Toward the First Revolution in the Mind Sciences

This is one of lecture series of google techtalk. Allan Wallace delivered similar speech at the Northwestern University. Ken Paller of the Northwestern University Cognitive science program moderated the dialog between Allan Wallace and renowned philosopher John Searle. Wallace presented his view first, Searle did second, and both discussed the issues on the scientific study of the mind. (direct link to the clip. ram file. player can be obtained here)

In this presentation, Wallace suggests that introspection can be a first revolution of scientific study of the mind. Introspection is a kind of "telescope or microscope" in observing the mind. It was Buddha who refined the introspection and developed it to observe the mind, like Galileo refined the telescope and used it to make precise observations of stars.

Link to the webpage
Link to the video materials of the Allan's website.



Following is the part of his presentation.

* Samadhi: the telescope of the mind

Revolutionary Indian truth-seekers (c.3,000 years ago) learned to develop stable, vivid attention - samadhi

The Buddha was the "Indian Galileo" for innovatively using this "telescope for the mind" to rigorously explore a broad range of ordinary and extraordinary states of consciousness with refined mental perception.

* The framework of Buddhist practice

Ethics: social and environmental flourishing
Mental balance (samadhi): psychological flourishing
Contemplative insight: spiritual flourishing


* Buddhist Skepticism

Buddha: "Do not be led by reports, or tradition, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, nor by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities,nor by the idea: 'this is our teacher.' But ... when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome, destructive, and detrimental, then reject them... And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good, then accept them and follow them.


* A potential revolution in the Minds Sciences

Integrate rigorous first-person and third-person methodologies in collaboration between cognitive scientists and contemplatives with exceptional mental skills and insights resulting from rigorous, sustained, mental training in observing and experimenting with states of consciousness.