Building on his classic bestseller Buddha's Brain, New York Times bestselling author and senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley Rick Hanson uses his Buddhist analysis of the mind as a roadmap for strengthening the neural circuitry of deep calm, contentment, kindness, and wisdom--qualities we all need to succeed in the face of adversity.
Most books about transformations of consciousness are theoretical or religious, typically full of jargon, pep talks, and calls to believe on faith alone. Instead, this is a book of practice, immediately actionable with simple, powerful guided meditations--and despite this grounded approach, its promise is radically life-changing. This book is nothing short of a path to transcendence, a method for liberating the mind and heart, discovering freedom from suffering, and engaging life with a kind heart and inner peace. A step-by-step path of practical ideas and tools, Dr. Hanson guides readers with his usual encouragement, good humor, and personal examples.
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"Marrying science with spiritual practices, bestselling author Rick Hanson shares seven principles to awaken, enlighten, and discover true happiness . . . While meditation, mindfulness and other spiritual practices, including those in his Neurodharma, are truly transformational, the goal is to move from passing states of peace and calm into lasting change in our everyday, waking life."--Elevated Existence Magazine
"Rick Hanson has a rare ability to inspire us to our fullest potential while giving us practical, actionable tools for our everyday lives."--Marie Forleo, author of Everything Is Figureoutable
"A brilliant and unprecedented offering, Neurodharma will guide you to the upper reaches of your potential as a human being."--Deepak Chopra, MD, New York Times bestselling author of You Are the Universe and Metahuman
"Rick Hanson's seven steps of awakening are a remarkable presentation of how the brain, mindfulness, and meditation are interconnected. There is a surprise perhaps for some in his take on nirvana but you have to read the book to find out what it is!"--Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World
The Dalai Lama once told me that he loves neuroscience, but that western psychology is still in kindergarten. With this brilliant synthesis, psychology just took a giant leap forward!"--Joan Z. Borysenko, PhD, author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind
"Rick Hanson has done a remarkable job weaving together the teachings of the Buddha, the insights of neuroscience, and the wisdom of his many years of practice. With great lucidity, this impressive work offers a wide range of teaching instructions that help us realize our highest aspirations."--Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
"Rick Hanson's brilliance is the capacity to offer practical, powerful, scientifically grounded practices that lead to true happiness and a loving heart. This is an illuminating and transformational book!"--Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion
"Combining a deep understanding of both neuroscience and Buddhist practice and philosophy, Rick Hanson has beautifully created a fascinating synthesis that shows how to train the mind to transform the brain toward health and flourishing."--Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence and Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human; executive director, Mindsight Institute
"The book has a nice structure, presenting both science and classical spiritual approaches to awakening. [Hanson]'s set the book up to feel like a retreat, presenting concepts in chunks and following them up with guided meditations . . . The more we learn about how our brains work, Hanson shares, the more assuredly we can travel up the path toward the mountain of enlightenment."--Spirituality & Health
Book Description
Reverse-engineer your brain to experience freedom from suffering with this radically bold yet practical seven-step plan from the New York Times bestselling author of Buddha's Brain and Hardwiring Happiness.
About the Author
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times bestselling author. His books are available in 28 languages and include Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha's Brain, and Mother Nurture. To date, his books have sold over 750,000 copies in English. He edits the Wise Brain Bulletin and has numerous audio programs. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA and founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he has been an invited speaker at NASA, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and other major universities, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in San Rafael, California, and have two adult children.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness
byRick Hanson
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John Doyle
5.0 out of 5 stars Another fantastic Rick Hanson must have book!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2020
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A profound book that provides a very positive influence on your wellbeing and happiness. As with all his fantastic books, Rick Hanson writes with a clarity and simplicity to make the complex subject of neuroscience understandable. In my opinion, he is the best in his field, his wisdom and guidance helps so many on their journey through life.
Neurodharma contains practical advice based on the latest current thinking, supported by ancient learnings and understanding. An easy read, with many simple ‘take outs’ to apply on a daily basis.
Yet again, Rick Hanson has written another must have book.
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Jill lynes
5.0 out of 5 stars Rick Hanson phenomenal book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2020
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Amazing, love Rick's work, listen to podcast too please, so authentic
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Matthew Bewers
5.0 out of 5 stars Self healing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2020
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Very good book to help you self heal
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Scott Orth
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Anyone Seeking to Understand Their Mind (and finding happiness)
Reviewed in Canada on 4 November 2020
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I'm a huge fan of Rick Hanson, Ph.D. For a guy like me with a science background and a more analytical orientation, I find his approach to neuroscience and evolutionary biology very helpful. He has done this well throughout all of his books, going back to Buddha's Brain, and always seem to meld the ancient wisdom with the neuroscience in a way that allows both to make more sense.
Neurodharma is his latest, clearest and deepest dive by far. If you have read his earlier books you will see the progression of the author's understanding and his own practice. And in the clarity of his writing. The only way someone could write a book like this is to have a deep personal practice and have personal experiences in these realms. Neurodharma is clear and insightful on so many levels. It has given me increased clarity on the workings of my own mind and new tools to help me grow and deepen my own practice. For that I am grateful! Thank you Dr. Hanson - I look forward to digesting this further over multiple re-reads and will watch for your future work!
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Joy Bose
5.0 out of 5 stars Combined wisdom from meditation and neuroscience
Reviewed in India on 20 May 2020
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I really liked the fact that the author combines wisdom and insights from different techniques of meditation with neural correlates and neuroscientific basis for the states. I have read quite a few books on the subject, but this one stands out in its practicality and accessibility. The author somehow manages to make it feel like a meditation guide and a neuroscience guide to brain states at the same time.
It will be of use to neuroscientists, those interested in the brain, seasoned meditators and people who are just curious about meditation. Highly recommend to read it.
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Jayan Edirisinghe
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening Book
Reviewed in Canada on 15 August 2020
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Dr. Rick Hanson’s Neuro Dharma is an enlightening book that invites the reader into the awakening truths of Dharma for the possibility of complete liberation of heart and mind. It is a beautiful blend of modern science and ancient wisdom offering seven insightful practices which lead to unconditioned happiness, our ultimate goal.
- Jayan E. Romesh,
Author of Mindful Living: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and Practices for Lasting Inner Peace
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Anna29
5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff!
Reviewed in Canada on 6 October 2020
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Buddhism for dummies -- and skeptics. Good stuff.
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MS
5.0 out of 5 stars Rigorous, profound, good humoured, wise, practical and inspirational.
Reviewed in Canada on 19 May 2020
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What a joy to read this. I bought the audiobook too, to complement the written word and to listen to the guided practices.
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Jijnasu Forever
5.0 out of 5 stars A structured, practical follow-up to expand on the "neural" basis of meditation techniques
Reviewed in the United States on 6 May 2020
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I re-read "Buddha's Brain" - BB - in anticipation of this book (that may help derive greater utility with this book, though not a pre-condition) . In BB, Hanson discussed the various aspects of the nervous system and provide a scientific frame to understand meditation. (Another favorite book thats worth reading alongside is "Why Buddhism is True?"). BB did provide some practical lessons on how to activate the portions of the nervous system critical to maintaiing a degree of calmness and be less reactive - but fell short of providing a cohesive, structured program or pathway (similar to the methods Jon Kabat-Zinn employs). This new book addresses that "gap" well. If you are familiar with his previous works, this book reads like an attempt to provide a practical structure to the concepts described in BB while providing a much deeper context for "Just One Thing".
In this book, he expands that notion in a more structured manner. His definition of neurodharma is "..truth of the mind grounded in the truth of the body, particularly in the nervous system.." sounds more complicated than necessary - he is continuing to make a simple premise mind-body are heavily intertwined. Such flowery language sometimes distracts the flow - there are many mixed metaphors that reads silly (.."The routes they have charted travel from the dusty plains into the foothills and mountains and then the highest peaks of enlightment"; "neural hardware, mental software")
The book (in 4 parts) is a collection of seven practices positioned as "essence of awakening". At the time of this review, the table of contents is not accessible - so here is a quick snapshot.
Part I (Embodied Practice) - two chapters that recaps aspects of neuroplasticity
Part II (Unshakeable Core) - three chapters (on steadiness, lovingness, fullness)
Part III (Living into Everything) - four chapters (on wholeness, nowness, allness, and timelessness)
Part IV (Always Already Home) - a single concluding chapter emphasizing effort itself as success.
Blending science and religion/philosophy in a secular-lite way is not an easy task and bound to be sometimes ackward. Hanson approaches that ackwardness with humility - he qualifies his interpretations as "limited perspectives of a middle aged, middle class, white American man" and acknoweldges clearly that each of his seven practices have been studied in depth in various traditions.
Each chapter is devoted to one practice - describes the core mental and neural foundations, reflections, guided meditation/ideas on how to integrate the concept in daily life, and a suggested list of additional readings. That structure lends itself well to a reader who may want to skip around to any particular theme or quickly access additional citations. Since the impact of any of the techniques mentioned can obviously vary and can be realized (if at all) over time, it is silly to even comment on the meditation exercises itself. But one gets a blend of loving-kindness, insight, etc in a more accessible manner without blindly subscribing to just one school of thought/tradition. Just for that, the author deserves a ton of credit.
66 people found this helpful
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Book-Movie-Music Lover
2.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely No Useful Information
Reviewed in the United States on 14 May 2020
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I highly anticipated receiving this book, hoping it would be filled with new and interesting insights. Unfortunately, it was 250 pages of absolutely NOTHING. It was nothing more than random ramblings about meditation (which has been covered in literally hundreds of other self-help books, so nothing new here) and other simple, basic common sense.
I always read self-help books with pencil in hand so that I can underline new and insightful concepts in the books, and go back to them for reference. I literally did not underline even ONE sentence in this book!
Again, if you are a human being of even average intelligence and have read even one or two basic self-help books, this book will add absolutely NOTHING to what you already know.
You would think that a guy who has written four or five previous books would wait until he had some actual new information and insights to cover before writing a new book. Unfortunately, he didn't. He just repeated what hundreds of other writers have covered in hundreds of other books over the past several decades.
30 people found this helpful
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Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness
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Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness
by Rick Hanson (Goodreads Author)
4.02 · Rating details · 138 ratings · 31 reviews
"This deeply researched and compassionate guide offers an easy-to-follow road map for creating day-to-day inner peace in today's increasingly complex world."--Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Throughout history, people have sought the heights of human potential--to become as wise and strong, happy and loving, as any person can ever be. And now recent science is revealing how these remarkable ways of being are based on equally remarkable changes in our own nervous system, making them more attainable than ever before.
In Neurodharma, the follow-up to his classic Buddha's Brain, New York Times bestselling author Rick Hanson, PhD, not only explores the new neuroscience of awakening but also offers a bold yet plausible plan for reverse-engineering peak experiences, sense of oneness, and even enlightenment itself. And he does so with his trademark blend of solid science and warm encouragement, guiding you along this high-reaching path with good humor, accessible tools, and personal examples.
A groundbreaking yet practical book, Neurodharma shares seven practices for strengthening the neural circuitry of profound contentment and inner peace--qualities that offer essential support in everyday life while also supporting the exploration of the most radical reaches of human consciousness. Step by step, this book explains how to apply these insights in order to cultivate unshakable presence of mind, a courageous heart, and serenity in a changing world. The breakthroughs of the great teachers are not reserved for the chosen few. Dr. Hanson shows how we can embody them ourselves in daily life to handle stress, heal old pain, feel at ease with others, and rest in the sense of our natural goodness.
The Buddha didn't use an MRI to become enlightened. Still, 2,500 years after he walked the dusty roads of northern India, neuroscientists are discovering the mechanisms of the brain that underpin the Buddha's penetrating analysis of the mind. With deep research, stories, guided meditations, examples, and applications, Dr. Hanson offers a fascinating, inspiring vision of who we can be--and an effective path for fulfilling this wonderful possibility. (less)
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Published May 5th 2020 by Harmony
ISBN0593135466 (ISBN13: 9780593135464)
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Anne Heinen
Apr 29, 2020Anne Heinen rated it it was amazing
Rick Hanson's latest book does not disappoint. I'm a longtime meditator with a strong interest in neuroscience. But Neurodharma is very accessible for anyone who wants to establish a psychologically beneficial meditation practice and who is even slightly curious about why the practices work in the brain and body to help achieve states of well being. Hanson does a good job of explaining the neurological underpinnings in layperson language. His clear and well-researched approach to achieving states of awakening are straightforward. I think the full fruit of their application will reveal itself over time, with practice. As it is, I've taken one pass through the book. Some stages, like nowness, required me to read his take on them to know what he's talking about. But his explanations make sense, especially when experientially applied. (less)
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The Bean of
Jul 15, 2020The Bean of rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Wonderful read. Soothing.
Some quotes:
"As Milarepa, the Tibetan sage, described his life of practice: In the beginning nothing came, in the middle nothing stayed, and in the end nothing left" Pg. 46
"Attention is like a combination spotlight and vacuum cleaner: it illuminates what it rests upon while pulling it into the brain" Pg. 49
"This is healthy desire in a nutshell: pursuing beneficial ends with skillful means while being at peace with whatever happens" Pg. 73
"Life fractures everyone, as Leonard Cohen writes: There is a crack, a crack in everything - That's how the light gets in" Pg. 92
"The combination of a ready-for-action amygdala and a needs-years-to-develop hippocampus is like a on-two punch: young children are easily upset while lacking internal resources for calming themselves and putting events in perspective" Pg. 102
"Truths are truths regardless of their messengers, but their expressions and the practices designed to realize them depend upon many factors, including gender, class, and history" Pg. 134
"You can think of your mind like a murky pond. As it becomes more tranquil, the dirt in it gradually settles. This reveals the pure nature of the pond's water -- never tainted itself by what was floating in it -- and the beautiful jewels that have always been resting on its bottom" Pg. 138
"Tranquil and Alert. Imagine spending the minutes and days of your life in this way." Pg. 162
~~"1) forms (sights, etc.) 2) hedonic tones (pleasant/unpleasant etc.) 3) perceptions (labels etc.) 4) formations (thoughts, desires etc.) 5) awareness
"A cloud is an eddy of the atmosphere, an argument is an eddy in a relationship, and a thought is an eddy in the stream of consciousness" Pg. 227
"My own conviction is that the mind and the universe have the same deep nature, to be emergent, empty, and full of possibility. Within ordinary reality, this is our own nature, always. And our true nature opens into vast reality"
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Kay Porterfield
May 19, 2020Kay Porterfield rated it it was amazing
Perfect Reading for a Pandemic
I’ve loved Rick Hanson’s work ever since I read, Buddha’s Brain. Even so, I wasn’t prepared for the impact Neurodharma would have on me. In this book Hanson describes the seven themes, or qualities, of awakening to true happiness and then analyzes how to attain them based on what neuroscientists have learned about the structure of the brain and ancient teachings. Although he focuses on the Buddhist concept of enlightenment, he draws parallels to other traditions as well. As in his other books, he writes with clarity and simplicity. What’s different about this book is the spiritual depth of the material. After examining how we have come to be such miserable, worrying, craving, hurt, sad, frustrated and angry people, he suggests how we can change our brains. In Part Two he delves deeply into teachings and practices both ancient and modern for each theme. This is not a book one can zip through to become enlightened in a few days. Rick Hanson clearly knows his science and his Buddhism. I liked that he frequently quotes from Buddhist sacred texts, focuses on practices, offers suggestions for further reading, and has compiled an extensive bibliography. The brain retraining practices, questions and meditations I have tried so far have left me feeling lighter and more relaxed, which is no easy task given the pandemic. I began reading, as, I usually do with a pen in hand and a notepad by my side jotting lines that moved me – until I realized if I kept it up I’d be copying the whole book. I have a feeling it’s one I’ll be reading again and again.
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Lorena
May 06, 2020Lorena rated it it was amazing
In Neurodharma, psychologist Rick Hanson combines neuroscience and secular spirituality to help readers achieve self-actualization, and he does so with warmth and humor. I loved the author’s encouraging tone, and appreciated his explanation of how to develop an effective practice. He has a knack for explaining concepts clearly. He then discusses the seven ways of being that he considers the essence of awakening: steadiness, lovingness, fullness, wholeness, newness, allness, and timelessness.
Each section of the book includes meditations and suggested readings, as well as inspiring quotes from various spiritual teachers. Roughly 40 percent of the book consists of notes and the bibliography.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in developing a meditation practice or learning how to get more benefit from practice. Practical and encouraging, this book should have wide appeal.
Thanks to the publisher, Harmony Books, for providing me with an unproofed ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review. (less)
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Cristine Pollock
May 04, 2020Cristine Pollock added it
Neurodharma is a jewel of a book!
Having been a student of Rick Hanson's for many years and having read each of his previous books, I found that, in Neurodharma, Rick perfectly synthesized for me material from key aspects of modern neuroscience, psychology and Buddhism. In his book, he presents a step by step learning path for creating greater happiness and well being. The book is extremely well organized and integrates
content with practical exercises, guided meditations, suggested readings and t ...more
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A. D
Sep 29, 2020A. D rated it really liked it
Neurodharma by Rick Hanson skilfully blends neuroscience and scientific principles with ancient teachings and wisdom.
We spend so much of our time worrying, stressing and obsessing over what we can’t control that we forget to notice the present moment. This is why this book is so needed in our busy day and age. We focus on what we have and don’t have, convincing ourselves that happiness is a goal, destination, something we “get” not become.
The book takes you on a walk through what happiness truly means and how our brains work. Rick Hanson offers more than one perspective and shows you a good overview of concepts – brain science and spirituality. It’s structured in 7 core principles: steadiness, lovingness, wholeness, nowness, fullness, allness, and timelessness, each supported with a practice.
One of the best things about this book is that it not only informs, educates and raises awareness, but it also provides practical tools and support such as practices and meditations. It’s a book that you don’t just read once in one sitting, you’ll take notes, reflect, explore and return to it again. You have the ability to grow as you read and re-read it.
I have kindly received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Rodale Inc. Harmony in exchange of a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. (less)
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David Schwarm
Jul 13, 2020David Schwarm rated it liked it
Not sure about this one...there are a lot of meditation practices--like guided meditaion strategies. There is not that much New Science--I was hoping for a kind of Meditation in the Digital Age type weird read, but it was more of a standard third wave western buddhism book.
Not sure I would recommend this to anyone since there are so many other MASSIVE books that fill the same space.
In some places, this reads like that guy in your college dorm who listened to Alan Watts every week on KPFK (I went to UCLA and there were a LOT of these guys), but occasionally there are some golden moments.
I don't know--nothing wrong with this, but just not very innovative or new to live up to the hype of that amazing title--NEURODHARMA just seems so damn potentially cool!
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Don S
Apr 23, 2020Don S rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: completed
Rick Hanson’s latest work is a consummate guide on the path to human potential through seven practices of awakening. Focusing on practices rather than theory, he invites us to explore and confirm, through our experiences, the signs along the way.
What begins as a simple invitation unfolds into a creative mix of phenomenology, neuroscience, and Buddhism. Hanson uses authentic teachings in the Pali Canon, grounded in the body and its nervous system, to point you towards practical experience. He is not presenting the whole complex system of Buddhism, but focusing on key ideas and methods for very practical purposes.
With that in mind, Hanson offers descriptions of each of the seven practices and how they are grounded in our nervous system. He further describes the reciprocal impact of body on mind and mind on body for each practice. While establishing this context, he weaves in multiple practices that you can try, allowing you to witness the landscape yourself. This is the heart of this very practical guidebook and, with effort, it can yield profound experiences.
Hanson has once again given us an educational and enlightening travel guide, filled with heart. It is an inspirational and pragmatic book with just the right tone during this time of crisis.
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Maggie
Oct 05, 2020Maggie rated it liked it
Shelves: zen-buddhism, mental-health, meditation
this is an amazing book, written by a genius, a quiet genius but still a genius! everything possible to know about the dharma and the neurobiology of the mind while engaged with the dharma. my problem is that i am not a genius and whereas i could pick up on many presented ideas, there were just as many that i thought "hunh?" so it would take me a life time with this ONE book to glean all the value from it, and there is a lot of value presented in this book. but we all know that in our modern world, a book's shelf-life doesn't last a lifetime ... soon there will be books about this book and i am getting exhausted trying to keep up.
it seems to have covered the last 5,000 years of accumulated knowledge on buddhism and how the mind works and how those two vital aspects are interrelated. in short, it holds everything and is beautifully written. my problem was that my brain just couldn't take it all in. (less)
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Uta
Apr 26, 2020Uta rated it it was amazing
In less than 160 pages Rick writes in well explained terms about 7 ways or stages of being.
The reason I love this book is because Rick explains all (quite tangibly) for the early seeker as well as those that have visited each of the states he describes in this book. Where words usually fail to explain some of these stages or concepts (ie are best expressed through poetry, music or hand gestures with wide eyes) he brings it down to earth- in comprehendible language.
While I read it seemed as though Rick and his teachers were right there with me (frequent quotes, recommended texts throughout) And, there are supportive practices to reinforce or experiment with the teachings. It made me happy because he integrates all of this ancient work with current day to day life.
This book is a mountain in a mustard seed.
Read & resonate,
rinse & repeat, as needed… (less)
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William Schwarz
May 05, 2020William Schwarz rated it it was amazing
Recommends it for: Anyone interested in personal growth
Recommended to William by: The author
In Neurodharma, Dr. Rick Hanson daringly holds nothing back as he takes aim to describe seven aspects of embodied awakening, including higher human potentialities that have heretofore lain beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. As these characteristics may be observed in some enlightened human beings today with insight gained from an understanding of the latest findings of neuroscience, this book generously represents a well-organized distillation perhaps of nothing less than everything known by this brilliant neuropsychologist, teacher and life-long seeker and practitioner. It is a true gift, not to be overlooked or quickly put aside by any aspiring seeker interested in the full range and potential realms of human experience referenced by the great sages from the days of antiquity and up to the present time. (less)
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Filo A
Apr 06, 2020Filo A rated it it was amazing
In a time demanding we all bring our best, Neurodharma delivers a thought provoking, masterful guide to the ancient path of individual and community awakening. Dr. Hanson’s gentle voice explains the neural basis for each step of the journey, followed by on point mindfulness practices linking this new acquired knowledge via installation to our neural networks. Consistent throughout the work is the truth that we may not be able to control the events swarming around us, yet we can control the steadiness of our minds, our compassion and kindness, claiming our fullness as we are whole, remain present, open to all that surround us and finally reaching timelessness. This reader closed Neurodharma far more woke than when she opened it. (less)
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nan herron
May 11, 2020nan herron rated it it was amazing
This book astonished me. Dr. Rick Hanson has found a way to gently unpack the transcendent and offer it to the reader in a beautifully articulated, poetic, accessible but not simplified text. It is filled with exercises, meditations, applications and everyday examples. He also includes fascinating footnotes to connect us with centuries of tradition and science. I simply couldn't put it down because every word opened up a new way to enjoy, appreciate, accept and just generally enjoy a better way of approaching life. His gift to us is bringing down to earth otherwise unintelligible concepts. I plan to get my hands on everything Dr. Hanson has written -- Life is short and I owe that to myself. (less)
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Tom Rozsas
Aug 29, 2020Tom Rozsas rated it it was amazing
Neurodharma is a fascinating book for all absorbed in meditation. Written by a psychologist who practices, teaches, and researches meditation, the book provides an insight into how meditation works and how it relates to our neural processes.
Neurodharma is not an introduction to meditation. Beginning meditators may find it difficult to grasp and will not find guide they can follow. But Rick Hanson provides helpful practices for experienced meditators. While I doubt it should be your first book on meditation, I definitely recommend it if you have already started your journey. (less)
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QUINNS
Sep 20, 2020QUINNS rated it really liked it
To live a happy and peaceful life, the author suggests a roadmap of seven ways which he refers to as the “heights of human potential”. The seven steps, steadiness, lovingness, fullness, wholeness, nowness, allness, and timelessness. These help handle stress, heal past pain, and seek to bring love and compassion to yourself and others. In addition, meditation is a powerful tool, that also helps in developing these ways of being. It also improves mood which helps mental health in the long run, tapping into the contentment within all of us. (less)
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JP
Sep 20, 2020JP rated it did not like it
Shelves: religion, personal-growth
I fully expected to enjoy the mix of science and Eastern thought this book promised, but I just couldn’t get into it. First, it’s a lot heavier on the spriritual side, particularly Buddhism. I’ve enjoyed those topics in the past, but the organization here was hard to follow. I found some occasional nuggets of practical wisdom, such as how to turn around a negative experience etched into the brain. Overall, it was still too hard to read compared to others in this genre. I suspect others may find it more useful than I did. (less)
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