[Buddha-l] buddhism and brain studies

[Alberto Todeschini]

Hi Erik,

> And so becoming happy has become an industry and amounts
> to hard labour.  Even finding out what happiness is has become a real
> drag.

That's right. And as far as I can gather from my limited reading on
the subject, scientists researching happiness are well aware of
several possible pitfalls. One of them is that trying too hard will
actually make matters worse or at least not improve them.

I think there is a parallel to nutrition. There is the perfectly
respectable and worthy science of nutrition with its well-meaning,
honest and qualified specialists. But then you also get all different
sorts of unqualified people, amateurs, charlatans and quacks. The
result is that there is a lot of good information out there but also
fads, fashionable dietary advice which is actually bad for people,
etc.

> In the sixties this was still unproblematic for most, how was
> it... drop out, turn on tune in or something like that?

As you know, a considerable amount of Western Buddhists of a certain
age come straight from that movement. Of course half of them are
university professors now :)

> Nowadays people
> are lost. If you can you should watch Adam Curtis's documentary 'The age
> of the Self'.

Sounds interesting and I trust your judgment. I'll look it up.

Thanks,

Alberto