Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!sdd.hp.com!caen!uflorida!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!sun13!ads.com
From: nbrown@ads.com (Nathan Brown)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Buddhist Neuroepistemology??
Message-ID: <2087@sun13.scri.fsu.edu>
Date: 5 Feb 91 19:38:41 GMT
Sender: news@sun13.scri.fsu.edu
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Arlington, VA
Lines: 31
Approved: mayne@nu.cs.fsu.edu


I am interested in the implications of looking at Buddhist practice
and philosophy from a neurophilosophical point of view, somewhat like
the approach taken in Brain, Symbol, and Experience (BS&E) by Laughlin et.
al.

In particular I would be interested in exchanges with anyone thinking
about models of possible neurological activity associated with
particular meditative practices or yogic exercises.  My intuition is
that activation patterns associated with the maintenance of the
various postures, gazes, and attentional states required by various 
meditative and yogic practices produce as a side effect
an inhibition of thalamic functions which maintain the ever
shifting focus of attention to and emotional weighting of sensory stimuli.
I am also interested in the possible affect that a neurophysiological
interpretation of meditative practices would have on the content and
expression of Buddhist philosophy.

This is my second attempt to access soc.religion.eastern.  Have the
above ideas already been covered?  Are there any active discussions
along these lines?  Are there any Buddhist neurophilosophers out there?
Is anyone aware of papers covering any of the above which are not
included in the references in BS&E?  Is anyone aware of the reaction
to Steve Odin's Whiteheadian critique of Hua Yen?  Is anyone aware of
any reviews of BS&E?

--Nathan
-- 

Nathon Brown			
Advanced Decision Systems	Internet:  nbrown@potomac.ads.com