Your Brain! And the Museum of Natural History

What big brains we have - they make our world. But what do we really know about them? And what do we know about our mind? Meditators know the mind doesn't equal the brain, but at the same time our particular expression of mind as we know it doesn't seem to be able to exist without it.

The American Museum of Natural History had a fascinating exhibit on The Brain going on, but this weekend--Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Jan 28-30--there's extra special sauce for us meditators, with the Living in America: The Brain and the Tibetan Creative Mind going on.

Not only are Tibetan monks been creating a fabulous Medicine Buddha sand mandala at the AMNH all week, but they are going to blow it all away on Sunday at 2:30. Gorgeous impermanence and an incredible moment.

photo (c) Kitt Teed

The museum has a full program all weekend, including guided meditation sessions [full up, already, alas], talks, performances, and more--all free with admission.

Featured speakers on Sunday include Richard J. Davidson, director of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Joseph Loizzo, director of the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science.

Joe Loizzo has spoken at the IDP, and he's fascinating, as is Davidson. The Western scientific mind's examination of what goes on in the brain when we meditate is a big focus of current interest, and Joe and Richard are sure to bring some fresh insight during the talks.

All the activity coincides not only with the museum's The Brain exhibit but also the opening of Body and Spirit: Tibetan Medical Paintings, a new exhibition that features 64 Tibetan medical paintings.

Plus, there are lots of dinosaurs at the AMNH, and butterflies. And brains. Enjoy!