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Zen and the Brain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness is a book authored by James H. Austin. First published in 1998, the book's aim is to establish links between the neurological workings of the human brain and meditation. For example Austin presents evidence from EEG scans that deep relaxed breathing reduces brain activity.
The publishers described their book as a "Comprehensive text on the evidence from neuroscience that helps to clarify which brain mechanisms underlie the subjective states of Zen, and employs Zen to 'illuminate' how the brain works in various states of consciousness".
Austin is an MD and has also practiced Zen over many years. The work does not appear to have attracted much sceptical attention.
- Neurotheology
- Zen-Brain Reflections, the sequel to this book by the same author.
- James H. Austin, Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness. Reprint edition July 2, 1999. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-51109-6
- Your Brain on Religion: Mystic visions or brain circuits at work? (Newsweek article on Austin and neurotheology, May 2001)
- Interview with the author ( James H. Austin, M.D. discusses Zen and the Brain)
- Excerpts from the book