Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness

The book is organized into eight major parts. Part I introduces the historical development, philosophy, and practice of Zen, examining its relationship to mysticism, religion, and neuroscience. Part II explains the physiological foundations of meditation, including breathing, posture, attention, and autonomic regulation. Part III surveys the neurobiology of the brain, discussing neurotransmitters, neural circuits, hemispheric specialization, memory, perception, and sensory processing. Part IV analyzes ordinary and altered states of consciousness, including sleep, dreams, absorption, imagery, psychedelic experiences, pain, near-death experiences, and temporal awareness. Parts V through VII investigate the neurological basis of advanced meditative experiences, including internal absorption, kenshō, insight, and enlightenment, proposing numerous testable neuroscientific hypotheses. Part VIII considers the enduring transformation associated with mature Zen practice, emphasizing compassion, ethical conduct, creativity, and the expression of enlightenment in everyday life.