NEW BOOK BY B. ALAN WALLACE
Mind in the Balance:
Meditation in Science, Buddhism, and Christianity
(Columbia Series in Science and Religion) (Hardcover)
Mind in the Balance:
Meditation in Science, Buddhism, and Christianity
(Columbia Series in Science and Religion) (Hardcover)
http://www.sbinstitute.com/MindBalance.html
From Columbia University Press:
Our best-selling mind and consciousness scholar boldly corrects
the balance between empirical study and religion.
by bringing the meditative practices of Buddhism and
Christianity into a dialogue with the theories of modern phi-
losophy and science, B. Alan Wallace reveals their unified
approach to discerning the objective world. Wallace begins by
linking Christian and Buddhist meditative practices. He out-
lines a sequence of meditations for the reader to undertake
that show, though Buddhism and Christianity differ in their
belief systems, their methods of cognitive inquiry provide
similar insight into the nature and origins of consciousness.
From this convergence Wallace approaches contemporary
cognitive science, quantum mechanics, and the philosophy
of the mind. He connects Buddhist and Christian views to
the provocative theories of Hilary Putnam, Charles Taylor,
and Bas van Fraassen, and he seamlessly integrates the work
of Anton Zeilinger, John Wheeler, and Stephen Hawking.
Combining a concrete analysis of consciousness with a guide
to cultivating mindfulness and profound contemplative prac-
tice, Wallace takes new strides in the mapping of the mind.
the balance between empirical study and religion.
by bringing the meditative practices of Buddhism and
Christianity into a dialogue with the theories of modern phi-
losophy and science, B. Alan Wallace reveals their unified
approach to discerning the objective world. Wallace begins by
linking Christian and Buddhist meditative practices. He out-
lines a sequence of meditations for the reader to undertake
that show, though Buddhism and Christianity differ in their
belief systems, their methods of cognitive inquiry provide
similar insight into the nature and origins of consciousness.
From this convergence Wallace approaches contemporary
cognitive science, quantum mechanics, and the philosophy
of the mind. He connects Buddhist and Christian views to
the provocative theories of Hilary Putnam, Charles Taylor,
and Bas van Fraassen, and he seamlessly integrates the work
of Anton Zeilinger, John Wheeler, and Stephen Hawking.
Combining a concrete analysis of consciousness with a guide
to cultivating mindfulness and profound contemplative prac-
tice, Wallace takes new strides in the mapping of the mind.
“Mind in the Balance addresses in a lucid, extremely well informed, and often quite original way what is now widely seen as the greatest lacuna in modern understanding: the actual nature of mind or consciousness. Its consistent advocacyof logical rigor, its basis in a truly
magisterial knowledge of Buddhist,Christian, and other contemplativepractices, its deep familiarity with contemporary scientific thinking, and its imaginative and creative
merging of all these strands make it a significant contribution to the field.”
-Robert Mayer, University of Oxford
magisterial knowledge of Buddhist,Christian, and other contemplativepractices, its deep familiarity with contemporary scientific thinking, and its imaginative and creative
merging of all these strands make it a significant contribution to the field.”
-Robert Mayer, University of Oxford
“Always challenging and controversial, B. Alan Wallace’s abilities as a scholar and writer give this book an accessibility and breadth rarely encountered. Wallace’s largely successful bridging of history, theory, Christianity, Buddhism and science make his book truly unique.”
-Adam Frank, University of Rochester
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