A groundbreaking exploration of the "science of enlightenment," told through the lens of the journey of Siddhartha (better known as Buddha), by Guardian science editor James Kingsland.

In a lush grove on the banks of the Neranjara in northern India--400 years before the birth of Christ, when the foundations of western science and philosophy were being laid by the great minds of Ancient Greece--a prince turned ascetic wanderer sat beneath a fig tree. His name was Siddhartha Gautama, and he was discovering the astonishing capabilities of the human brain and the secrets of mental wellness and spiritual "enlightenment," the foundation of Buddhism.

Framed by the historical journey and teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha's Brain shows how meditative and Buddhist practice anticipated the findings of modern neuroscience. Moving from the evolutionary history of the brain to the disorders and neuroses associated with our technology-driven world, James Kingsland explains why the ancient practice of mindfulness has been so beneficial and so important for human beings across time. Far from a New Age fad, the principles of meditation have deep scientific support and have been proven to be effective in combating many contemporary psychiatric disorders. Siddhartha posited that "Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think." As we are increasingly driven to distraction by competing demands, our ability to focus and control our thoughts has never been more challenged--or more vital.

Siddhartha's Brain offers a cutting-edge, big-picture assessment of meditation and mindfulness: how it works, what it does to our brains, and why meditative practice has never been more important.

By the longtime Guardian science journalist, a groundbreaking exploration of the science of enlightenment and mental wellness, illuminated by twin perspectives: the ancient spiritual wisdom of Siddhartha Gautama and the revelations of today's scientists, who are confirming the Buddha's profound insights into the human mind

In the fifth century BCE, in northern India, Siddhartha, the wandering sage who became the Buddha, developed a program, rooted in meditation and mindfulness, for mastering the mind and achieving lasting peace and contentment. Twenty-five centuries later, humans have transformed everything about our world--except our brains, which remain the same powerful yet flawed instruments possessed by our ancestors. What if the solution we seek to the psychological problems of life in the digital age--distraction, anxiety, addiction, loss of deep meaning--had already been worked out by the Buddha in ancient India? Veteran Guardian science journalist and practicing Buddhist James Kingsland reveals how scientists are now unlocking the remarkable secrets of Siddhartha's brain.

Moving effortlessly between science and scripture, Kingsland charts Siddhartha's spiritual journey and explains how new research by leading neuroscientists and clinical psychologists--many of whom are interviewed in these pages--suggests that mindfulness practice reconfigures our brains to make us sharper, smarter, healthier, and happier, and that it can help treat stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, hypertension, and substance abuse. There have even been hints that meditation can enhance immune function, slow cellular aging, and keep dementia at bay. Featuring six guided meditations, Siddhartha's Brain is a practical and inspiring odyssey of mind and spirit.

Kingsland, James

James Kingsland is a science and medical journalist with twenty-five years of experience working for publications such as New Scientist, Nature, and most recently the Guardian (UK), where he was a commissioning editor and a contributor for its Notes & Theories blog. On his own blog, Plastic Brain, he writes about neuroscience and Buddhist psychology.