Shinzen Young is an American mindfulness teacher and neuroscience research consultant. His systematic approach to categorizing, adapting, and teaching meditation has resulted in collaborations with Harvard Medical School, Carnegie-Mellon University, and the University of Vermont in the burgeoning field of contemplative neuroscience.

Shinzen’s interest in Asia began at the age of 14 when he decided to attend a Japanese ethnic school in his native city of Los Angeles. After majoring in Asian languages at UCLA, he entered a Ph.D. program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin. As a part of his thesis research, he lived as a Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana) monk for three years at Mount Koya, Japan. It was then that he received the name Shinzen (真善). Also during that time, he became friends with Father William Johnston (author of Christian Zen). Fr. Johnston helped broaden Shinzen’s interests to include comparative world mysticism and the scientific study of meditative states.

Upon returning to the United States, his academic interests shifted to the dialogue between Eastern meditation and Western science. Shinzen is known for his interactive, algorithmic approach to mindfulness, and often uses mathematical metaphors to illustrate meditative phenomena.

Shinzen leads residential retreats throughout North America. In 2006, he created the Home Practice Program. These phone-based mini-retreats are designed to make deep meditation practice accessible to anyone in the world regardless of their location, health situation, and time or financial constraints.

Websites:

basicmindfulness.com (Phone-based retreats and classes)

shinzen.org (Articles, CDs, onsite retreats)

YouTube.com/user/expandcontract (Video talks)

YouTube.com/user/ShinzenInterviews (Interviews with Shinzen)

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Books:

The Science of Enlightenment

Science of Enlightenment CD series

Natural Pain Relief

The Five Ways to Know Yourself (Basic Mindfulness Practice Manual – Free PDF)

What Is Mindfulness? – A Comprehensive Overview (Free PDF)

And many more

Transcript of this interview

First BatGap interview with Shinzen.

Interview recorded 11/26/2016

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump

00:03:16 - Introduction to Shinzen's Work

00:07:04 - The Scientific Method: Breaking Down the Basic Elements

00:11:24 - The Sword and the Book in Buddhism

00:16:21 - Vivid Experiences and the Laws of Physics

00:22:19 - Analyzing the Dimensions of Mindfulness

00:31:49 - The Potential of New Discoveries

00:41:08 - The Marriage of Spirituality and Technology

00:50:01 - Different fields of the same elephant

00:55:19 - The Effortlessness of Concentration

00:58:49 - Elevating Concentration without Effort

01:03:06 - Who or what becomes enlightened?

01:07:29 - The Circuits of Meditation

01:12:54 - Enlightenment and Phenomenal Experience

01:18:56 - The Oneness of Experience

01:23:50 - Navigating the Power Realms and Surrendering to the Formless Source

01:33:07 - Balancing Effort and Surrender in Practice

01:38:49 - Equanimity and Surrender

01:41:48 - Developing a Fully Modern Delivery System

01:45:58 - Enhancing Enlightenment with Brain Hacks

01:52:59 - Suspending the Obstacles to Primordial Perfection

01:57:23 - Experiment and Hypotheses

02:02:31 - Exploring the Possibilities of Virtual Lesions for Enlightenment

02:06:58 - Exploring Neurological Conditions and Enlightenment

02:10:52 - The State of Absolute No-Self

02:15:27 - Basal Ganglia System and Thymormic Syndrome

02:20:51 - The Model Disease

02:25:12 - Industrial Strength Brain Technology

02:29:29 - Awakening Coma Patients with Ultrasound Technology

02:32:57 - The Marriage of the Century

02:35:08 - Wrap-Up and Gratitude