Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life
Searching for the Essence of Mind

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.

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

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

Contemplative psychology

Contemplative psychotherapy

Contemplative neuroscience

Contemplative science in health care

Developmental contemplative science

Contemplative science and society

Challenges facing contemplative science

Conclusion

Summary: Chapter 8

Dusana Dorjee, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist in the School of Psychology at Bangor University. Her research investigates how meditation, particularly mindfulness, impacts well-being and modifies the mind and brain. Dusana is also a long-term meditation practitioner and teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Dzogchen.