Library: Science
Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness
by Alva Noe (contributor to NPR’s science blog: 13.7 Cosmos & Culture)
The author doesn’t use these exact words, but it sure sounds like he’s talking about the Buddhist understandings of dependent origination and non-self when he describes consciousness as something that arises from the interconnectedness of our brain, our body, and the world.
Catching the Light: The Entwined History of Light and Mind
by Arthur Zajonc
Written by the scientific coordinator for the Mind and Life Institute‘s dialogue with the Dalai Lama, and emeritus professor of physics at Amherst College, this beautifully written book weaves history, philosophy, poetry…as well as quantum physics….into a fascinating exploration of the nature of light and how we are still trying to understand it.
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom
by Rick Hanson and Richard Mendius, with introduction by Daniel J. Siegel
Advances in neuroscience, especially the advent of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, have recently propelled meditation practices into mainstream Western consciousness.
One of the most popular books on the subject is Buddha’s Brain, which “joins the forces of modern neuroscience with ancient contemplative teachings to show readers how they can work toward greater emotional well-being, healthier relationships, more effective actions, and depend religious and spiritual understanding.” (quote from editor’s blurb)