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    Zen and the Art of Consciousness by Susan Blackmore Summary

    Zen and the Art of Consciousness
    Susan Blackmore
    3.57 (267 Reviews)
    PhilosophyPsychologyMindfulness
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    Overview of Zen and the Art of Consciousness

    Dive into the illusion of consciousness as neuroscientist Susan Blackmore blends Zen meditation with scientific inquiry. Professor Aaron Sloman calls it "a potential classic" for challenging our understanding of self. What if your entire experience of reality is merely a brain-generated fiction?

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    Best quote from Zen and the Art of Consciousness

    “

    The present moment itself was always alright-her troubles existed only in thoughts about past or future.

    ”
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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Mystery of Consciousness: A Journey Through the Mind

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    What if everything you believe about your conscious experience is an illusion? What if the "you" reading these words doesn't actually exist in the way you think? These questions form the heart of Susan Blackmore's fascinating exploration of consciousness through the dual lenses of neuroscience and Zen meditation. Unlike purely academic treatments of consciousness, this journey combines rigorous scientific inquiry with deep personal practice, using the author's own mind as a laboratory for investigating our most fundamental assumptions about reality, self, and experience.

    2

    Where Science Meets Meditation: The Path of Direct Investigation

    3

    The Awakening Question: Exploring Consciousness in the Present Moment

    4

    The Elusive Self: The Search for the Observer

    5

    Thoughts Without a Thinker: The Nature of Mental Activity and Agency

    6

    Beyond the Illusion: A New Understanding of Consciousness

    7

    The Continuing Journey: Beyond Concepts and Words