Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life

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

Dusana Dorjee masterfully presents a wealth of information from diverse areasneuroscience, psychology of meditation, contemplative practices, existential wellbeing, and Buddhismin 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

Autorentext

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.

Klappentext

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.

Inhalt

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Chapter 1: THE NEW SCIENCE OF MEDITATION ** 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 ****

2. Chapter 2: LONG-TERM MEDITATION PRACTICE ** 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 ****

3. Chapter 3: MINDFULNESS ** 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 ****

4. Chapter 4: COMPASSION AND RELATED QUALITIES ** 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 ****

5. Chapter 5: VISUALIZATION IN MEDITATION PRACTICE ** 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 ****

6. Chapter 6: EXISTENTIAL INSIGHT AND DREAM YOGA ** 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 ****

7. Chapter 7: THE STATE OF EXISTENTIAL BALANCE ** 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 ****

8. 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