COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT AND MINDFULNESS-MEDITATION Buddhist Concepts Using a Neuropsychological Paradigm

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Kauai Soto Zen Temple Social Hall 1-3500 Kaumualii Highway - P.O. Box H

Hanapepe, Hawaii 96716 Harold V. Hall, PhD, ABPP, Neuropsychologist, Pacific Institute, Big Island Abbess Hosen Ranger, Bodhi Manda Zen Center, Jemez Springs, New Mexico Gerald Hirata, President, Kauai Soto Zen Temple, Hanapepe, Kauai Panel members from Zen Buddhist, professional and public organizations. Intended Participants This workshop is open to the general public, anyone who is interested in learning about mindfulness and meditation. Beginning and advanced practitioners of meditation, yoga, tai chi, biofeedback, and other stress management practices may benefit. Other spiritual traditions, Buddhists, non-Buddhists, and health professionals (psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, nurses, mental health counselors, professionals working with brain-injured clients, caretaker-client dyads) will find it useful and informative. Abstract Over the last several decades, there has been an upsurge of meditative studies and methods combined with brain imagery and scientific methodology. Buddhist sages such as the Dalai Lama including Zen leaders support the view that both science and Buddhism are necessary to fully embrace the responsibilities and great challenges facing humankind today. In a series of landmark studies, neuroscientists have discovered that some types of mindfulness and meditation (M&M) correspond to activation of “top down” neural pathways—known as the attentional control network—which involve internally mediated intentions, inhibitions, plans, goals choice, and use of salient words and images (e.g., Loving-Kindness Meditation, hypnosis and self-hypnosis, guided meditation, Transcendental Meditation, certain prayers in religious traditions, Tonglen Meditation), versus “bottom up” generic sensory input involving direct and automatic reactions such as from loud noise, pain stimuli, somatic actions and qi-infused chakra points (e.g., Healing Touch, Zhineng qigong, various types of yoga, biofeedback, body scanning, Somatic Meditation, Tai Chi). Discussed in this workshop, evidence-based studies using imaging and brain scanning suggest structural change takes place fairly rapidly from regular practice of M&M methods utilizing a combination of TD and BU neural activation (e.g., Zen meditation-- zazen, kinhin, shakyo, Compassion Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy). Practical implications are emphasized in this workshop. The goal is to increase the likelihood of attaining positive and caring traits/states and learning experiences to help oneself and others in the search for relief of suffering and to find happiness. Such a program can be easily adapted to assist cognitively impaired individuals regain intellectual competency (or slow down progression of deterioration). From a Buddhist perspective, the 5 pillars of wisdom are discussed which may lead to the view that the highest wisdom is compassion characterized by a recognition that all phenomena are

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incomplete, impermanent and not self. This heuristic program is humbly offered as but a small step in this process. Learning objectives Participants should be able to: 1. To understand that Buddhism and science are inextricably bound together. 2. To become familiar with different M&M traditions including zazen. 3. Elaborate on the 7-step procedure as it would apply to you or a client. 4. Explain why wisdom with self-compassion and compassion can be applied in In all situations and settings, and with all people with whom you interact. Schedule 10:00-10:30 Registration. Distribute handout materials. 10:30-10:40 Opening remarks and greeting (Gerald Hirata ) 10:40-11:30 Adversity, neuroplasticity, and Buddhist universal laws (Dr. Hall) 11:30-11:45 Silent break (view poster paper displays) 11:45-12:15 The 7-step cognitive enhancement program (Dr. Hall) 12:15-1:00 A light vegetarian lunch will be served 1:00-2:00 Panel: “My Spiritual Journey” 2:00-2:15 Silent break 2:15-2:45 Zazen followed by kinhin (Walking Meditation) (Abbess Hosen Ranger) 2:45-3:00 Modified Universal Transference of Merit (Abbess Hosen Ranger) Fill out evaluations

Deadline for registration is March 10, 2020. The registration form and workshop information is available via email request at kauaisotozen@gmail.com or downloaded at the website, www.kauaisotozen.org. The suggested donation is $35 per person. A discounted rate of $15 is available for seniors (over 65), students, special needs categories to cover the cost of the workshop materials. Certificate of Attendance: Continuing Education (CE) credits of 4.5 hours will be listed on individual certificates that will be awarded by the Pacific Institute for all participants who attend the workshop in its entirety.

The Multistep Neuropsychological Process This procedure mirrors the inclusion of major factors utilized in virtually all comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations with recommended treatment. The sequence of instruction will include the following factors: (1) Referral information, motivational set, delusion-related roadblocks, deception and self-deception; (2) Attention and concentration; (3) Sensory-perceptual and motor skills; (4) Speech, language and communication; (5) Memory, both short-term and long-term, verbal and non-verbal; (5) Executive skills, mental flexibility and creativity; (6) Social/emotional functioning including judgement, empathy and compassion; and (7) Intelligence, meta-intelligence, and wisdom-related ideation and acts associated with regaining compromised adaptation and/or gaining fully functional cognitive abilities. Each

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factor is supplemented by Buddhist lore and findings over the millennia that pertains to that cognitive ability/trait.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

1. Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (1975, 2005): The Teaching of the Buddha. Tokyo, Japan, Kosaido Co., Ltd.

2. Cahn, B. Rael & Polich, J. (2006). Meditation States and Traits: EEG, ERP, and Neuroimaging Studies. Psychological Bulletin, 132, No. 2, 180- 211.

3. Dalai Lama (2009). The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living. New York: Simon & Schuster.

4. Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams (2016). The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. New Orleans: Cornerstone Publishers.

5. Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain that Changes Itself. London: Penguin Books. 6. G ilbert, Paul (2010a). Compassion focused therapy: distinctive features. The CBT

distinctive features series. London; New York: R outledge. I SBN 9780415448079. 7. Hanson, R. & Mendius, R. (2009). Buddha’s Brain. Oakland, Ca: New Harbinger

Publications, Inc. 8. Kornfield, J. (1993). A Path with Heart. New York: Bantam Books. 9. Mingtong, Gu (2011). Wisdom Healing: (Zhineng) Qigong. ISBN 978-0- 9835043-0-

6 Copyright by author 10. Neff, K. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-

compassion. Self and Identity, 2, 223-250. 11. Peterson, C. & Seligman, M. (2004) Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook

and Classification. Oxford University Press, USA. 12. Schwartz, J. & Begley, S. (2002). The Mind & the Brain: Neuroplasticity and

the Power of Mental Force. New York: Harper Perennial 13. Strauss, E., Sherman, E. & Spreen, O. (2006). A compendium of

neuropsychological tests. New York: Oxford University Press. 14. Williams, M. & Penman, D. (2011). Mindfulness: An Eight-week Plan for

Finding Peace in a Frantic World. New York: Rodale, Inc. 15. Wing-Tsit Chan (1963). The Way of Lao Tzu (Tao-te ching). New York: Macmillan

Publishing Co.

*Please note: The Workshop Registration form is on a separate sheet.