat promote well-being. Knowing tat te mind is relational and tat te brain is te social organ of te body, we also come to anoter new point of view: Our relationsips wit one anoter are not a casual part of our lives; tey are fundamental to ow our minds function and are an essential aspect of brain ealt. Our social connections wit one anoter sape our neural connections tat form te structure of te brain. his means tat te way we communicate alters te very circuitry of our brain, especially in ways tat elp keep our lives in