Product Description

Science has long treated religion as a set of personal beliefs that have little to do with a rational understanding of the mind and the universe. However, B. Alan Wallace, a respected Buddhist scholar, proposes that the contemplative methodologies of Buddhism and of Western science are capable of being integrated into a single discipline: contemplative science.

The science of consciousness introduces first-person methods of investigating the mind through Buddhist contemplative techniques, such as samatha, an organized, detailed system of training the attention. Just as scientists make observations and conduct experiments with the aid of technology, contemplatives have long tested their own theories with the help of highly developed meditative skills of observation and experimentation. Contemplative science allows for a deeper knowledge of mental phenomena, including a wide range of states of consciousness, and its emphasis on strict mental discipline counteracts the effects of conative (intention and desire), attentional, cognitive, and affective imbalances.

Just as behaviorism, psychology, and neuroscience have all shed light on the cognitive processes that enable us to survive and flourish, contemplative science offers a groundbreaking perspective for expanding our capacity to realize genuine well-being. It also forges a link between the material world and the realm of the subconscious that transcends the traditional science-based understanding of the self.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35493 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review

"[From] one of the most prominent voices in the discussions... Contemplative Science is a useful primer." -- Benjamin Bogin

"Wallace makes a strong case." -- George Scialabba, Boston Globe

"A copy should go to every scientist - both physical and contemplative - in the land." -- David Fontana

Review

" Contemplative Science is a must read for anyone interested in consciousness. Alan Wallace challenges neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and Buddhists, with lucid, provocative scholarship." -- Paul Ekman, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of California, San Francisco, and author of Emotions Revealed

About the Author

B. Alan Wallace spent fourteen years as a Buddhist monk, ordained by H. H. the Dalai Lama. The founder and president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies (sbinstitute.com), he has translated a number of Tibetan Buddhist texts and is the author of several books, including The Taboo of Subjectivity, and editor of Buddhism and Science (Columbia).

Customer Reviews

A very informative read.
B. Alan Wallace is a leading scholar and author on this subject. His way of writing in simple language about complicated concepts makes for very informative and fascinating reading. His insights can bring about a major shift in our perception of the relationship between science and spirituality.

good place to start
dr wallace is a sophisticated scientist who is very experienced in talking about the details of buddhism. he understands the thousands of years of studying the mind from a buddhist perspectice and how to integrate it with modern science. he has the input of the dalai lama too, having been a translator for him for years. i encourage the serious reader to take a look.

Contemplative Science
good shape copy of a good readable book. arrived quickly
would have preferred paperback but was ok.