Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. This book is really about Wright wanting you to know why he thinks secular Buddhism makes sense, and why mindfulness meditation is good for you. I've read a ton of evolutionary theory. —Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and bestselling author of Authentic Happiness, “This is exactly the book that so many of us are looking for. I’m not talking about the “supernatural” or more exotically metaphysical parts of Buddhism—reincarnation, for example—but rather about the naturalistic parts: ideas that fall squarely within modern psychology and philosophy. I would recommend that before anyone read this book, they learn and try a little meditation practice. ", Useful Fictions: Evolution, Anxiety, and the Origins of Literature, The Monk and the Philosopher: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life, Daniel Kahneman’s System 1 and System 2 thinking modes, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Shares His Reading Recommendations. With great clarity and wit, he brings together personal anecdotes with insights from evolutionary theory and cognitive science to defend an ancient yet radical world-view. We might as well get that over with: 1. yay. Also, Wright's Buddhism is itself nontribal in that he describes the practice in terms of science and psychology and so requires no religious attachment in order to benefit from these spiritual exercises. Basically, our brains are not wired for peace and happiness--only to propel our genes forward. This is the space where mindfulness can critically intervene. This state of affairs, as revealed by psychological science, aligns well with Buddhist renderings of the human predicament, and (even more remarkably) psychological science is also showing that the Buddhist prescription of mindfulness meditation can indeed help alleviate much of this suffering. 10 min read Robert Wright’s book, Why Buddhism Is True: The Science And Philosophy Of Meditation And Enlightenment (2017) is part of the ‘Secular Buddhist’ movement — … —Peter Singer, professor of bioethics at Princeton University and author of Ethics in the Real World, “Cool, rational, and dryly cynical, Robert Wright is an unlikely guide to the Dharma and ‘not-self.’ But in this extraordinary book, he makes a powerful case for a Buddhist way of life and a Buddhist view of the mind. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment. Growing up I always had a problem reading philosophy books, which often seemed to be written in a way that made them deliberately obtuse and inaccessible. Social encounters wouldn’t typically have been high-pressure events. The book covers several core Buddhist ideas, however, it doesn't actually spend much time with the mechanics of meditation practice. This is all worthy of severity. Briefly, his argument is that our minds are populated by evolved psychological adaptations that were naturally selected for their adaptive utility, NOT for seeing the world objectively. The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment, “I have been waiting all my life for a readable, lucid explanation of Buddhism by a tough-minded, skeptical intellect. In Why Buddhism is True, Wright leads readers on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age. Welcome back. Why Buddhism Is True The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment (Book) : Wright, Robert : At the heart of Buddhism is a simple claim: The reason we suffer -- and the reason we make other people suffer -- is that we don't see the world clearly. The title is misleading (and perhaps nonsensical? At first I was disappointed he was writing about Buddhism beca. If the way they seize control of the show is through feelings, it stands to reason that one way to change the show is to change the role feelings play in everyday life. In Why Buddhism is True, Wright leads readers on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age. For the first time ever, as soon as I finished this book, I returned to the beginning and began it again. Why Buddhism Is True is available for sale at AsiaStore. That is why I was surprised by his new book: In what sense did he mean Buddhism is "true"? Robert Wright's Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment (2017) considers Buddhism through the lens of evolutionary psychology, a discipline that regards natural selection as the provenance of many mental traits. This Western Buddhism centers on a part of Buddhist practice that in Asia is more common among monks than among laypeople: meditation, along with immersion in Buddhist philosophy. I've read a ton of evolutionary theory and a bunch of buddhism lite, but this one is exactly the synthesis I've been waiting for (without knowing it). I’d strongly recommend this for anyone curious about meditation, specifically the Buddhist Vipassanā “mindfulness” meditation that everyone and their dog is doing, attempting, or at least talking about. Or that the nagging restlessness for some kind of specialness comes from when social status was needed to survive. ", "There’s a lot to dislike about the world we’re born into. H. The title is a bit misleading, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. well, more fun. The book served to be pretty enlightening , as it gave a solid overview of a secular, or "naturalistic " perspective of Buddhism - by showing how many psychological theories that are currently entertained by the scientific community have, all the while ,been accepted(albeit in a implicit sense... very implicit sense) by Buddhists for thousands of years . “I have been waiting all my life for a readable, lucid explanation of Buddhism by a tough-minded, skeptical intellect. The book is a nice primer on meditation and evolutionary theory with some helpful insights. I can see a number of consistencies between leftist ideas of how the mind works and buddhist conceptions, such as non-self and emptiness doctrines, the notion that desire is separate from the desiring ego, both anterior and superior to it, and how conduct is often based on irrational or pre-rational impulses. —Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at Yale University and author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion, “What a terrific book. #btnsx-184:hover{} Melvin McLeod: Your new book, Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment, is getting more mainstream attention than any other Buddhist-oriented book I can think of.Were you consciously trying to reach people who would normally turn their nose up at a book about Buddhism? Odder still, the Buddhism he thinks is true is not historic Buddhism at all. Can I have some independent reviews of this book? It took me a while to put my finger on why I found this book irritating, but I think I've figured it out. This is a scientific and spiritual voyage unlike any I have taken before.” —Kirkus Reviews, /*184-start*/ Buddhism holds that human suffering is a result of not seeing the world clearly—and proposes that seeing the world more clearly, through meditation, will … Well, he is still a naturalist but he has discovered that Buddhism has done the best job of describing the human problem and how to transcend our natural states and live happier, more peaceful lives--namely, through the practice of meditation. Wright lightens the trek through some challenging philosophical concepts with well-chosen anecdotes and a self-deprecating humor.” But Wright’s book, although delightful to read, is intelligent and care-fully written and it doesn’t take long to detect the act of generosity that motivated its writing. BUY THE BOOK, Chapter 4: Bliss, Ecstasy, and More Important Reasons to Meditate, Chapter 5: The Alleged Nonexistence of Your Self, Chapter 7: The Mental Modules That Run Your Life, Chapter 13: Like, Wow, Everything Is One (at Most). 'Why Buddhism Is True' Explores Links Between Evolutionary Biology And Meditation : Shots - Health News Science journalist and author Robert Wright says that Buddhist … The bridging of these two traditions can have wonderful effects in an individual's understanding of reality. The emphasis on the utilizing Buddhist ideas and practice to recognize the distortions in our perception of reality both inwardly and outwardly. Brief Summary of Book: Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright. In this case, it's necessary. ", "We're designed by natural selection to care—and care a lot—about what other people think of us. But as Shunryu Suzuki-roshi once said—read, This is a truly remarkable, fantastic book. Well, at least some of them. I admit to being a relatively slow reader, but this took a long time even for me, over 18 months. I was a huge fan of Wright's EVOLUTION OF GOD where he tracked the progress in humanity's idea of God from an evolutionary paradigm. ", "The routine business of mindfulness—observing the world inside you and outside you with inordinate care—can do more than tone down troublesome feelings and enhance your sense of beauty. Purchase this in-depth analysis to learn more. Finished “Why Buddhism is True” a few weeks ago. Buddhist practice aims to bring people out of that state of delusion and suffering, but Wright wanted to know, very practically, how that works. It simply reinforces the idea that spiritual growth requires deep self-knowledge and reflection, and too many of us treat these as optional. The book served to be pretty enlightening , as it gave a solid overview of a secular, or "naturalistic " perspective of Buddhism - by showing how many psychological theories that are currently entertained by the scientific community have, all the while ,been accepted(albeit in a implicit sense... very implicit sense) by Buddhists for thousands of years . Purchase this in-depth analysis to learn more . Wright looks at Buddhism through the lens of modern psychology, but with a primary focus on his specialty: Evolutionary Psychology. It struck me as a very American thing to do, and I think with this book Robert Wright does much the same thing with Buddhis. For that reason I was really glad when I discovered the writing of Will Durant, an early 20th century writer who became popular for revisiting the arguments of the great philosophers in a clear and unpretentious language. It is in THAT sense that Buddhism is "true", and Wright hastens to separate secular Buddhism from the metaphysical claims and figures (such as Mara, the demonic deceiver) that attend some strains of Buddhism. Robert Wright: I wanted to show people that the Buddhist diagnosis makes … At once excitingly ambitious and wittily accessible, this is the first book to combine evolutionary psychology with cutting-edge neuroscience to defend the … I think the core of Christianity, and not the tarnished beliefs of humans that have used as a mode. As a Christian, I see no problem in fully embracing his insights and recommendations for meditating and becoming mindful. #btnsx-184:hover{-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none;} You can read this before Why Buddhism is True: The Science and … —Publishers Weekly (starred review), “A well-organized, freshly conceived introduction to core concepts of Buddhist thought…. Forget the title--it's misleading. This book will be useful for all of us, from experienced meditators to hardened skeptics who are wondering what all the fuss is about.” And that is not a bad thing. This is a truly transformative work.” How does keeping the mind still and counting your breath while sitting in front of a wall make things clearer? Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Growing up I always had a problem reading philosophy books, which often seemed to be written in a way that made them deliberately obtuse and inaccessible. This book is essentially an introduction to secular Buddhism. The book was pretty good as an introduction to some secular perspectives of Buddhism, some modern perspectives in psychology , and an ehhh intro to evo psych. "-Scientific American "Cool, rational, and dryly cynical, Robert Wright is an unlikely guide to the Dharma and 'not-self.' #btnsx-184{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:40px;padding-right:40px;} Start by marking “Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment” as Want to Read: Error rating book. I really enjoyed the book and it has convinced me to give meditation another try. Basically, our brains are not wired for peace and happiness--only to propel our genes forward. Well, he is still a naturalist but he has discovered that Buddhism has done the best job of describing the human problem and how to transcend our natural states and live happier, more peaceful lives--namely, through the practice of meditation. Chapter 16: Meditation and the Unseen Order. The book seeks to have the same effect on your mind as mindfulness meditation: it will help you see your world a little more clearly, a little less clouded by egocentric delusions – yours and others. It struck me as a very American thing to do, and I think with this book Robert Wright does much the same thing with Buddhist philosophy. By “true,” Wright means that Buddhism’s “diagnosis of the human predicament is fundamentally correct, and that its prescription is deeply valid and … It’s a world in which, as the Buddha noted, our natural way of seeing, and of being, leads us to suffer and to inflict suffering on others. But then there are so many schools of meditation… I’m primarily interested in the evolutionary psychology angle here, but have to sit through these pages that don’t entirely accord with my Soto Zen dharma. So in that sense, it is an important book in my view. Even if this book has its occasional thought-provoking moment, my overwhelming reaction is shock at how fluffy and slipshod the writing is. I think it may be way stronger. Written with the wit, clarity, and grace for which Wright is famous, Why Buddhism Is True lays the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age and shows how, in a time of technological distraction and social division, we can save ourselves from ourselves, both as individuals and as a species. Wright goes with the basic idea that suffering is caused by our desires, and that our desires are caused by our illusory perception of reality. The emphasis on the utilizing Buddhist ideas and practice to recognize the distortions in our perception of reality both inwardly and outwardly. /*184-end*/ . It is in this sense that Wright believes Buddhism to be true: that it accurately describes the faulty seeing that is happening inside of us, the suffering caused by the lack of clarity, and a way to ease the pain. Briefly, his argument is that our minds are populated by evolved psychological adaptations that were naturally selected for their adaptive utility, NOT for seeing. I've been pondering this similarity a lot recently. It would be tempting to lump this book about mindfulness as yet another attempt to capitalize on the current mindfulness vogue. It was helpful to me to see how the findings of evolutionary psychology shed light on the question that comes up for all of us now and then: where the hell did that thought come from? well, more fun. If I meditated half as much as I read books about meditation it is very possible that I’d be a notch or two from enlightenment by now! For more than a decade, Neil deGrasse Tyson, the world-renowned astrophysicist and host of the popular radio and Emmy-nominated... From one of America’s greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness. But do I really need to give in to that kind of hunger now? But , I digresss. The book covers several core Buddhist ideas, however, it doesn't actually spend much time with the mechanics of meditation practice. Enjoyed this book, however— I don’t think you can pinpoint anything in it that 100% “proves” why Buddhism is “true.”. You can say that this is a small step toward liberation – a small step that has good effects for me and for the rage-filled world I live in. I've read every book Wright's written and all have been fantastic. The salvation experience so common in the west perhaps an equivalent experience. It is in THAT sense that Buddhism is "true", and Wright hastens. #btnsx-184{background-color:#fec11e!important;} If that person is, like Robert Wright, a gifted writer, the answer is this surprising, enjoyable, challenging, and potentially life-changing book.” Buddhist practice aims to bring people out of that state of delusion and suffering, but Wright wanted to know, very practically, how that works. I would recommend that before anyone read this book, they learn and try a little meditation practice. #btnsx-184{border-top-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-style:none;border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;} Why Buddhism is True by Wright is about how the central insights of Buddhism with regards to habits and pleasure has been corroborated by modern scientific I disagree with the author’s view of meditation as a study of one’s thought. . That is why I was surprised by his new book: In what sense did he mean Buddhism is "true"? This is a scientific and spiritual voyage unlike any I have taken before.”. ), but there's plenty of interesting reflection here on the benefits of mindfulness meditation, both in terms of personal health and wellbeing, and in better understanding the nature of self and the universe in ways consistent with what scientific discovery has revealed on those subjects. It's an opening that can lead us to something essential, and essentially true, that Buddhism has to teach us about being human. What the book did is to direct my attention for some three-hundred pages to feelings and thoughts I often think of mine but need not do so. This was a really compelling book for me - it made me think deeply about myself and the world and opened my eyes a bit too. This is my favorite. They are existential facts to be experienced. 4 bestseller in hardcover nonfiction. —Jonathan Gold, professor of religion at Princeton University and author of The Dharma’s Gatekeepers, “Joyful and insightful… both entertaining and informative.” Chapter 15: Is Enlightenment Enlightening? Natural selection built into our brains the tendencies that early Buddhist thinkers did a pretty amazing job of sizing up, given the meager scientific resources at … .’, my wife & I traveled to South East Asia. Which, partially invalidates the universality of his thesis. Here is a quick description and cover image of book Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment written by Robert Wright which was published in 2017-8-8. It is one of those rare volumes that will turn your head inside out and leave you seeing the world differently, not because he (or it) is extreme, but because reality is extreme; he is sewing together science and philosophy and offering readers a breathtaking tapestry for their consideration.
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