BG 149: A Crash Course in Applied NeuroDharma

This week, we're joined by trained Neuropsychologist and Theravada Buddhist teacher, Rick Hanson, to explore what he calls "applied Neurodharma."  We begin by exploring the 1st noble truth of suffering, but from the perspective of evolutionary neurobiology.  In other words, why does it appear that we're hard-wired to suffer, and what are the mechanisms behind it?  And just as in the 4 noble truths, where we start with the diagnosis and end with a prescription, after exploring the 1st noble truth, Rick shares some suggestions for training the mind to overcome some of the hardwired tendencies we have to fixate on the negative.  These suggestions come both from the Buddhist tradition, as well as directly from what we know of the distributed nervous system (and the Brain) from modern-day neuroscience.  This is part 1 of a two-part series.  Listen to part 2 (airing next week).