James H. Austin

The cover flap material promises a book about zen informed by "the latest findings in brain research". Unfortunately, no such findings are to be found inside. Instead, we get a string of assertions (some of them plausible) and advice (some of it good) and occasional nods to the fact that the brain has sections with names.

There's nothing much wrong with this book, but I suspect that there are much better books on Zen out there, and there are certainly better books on the brain. And show more unfortunately, this book does nothing to connect the one subject to the other, so it seems ultimately pretty pointless. show less

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 only 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 show more the opening wedge for an extraordinarily 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. show less

I've not completed the book but I've finished as much as I care to read. I quite enjoyed the introductory chapters on the history and philosophy of Zen, and the art of meditation, which offered an interesting perspective from one who's been trained in Western medicine and studied in Japan. However, about a third of the way into the book the neurophysiology became a bit too deep to hold my interest.

A very difficult read, but well worth the effort, if you want to understand how scientists are gradually moving toward a full understanding of the neurological bases of meditative states.