Paper short abstract:

Francisco Varela (1948-2001), biologist converted to Buddhism, pioneered neurophenomenology, a method for studying consciousness. This session will discuss the relationship between neurophenomenology and Buddhist beliefs, as well as neurophenomenology influence on contemporary neuroscience.

Paper long abstract:

Tibetan Buddhism has been increasingly important in neuroscience since the 1980s, when influential converted to Buddhism biologist Francisco Varela (1948-2001) began a series of talks between the 14th Dalai Lama and Western academics. Varela pioneered neurophenomenology, a method for studying consciousness that combines evidence from first-hand experience with empirical measures. Neurophenomenology is the dominant strategy to studying consciousness in neuroscience today. Furthermore, the practises known today as Mindfulness were created inside the network initiated by Varela on the basis of Buddhist traditions. The effectiveness of Mindfulness practises has provided significant impetus to neuroscientific research on meditation activities, validating the Buddhist viewpoint. This session will discuss the intimate relationship between neurophenomenology and Tibetan Buddhist beliefs, as well as the extent to which the neurophenomenological perspective has influenced current neuroscientific research.