From Harald Walach’s introductory essay, “Neuroscience, Consciousness, Spirituality – Questions, Problems and Potential Solutions,” to the concluding chapter by Robert K. C. Foreman entitled “An Emerging New Model for Consciousness: The Consciousness Field Model,” this book represents a milestone in the progress towards an integrated understanding of spirituality, neuroscience and consciousness.
It is the first in a series of books that are dedicated to this topic.
Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality
Studies in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality Volume 1 Series Editors Harald Walach, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany Stefan Schmidt, University Medical Center, Freiburg and European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany Editorial Board Jonathan Schooler, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA Mario Beauregard, University of Montreal, Canada Robert Forman, Jerusalem Institute of Advanced Studies, Israel B. Alan Wallace, Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies, CA, USA
For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/10195
Harald Walach • Stefan Schmidt Wayne B. Jonas Editors
Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality
Editors Harald Walach Institute for Transcultural Health Science European Universtiy Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Grosse Scharrnstr. 59 15230 Frankfurt (Oder) Germany
[email protected] Wayne B. Jonas Samueli Institute King Street 1737 Alexandia, VA 22314 USA
[email protected]
Stefan Schmidt Department of Environmental Health Sciences University Medical Center Freiburg Breisacherstr. 115b 79106 Freiburg Germany European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) Germany
[email protected]
ISSN 2211-8918 e-ISSN 2211-8926 ISBN 978-94-007-2078-7 e-ISBN 978-94-007-2079-4 DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2079-4 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2011936020 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Foreword of the Series Editors
“Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality” was born out of the vision to build bridges and get different disciplines to talk to each other. We have been observing these disciplines for quite a while, doing empirical research in the field of mindfulness meditation, conceptual, psychological and philosophical issues, as well as spirit