How does consciousness shape our perception of the world? Why have Buddhists been studying it for three thousand years? How does neurophysiology help us understand Buddhist philosophy?
These and many other questions were discussed with students of the St. Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences during a lecture by the outstanding scientist and specialist in neuro- and psychophysiology, Svyatoslav Medvedev, on the topic "The Life of a Buddhist Monk Through the Eyes of a Scientist." The conversation touched on the boundaries between science and religion, the search for truth, and the mysteries of the human brain that remain unsolved.
Together with the students, the guest reflected on how Buddhist meditation techniques affect brain function, why consciousness cannot be definitively defined, whether Buddhism can be considered an ancient science, and what Buddhist philosophy has in common with modern ideas about consciousness.
Listen to the new episode of the "Creative St. Petersburg" podcast series on the SPbGUP Youth Multimedia Channel—for those who are interested in the essence of events and enjoy reflecting on contemporary issues.
Background:
The project is implemented by the St. Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences in collaboration with entrepreneur Grigory Mikhailovich Birzhenyuk with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
The Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives was established at the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, proposed in April 2021 during his address to the Federal Assembly.
