Zen and Contemporary Knowledge

This book summarizes Venerable Zen Master Thich Thong Triet’s pioneering work in using contemporary scientific knowledge to shed light on the profound Buddhist teaching and meditation practices. He identifies the brain areas that correspond to the worldly mind, wordless awareness mind and Buddha-mind taught by the Buddha. He establishes the physiological processes that link the mind, nervous system and internal organs during meditation, and explains the beneficial or harmful effects that a correct or incorrect meditation has on the body and mind. Master Thich Thong Triet's intuition was validated by the extensive f-MRI and EEG measurements of his brain activities, conducted at the University of Tübingen, Germany, while he went through various stages of Buddhist meditation.

This book also contains clear and modern explanation on the terminology, concepts and practice of Buddhist meditation. It provides guidance to the serious meditation student and helps them avoid the most common pitfalls.

For those who want to rise above a life tossed about by relentless thoughts, desires and emotions with its resulting ailing body and anguished mind, this book will give you a clear and scientific understanding that will inspire and guide you on your spiritual journey. As you diligently practice the correct meditation it teaches, you will reap in time the marvelous effects of your own Buddha-mind: lasting internal peace, infinite loving kindness and compassion, harmonious relationships, intuition, creativity, and spiritual wisdom.