In the Buddhist tradition various forms of meditation have been practiced for more than two thousand years, and these practices have often been claimed to have beneficial effects. However up until recently, the neuroscientific correlates of these practices have remained largely unclear. What happens in our brains when we meditate? What do the experiential, emotional, and cognitive effects that take place during the process of meditation indicate about the nature of the mind and its relation to the physical world? Furthermore, can meditation provide reliable knowldge of the mind and the world? These and other questions will guide an exploration into both the neuroscientific research surrounding meditation, and how it can be used to further our understanding of consciousness and its relation to the world.
