mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): adverse effects of 45; in applied contemplative science 167; brain structure after training 33; cancer patients and 16; compassion training 79; long-term effects of 58; training 16, 37–8; training in 56–8
mindfulness teachers 61–3
Mipham Rinpoche 148–52
modes of existential awareness (MEA): in adolescents 176; definition of 17–18; experiential realization of 18; insight practices 139–40, 144; research on 31; visualization-based meditations 118 see also advanced MEA
Moore, A. W. 66
morning activities: compassion practice 99; existential balance 159; mindfulness practice 71–2; visualization-based meditations 119
motivation to practice meditation 18, 65–6, 71
MSRC see metacognitive self-regulatory capacity of the mind (MSRC)
neural plasticity 28–31
neuroendocrine 14
neuroscience research: compassion and loving kindness 93–7; dream yoga practices 137–8; existential balance 154–7; existential insight 133–7; meditation 9–11; mindfulness 63–8; visualization-based meditations 113–17
non-dual awareness 82, 84, 155, 162
non-duality 112, 125, 140
non-dual-oriented insight 125
non-lucid REM sleep 138
non-reactivity 68, 127
non-referential compassion 82
notion of self 132, 148
object-oriented insight 125–6
offender rehabilitation 176
open monitoring meditation 124, 134–6
ordinary mind 126–7
orienting attention 64, 166
Pacification 60
palliative care 174
Paramitas, development of 41
Patched Placement 59
personality traits 32–3
positive emotions, development of 85–6
posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCu) regions of the brain 96
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 33, 106; see also stress
pride 92–3, 101, 150
primordial awareness 149–50, 156, 160–1
pristine awareness (rigpa): afflictive states 109–10; definition of 5; eliminating affliction 161; existential awareness 98; experiential realization of 152; insight practices and 160–1; as non-conceptual state 17–18; non-duality of 112, 140; substrate of consciousness and 129–30; as type of consciousness 149
propositional meanings theory 157
psychosis 21, 44–5
public health 173–5
pupil dilation 106
pure awareness 110
rainbow body 158
reappraisal 85
recurrent depression see depression
rejoicing see sympathetic joy
relative bodhicitta 84
relaxation 40
religious well-being 15
REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep 137–8
repeated meditation 47
re-perceiving see decentring
retreat environment 143
right posterior gamma activity 115
rigpa see pristine awareness (rigpa)
rumination 13
schizophrenia 106
secondary somatosensory cortex 134
secular meditation-based programmes: accessibility to Western practictioners 3–4; advantages and disadvantages of 54–5; collaboration with traditional training 170; effectiveness of 1–2; implementation of 1–2; sense of meaning and purpose from 16
secular meditation training see meditation training
secular mindfulness teacher training 61–3
self, notion of 132, 148
self and reality see Vipassana practices
self-centredness 101
self-compassion 66, 79, 87–8
self-focused pride 92–3
self-inquiry 124, 125, 138, 141, 161
self-kindness 87
self-referential processing 135
self-regulation: abilities of practitioners 171–2; in children and adolescents 175; existential balance 157–9; existential insight 138–41; introspection and 11–12; mind’s capacity of 11–14; visualization-based meditations 117–18
self-transcendence, humanistic conceptualizations of 18–19
Shamatha practice: attention stability and control 69; teachings on 40; training in 59–61; visualization-based deity meditation in 112–13 see also calm abiding (Shamatha)
Shapiro, S. L. 36, 44–6
Single-Pointed Placement 60
spatial rotation 116
stability of attention 40–1
stagnation, existential 21
state effects of meditation 31–6
stress 56, 96, 175
stress-related hormones 30–1
structural MRI 29
subject-oriented insight 125, 126
substrate consciousness 128–9, 148
suffering: compassion and 80–1; concept of 3, 161; cycle of 83–4; forms of 90; Tonglen practice and 93
sustained attention 64, 166
sympathetic joy 80, 84, 91, 92
Taming 60
teacher training 61–3
Teasdale, J. D. 157
telomerase 16
telomeres 96
temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) 94–6
Theravada practitioners: attention skills in 134; brain activity in 155–6; brain structure of 95–6; parasympathetic activity in 116–17
Tibetan Buddhism: adverse effects of meditation 45–6; compassion and 79, 82; deity visualization practices 110; formal meditation sessions 41–2; long-term practice in 45–6; mindfulness practice 71; teacher training 61–2
Tibetan Buddhist Mahamudra Analytical Meditation 126
Tonglen 89, 93, 98, 99, 107; see also giving and taking meditation
trait effects of meditation 31–6
tummo 108
ungrounded 83
Vipassana mediators 32, 39, 44, 172
Vipassana practices: deity visualization 116; existential insight 123; focused meditation 55–6; mindfulness 60–1, 69
virtue 92
visualization-based meditations: in Buddhist context 111–13; definition of 106; of deities 108–10; developing four immeasurables with 117–18; effects of 116–17; energy practices 108–9; in meditation training 107; mental imagery 106–7; neuroscience of 113–17; pure awareness and 110; in regular daily activities 118–20; in Tibetan Buddhist tradition 54
visualizations 59, 71–2
visual working memory 114–16
walking meditation 42
Wallace, B. A. 60
well-being, existential: advanced MEA 140–1; children and adolescents 175; existential balance 157–8; health 15–16; lack of focus 168; purpose, meaning and modes 14–18; workplace 176–7
White Tara 109
wholesome mental states 80
workplace: employee well-being 176–7; meditation techniques 176–7; mindfulness practice 72; visualization-based meditations 119–20
Zen Koan practices 126
Neuroscience and Psychology of Meditation in Everyday Life Page 28