Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life

Dusana Dorjee, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist in the School of Psychology at Bangor University. Her research investigates how meditation, particularly mindfulness, impacts well-being and modifies the mind and brain. Dusana is also a long-term meditation practitioner and teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Dzogchen.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroduction Chapter 1: THE NEW SCIENCE OF MEDITATION What is the science of meditation missing?The mind’s capacity to self-regulatePurpose, meaning and modes of existential awarenessExistential drive, health and well-beingTowards a long-term perspective of meditationSummary: Chapter 1 Chapter 2: LONG-TERM MEDITATION PRACTICENeural plasticity, body physiology and meditationThe state and trait effects of meditationThe quantity and quality of meditation practiceFormal and informal meditationAdverse effects of meditationDeveloping a long-term perspective of meditationSummary: Chapter 2 Chapter 3: MINDFULNESSWhat is mindfulness?How to develop mindfulness?Neuroscience of mindfulnessMindfulness, self-regulation and existential well-beingA day of mindfulness practiceMindfulness from a long-term practice perspectiveSummary: Chapter 3 Chapter 4: COMPASSION AND RELATED QUALITIESWhat is compassion? A Buddhist perspectiveWhat is compassion? A Western scientific perspectiveDeveloping compassion and related qualities in the Buddhist contextNeuroscience of compassion and loving kindnessCompassion, self-regulation and existential well-beingA day of compassion practiceCompassion from a long-term practice perspectiveSummary: Chapter 4 Chapter 5: VISUALIZATION IN MEDITATION PRACTICE What is visualization-based meditation?Developing visualization-based meditation practice in the Buddhist contextNeuroscience of visualization-based meditationVisualization-based meditation, self-regulation and well-beingA day of visualization-based meditationVisualization-based meditation from a long-term practice perspectiveSummary: Chapter 5 Chapter 6: EXISTENTIAL INSIGHT AND DREAM YOGAWhat is existential insight? The Western approachWhat is existential insight? The Buddhist approachDeveloping existential insight in daytime and dream yoga practiceNeuroscience of existential insight and dream yoga practicesExistential insight, self-regulation and existential well-being24 hours of meditation practiceExistential insight practice from a long-term perspectiveSummary: Chapter 6 Chapter 7: THE STATE OF EXISTENTIAL BALANCEWhat is the state of existential balance?Developing the state of existential balanceNeuroscience of the state of existential balanceThe state of existential balance, self-regulation and existential well-beingThe state of existential balance in everyday lifeThe state of existential balance from a long-term practice perspectiveSummary: Chapter 7 Chapter 8: THE POTENTIAL OF CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCEContemplative psychologyContemplative psychotherapyContemplative neuroscienceContemplative science in health careDevelopmental contemplative scienceContemplative science and societyChallenges facing contemplative scienceConclusionSummary: Chapter 8

Dusana Dorjee masterfully presents a wealth of information from diverse areas—neuroscience, psychology of meditation, contemplative practices, existential wellbeing, and Buddhism—in a flawless narrative that is sure to prove a classic in the field of meditation. Informed by research and practice, the book lays out the essence of six meditation practices, the changes that occur in the brain as a result of short- and long-term formal and informal practices, and how meditation enhances our general wellbeing. One of the great strengths of the book is that it presents this material in a very accessible form that can be used by practitioners and researchers alike.Nirbhay N. Singh, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Mindfulness, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, USA