Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Neural Buddhist Exploring the intersection of Zen and neuroscience ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://neuralbuddhist.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Posts](https://neuralbuddhist.com/posts/) - [The end of sesshin](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2026/07/23/the-end-of-sesshin/) - What brings us to sesshin in the first place, and what brings us back? Some reflections on these intensive meditation retreats from the view of lay practice. - [Finding the root of anxiety](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2026/04/05/the-root-of-anxiety/) - Anxiety is a challenge for many at some point in life. Clearly understanding the root of anxiety can help us find ways to live with greater ease. - [What is the use of mindfulness?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2025/06/03/what-is-the-use-of-mindfulness/) - What is the use of mindfulness? A look at how mindfulness relates to decision-making, and our ability to resist the lure of sunk costs. - [Wading into mindfulness](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2024/12/21/wading-into-mindfulness/) - This year, I've been wading into mindfulness, and working to bring mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to my local community. - ["There's a flaw in my approach"](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2024/08/25/theres-a-flaw-in-my-approach/) - Traces of striving in meditation can be the source of many difficulties, and seeing this clearly has been essential for my own practice. - [We cannot "like" our way to wisdom](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/08/01/we-cannot-like-our-way-to-wisdom/) - Can we like our way to wisdom? It can be a challenge to truly live out our Zen practice in every moment, and especially on social media. - [Nurture peace in this broken world](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2024/01/02/nurture-peace-in-this-broken-world/) - When the world feels broken, we may fall into despair or become tangled in anger. How do we move forward, to help all beings? - [Zen and the art of Demon Slayer](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/10/21/zen-and-the-art-of-demon-slayer/) - Why should you meditate? Finding inspiration for our Zen practice from the example of Tanjiro in Demon Slayer. - [Time on our minds](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/08/29/time-on-our-minds/) - Time can seem solid and stable. But when we take a closer look through our Zen practice and neuroscience, we can see that time is only in our heads. - [What lies beyond fair and unfair?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/07/29/what-lies-beyond-fair-and-unfair/) - Fair and unfair are ideas, constructions of our minds, but not in the sense that they are fictions. They matter in how we treat one another and for our ability to live together in peace. - [Will there be an AI Buddha?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/07/03/will-there-be-an-ai-buddha/) - Artificial intelligence is poised to transform many parts of our lives. But look closely before you start dreaming of an AI Buddha (an AI that is enlightened or that could become our Zen teacher). - [What do we do now?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/05/24/what-do-we-do-now/) - After suffering a loss, we can find ourselves wondering, what do we do now? Remember that we are alway balancing how to deal with this moment while also looking ahead to the future. - [Changing how we choose](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/03/18/changing-how-we-choose/) - Is there a "right" way to do morality? In Changing How We Choose, David Redish gives us a new scientfic approach to morality, with important implications for our Zen Buddhist practice. - [Contemplating quiet quitting](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/09/06/contemplating-quiet-quitting/) - Instead of quiet quitting a stressful job, take a moment for a contemplative pause to focus on what is really important. - [Do we really want to meditate?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/12/29/do-we-really-want-to-meditate/) - Meditation can sometimes feel challenging, or even like another chore in our lives. If we change our mindset, how we approach meditation, we can open up space to engage fully with life. - [Talking science with Simplicity Zen](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2023/01/25/talking-science-with-simplicity-zen/) - In an interview with Berry Crawford, of Simplicity Zen, we take a look at the relationships between science and Zen practice. - [One life or many? Rebirth and the brain](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/08/16/one-life-or-many-rebirth-and-the-brain/) - Many Buddhists believe that some part of us will be reborn in another life. But, how does rebirth fit with what we know about the brain? - [Making a ritual out of habit](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/07/21/making-a-ritual-out-of-habit/) - We often fall into habit mindlessly. But with our full engagement, the most practiced actions take on the depths of ritual. - [What do we already know?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/07/02/what-do-we-already-know/) - What does it really mean for us to follow a spiritual path? What is our goal? A new book by Mark Frank asks if our spiritual path leads back to that which we already know to be true. - [A clean and pure anger](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/03/07/a-clean-and-pure-anger/) - As the military conflict in Ukraine escalated, some Buddhist discussions focused on the ethics of self-defense. The critical question, though, is how to act skillfully as we live our our vows. - [A look into Being You by Anil Seth](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/01/12/a-look-into-being-you-by-anil-seth/) - Being You by Anil Seth is a new book on the science of consciousness. For Zen practitioners, what insights are there to help us see reality more clearly? - [Lottery tips from our Zen practice](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2022/01/25/lottery-tips-from-our-zen-practice/) - With the Mega Millions jackpot soaring in the US, many of us are looking for good lottery tips. The best way to win is to play with no hope of winning. - [This life is a precious treasure](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/11/09/this-life-is-a-precious-treasure/) - Our life is a precious treasure, but a fragile one. Like a whirlpool, each life persists only while conditions are favorable. This is natural, so why then do we lament? - [The invisible world beyond sensation](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/10/19/the-invisible-world-beyond-sensation/) - Meditation involves expanding our awareness of sensation. But, even as our practice matures, we are always surrounded by an invisible world, beyond our senses. - [Getting out of our heads](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/09/14/getting-out-of-our-heads/) - What is this life that we find ourselves living? What is this place that we find ourselves in? For me, these were the kinds of the questions that brought me to meditation, and to Zen practice when I was younger. Growing up, I was not exposed to a strong religious tradition, and felt that I - [A meditation on the breath of our life](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/10/05/a-meditation-on-the-breath-of-our-life/) - In our meditation practice, we hope to better see clearly the true nature of reality. But, what do we find when we attend closely to our self? - [Is there a mystery at the heart of reality?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/09/21/the-mystery-at-the-heart-of-reality/) - Our scientific knowlege grows rapidly every day, but will we every be able to touch the mystery at the heart of reality? - [Our responsibility to life](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/12/27/our-responsibility-to-life/) - Where does our responsibility to life lie? As struggles over reproductive laws intensify, skillful answers to this question are needed urgently. - [Waking up here and now](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/08/24/waking-up-here-and-now/) - One day this past spring, I was having breakfast with my grandparents at their home. A weekend visit, for coffee and pastries, were something of a tradition. For as long as I could remember, our family had gathered at their home when we could, to share some food and conversation. On this occasion, I was - [How do we become our best self?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/11/23/how-do-we-become-our-best-self/) - Advances in science can potentially help transform our minds. But, is our goal to become our best self, and or for spiritual plastic surgery? - [Are we all in the same boat?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/08/31/are-we-all-in-the-same-boat/) - As I think back on my life thus far, it seems that I have had my share of happiness. And, probably equal measures of anger. Or grief. Shame in some moments balancing with joy in the next. Over the past year, I've felt less balanced, with more moments of anxiety and anger, as our loved - [A neural Buddhist?](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/08/17/a-neural-buddhist/) - Years ago, I recall being struck by David Brooks' column, The Neural Buddhists, in the New York Times, way back in 2008. Part of the column is focused on a claim that research at the time, especially in neuroscience, was casting doubt on atheism (or at least strict materialism): Over the past several years, the - [Sitting down and opening up to life](https://neuralbuddhist.com/2021/09/06/sitting-down-and-opening-up-to-life/) - After a run recently, we came across a small toad along our path. This little one seemed to have perfected just sitting: relaxed, unperturbed, but ready to act in a moment. I wish that I could say that I've mastered sitting in the same way! While their posture is very different from that of sitting ## Pages - [Home](https://neuralbuddhist.com/) - Exploring the intersection of Zen Buddhism and neuroscience to better understand this life that we find ourselves in. - [Welcome](https://neuralbuddhist.com/sign-up/welcome/) - Thank you for signing up for our newsletter - please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. - [Sign-up](https://neuralbuddhist.com/sign-up/) - Essays on the intersection of science (neuroscience) and Zen Buddhist practice. Sign up for our newsletter to get each new essay delivered to your inbox. - [About](https://neuralbuddhist.com/about/) - About neuralbuddhist.com By Neil Schmitzer-Torbert I started neuralbuddhist.com in 2021, as a place to gather some of my thoughts about Zen practice and science (especially neuroscience). The essays that I post here are reflections on how I have integrated my own Zen practice with my work in neuroscience, and my interests in science, philosophy, and ## MailPoet Page - [MailPoet Page](https://neuralbuddhist.com/?mailpoet_page=captcha) - [mailpoet_page] - [MailPoet Page](https://neuralbuddhist.com/?mailpoet_page=subscriptions) - [mailpoet_page] ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/uncategorized/) - [Meditation](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/meditation/) - [Science](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/science/) - [Reality](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/reality/) - [Zen](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/zen/) - [Ethics](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/ethics/) - [Featured](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/featured/) - [Practice](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/practice/) - [Stress](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/stress/) - [Mindfulness](https://neuralbuddhist.com/category/mindfulness/) ## Tags - [emotion](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/emotion/) - [emptiness](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/emptiness/) - [mindfulness](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/mindfulness/) - [meditation](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/meditation/) - [Zen](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/zen/) - [science](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/science/) - [reality](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/reality/) - [mystery](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/mystery/) - [identity](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/identity/) - [no self](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/no-self/) - [life](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/life/) - [abortion](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/abortion/) - [ethics](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/ethics/) - [craving](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/craving/) - [lottery](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/lottery/) - [attachment](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/attachment/) - [Ukraine](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/ukraine/) - [precepts](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/precepts/) - [ritual](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/ritual/) - [habit](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/habit/) - [practice](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/practice/) - [social media](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/social-media/) - [mental health](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/mental-health/) - [rebirth](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/rebirth/) - [stress](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/stress/) - [grief](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/grief/) - [AI](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/ai/) - [peace](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/peace/) - [mindfulness-based stress reduction](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction/) - [mbsr](https://neuralbuddhist.com/tag/mbsr/)