The Consciousness Podcast

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Chris Niebauer. Dr. Niebauer the the author of No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism. He earned his Ph.D. in cognitive neuropsychology at the University of Toledo, with a focus on the differences between the left and right sides of the human brain. He is currently a professor at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses on consciousness, mindfulness, left- and right-brain differences, and artificial intelligence.  We discussed mind versus consciousness and the link to Eastern philosophy. Please enjoy this episode with Dr. Chris Niebauer.

No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism

We discussed: 

1. What is consciousness? Is it neurological, within the brain? The morphic field? What do you think?
2. Asking the right questions about consciousness?
   1. Daniel Dennett
3. How is consciousness different from mind? 
   1. A selfish question: Consciousness and Taoism…what is the connection, how is one’s consciousness part of Taoism?
      1. Right brain yin, left brain yang?
4. You studied split brains as part of your doctoral work. What can the split brains tell us about our existence?
   1. How do the two sides differ?
   2. There are two radically different types of consciousness resulting from the left versus the right brain?
   3. Is there an ethical consideration, then, with two separate consciousnesses?
5. What about our combined left-right brain? Your book has several ways the two sides work together — language, visual, beliefs, etc. What implications do these hold for our consciousness and our egos?
6. Where did this “mind” originate from?
   1. How does knowing this help us go beyond it?
7.  What is the nature of the self and how does the mind create this?
   1. The self, or ego, is an illusion?
   2. Is that voice in our heads our self/ego?
8. No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism: How does the Buddha’s teachings fit so well with modern neuroscience? Observe the mind! You can change or train the inner thoughts.
9. You refer to intuition as “another valid form of consciousness.” What do you mean by that? What is intuition?
   1. And creativity? Where do creative ideas come from?
10. How is mind related to AI, but consciousness isn’t?
11. Other thoughts?
12. What’s coming in the study of consciousness that excites you?
13. What will you be studying or writing about in the near future? Book coming next summer — consciousness and mind.

“Learn to use the mind, or the mind will use you.”

A Quick and Easy Exercise he recommends: One conscious breath. Breath in, slowly breath out. For a moment, you’re not your thoughts — here & now.

Check out Dr. Niebauer’s YouTube channel

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