Feb 9, 2021
Contemporary neuroscience is an essential ingredient in our understanding of human development, including our capacity for greater happiness and wisdom. The past three decades have seen the study of the brain and its relationship to human experience move forward with more vigor and enthusiasm than any other scientific field.
In this podcast, author and educator Jim Hickman, explains how
our evolving understanding of neuroscience gives credence to the
value of certain forms of spiritual practice. The relatively recent
scientific consensus that the neural networks in the brain can
change through growth and reorganization means that cognition is
malleable: not only for children (as was previously believed), but
for adults as well.
Certain meditative practices have been shown to alter the way the
brain functions, and thus affect practitioners' ability to better
adapt to stress and reduce anxiety. "It's is not just mindfulness,
Hickman said. "Kundalini Yoga, for example, has been shown to
decrease arousal when dealing with unpleasant situations: in other
words, it affects the limbic system."
In this podcast, Hickman explains how his early research into
parapsychology and concurrent personal immersion into meditation
practice led him "to understand that our choice of attitudes and
beliefs are the determinants in our experience of success and
happiness." This foundational belief led him to the study of
neuroscience and its practical applications.
Hickman teaches a regular course in Applied Neuroscience at
Ubiquity University, which explores "the history of neuroscience
... and how a neuroscience informed personal practice can
assist in dealing with the unpredictable challenges that accompany
increasing hypercomplexity in the 21st century."
"There's the social side," Hickman said, "where dramatic
changes are occurring within our own culture and other cultures
around the world. And at the same time, our brain is opening parts
of itself to opportunities for change that we didn't know were
there."
Hickman is Board Chair and Professor of Neuroscience
at Ubiquity University. After his
first trip to Moscow in 1972, Jim was active for the next 35 years
developing economic and professional relations between the US and
the USSR/Russia. For the past 15 years, Jim has been a
student of contemplative practice and neuroscience. He has
written numerous articles for such publications as
the Wall Street Journal Europe, the Moscow
Times, and Inc. Magazine. He is currently
writing a book on how the latest discoveries in quantum physics,
epigenetics, and neuroscience, when combined with the teachings of
the wisdom traditions, inform us about successful Living in
turbulent times.
- Ubiquity University -- (https://www.ubiquityuniversity.org/courses/applied-neuroscience)
- Jim's course in Applied Mindfulness (https://www.ubiquityuniversity.org/courses/applied-neuroscience)
- Sacred Inclusion Network -- https://sacredinclusion.com
- Sacred Inclusion Network's Facebook Group
- Sacred Inclusion Network's YouTube Channel
- Want a copy of the slides Jim uses in this podcast? Write him directly at hickmanjim8@gmail.com
- Like the podcast? Support us on Patreon!