Siddhartha's Brain
The Science of Meditation, Mindfulness and Enlightenment
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- 3,99 €
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WINNER OF THE GOLD PRIZE FOR RELIGION / SPIRITUALITY OF EASTERN THOUGHT AT THE 2016 NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS.
Can meditation and mindfulness exercise make us sharper, smarter, healthier, happier?
In Siddhartha's Brain, James Kingsland reveals that a complete scientific theory of how these practices work is now within our grasp and may be the key to treating a wide range of afflictions of the human mind.
Some twenty-five centuries ago, an Indian sage called Siddhartha Gautama - the man who would become known as the Buddha - developed a programme for improving mental well-being which has been passed down to us by generations of monks and nuns. Today, secular mindfulness courses are proving their worth for tackling many of the problems associated with the demands of our frenetic, technology-driven modern world.
Research has shown that mindfulness can be used to treat stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, hypertension and drug addiction, as well as improving concentration, empathy, emotion regulation and the quality of interpersonal relationships. There have even been hints that it could enhance immune function, slow cellular ageing and help keep dementia at bay.
Taking us on a journey back to the time of the Buddha to track changes in his brain as he travels the path leading to enlightenment, Siddhartha's Brain explains how meditation and mindfulness transform the human mind.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Guardian science editor Kingsland presents a fascinating exploration of the studies of enlightenment where the experience of meditative spiritual practice meets the rigors of scientific research. Kingsland suggests that the ubiquitous presence of psychiatric illnesses may be alternatively understood as an "extreme manifestation of ordinary human condition," and if this is the case, the practice of meditation should (in theory) alleviate afflictions caused by a mental apparatus gone haywire. To fix the errant mental system, Buddhism prescribes meditation: one pays attention to the breath, practices non-judgmental awareness, and calmly observes the landscape of thoughts. Kingsland skillfully dives in and out of various subjects the neurological relaxation response to meditation, the difference between pain and suffering, emotional regulation and effectively paints a neurological picture of the mind without devaluing Buddhism's spiritual image of cognition. Science shows that meditation reworks neurological networks to better regulate and manage the emotions; in short, being a good, contented human being is a skill that can be learned. Based on this idea, Kingsland offers guided practices at the end of every chapter, ranging from attention to the breath to metta (loving-kindness) meditations. Kingsland's book is a cursory but fascinating exploration of the neuroscience behind meditation, and he offers a wonderful starting point for further research and practice.
