Synopses & Reviews
Winner of the Scientific and Medical Network Book Prize for 1998
Aldous Huxley called humankind's basic trend toward spiritual growth the "perennial philosophy." In the view of James Austin, the trend implies a "perennial psychophysiology"—because awakening, or enlightenment, occurs only when the human brain undergoes substantial changes. What are the peak experiences of enlightenment? How could these states profoundly enhance, and yet simplify, the workings of the brain? Zen and the Brain presents the latest evidence.
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.
Review
"In this monumental work, the author marshals the evidence from neuroscience to help clarify which brain mechanisms underlie the subjective states of Zen, and employs Zen to ‘illuminate’ how the brain ‘works’ in various states of consciousness. By ‘monumental’ I refer not merely to the size but to the breadth and depth of coverage of the book."
—George Adelman, Editor of The Encyclopedia of Neuroscience
Synopsis
A neuroscientist and Zen practitioner interweaves the latest research on the brain with his personal narrative of Zen.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [712]-[713] and index.
About the Author
James H. Austin, clinical neurologist, researcher, and Zen practitioner, is Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Missouri (Columbia) School of Medicine. He is the author of Zen and the Brain, Chase, Chance, and Creativity, and Zen-Brain Reflections, all published by the MIT Press.