[Buddha-l] buddhism and brain studies

[Alberto Todeschini]

>> 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.
>
> True. And don't forget that a lot of what turns out to be bad
> information stems from the findings of well-meaning scientists in hot
> pursuit of data that turned out to give only a partial picture of a
> highly complex phenomenon.

One thing that happens is this: a scientists says something like "we
have some preliminary evidence that a diet rich in Vitamin C  can
reduce the incidence of cancer Y in male individuals over the age of
65. Come back in a few years for more details." Then someone comes
along and says "Oh My Gosh! Then the lemon diet prevents cancer! Have
to eat only lemon for a week!"

I think people do the same with yoga and meditation, where among the
well-meaning, sensible people you find others jumping from trendy
retreat to trendy retreat and trendy fad to trendy fad. It's a bit
sad, really.

Somewhat related: I remember Namkhai Norbu gently mocking people who
collect initiations but don't really do practice in between.

Regards,

Alberto Todeschini