[Buddha-l] Buddha on the Brain

[Baopiguy at comcast.net]

>2006/1/28, d f tweney <<mailto:dylan at tweney.com>dylan at tweney.com>:
>In short, the Dalai Lama has forged some partnerships with prominent
>neuroscientists to investigate the science of the mind, using a
>combination of meditation as well as contemporary scientific tools like
>MRI scanning. This work has produced some interesting results. For
>instance, meditating monks are able to change their brain wave
>signatures in remarkable ways -- producing patterns not seen outside of
>anaesthesia, for instance.
>
>
>This reminds me of the monk burned himself to death (was it 
>Viet-Nam?), while sitting in lotusposition. It was one of the first 
>instances I was confronted both with Buddhism and 'superhuman' brainpower.
>
>Stefan

I don't see anything that indicates "superhuman" brainpower...the 
same changes in brain waves and anaesthesia to pain can be done by 
those with fairly limited training in self-hypnosis...and in some 
cases, simply by belief. Years ago I used to do hypnosis at parties 
making people do really stupid things. But the best research 
indicates that the person is NOT hypnotized. It's a state we call 
"stage hypnosis"...the individual believes he/she is under hypnosis 
and is always an exhibitionist to one degree or another.  If you've 
ever watched one of us "work" a room we start with 50 - 60 people and 
end up selecting only the ten or twelve most suggestible for the 
crazy stuff on stage.

My Master's father was the second monk to burn himself in Vietnam in 
protest of the Communist takeover. In that school of Buddhism the 
taking of one's own life is considered a grave wrong. Try as I might 
over the years, that is the single thing my Master would not discuss 
with me. Everything else, from his sex life to drugs....but he would 
never respond to any question or comment about his father's burning himself.

But one thing is for certain....there is no great mystery or high 
training necessary to bring about the effects that have been 
"documented" to date....so I take exception to the urban legend that 
monks have special powers or control that others can't fairly easily replicate.

An Tzu



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