1st Edition

Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life Searching for the Essence of Mind

By Dusana Dorjee Copyright 2018
    208 Pages
    by Routledge

    208 Pages
    by Routledge

    Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life addresses essential and timely questions about the research and practice of meditation as a path to realization of human potential for health and well-being. 

    Balancing practical content and scientific theory, the book discusses long-term effects of six meditation practices: mindfulness, compassion, visualization-based meditation techniques, dream yoga, insight-based meditation and abiding in the existential ground of experience. Each chapter provides advice on how to embed these techniques into everyday activities, together with considerations about underlying changes in the mind and brain based on latest research evidence.

    This book is essential reading for professionals applying meditation-based techniques in their work and researchers in the emerging field of contemplative science. The book will also be of value to practitioners of meditation seeking to further their practice and understand associated changes in the mind and brain.

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    Introduction

     

    1. Chapter 1: THE NEW SCIENCE OF MEDITATION
    2. What is the science of meditation missing?

      The mind’s capacity to self-regulate

      Purpose, meaning and modes of existential awareness

      Existential drive, health and well-being

      Towards a long-term perspective of meditation

      Summary: Chapter 1

       

    3. Chapter 2: LONG-TERM MEDITATION PRACTICE
    4. Neural plasticity, body physiology and meditation

      The state and trait effects of meditation

      The quantity and quality of meditation practice

      Formal and informal meditation

      Adverse effects of meditation

      Developing a long-term perspective of meditation

      Summary: Chapter 2

    5. Chapter 3: MINDFULNESS
    6. What is mindfulness?

      How to develop mindfulness?

      Neuroscience of mindfulness

      Mindfulness, self-regulation and existential well-being

      A day of mindfulness practice

      Mindfulness from a long-term practice perspective

      Summary: Chapter 3

    7. Chapter 4: COMPASSION AND RELATED QUALITIES
    8. What is compassion? A Buddhist perspective

      What is compassion? A Western scientific perspective

      Developing compassion and related qualities in the Buddhist context

      Neuroscience of compassion and loving kindness

      Compassion, self-regulation and existential well-being

      A day of compassion practice

      Compassion from a long-term practice perspective

      Summary: Chapter 4

    9. Chapter 5: VISUALIZATION IN MEDITATION PRACTICE
    10. What is visualization-based meditation?

      Developing visualization-based meditation practice in the Buddhist context

      Neuroscience of visualization-based meditation

      Visualization-based meditation, self-regulation and well-being

      A day of visualization-based meditation

      Visualization-based meditation from a long-term practice perspective

      Summary: Chapter 5

    11. Chapter 6: EXISTENTIAL INSIGHT AND DREAM YOGA
    12. What is existential insight? The Western approach

      What is existential insight? The Buddhist approach

      Developing existential insight in daytime and dream yoga practice

      Neuroscience of existential insight and dream yoga practices

      Existential insight, self-regulation and existential well-being

      24 hours of meditation practice

      Existential insight practice from a long-term perspective

      Summary: Chapter 6

    13. Chapter 7: THE STATE OF EXISTENTIAL BALANCE
    14. What is the state of existential balance?

      Developing the state of existential balance

      Neuroscience of the state of existential balance

      The state of existential balance, self-regulation and existential well-being

      The state of existential balance in everyday life

      The state of existential balance from a long-term practice perspective

      Summary: Chapter 7

    15. Chapter 8: THE POTENTIAL OF CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCE

    Contemplative psychology

    Contemplative psychotherapy

    Contemplative neuroscience

    Contemplative science in health care

    Developmental contemplative science

    Contemplative science and society

    Challenges facing contemplative science

    Conclusion

    Summary: Chapter 8

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Biography

    Dusana Dorjee, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist in the School of Psychology at Bangor University. Her research investigates how meditation, particularly mindfulness, impacts well-being and modifies the mind and brain. Dusana is also a long-term meditation practitioner and teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Dzogchen.

    Dusana Dorjee masterfully presents a wealth of information from diverse areas—neuroscience, psychology of meditation, contemplative practices, existential wellbeing, and Buddhism—in a flawless narrative that is sure to prove a classic in the field of meditation. Informed by research and practice, the book lays out the essence of six meditation practices, the changes that occur in the brain as a result of short- and long-term formal and informal practices, and how meditation enhances our general wellbeing. One of the great strengths of the book is that it presents this material in a very accessible form that can be used by practitioners and researchers alike.

    Nirbhay N. Singh, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Mindfulness, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, USA