The Sense of Self : Perspectives From Science and Zen Buddhism

At the heart of this book is one of the most ancient and profound question philosophers, spiritual seekers, and curious individuals have pondered since the beginning of history: “Who am I?”. Advances in modern science, and access to Zen tradition, have provided us with broader and richer understanding of this topic. Over the chapters the author, a psychologist and Zen master, investigates how the brain fosters a sense of an independent self, situating his research in the contexts of neuroscience, ecology, evolution, psychology, and of the principles Eastern wisdom traditions. The book explores a broad range of insights from brain science, evolutionary biology, astronomy, clinical psychology, thoughts and emotions, mental health disorders, and Zen Buddhism. This book will appeal to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, and researchers of Eastern traditions. General readers interested in the functioning of the brain will discover practical ways to integrate fascinating new findings on an age-old question into their everyday life. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 8 About the Author 9 List of Figures 11 1: Who Am I? 13 A Definition of Self 26 References 27 2: The Cortex of the Human Brain 28 Overview of the Brain 29 Plasticity 30 Efferent and Afferent Nerve Signals 31 Brain Regions 32 Frontal Lobes 34 Medial Prefrontal Cortex 34 Decision-Making 34 Parietal Lobes 35 Occipital Lobes 39 Temporal Lobes 42 References 46 3: Split Brains and Split Minds: Details and Wholes, Thinking and Emotion 52 Split Brains 52 Emotions 57 Thinking and Language 61 References 66 4: Clinical Perspectives 71 Cutting and Stimulating the Brain 72 Neurocognitive Disorders/Dementia 73 Alzheimer’s Disease 74 Korsakoff’s Syndrome 76 Brain Damage 77 Psychoactive Substance Use and Abuse 77 Anxiety Disorders 79 Social Anxiety 80 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 80 Body Dysmorphic Disorder 81 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 82 Dissociative Identity Disorder 82 Mood Disorders 83 Depression 83 Bipolar Disorder 86 Thought Disorders 87 Schizophrenia 87 Paranoia 89 Delusions 90 References 92 5: Clues from Other Scientific Disciplines 98 Astronomy 99 Physics 102 Evolutionary Biology 105 Ecology 110 Developmental Psychology 113 Social Psychology 119 Cultural Influences 121 Role Theory 122 Sleep and Dreams 124 References 128 6: Zen Buddhism 141 Hinduism 142 Buddhism 145 Taoism 151 Zen Buddhism 154 Meditation 157 Zen Koans 159 The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures 162 Enlightenment 166 References 167 7: Tying It All Together 171 The Emperor Has No Clothes 179 References 182 8: What Now? 183 Consolidating a New Perspective 189 Avoiding Common Pitfalls 191 Just This Moment 194 Moving into Daily Life 195 References 198 Photo Credits 199 Index 201 At the heart of this book is one of the most ancient and profound question philosophers, spiritual seekers, and curious individuals have pondered since the beginning of history: "Who am I?" Advances in modern science, and access to Zen tradition, have provided us with broader and richer understanding of this topic. Over the chapters the author, a psychologist and Zen master, investigates how the brain fosters a sense of an independent self, situating his research in the contexts of neuroscience, ecology, evolution, psychology, and of the principles Eastern wisdom traditions. The book explores a broad range of insights from brain science, evolutionary biology, astronomy, clinical psychology, thoughts and emotions, mental health disorders, and Zen Buddhism. This book will appeal to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, and researchers of Eastern traditions. General readers interested in the functioning of the brain wil l discover practical ways to integrate fascinating new findings on an age-old question into their everyday life Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Who Am I?....Pages 1-15 The Cortex of the Human Brain....Pages 17-40 Split Brains and Split Minds: Details and Wholes, Thinking and Emotion....Pages 41-59 Clinical Perspectives....Pages 61-87 Clues from Other Scientific Disciplines....Pages 89-131 Zen Buddhism....Pages 133-162 Tying It All Together....Pages 163-174 What Now?....Pages 175-190 Back Matter....Pages 191-198