[Buddha-l] Query about Francisco Varela

[Richard Hayes]

On Thursday 04 January 2007 11:02, jkirk wrote:

> Has anyone on this list interested in mind studies read anything by Varela?

Yes.

> Comment?

He's not an easy read, especially if you are not up on psychological jargon. 
It's worth the effort, though. He and his collaborator Eleanor Rosch 
attempted to bring together cognitive psychology, philosophy of mind and 
Buddhist meditative theory and practice. The result could be seen as the 
beginnings of a replacement of a lot of seriously outdated abhidharma. It is, 
when one thinks about it, a bit silly for modern Buddhist practitioners to be 
studying texts based on a fourth century knowledge of geography, physiology 
and psychology.  Varela and Rosch bring us up to speed in psychology and 
physiology.

-- 
Richard P. Hayes
Department of Philosophy
University of New Mexico
http://www.unm.edu/~rhayes