Buddhist Traditions and Neuroscience with Rick Hanson

Buddhist Traditions and Neuroscience » Listen Now

Date: October 31, 2016

Episode Description for “Buddhist Traditions and Neuroscience”

“When you change your brain, you change your life.” ~ Dr. Rick Hanson.

Revolutions in science have shown that the brain continues to change and adapt even in adulthood, disproving the old belief that our brains are linear and unchanging.  In this interview of his book “Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom,” Dr. Rick Hanson discusses with Dr. Rebecca Risk an analysis of theoretical physics and Buddhism in language suitable for intermediate readers or newcomers to the field of neuroscience.

When we use mindful awareness, cultivate compassion and are fully present in our lives, we are able to transform ourselves by rewiring our brains.  Using new neuroscience to explain insights and practices that are thousands of years old, Dr. Rick Hanson helps us to understand how we can reshape our minds for greater happiness, love and wisdom.

Dr. Risk’s Thoughts

It is inspiring to me to know that we can learn to control our feelings and thoughts.  Way too often I think we feel trapped in our own bodies, and neuroscience tells us that we can work our way out.  This episode was helpful to lay out this information.  I loved how it was brought together, and how we can choose not to suffer and we can transcend beyond it.

Guest Information

Rick Hanson

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books are available in 26 languages and include Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture. He edits the Wise Brain Bulletin and has numerous audio programs. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA and founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and other major universities, and taught in meditation centers worldwide.

Dr. Hanson has been a trustee of Saybrook University, served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and was President of the Board of FamilyWorks, a community agency. He began meditating in 1974, trained in several traditions, and leads a weekly meditation gathering in San Rafael, California. His work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, and NPR, and he offers the free Just One Thing newsletter with over 120,000 subscribers, plus the online Foundations of Well-Being program in positive neuroplasticity that anyone with financial need can do for free.

He enjoys rock-climbing and taking a break from emails. He and his wife have two adult children.