Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life by Dorjee, Dusana;

Rövid leírás:

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.　

Hosszú leírás:

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.

Dusana Dorjee masterfully presents a wealth of information from diverse areas—neuroscience, psychology of meditation, contemplative practices, existential wellbeing, and Buddhism—in 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

Tartalomjegyzék:

Preface

Acknowledgements

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