Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment

Bertrand Russell was concerned with three passions: longing for love, search for knowledge and unbearable pity for the endless suffering of mankind. That is something ,particularly in the last one. A great philosopher, a learned man expressing his helplessness ! An academic who wrote a number of treatises on Mathematics, Philosophy and wrote on many other subjects !! Actually he was honest and humane . Many other philosophers were not so forthcoming. Many of them were too busy working out abstract ideas( which then ended up producing unworkable theories like Marxism ). Then the question comes : why this “endless suffering” without hope, why is it so difficult to address ? Well, could there be some fundamental contradictions between these “ passions”-three or whatever ? After all, these are fundamentals issues , faced by everybody at one time or another. In this hopeless situation let us turn to a historical figure. It was sometimes back ,actually 2500 years ago ; 500 years before Christ. One minor prince from India named Siddhartha Gautama was haunted by the miseries of life . He was not interested in abstract theories like Metaphysics, Epistemology etc (like most philosophers ). He was concerned with “mundane” problems like ageing, diseases and death which nobody could escape including himself !!. He wanted a solution , if there was one. He left behind his baby, his wife , family, everything and went into a jungle to meditate. He came out after years of meditation with a solution. He has become the Buddha, the “awakened one “ . It is not a religion. He said human salvation does not depend on god, it depends on himself ,his karma !!! He said anybody can become a Buddha !!! Think of some religions !!! A former prince, he became a Bhuku , begging for food in the morning and eating only once a day if some people were kind enough to give him some food , wondering from place to place ,not settling down anywhere, wearing rags etc. !!! To ordinary mortals like me, the cure seems more terrifying than the disease itself!! But He-at least- gave us a SOLUTION or so it appears. However philosophers “forgot” to examine his system for a long time . Brahmins in India did not like him because he attacked the Brahminical caste system , Muslim invaders were more brutal (non-violence of Buddhism made the slaughter easy ); Monasteries , great Universities were razed to the ground. Buddhism virtually vanished from India. But time does change , particularly when thousands of years have elapsed. Arthur Schopenhauer was influenced by Indian religious texts and later claimed that Buddhism was the "best of all possible religions. Husserl says :” That Buddhism - insofar as it speaks to us from pure original sources - is a religio-ethical discipline for spiritual purification and fulfillment of the highest stature - conceived of and dedicated to an inner result of a vigorous and unparalleled, elevated frame of mind, will soon become clear to every reader who devotes themselves to the work. Buddhism is comparable only with the highest form of the philosophy and religious spirit of our European culture. It is now our task to utilize this (to us) completely new Indian spiritual discipline which has been revitalized and strengthened by the contrast.” After he became Buddha , Siddhartha came to meet his father . His father was furious :” Are you not ashamed to beg in a place where you once were a Prince ?” It need not be that Buddhism is the ONLY solution but it is worth examining. If you want to know more about Buddha and his ways , try this book. It is wonderful.

I have in the past read a few books on Hinduism that allude to the concept of 'self' and 'consciousness'. But I always struggled to understand the concept and how we can create a distance with our thoughts and feelings so as to be their observer as opposed to be identified with them.Reading this book gave me the "eureka" moment in understanding these concepts. Brilliantly explains in simple language how the human brain has been engineered for survival, which also leads to delusion and suffering. It explains the state of enlightenment and how meditative practices can take us closer to state of liberation.I take away 1 star because I think this book does tend to meander into areas that seemed academic to me. But overall I will recommend this book as a good read.

A great read and very conversational language as if the author is talking to you. Many times felt to leave the book in between but picked it again every time. Sometimes, as the author makes an argument to convince you something, it feels like you are being manipulated . On a second thought it looks like he is being very honest at so many places and so builds trust to comfortable in being manipulated. At the end, I found it worthy to complete it and be able to see the emptiness of the book:)

An absolute treasure for those who amusingly seek the answers but miss the concrete closure on connection and relevance of meditation or its Buddhist version of mindfulness with reference to evolutionary perspective and the development of brain and the journey and space of psychological function . The unfolding is balanced with a scientific hypothesis ensuring that nothing is left to assumption , hence from the illogical to logic , from articulate to inarticulate this offering by Prof.Robert wright with due diligence is made as simple as it can get to ingest the four Noble truths to eightfold path in light of modern day psychology with extensive and ongoing research in quest of answers to human predicament and the shift in consciousness as the thruthful answer to both the skeptics and hopeful seekers.

The Darwin's evolution theory and Buddhism psychology well explained

The book has a promising start but all the meandering in the abstract idea of not-self is unnecessary, complicated and frankly a buzz kill.

Great psychology research of Budhism. Great book but the writing need to be simpler for non English readers. Otherwise, wonderful book.

Great writing style and strictly scientific approach.Excellent backdrop of evolutionary theory used to make his point. Even those not interested in meditation can read as a scientific book on inner life.Highly recommended to all to go for it.Not just this book, but read each and every book written by Robert Wright viz Moral Animal, Non-Zero Sum, Evolution of God etc.

As someone newly exploring Buddhism and meditation from a secular perspective, this book made the link I needed between modern scientific understanding of human perspective and the ancient teachings of the Buddha. Humble, humorous and fascinating. An important book for those looking for a peaceful, kinder, joyful way of life.

Has expected

Absolutely love this book. Im half way through but its exactly what i was looking for. :)

In "Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment," the intersection of neuroscience, meditation, and Buddhism provides a transformative exploration of the self, society, and the nature of reality.This book isn't just a philosophical exposition; it's a scientific exploration into the underpinnings of human cognition, emotion, and perception. Drawing from the latest research in neuroscience, the author offers empirical validation for the profound insights provided by Buddhist philosophy and meditation.The impact of the book is significantly heightened by its ability to facilitate a deeper connection with oneself. During instances when I've felt adrift from my emotions or disconnected from my mental state, the teachings of this book, steeped in both ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience, have guided me back to equilibrium.This scientific perspective doesn't diminish the personal and emotional impact of the book, rather, it augments it. The fusion of scientific rigor with philosophical wisdom makes the teachings more tangible, relatable, and applicable to day-to-day life.The book's power extends into its audio format, which I've found equally enriching. Both reading and listening to it have allowed me to absorb the scientific and philosophical insights at a deeper level, reinforcing my understanding and application of its teachings.In sum, "Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment" represents a fascinating confluence of neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality. It successfully bridges the gap between empirical science and introspective wisdom, offering a transformative tool for understanding our minds and our lives.If you're seeking not just a book, but a scientifically grounded journey into self-discovery and enlightenment, I highly recommend this. It transcends the boundary between science and philosophy, offering a fresh perspective on our inner workings and our understanding of reality.

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