Neuroscience and Spiritual Practice

Conference Videos

2009-02-25T11:22:00.001-08:00

Video of Conference Presentations Now Available
Conference videos are available via Google Video. Videos are available for those presenters who have released them for public viewing. Videos for those presentations appearing on the conference schedule, but not listed here, are not available. Follow these links to view videos:

Sunday Afternoon - The Neuroscience of Buddhist Contemplative Practices
Andrew Dreitcer, opening remarks
B. Alan Wallace, presenting
Daniel J. Siegel, responding

Sunday Evening - The Neuroscience of Jewish Contemplative Practices
Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman, presenting
Rick Hanson, responding

Monday Morning - The Neuroscience of Christian Centering Prayer
Rick Hanson, "Forming Your Spirit"

Monday Panels - Scientific, Philosophic, Contemplative and Theological Perspectives in Conversation
Group 1
Brent Field
Martinez Hewlett
Greg Peterson

Group 2
William Waldron
Petr Janata
Steve Padilla
Daniel Siegel
Larry Ward

Group 3
Roland Faber
David Roy

Group 4
Thandeka
Ed Bastian

Monday Evening - Developing a Contemplative Mind
Monica A. Coleman, "On Baking and Biking"
Daniel Siegel, responding

Download Conference Papers

2008-12-08T17:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome letter by Andrew Dreitcer (20Kb)
Opening Address by Andrew Dreitcer (24Kb)
"Space, Time and Deity: Considerations on Theological Presuppositions of Inquiry" by Roland Faber (26Kb)
"Forming Your Spirit: Practical Ways to Use Brain Science to Cultivate Wholesome States of Mind" by Rick Hanson (78Kb)
"The Neuroscience of Jewish Contemplative Practices" by Rick Hanson (26Kb)
"How might music-related spiritual experiences manifest themselves in the brain?" by Petr Janata (10Mb)
"A Perspective on Neuroscience and Contemplation" by Ben Johnson (24Kb)
"Four Process Observations on Neuroscience & Spiritual Practices" by David E. Roy (68Kb)
"Science and Religion: Mortal Enemies or Synergistic Allies?" by David E. Roy (30Kb)
"A Buddhist Philosophical Critique of Naturalizing Mind" by William S. Waldron (137Kb)
"Climbing Taos Mountain" by Martinez Hewlett (40Kb)

An inter-religious conference exploring emerging understandings in neurospirituality

2008-07-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

What happens to the brain during spiritual practices? Recent neuroscientific studies suggest that meditation, contemplation, and prayer may change the brain and neurosystem in identifiable and possibly predictable ways. What are the implications of such findings for spiritual formation? For science? For theology and philosophy? For life?

In addressing such questions, this unprecedented conference will gather an international group of renowned scientists, philosophers, theologians, and contemplatives to probe the relationship between neuroscientific understandings and the contemplative practices of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The conference will offer presentations, conversations, and opportunities to engage in and reflect on spiritual practices from each of the religious traditions represented.

Presentation Schedule

2008-07-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 12
2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. - “The Neuroscience of Buddhist Contemplative Practices”: Alan Wallace, Daniel J. Siegel, with Shauna Shapiro
UCLA neuroscience researcher and psychiatrist Daniel Siegel will offer a presentation of what the latest neuroscientific studies are revealing about brain activity during meditation. Buddhist scholar and contemplative Alan Wallace will present a contemplative’s view of the scientific findings and teach a Buddhist meditative practice called “Settling the Mind in Its Natural State." Both will describe their own experiences in meditation. The event will be moderated by meditation researcher and Buddhist practitioner Shauna Shapiro.

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. - “The Neuroscience of Jewish Contemplative Practices”: Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman and Rick Hanson

Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman will teach a practice from the Jewish contemplative tradition. Rick Hanson, psychologist and meditation teacher, will lead us through an exploration of what may be happening with the brain during this practice.

Monday, October 13
9 a.m.-11:15 a.m. - “The Neuroscience of Christian 'Centering Prayer'”: Fr. Thomas Keating, Michael Spezio, Cassi Vieten

In this unique gathering, Father Thomas Keating, co-creator of “Centering Prayer,” will teach this well-known, historically-rooted practice. Michael Spezio, neuroscientific researcher and Scripps College psychology professor, will lead us through an exploration of what may be happening with the brain during Centering Prayer. Both will speak of their own experiences in Centering Prayer in conversation moderated by meditation researcher and psychologist Cassie Vieten.

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - “Forming Your Spirit: Practical Ways to Use Brain Science to Cultivate Wholesome States of Mind”: Rick Hanson

As a Buddhist practitioner and teacher of meditation, psychologist Rick Hanson has developed a profound perspective on how the understandings of neuroscience may benefit contemplative practice and daily life. In this seminar Rick will guide us in how we may apply knowledge of brain science in practical ways – no matter what our religious or spiritual tradition might be.

1:45 - p.m.-5:15 p.m. “Neuroscience and spiritual practices: scientific, philosophic, contemplative, and theological perspectives in conversation with each other”: Panel presentations and responses by the conference leaders.

7:00 p.m. - Public Lecture “Developing the contemplative mind”: Daniel Siegel and Monica Coleman with Katheen Greider and David Roy

Tuesday, October 14
9 a.m.-11 a.m. - “The Neuroscience of Sufi Contemplative Practices”: Nahid Angha and Richard Mendius

Sufi scholar and teacher Nahid Angha will teach a meditative practice from her tradition. Rick Mendius, neurologist and meditation teacher, will lead us through an exploration of what may be happening with the brain during this practice.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Closing Reflections