Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness

Title: Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness
Author: James H Austin
F: 1702763
ISBN: 9780262011648
Publisher: Mit Pr
Published: 1998
Binding: Hardcover
Language: English
Edition: 2nd prt.
Number of Pages: 844
Section: Psychology | Neuropsychology
Condition Note: Clean, unmarked copy with some edge wear. Good binding. Dust jacket included if issued with one. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders.
Publisher Description: In this book Zen Buddhism becomes the opening wedge for an extraordinarily wide-ranging exploration of consciousness. In order to understand which brain mechanisms produce Zen states, one needs some understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the brain. Austin, both a neurologist and a Zen practitioner, interweaves the most recent brain research with the personal narrative of his Zen experiences. The science is both inclusive and rigorous; the Zen sections are clear and evocative. Along the way, Austin examines such topics as similar states in other disciplines and religions, sleep and dreams, mental illness, consciousness-altering drugs, and the social consequences of the advanced stage of ongoing enlightenment.