A Buddhist monk and esteemed neuroscientist discuss their converging—and diverging—views on the mind and self, consciousness and the unconscious, free will and perception, and more.Buddhism shares with science the task of examining the mind empirically; it has pursued, for two millennia, direct investigation of the mind through penetrating introspection. Neuroscience, on the other hand, relies on third-person knowledge in the form of scientific observation. In this...

This volume is the result of a research project entitled “Evolutionary Continuity – Human Specifics – The Possibility of Objective Knowledge” that was carried out by representatives of six academic disciplines (evolutionary biology, evolutionary anthropology, brain research, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology and philosophy) over a period of three and a half years. The starting point for the project was the newly emerging riddle of human uniqueness: though the uniqueness of human...

One of the Washington Post's 50 Best Nonfiction Books of 2024The bestselling author of Other Minds shows how we and our ancestors have reinvented our planet.If the history of the Earth were compressed down to a year, our species would arise in the last thirty minutes or so of the final hour. But life itself is not such a late arrival: It has existed on Earth for something like 3.7 billion years—most of our planet’s history...

"A truly delightful and wonderfully compact introduction to philosophy's key questions and major thinkers from ancient times to the present day." —William Irwin, general editor of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture seriesWho are you? What is truly real? Is there such a thing as free will? If you have ever considered questions like these, that's philosophy. The Philosophy Book for Beginners breaks down the core concepts of both Eastern and Western phi...

Over 35 mindful walking exercises for finding balance, building awareness, and reducing stress—from a wellness teacher and fitness expertGlenn Berkenkamp invites us to discover how we sense, move, think, and feel in our bodies. By reframing the joys and opportunities presented to us by the act of walking, he shows us how to become reflective and inwardly directed, even as we take in the world around us.With 35 different walks, and with the help of a “Which ...

The beloved Zen teacher presents 14 mindfulness teachings for living consciously and ethically in uncertain times—perfect for social activists, Engaged Buddhists, and anyone eager for long-term global change.If you want to live life as an active agent for change: begin here. Originally formulated by Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh during the Vietnam War, Interbeing is a call to collective awakening and a guidebook for getting there...

A 6-week Artist's Way Program from legendary author Julia CameronA Washington Post and Publisher's Weekly Bestseller"Cameron's fans will love this"— Publishers WeeklyThe newest book from beloved author Julia Cameron, The Listening Path is a transformational journey to deeper, more profound listening and creativity. Over six weeks, readers will be given the tools to become better li...

Designed as a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Western neuroscientists, this book takes readers on a journey through opposing fields of thought—showing that they may not be so opposing after allIs the mind an ephemeral side effect of the brain’s physical processes? Are there forms of consciousness so subtle that science has not yet identified them? How does consciousness happen? Organized by the Mind and Life Institute, this discussion addresses some of the ...

**The only one-pot cookbook you'll ever need!Simplify dinner and eat well with hundreds of meals that take full advantage of your favorite pans.**Today's one-pot recipes are more varied than ever. From sheet-pan suppers to no-boil pastas, these flavorful recipes represent the test kitchen's best strategies for successful single-pan cooking, including staggering cooking times so everything finishes at once and developing an arsenal of no-cook sauces to dress up Instant Pot a...

An accessible translation of the ancient classic handbook on Buddhist meditation by Kamalashila—with commentary from everyone’s favorite Buddhist teacher, the Dalai LamaBased upon the middle section of the Bhavanakrama by Kamalashila—a translation of which is included—this is the most extensive commentary given by the Dalai Lama on this concise but important meditation handbook. It is a favorite text of the Dalai Lama, and he often takes the opportunity to...

The revered Buddhist teacher and author of When Things Fall Apart presents the lojong teachings—pithy slogans for daily contemplation—and the ways in which they can enrich our livesWelcome compassion and fearlessness as your guide, and you’ll live wisely and effectively in good times and bad. But that’s easier said than done. In The Compassion Book, Pema Chödrön introduces a powerful, transformative method to nurture these qualities using...

The classic introduction to the philosophies, practices, and history of Sufism, the mystical tradition of IslamThe Sufis are as diverse as the countries in which they've flourished—from Morocco to India to China—and as varied as their distinctive forms of art, music, poetry, and dance. They are said to represent the mystical heart of Islam, yet the term Sufism is notoriously difficult to define, as it means different things to different people both within and outsi...