Collaborative dialogue between Buddhism and science: A contribution to expanding a science of consciousness

Abstract

Investigation of consciousness (experience, mind, awareness, subjectivity) has become an accepted endeavor in contemporary neuroscience. However, current work is largely limited to study of neural correlates of consciousness. While this is interesting and important, it may not be sufficient to carry us to a place of truly new insight regarding consciousness. I argue that one element of expanding a science of consciousness is appreciation of the interdependent co-creation or enfolding of mind and world. Addressing this interdependence is an aspect of the collaborative engagement of the traditions of Buddhism and science-a project that is exploring how complementary worldviews and analytic procedures might further the development of an expanded science of mind. In this essay, written for a collection honoring the life and work of Jack Pettigrew, I describe his connection to this project.

How does the first-person perspective relate to the third-person perspective?

“…We come to know the existence of everything in the world, experience all our involvements in it, and draw conclusions about it via our consciousness, i.e., through our subjective experiences that are discerned from the first-person perspective. [26][27][28] To understand this more systematically, just for a moment, let us set aside any knowledge we may have about the functioning of the brain (or imagine that we do not know this information), and focus only on our direct subjective conscious experience from the firstperson perspective. Now, if we consider an object such as a colored block that has been placed in front of us, we would experience its color, shape, any comparisons that may come up, how far away it is, or any other analyses, as well as any feelings of likes and dislikes as subjective first-person experiences.…”

Charcot: Buddhist Leanings?

“…How much of this thinking about animals could be due to the influence of Buddhism remains unknown. Buddhist teachings address suffering, impermanence, and the liberation of the mind, and include meditation practices; coincidentally, today meditation is often recommended to treat various illnesses, including some neurological diseases [32][33][34].…”

Jack Pettigrew (1944–2019): An Australian comparative neurologist, and more

“…Some of the papers focus on Pettigrew the man, including the Commentaries by David Vaney (the foundations of visual neuroscience in Australia; Vaney, 2020) and Reto Weiler (Australia's mysterious rock paintings; Weiler, 2020). David Presti's absorbing article (collaborative dialogue between Buddhism and science) describes two intense collaborations with Jack spaced 25 years apart, the first centered at Caltech around 1977 and the second in the Himalayas around 2003 (Presti, 2020). They are representative of two themes that were of life‐long interest to Jack: comparative sensory neuroscience and the biology of consciousness.…”