When science meets religion, the result can be explosive or insightful. By inviting the Dalai Lama and leading neuroscience researchers to join in conversation, the Mind and Life Institute in Washington, DC, set the stage for a fascinating exploration of the potential of the human mind. This conference, recorded and transcribed for the first time in The Mind's Own Physician, answered the questions millions have asked about brain functioning: What can mindfulness do for me? Can our minds actually influence the outcomes of physical disease? How can we unlock the brain's potential without spending hours in meditation? The Dalai Lama poses many more questions about secular approaches to mindfulness, the brain biology of meditation, and meditation's relationship to mental and physical health, which are then answered by the preeminent meditation scholars, academics, and researchers in each specialty. Edited by world-renowned researchers Jon Kabat-Zinn and Richard Davidson, who also attended the conference, this book presents the full dialogue along with new research that sheds light on each topic that was discussed.

Author Biography

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is internationally known for his work as a scientist, writer, and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. He is professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and author of numerous books, including Full Catastrophe Living, Arriving at Your Own Door, and Coming to Our Senses. Richard J. Davidson, PhD, is director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience, the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, and the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has coauthored or edited over thirteen books, including Visions of Compassion and The Handbook of Affective Science.