Zen and the Brain

In this book, Zen Buddhism becomes the opening wedge for an extraordinarily wide-ranging exploration of consciousness. In order to understand the brain mechanisms that 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 a 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 the achievement of similar states through other disciplines and religions, sleep and dreams, mental illness, consciousness-altering drugs, and the social consequences resulting from changes in the human brain. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.