In his book Siddhartha's Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment (Morrow, Apr.), former Guardian science production editor James Kingsland explores evidence of how Buddhist practices such as awareness of breath or mantra chanting can improve mental health.
Siddhartha’s Brain likens the Buddhist vision of Enlightenment to what you call “optimum psychological wellbeing.” Can you talk more about this?
I equate enlightenment to optimum psychological well-being because it needn't have any religious dimension. A Buddhist would tell you that the mark of a perfectly enlightened person is that they are free from the "poisons" of greed, aversion, and delusion. Psychologists wouldn't have any trouble recognizing these in mental health problems such as addiction, hostility, and denial. Meditation and mindfulness counter these by promoting calm, concentration, and resilience, all of which can be tested by psychologists. They can measure calm by looking at heart rate and blood pressure, for example, and resilience by recording how quickly levels of the stress hormone cortisol return to normal after something stressful like having to give a speech.
What do your findings say about the effectiveness of meditation and mindfulness once its religious framework is removed?
I think Buddhism still has a lot to teach us about the workings of the mind, especially the importance of ethical conduct for promoting well-being. When I interviewed the Abbot of Amaravati Monastery in the U.K, he cited honesty as something that reaps benefits for psychological health. Another is the way we talk to each other—avoiding hurtful or spiteful words. Buddhists call this "right speech.” But there's no reason why we have to label any of this "religion.” If scientists prove that living by certain standards makes people happier, the discovery has potential benefits for everyone.
Do you see the current of scientific studies of Buddhist meditation branching into other religious or spiritual practices?
Some research has already been done. The social support provided by attending a church, a mosque, or temple has been shown to be immensely beneficial for psychological health. Prayer may also promote the wellbeing of the person doing the praying. It would be fascinating to study the effects of forgiving others and the sense of being forgiven in Christianity, which is very close to what Buddhists call compassion. There's so much overlap between faiths when you get down to the basics. They all emphasize the importance of morality, generosity, and selflessness.
What do you hope readers take away from your book?
Most people have heard of mindfulness, but few are familiar with its ancient roots or the life story of the man who first identified it, Siddhartha Gautama—the Buddha. I hope to convince them that science and spirituality need not be incompatible: each is reaching towards the same universal truths about the human mind and how to achieve lasting happiness. I've found meditation enormously beneficial myself these past five years. My book contains half a dozen simple guided meditations, so I would be delighted if it helps demystify the practice and shows readers how to quiet the chatter of their own minds.
