The Dalai Lama is a sensible guy

[gusl]

The Dalai Lama is a sensible guy:

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the Dalai Lama hopes researchers can scientifically prove that meditation has medical and emotional benefits, and then divorce it from its spiritual Buddhist roots to offer the world a secular method for relieving suffering and finding happiness.
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"If science proves facts that conflict with Buddhist understanding, Buddhism must change accordingly. We should always adopt a view that accords with the facts,"
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Comments

[xuande.livejournal.com]

Speaking of such things, a town near where I live (in rural Georgia, US) banned the teaching of yoga a few years ago because it was un-Christian. They did it specifically to stop a small class that taught yoga exercise for its alleged health benefits, divorced from its spiritual roots. The class moved into a neighboring town and is now hosted by an Episcopalian church.

Doping up the Dalai Lama

[z3synchrony.livejournal.com]

There have already been some studies on biological effects of yoga meditation. An early study showed that meditation causes an increased level of dopamine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11958969
Dopamine is associated with the pleasure system of the brain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

I vaguely recall a more recent study from about a year ago, but right now cannot locate a link for it.

Re: Doping up the Dalai Lama

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

interesting... I only wish I understood more of this.

Do you chat? AIM?

Re: Doping up the Dalai Lama

[z3synchrony.livejournal.com]

There are other ways to elicit specific mind/body states by inducing certain neurotransmitter cascades. For example, hard running/biking induces spikes of endorphins (natural opiates). Personally, I would choose endorphin over dopamine any day. :-D My AIM sn is listed in the lj user info.

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

I've always thought Buddhism was the most sensible religion. Almost worthy of being called a philosophy instead of a religion. I also like the title of the Dalai Lama's book "The Art of Happiness". It just comes across as so much more useful and healthy than the insulting "you're going to hell if you're not good" themes that western religions tend to have.

[mathemajician.livejournal.com]

Many forms of Buddhism have been a bit like this for a long time. It's not always clear what Buddha actually said, but I've read from a few sources that he didn't generally believe in the supernatural or Gods. He did think that you had a soul/consciousness and that this survived death and could be connected to another body at some later point.

[(Anonymous)]

The Dalai Lama is a nutcase. You should read some of his thoughts on sex. He’s homophobic, anti-abortion, and anti-masturbation.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

hi. Who are you?