Sleeping, dreaming, and dying : an exploration of consciousness with the Dalai Lama ; foreword by H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama ; narrated and edited by Francisco J. Varela ; with contributions by Jerome Engel, Jr. ... [et al.] ; translations by B. Alan

This is an absorbing account of a dialogue between leading Western scientists and the foremost representative of Buddhism today, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. For modern science, the transitional states of consciousness lie at the forefront of research in many fields. For a Buddhist practitioner these same states present crucial opportunities to explore and transform consciousness itself. This book is the account of a historic dialogue between leading Western scientists and the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Revolving around three key moments of consciousness--sleep, dreams, and death--the conversations recorded here are both engrossing and highly readable. Whether the topic is lucid dreaming, near-death experiences, or the very structure of consciousness itself, the reader is continually surprised and delighted. Narrated by Francisco Varela, an internationally recognized neuroscientist, the book begins with insightful remarks on the notion of personal identity by noted philosopher Charles Taylor, author of the acclaimed Sources of Self . This sets the stage for Dr. Jerome Engel, Dr. Joyce MacDougal, and others to engage in extraordinary exchanges with the Dalai Lama on topics ranging from the neurology of sleep to the yoga of dreams. Remarkable convergences between the Western scientific tradition and the Buddhist contemplative sciences are revealed. Dr. Jayne Gackenbach's discussion of lucid dreaming, for example, prompts a detailed and fascinating response from the Dalai Lama on the manipulation of dreams by Buddhist meditators. The conversations also reveal provocative divergences of opinion, as when the Dalai Lama expresses skepticism about "Near-Death Experiences" as presented by Joan Halifax. The conversations are engrossing and highly readable. Any reader interested in psychology, neuroscience, Buddhism, or the alternative worlds of dreams will surely enjoy Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying .

Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying is an absorbing account of the expanding dialogue between leading Western scientists and the foremost representative of Buddhism today, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Revolving around three key moments of consciousness — sleep, dreams, and death — the conversations recorded here are both engrossing and highly readable. Narrated by Francisco Varela, an internationally recognized neuroscientist, the book begins with insightful remarks on the notion of personal identity by noted philosopher Charles Taylor, author of the acclaimed Sources of Self. This sets the stage for Dr. Jerome Engel, Dr. Joyce MacDougal and others to engage in extraordinary exchanges with the Dalai Lama on topics ranging from the neurology of sleep to the yoga of dreams. The conversations also reveal provocative divergences of opinion, as when the Dalai Lama expresses skepticism about "Near Death Experiences" as presented by Joan Halifax.

Library Journal

This fourth in a series of dialogs (from the Mind and Life Conferences) between the Dalai Lama and Western scientists focuses on the subtle stages of consciousness involved in sleeping, dreaming, and dying. Knowledge from traditional Buddhist meditation and teachings concerning subtle levels of mind are compared and contrasted with Western scientific interpretations of consciousness, particularly during the REM sleep, lucid dreaming, and near-death and sudden-death experiences. Although the topic of near-death experiences is currently very popular, these conversations are academic in tone and will appeal mostly to the very committed lay reader. Suitable for academic and larger public libraries.

This book is the account of a historic dialogue between leading Western scientists and one of the foremost representatives of Buddhism today, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Revolving around the three key moments of consciousness of sleep, dreams, and death - what internationally acclaimed neuroscientist Francisco Varela calls the ego's shadow zones - the conversations recorded here took place at the fourth Mind and Life Conference in Dharamsala, India. With contributions from acclaimed voices such as philosopher Charles Taylor, psychoanalyst Joyce McDougall, psychologist Jayne Gackenbach, cultural ecologist Joan Halifax, and neuroscientist Jerome Engel, the book is both engrossing and highly readable. Whether the topic is lucid dreaming, near death experiences, or the very structure of consciousness itself, the participants in this unique exchange continually surprise and delight us with their discoveries of convergences and divergences between their respective traditions. Religion,Buddhism,Philosophy,Mind & Body,General "This book is the account of a historic dialogue between leading Western scientists and one of the foremost representatives of Buddhism today, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Revolving around the three key moments of consciousness of sleep, dreams, and death - what internationally acclaimed neuroscientist Francisco Varela calls the ego's shadow zones - the conversations recorded here took place at the fourth Mind and Life Conference in Dharamsala, India. With contributions from acclaimed voices such as philosopher Charles Taylor, psychoanalyst Joyce McDougall, psychologist Jayne Gackenbach, cultural ecologist Joan Halifax, and neuroscientist Jerome Engel, the book is both engrossing and highly readable. Whether the topic is lucid dreaming, near death experiences, or the very structure of consciousness itself, the participants in this unique exchange continually surprise and delight us with their discoveries of convergences and divergences between their respective traditions."--Jacket This absorbing account of a dialogue between leading Western scientists and the foremost representative of Buddhism today, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, features narration by Francisco Varela, an internationally recognized neuroscientist. Engrossing and highly readable, the conversations will be of merit to any reader interested in psychology, neuroscience, Buddhism, or the alternative worlds of dreams. 10 illustrations. 3 color photos.