This is Your Brain on Meditation
Posted in ashtanga yoga, work, zen on 10/11/2009 08:38 pm by karenInteresting podcast with a neurologist & long time zen practitioner. Love the way this guy speaks — talk about geeky! His delivery reminds me of my advisor in grad school.
Very interesting discussion about how the brain pays attention — what structures are involved, and what they bring to the party. I was particularly interested in egocentric processing as distinct from allocentric processing. He makes the case that this is consistent with the difference between concentration states (egocentric) and choiceless awareness (allocentric) in meditation. I couldn’t help thinking of Freud’s “hovering attention” — the centerpiece of psychoanalysis: maybe this is a good example of turning on the allocentric processing?
Regardless, I’m going to think about egocentric vs. allocentric processing at work tomorrow. I have a HUGE preference for allocentric processing, and will be at an all day meeting that involves lots of social stuff. Instead of being cowed by the social requirements, I think I’ll bring experimental mind to bear and look at it all through the allocentric lens. Choiceless awareness, baby!
10/11/2009 at 11:47 pm
Thanks so much for this, I have just downloaded the podcast which looks fantastic, I love the concept, buddist geeks
10/12/2009 at 9:56 am
I listened to this podcast too. I loved the way this guy totally shut down the interviewer and sort of took over.
He conveyed his ideas so clearly. It was a fascinating interview!
10/12/2009 at 8:39 pm
Right? How funny was it, after he talked and talked, and then the host says something like, “uh, thanks” and that’s the end? I loved it!
10/13/2009 at 1:04 pm
He just did a second episode. Lots of zen stuff… and the title of the talk is (awesome) “The mechanisms of Kensho.”
http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/236-buddhist-geeks/episodes/52539-mechanisms