Posts Tagged ‘science’
Buddhism Vs. Neuroscience
Long before my interest in Buddhism, I was fascinated by how our brains work, how thoughts arise, how consciousness works, and where this feeling of self comes from. In my opinion, going back to childhood, I’ve never seen the brain and body as separate, but instead two integrated systems. My interest in neuroscience was partly…
Read MoreEpisode 119 :: Shinzen Young :: Meditation, Pain, and Science
Shinzen Young Shinzen Young joins us to speak about meditation, pain relief, and science. We encounter this practice in so many ways. Often through suffering. Sometimes through disciplines like the martial arts, or from an interest in fixing some issues we’re having with concentration. And sometimes, we come to it through a fascination with a…
Read More10th Annual International Scientific Conference for Clinicians, Researchers and Educators
It is my great joy to be attending the Center for Mindfulness 10th Annual International Scientific Conference for Clinicians, Researchers and Educators this week in Massachusetts. It is, in a nutshell, a gathering of some of the leading researchers into the scientific studies of the effects of mindfulness. That in itself does require a bit of…
Read MoreEpisode 104 :: Rick Heller :: The New Humanism
Rick Heller speaks with us about the intersection of Secular Humanism with mindfulness practice.
Hi, everyone. There’s been a great deal of discussion online recently about how Secular Humanism has very strong alignment with what we’re calling Secular Buddhism. We see very little difference in the ideological propositions about social interaction, and one of the few outlying differences seems to be in the realm of practice. That is, we agree that improving our interactions with others is a positive thing, but what can we do to get better at that on a personal level?
Read MoreEpisode 99 :: Dr. Rick Hanson :: Just One Thing
Dr. Rick Hanson Dr. Rick Hanson speaks with us about his new book, Just One Thing: Developing A Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time. It’s a daunting task, changing our minds. Not the simple, “I wanted a mocha, but maybe a latte would be better” kind of changing our minds, that’s pretty easy.…
Read MoreEpisode 96 :: Tim Gard :: Pain Attenuation Through Mindfulness
Tim Gard speaks with us about a new study just released on pain attenuation through mindfulness.
Hi, everyone. As we mentioned in last week’s episode, we’re fortunate this week in having the author of a new study just released. This study helps shed some light on what happens in the brain when we feel pain, what happens in the brain when we feel pain while in a mindfulness state, and how this is different than what we see in placebo responses to pain. We also examine some of the subtle differences between studies of this kind, and why these distinctions matter.
Read MoreEpisode 95 :: Britta Hölzel :: Mechanisms of Mindfulness
Dr. Britta Hölzel speaks with us about her recent paper about the potential mechanisms of mindfulness.
What are the mechanisms of a mindfulness state? A recent paper suggests, as a starting point of discussion, that four significant components may be Attention Regulation, Body Awareness, Emotion Regulation, and Sense of Self. As we look at the positive benefits of meditation, it is valuable for us to hypothesize about these qualities of the process, as that can help us think creatively about new areas for scientific investigation.
Read MoreEpisode 94 :: Sue Blackmore :: Skepticism, Meditation, and Consciousness
Professor Sue Blackmore joins us to speak about meditation, consciousness, and her move from belief in the paranormal to skepticism.
It is fairly well-known that I’m a skeptic. Not to be confused with a cynic, or a denier. As host of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast, Dr. Steven Novella of the New England Skeptical Society, has described:
Read MoreEpisode 93 :: Philippe Goldin :: Brain Changes with Meditation
Dr. Philippe Goldin Dr. Philippe Goldin speaks with us about changes in the brain from meditation, why psychological studies deal with placebo effects, and parent child mindfulness meditation training on family relationships. Hi, everyone. It’s been a very active few weeks with the release of the new Secular Buddhist Association website, and we’re seeing active…
Read MoreHealing Ecology – A Buddhist Perspective on the Eco Crisis (David Loy)
There are precise and profound parallels between what Buddhism says about our individual predicament and our collective predicament today in relationship to the rest of the biosphere.
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