McGilchrist - The Buddhist Brain

11 Nov 7. Mustang Bon Foundation A-Tri Dzogchen Course

Posted at 03:42h in Bon/Dzogchen, Buddhism, McGilchrist, Meditation, Science, The Matter with Things by Gary Peterson 0 Comments

This winter (2024/25) while participating in a dozen on-line sessions covering a newly translated Bon (Tibet/Nepal) text on awakening/enlightenment, I plan to comment on each lesson using Western ideas and terms appearing in McGilchrist’s work. My basic idea is this: McGilchrist urges his readers to adopt...

17 Mar 6. Self and Identity

Posted at 03:00h in Brain, McGilchrist, Philosophy, The Matter with Things by Gary Peterson 0 Comments

McGilchrist says that while the self is needed for our development and individuation, we must eventually transcend the self. He points to a value that will lift us to a higher Gestalt. It is a remembrance – or is it a knowing? – of a...

28 Feb 5. Opposing — But Not Equal — Forces

Posted at 03:18h in Brain, McGilchrist, Meditation, Psychedelics, The Matter with Things by Gary Peterson 1 Comment

The hemispheres must work together, as opposites fulfilling each other, but they must not be considered equals. The right hemisphere is the only one that can produce wide and deeply resonating truths....

27 Feb 4. Starting with the Biggest Questions

Posted at 02:50h in Brain, McGilchrist, Philosophy, The Matter with Things by Gary Peterson 2 Comments

McGilchrist’s work takes on big questions, in fact, the biggest questions. This is especially helpful when trying to bridge the divide between mind and matter. Chapter 25 of The Matter with Things is an 83-page exploration of matter and consciousness, seen from the opposing views...

26 Feb 3. Jill Bolte Taylor and the Right Hemisphere

Posted at 01:49h in Bon/Dzogchen, Brain, Featured, McGilchrist, Meditation, Science by Gary Peterson 0 Comments

She points to a trinity -- a life force power, the right hemisphere consciousness and the left hemisphere consciousness. I have been surprised at how well this correlates with other trinities in Eastern spiritual traditions....

26 Feb 2. A Little Background Info

Posted at 01:48h in Brain, McGilchrist, The Matter with Things by Gary Peterson 0 Comments

The corpus collosum embodies the hemisphere hypothesis. Surprisingly, the majority of the neural fibers in the corpus collosum are involved in the inhibition of the other hemisphere. This is needed for each hemisphere to specialize, work separately and more quickly. The corpus collosum holds them...

26 Feb 1. Reframing the Bridge

Posted at 01:47h in Bon/Dzogchen, Brain, Buddhism, Featured, Mahamudra, McGilchrist, Science, The Matter with Things by Gary Peterson 2 Comments

By embracing consciousness as fundamental, I believe McGilchrist has laid a foundation for building a bridge between the West and Eastern spiritual traditions. The Matter with Things makes extensive use of Western neurology, physics and nearly forgotten Western philosophy that support this deeper understanding of...