Synopses & Reviews
A scientist compares and contrasts the Buddhist theory of perception and Western neuroscience.
For Buddhism, mind is awareness. For science, mind is a mechanism in action, a mindless machine understood by analyzing the function of its processes and parts. Is there anything that these two apparently contradictory methods can teach each other?
In this ground-breaking work, Christopher deCharms lays out the Buddhist theory of perception side-by-side with the most recent discoveries of Western neuroscience on the brain activity of human perception, opening the door to a new era of fertile dialogue between two great wisdom traditions.
Written in language directed to non-specialists, the book focuses on the differences between the two traditions in methodology, assumptions, and purpose. But in treating each with the respect it deserves, he uncovers fields of common interest where insights may be complementary and not contradictory.
This leads to the big questions. Science has begun to map the most elemental brain processes of perception. But in the end, it must come to grips with the big issue: What is the mind? Here, the Buddhist methodology of introspection may be of critical value. On the other hand, the scientific demonstration of direct causal relationships between brain states and mental activity must be accounted for by the Buddhist theoretical model.
Synopsis
Two Views of Mind: Abhidharma and Brain Science offers a clear overview of perception, thought, and awareness in Tibetan Buddhist psychology and in Western neuroscience. DeCharms lays out the Buddhist theory of perception side-by-side with the scientific view of Western neuroscience on the brain activity of human cognition. He discovers insights from each system that suggest exciting new approaches to perennial problems that the other has not been able to resolve. Directed to non-specialists, he focuses on the differences between the two traditions in methodology, assumptions, and purpose.
About the Author
Christopher deCharms is a cognitive neuroscientist at the Keck Center for Integrative Neuroscience at the University of California San Francisco