Zen and the Brain
Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness
James H. Austin, M.D.
Aldous Huxley called humankind's basic trend toward spiritual growth the
"perennial philosophy." In the view of James Austin, the trend implies a
"perennial psychophysiology"--because awakening, or enlightenment, occurs
when the human brain undergoes substantial changes. What are the peak
experiences of enlightenment? How could these states profoundly enhance,
and yet simplify, the workings of the brain? Zen and the Brain presents the
latest evidence.
In this book Zen Buddhism becomes the opening wedge for a wide-ranging
exploration of consciousness. In order to understand which brain mechanisms
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 the
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 similar states in other disciplines and
religions, sleep and dreams, mental illness, consciousness-altering drugs,
and the social consequences of the advanced stage of ongoing enlightenment.
James H. Austin, M.D., is Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University
of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He is the author of Chase, Chance, and
Creativity and the author or coauthor of more than 130 publications in the
fields of neurochemistry, neuropharmacology, and clinical neurology.
Publication Date: March 1, 1998
$40.00 cloth
7 x 10, 896 pp., 18 illus.
ISBN 0-262-01164-6
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