Can enlightenment be traced to specific neural correlates, cognition, or behavior? No, and (a qualified) Yes

Frontiers in Psychology

Jake H. Davis¹ 

关键词: mindfulness;    meditation;    awareness;    enlightenment;    consciousness;    neurophenomenology;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00870

学科分类：心理学（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Unfortunately, the first answer to this question is “No.” The term ’’enlightenment” is an extraordinarily imprecise construct. Using the term enlightenment or even the term more native to Buddhist traditions, “awakening” (bodhi), as if it referred to a single outcome either privileges one conception over others or else assumes that there is some commonality among the traditional goals of diverse contemplative traditions. There are deep disagreements over the nature of the goal between and even within various Buddhist schools. Scientific investigations cannot assume that there is any commonality among the transformative changes referred to as “kensho,” “stream entry,” “realizing the nature of mind,” and so on, that various Buddhist traditions take as various stages of awakening. Empirical investigations of these constructs can only proceed with reference to the specific psychological and behavioral outcomes described in the native discourse of a specific tradition (see Lutz et al., 2007). Because we do not have space here to offer detailed examinations of the theoretical context and neurobiological characterization of enlightenment as it is specified in multiple Buddhist traditions, we focus here on one specific example, that of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition of the Burmese meditation master Mahasi Sayadaw. Nonetheless, by applying more generally the approach we adopt here for this tradition, claims for commonality or differences between psychological states and traits associated with various traditional goals can be operationalized as testable hypotheses.

【 授权许可】

CC BY