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Palgrave Macmillan
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The Sense of Self

Perspectives from Science and Zen Buddhism

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  • © 2016

Overview

  • Integrates a broad range of disciplines to provide new insights into the nature of the self

  • Explores how the brain cultivates a sense of an independent self

  • Combines a multidisciplinary scientific approach with the ancient wisdom of Zen Buddhism

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

Keywords

About this book

At the heart of this book is one of the most ancient and profound question philosophers, spiritual seekers, and curious individuals have pondered since the beginning of history:  “Who am I?”. Advances in modern science, and access to Zen tradition, have provided us with broader and richer understanding of this topic. 
Over the chapters the author, a psychologist and Zen master, investigates how the brain fosters a sense of an independent self, situating his research in the contexts of neuroscience, ecology, evolution, psychology, and of the principles Eastern wisdom traditions. The book explores a broad range of insights from brain science, evolutionary biology, astronomy, clinical psychology, thoughts and emotions, mental health disorders, and Zen Buddhism. 
This book will appeal to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, and researchers of Eastern traditions. General readers interested in the functioning of the brain will dis
cover practical ways to integrate fascinating new findings on an age-old question into their everyday life.





Reviews

“Sears highlights the phenomenon of felt separation and offers a smorgasbord of intellectual insight into how it got there. This book will find a home on the shelf of those interested in how Buddhism intersects with science and in undergraduate classes addressing the intersection of psychology and religion.” (Frederick J. Heide, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (19), May, 2017) 

“Dr. Richard Sears takes us on an amazing journey to describe how we develop the sense of self, from the inner workings of the brain to the vastness of the universe. Be warned -- reading this book may leave you with a much broader view of who you really are, and it might just take away your excuses for not being the you that you truly want to be.” (Stephen K. Hayes, Author of Heart of Light, Blade of Thunder and The Complete Ninja Collection)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation, Cincinnati, USA

    Richard W. Sears

About the author

Richard W. Sears, PsyD, PhD, MBA, ABPP is a clinical psychologist and Zen master, and is Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation, Cincinnati, Ohio, US. He is the author of 10 books, including Mindfulness: Living through Challenges and Enriching Your Life in this Moment. His website is www.psych-insights.com.

Bibliographic Information

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