Episodes
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Willa Blythe Baker - Meditating with the Body
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Wednesday May 27, 2020
In this episode, Wendy speaks with meditation teacher and Buddhist scholar Willa Blythe Baker about her work, and how the body is relevant in meditation. They cover many topics, including:
- the roots of her interest in Buddhism and early experiences of Buddhism in action;
- a research study about meditation and real-world compassionate behavior in which she was involved and various interpretations of the results;
- how qualities like curiosity and compassion that we develop toward our own mental states in meditation might transfer to others;
- the most relevant outcomes for contemplative scientists to be measuring;
- role of the body in contemplative practice;
- three natural metaphors for what she calls "somatic mindfulness" practice;
- the role of letting go, and the importance of trust and how to foster it;
- and implications of these ideas for how we view ourselves, and our interconnection with others and the world around us.
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Anil Seth - How Our Minds Predict Our Reality
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive scientist Anil Seth about his work on consciousness and the mind. They discuss:
- the idea of the brain as a prediction machine;
- how perception is a kind of "controlled" hallucination;
- the self as a construction and implications for psychiatric disorders;
- connections between this view of the mind and Buddhist ideas;
- how these views might inform our subjective experience;
- the important role of the body in perception;
- the connection between life and mind (and Anil's views on panpsychism);
- emotions as prediction and interoception;
- the question of free will;
- communicating science to a public audience, and other topics.
Version: 20240320