Recently we posted the video “Zen and the Brain” here. We have been discussing
Dependent Origination in our Friday classes, and I spoke about the vast width and
depth of Dependent Origination awakened to by the Buddha in time and space.
The Buddha said that what he described to people is only a small part of it, like a few
leaves in the palm compared to the leaves of an entire jungle.
In connection with the above Jimu showed me the book Buddha’s Brain – the
Practical Neuroscience of Happines, Love & Wisdom. The authors of this book
admit that no one knows the full nature of the brain of a Buddha or of any other
person, and that something transcendental is involved with the mind, consciousness,
and the path of awakening.
The triune brain theory of reptilian, paleomammalian, and neomammalian brains
is interesting, but it overstretches. The triune function of head-heart-hara (guts)
is essential for our psycho-somatic selves. The mind-brain parallelism is intriguing
but oversimplified. Mind-world (and mind-body-world) unity is the essential
understanding of Buddhism.
Our genes carry on billions of years’ evolution throughout the universe, constantly,
depending on their situations and developing through their surroundings. Our
bodies and brains cultivate and create new abilities and actualities like babies,
adults, bodhisattvas, and buddhas. Buddhas and bodhisattvas regard themselves
and others as babies limitlessly growing in the limitless worlds.
4/6/14
Lily, one month old