Neurodharma

Neurodharma is an innovative synthesis of current neuroscience with ancient Buddhist practices to create an achievable path towards personal peace and happiness. A contemplative book and a great choice for now, in these times of great anxiety.

This is the first book I have read by Rick Hanson. Shortly after getting it, one of the people I am friends with in a Facebook group told me how much he thoroughly appreciated Buddha's Brain, Rick's previous book. When I said that RicK had a new book on the market, he immediately went off to search for a copy. After working my way through this, I am now looking for the book my friend mentioned.

From the very first few pages I felt a connection to the writing, an inner stirring to sit up and pay attention. I got so much out of this, that I will be reading it again and again. The author presents all the information in a manner that is easy to understand. What a wonderful blend of science and wisdom!

This book blends science with ancient wisdom beautifully. It combines the wisdom of the Buddah with the modern science of the brain to show us how to attain inner peace. This is a great read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Rick Hanson has done it again! His wisdom, knowledge, and insights of the human brain and the human potential is unmatched. Reading Neurodharma will give you the understanding and tools you need to not only change yourself, but change the world. What an excellent read!

Perfect Reading for a Pandemic
I’ve loved Rick Hanson’s work ever since I read, Buddha’s Brain. Even so, I wasn’t prepared for the impact Neurodharma would have on me. In this book Hanson describes the seven themes, or qualities, of awakening to true happiness and then analyzes how to attain them based on what neuroscientists have learned about the structure of the brain and ancient teachings. Although he focuses on the Buddhist concept of enlightenment, he draws parallels to other traditions as well. As in his other books, he writes with clarity and simplicity. What’s different about this book is the spiritual depth of the material. After examining how we have come to be such miserable, worrying, craving, hurt, sad, frustrated and angry people, he suggests how we can change our brains. In Part Two he delves deeply into teachings and practices both ancient and modern for each theme. This is not a book one can zip through to become enlightened in a few days. Rick Hanson clearly knows his science and his Buddhism. I liked that he frequently quotes from Buddhist sacred texts, focuses on practices, offers suggestions for further reading, and has compiled an extensive bibliography. The brain retraining practices, questions and meditations I have tried so far have left me feeling lighter and more relaxed, which is no easy task given the pandemic. I began reading, as, I usually do with a pen in hand and a notepad by my side jotting lines that moved me – until I realized if I kept it up I’d be copying the whole book. I have a feeling it’s one I’ll be reading again and again.

I read this book because I wanted to know the latest on the correlation between meditation and observations of brain science. Hanson covers seven practices: steadying the mind, warming the heart, resting in fullness, being wholeness, receiving nowness, opening to allness, and finding timelessness. He devotes a chapter to each of the practices and includes one or more examples of guided meditation for each practice.

Much of the brain science was beyond my immediate understanding. I felt that information was more academic than I preferred. I appreciated Hanson's stories of his own experiences with the practices as well as other insights. I think the strength of the book is in the guided meditations. I appreciated most the meditation on warming the heart.

Hanson emphasizes the learning process of the brain, that it is in stages. Because of it, we must exercise deliberate practice. A steady mind or awareness of the now will not just happen by accident. Hanson suggests starting with one minute of meditation a day. I found that doable and could immediately sense the benefit.

This is a good book for readers who want to understand how spiritual practices affect the brain. I do think the sample guided meditations are the best aspect of the book. While not considered a “religious” book, many of the principles are from Buddhism. I do feel the meditation principles and practices can be used in other spiritual disciplines.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

In Neurodharma, psychologist Rick Hanson combines neuroscience and secular spirituality to help readers achieve self-actualization, and he does so with warmth and humor. I loved the author’s encouraging tone, and appreciated his explanation of how to develop an effective practice. He has a knack for explaining concepts clearly. He then discusses the seven ways of being that he considers the essence of awakening: steadiness, lovingness, fullness, wholeness, newness, allness, and timelessness.

Each section of the book includes meditations and suggested readings, as well as inspiring quotes from various spiritual teachers. Roughly 40 percent of the book consists of notes and the bibliography.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in developing a meditation practice or learning how to get more benefit from practice. Practical and encouraging, this book should have wide appeal.

Thanks to the publisher, Harmony Books, for providing me with an unproofed ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.

Rick Hanson's latest book does not disappoint. I'm a longtime meditator with a strong interest in neuroscience, but Neurodharma is accessible for anyone who wants to establish a meditation practice and is especially curious about the psychological benefits. Hanson does a good job of explaining in layperson language the neurological underpinnings of how the practices he provides work in the brain and body. Some of his invented terminology, like Nowness, need the explanations he provides. But his clear and well-researched approach to experiencing states of awakening are straightforward. I'd definitely recommend this book as great scaffolding for a beginning or established meditator.

Dr. Rick Hanson explores how the traditional Buddhist path to Enlightenment and what we're learning in modern neuroscience align; and how as we look at the two together, we can learn practical ways to create happier, more peaceful lives for ourselves here and now. Dr. Hanson's writing style is friendly and easy to understand, and his message makes the book well worth the read.