The evolving mind : Buddhism, biology, and consciousness
The Evolving Mind, written by practicing Buddhist and biologist Robin Cooper, looks at the question of the how life progressed over time through biological and eventually cultural evolution to yet more refined types of evolution involving the mind and consciousness. Specfically, the author draws on four concepts of evolution: biological, mental, cultural, and "higher" evolution. Buddhist practices, the author suggests, including practice ofthe Bodhisattva ideal and a range of meditative techniques that help develop the mind offer an avenue toward higher evolution. (Zach Rowinski 2005-03-12)
Introduction -- The scope of the evolutionary vision -- Natural selection and the evolution of life -- Mental evolution -- Behaviour and the direction of evolution -- Self-reflective consciousness -- Civilization and the axial age -- Individual achievement and the great religions -- Buddhism as higher evolution -- The spiral path -- Transcending self and non-dual insight -- Conclusion -- Appendix: An evolving idea: evolutionary thinking through the ages