Neurodharma
New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness
by Rick Hanson, PhD
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Pub Date May 05 2020 | Archive Date Aug 03 2020
Rodale Inc. | Harmony
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Description
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.
Advance Praise
“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
“Neurodharma is a rare book, perhaps the most stunning marriage of ancient wisdom and modern science ever written. Only Rick Hanson could weave impeccable scholarship of core Buddhist texts together with the latest neuroscience to reveal an exciting, practical, and accessible path to human happiness that anyone can follow. 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
“This is an ambitious book, and only a few people in the world could attempt it. Rick Hanson is one of them. A brilliant and practical synthesis of wisdom and science, a must-read for anyone who is interested in deep personal growth or making this a better world, which hopefully is everyone.”—Shawn Achor, happiness researcher and New York Times bestselling author of Big Potential
“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
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780593135464 |
PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 352 |
Featured Reviews
Neurodharma is an innovative synthesis of current neuroscience with ancient Buddhist practices to create an achievable path towards personal peace and happiness. A contemplative book and a great choice for now, in these times of great anxiety.
This is the first book I have read by Rick Hanson. Shortly after getting it, one of the people I am friends with in a Facebook group told me how much he thoroughly appreciated Buddha's Brain, Rick's previous book. When I said that RicK had a new book on the market, he immediately went off to search for a copy. After working my way through this, I am now looking for the book my friend mentioned.
From the very first few pages I felt a connection to the writing, an inner stirring to sit up and pay attention. I got so much out of this, that I will be reading it again and again. The author presents all the information in a manner that is easy to understand. What a wonderful blend of science and wisdom!
This book blends science with ancient wisdom beautifully. It combines the wisdom of the Buddah with the modern science of the brain to show us how to attain inner peace. This is a great read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
Rick Hanson has done it again! His wisdom, knowledge, and insights of the human brain and the human potential is unmatched. Reading Neurodharma will give you the understanding and tools you need to not only change yourself, but change the world. What an excellent read!
I read this book because I wanted to know the latest on the correlation between meditation and observations of brain science. Hanson covers seven practices: steadying the mind, warming the heart, resting in fullness, being wholeness, receiving nowness, opening to allness, and finding timelessness. He devotes a chapter to each of the practices and includes one or more examples of guided meditation for each practice.
Much of the brain science was beyond my immediate understanding. I felt that information was more academic than I preferred. I appreciated Hanson's stories of his own experiences with the practices as well as other insights. I think the strength of the book is in the guided meditations. I appreciated most the meditation on warming the heart.
Hanson emphasizes the learning process of the brain, that it is in stages. Because of it, we must exercise deliberate practice. A steady mind or awareness of the now will not just happen by accident. Hanson suggests starting with one minute of meditation a day. I found that doable and could immediately sense the benefit.
This is a good book for readers who want to understand how spiritual practices affect the brain. I do think the sample guided meditations are the best aspect of the book. While not considered a “religious” book, many of the principles are from Buddhism. I do feel the meditation principles and practices can be used in other spiritual disciplines.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
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.
Rick Hanson's latest book does not disappoint. I'm a longtime meditator with a strong interest in neuroscience, but Neurodharma is accessible for anyone who wants to establish a meditation practice and is especially curious about the psychological benefits. Hanson does a good job of explaining in layperson language the neurological underpinnings of how the practices he provides work in the brain and body. Some of his invented terminology, like Nowness, need the explanations he provides. But his clear and well-researched approach to experiencing states of awakening are straightforward. I'd definitely recommend this book as great scaffolding for a beginning or established meditator.
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