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Pamo

A Challenge For A Dharma Practitioner

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A challenge for a Dharma practitioner, from the scripta on the lecture on the psychology of personality: "A personality is a relatively permanent and unique totality of mental, behavioural, and physical characteristics of an individual. A structure of personality is: temper, character, capacities, physical constitution; a human as a bio-psycho-social unity." :-//

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Guest Ani.Chödrön
A challenge for a Dharma practitioner, from the scripta on the lecture on the psychology of personality: "A personality is a relatively permanent and unique totality of mental, behavioural, and physical characteristics of an individual.

Interesting. The view of neuroscience seems to be different:

 

“Twenty years ago almost all neuroscientists believed that the adult brain had very little margin for change and could not generate new neurons. There could only be some limited reinforcement or deactivation of synaptic connections, combined with a slow decline of the brain through aging. It was thought that major changes would wreak havoc in the unbelievably complex brain functions that had been gradually built up in early life. Today ideas have changed considerably and neuroscientist are talking more and more about neruoplasticy – the concept that the brain is continually evolving in response to our experience, through the establishment of new neuronal connections, the strengthening of existing ones, or the creation of new neurons.”

 

The excerpt is from the book of Matthieu Ricard, addressing the interest in meditation of both, neuroscientist, researching how meditation is shaping brain and increasing its abilities, and the practitioners, using these effects for the benefit of themselves and the others. The title is: Happiness. ;)

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The excerpt is from the book of Matthieu Ricard, addressing the interest in meditation of both, neuroscientist, researching how meditation is shaping brain and increasing its abilities, and the practitioners, using these effects for the benefit of themselves and the others. The title is: Happiness. ;)

 

I don't understand how this refers to Pamo's post. Do you think that the brain and personality are the same thing? I don't think so ...

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Guest Ani.Chödrön

I don't understand how this refers to Pamo's post.

The tendency to see things as fixed and determined repeats in various fields of science. But it seems that through time this view is getting looser (quantum physics, neuroscience...). The book that i mentioned, talks in length about how the personality traits can be changed on the basis of meditation, meaning durable, lasting development of one's mental capability - according to the neuroscience researching brain activity.

 

Do you think that the brain and personality are the same thing? I don't think so ...
Sure. According to Buddhism, our mind is not seated in our brain, but there is a correlation between our mind and our body (including brain). ;)

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nSure. According to Buddhism, our mind is not seated in our brain, but there is a correlation between our mind and our body (including brain). ;)

 

Buddhism is not alone in not equating the mind/personality with the brain. I think that even Werstern medicine and psychology do not equate the personality and the brain. Correlation does not mean equation, only possible mutual influences.

 

And yes, I would also like to see proof of what you say. :)

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Guest Ani.Chödrön

Buddhism is not alone in not equating the mind/personality with the brain.

I don't think it's the only one either, maybe it is even the opposite, if one looks at different cultures and times. :laugh:

 

I think that even Werstern medicine and psychology do not equate the personality and the brain.
I've never seen an equation of personality and the brain, just the brain and the mind or activity of the brain and mental activity. I posted the quote because it talks (through the context of the whole book) about both, our mind and our personality, in fact, how our mind influences our personality and changes it.

 

And yes, I would also like to see proof of what you say. :)

I am not sure about what, as a matter of fact. :huh: When i wrote "Sure", i meant: I agree with you.:) So i wanted to post that i have never come accross an evidence that the mind is equal to brain, which is interesting for me, because the equasion is sometimes taken for granted and sometimes excluding other possible views in advance, even without having firm ground itself.

But you quoted also the second part. You know for yourself that according to Buddhism our subtlemost mind is seated in the undistructable drop in our heart, not in our brain, and that there are realized Lamas who can perceive it, having the abilities that make their word authoritative. :bow: This is not a proof according the scientific standards, but not refuted as well, because, as far as i know, science does not have the tools to explore this field yet.

It is also often said that our mind is not our body, but until we reach certain realizations, we are influenced by it, by its hormonal processes, its aging, its pleasures and pains... Maybe one could say: more practice - less influence, and one day we will be able to exert complete control over our mind and our energies. B)

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OK, it was then a misunderstanding.

 

"Sure" as an answer in that context can be understood as "Sure, the brain and personality are the same".

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