A conversation with Dr  Ruben Laukkonen—cognitive scientist, neuroscientist and meditator —exploring the cutting edge of contemplative science and the mysterious experience of consciousness coming to a complete stop - cessation. - https://rubenlaukkonen.com/To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.com/Ruben completed an award-winning PhD on the cognitive science of insight at The University of Queensland in 2019, followed by post-doctoral research at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam on the computational neuroscience of meditation. Ruben is now a Senior Lecturer at Southern Cross University where his lab uncovers empirically grounded and experientially authentic models of meditation, insight, psychedelics, and consciousness. Using a combination of methods including neuroimaging, machine learning, and phenomenology, his team is investigating some of the rarest states of consciousness available to human beings- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin- https://adventuresinawareness.com- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawareness00:00:00 Introduction00:04:54 What Makes Meditative Cessation Unique?Defines how intentional cessation differs from sleep, anesthesia, or trauma.00:10:52 From Mindfulness to Advanced States: A New Wave of ResearchIntroduces a shift in meditation science toward rare and transformative states.00:21:08 EEG Findings: What Happens in the Brain During Cessation?Reveals broad changes in brain activity linked to deep meditative absorption.00:41:09 Computational Reset: - reduce grasping by resetting deep mental patterns.00:44:08 Have You Personally Experienced Cessation?00:45:55 How Science Informs Meditation (and Vice Versa)00:47:04 Predictive Processing and the Present Moment00:48:33 Understanding the Four Selves in Meditation00:49:39 Science vs. Philosophy: Are They Really Separate?00:51:00 Why All Maps Are Just Maps00:52:23 Meditation, Science, and the Mystery of Insight00:54:08 Did Science or Meditation Come First?00:55:46 Balancing a PhD with Deep Practice00:57:28 Is Awareness Just Another Dependent Arising?01:02:08 Did Ramana Maharshi Experience Cessation?01:04:02 Grasping at Awareness: A New Kind of Samsara01:06:44 Emptiness, Insight, and the Path that Keeps Unfolding01:08:17 Is the Goal of Buddhism Reducing Suffering or Knowing Reality?01:10:46 Wisdom and Compassion as Two Wings of the Path01:13:36 Could We Ever Measure Clinging in the Brain?01:17:02 Using Brain Flexibility to Detect Reduced Clinging01:18:50 Can Meditators Adapt to Reality Shifts Faster?01:21:45 Does Meditation Increase Mental Model Stability?01:22:04 Does Cessation Challenge Idealist Philosophy?01:24:46 Why I No Longer Start From Consciousness01:26:08 Consciousness: A Useful Concept or an Assumption?01:28:32 Cessation Undermines the Idealist View?01:30:12 Just Before Cessation01:32:00 Investigating the Nature of Awareness Itself01:34:00 Not Everyone Needs Cessation – And Why That Matters01:36:59 Reuben’s View: Emptiness Over Idealism01:38:38 On Being Misrepresented by “Metaconsciousness” Critics01:41:03 The Subtle Dualism of “Everything is Consciousness”01:44:14 Open Audience Q&A Begins01:45:05 What Meditation Practice Leads to Cessation?01:47:15 Why Integrity and Sincerity Matter More Than Method01:51:03 Upcoming Conference Appearances (Europe 2025)01:53:04 What Is Cessation Really? And What Is Emptiness?01:57:11 Emptiness as the Lack of Essence in All ThingsVideo editing by https://www.willbourchier.com/Banner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Christof Koch was the president and chief scientist of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle known for his interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from neuroscience, physics, and philosophy to tackle the complex problem of consciousness, published in over 350 scientific papers, significantly shaped modern understanding of the neural correlates of consciousness and visual perception.In collaboration with Francis Crick, Cristof initiated the modern search for the neuronal correlates of consciousness. In collaboration with Giulio Tononi, he co-developed the Integrated Information Theory of consciousness.To join future discussions live, watch ad-free recordings and extended Q&As, find us at: https://www.adventuresinawareness.com/events/Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:https://adventuresinawareness.com/membershipOne-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin 0:00 Intros0:08 Bernardo’s appreciation of Christof’s work: how neuroscience is critical to understanding mind12:40 Christo’s appreciation of Bernardo’s work:the mechanisms of the boundaries of consciousness 17:00 the metaphysics of Integrated Information Theory (IIT)21:00 IIT might be most direct modelling of true states of nature24:50 IIT and Free Will26:40 how IIT models the noumenon and AI consciousness 30:00 the cerebellum doesn’t contribute to consciousness32:50 IIT and meta-consciousness34:50 dreams are not meta-conscious38:40 IIT and scale and speed of the system (galaxies and atoms)42:30 IIT and defining the boundary of a system45:00 IIT, dissociation and the origin of life50:20 consciousness in the sun and mind meld55:30 Internal family systems therapy & the daimon58:30 clarifying definition of free will1:08:00 why IIT assumes consciousness 1:11:30 what is information in IIT (it’s not shannon information - its meaning, aristotelan ‘in form’)1:15:30 what is integration? (it means its not reducible. You can’t break it into parts without losing something)1:20:30 mind at large integrated? (no, because of speed of light and expansion)1:23:00 why is integration in space but not time? how do parts of the system know which system they are part of1:37:10 how IIT accounts for mind at large - the dance of dissociation and reintegration: actively enforced dissociation and non-actively dissociation. Mind at large is fragmented, and markov blankets are considered1:43:30 Mind at large is not conscious in the way we are1:50:00 everything is conscious vs everything is consciousness1:51:50 IIT disagrees with computational functionalism; that consciousness is just a function and any mechanism that can do that function must be conscious. IIT starts with consciousness instead of with function. 1:56:00 Christof’s psychedelic experience and change in perspective2:01:40 the similarity between the universe and the brain2:08:25 is death re-association? the parallels between chemistry and emotion2:13:30 is mind at large expanding like the universe? (questioning the big bang)2:17:50 do psychedelics increase or decrease connectivity 2:22:30 neural correlates of consciousness or meta-consciousness (implications of blindsight)2:28:50 IIT and the block universe2:38:30 Life and meaning can be mapped by Markov blankets, cancer, enlightenment, reincarnation 2:48:00 becoming another - thought experimentFollow the Adventure:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Workshops this weekend, 28th/29th June 2025 with Dr James Cooke in London: https://dandelion.events/e/n8hokJames Cooke has three degrees in experimental psychology and neuroscience from Oxford University, including a PhD in neuroscience. He has conducted research into the brain basis of consciousness at such institutions as Oxford University; the University of California, Berkeley; University College London; Trinity College Dublin; and Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Tokyo. At the University of London, he achieved the theoretical breakthrough that forms the basis of his new book, The Dawn of Mind, first publishing his findings in the prestigious Journal of Consciousness Studies and later in Entropy. Outside of academia, he directs the Inner Space Institute, a platform for promoting understanding around science and spirituality.Previous talks with James:https://youtu.be/VRw4aJZWJiMhttps://youtu.be/HcmIcGxGHPEMore on James:https://www.innerspaceinstitute.org/To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

To join future events in this series, and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comTo join weekly meetings with Bernardo Kastrup: https://www.withrealityinmind.com/This event was recorded Dec 2024.Jay Garfield is a world specialist in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, leading classes everywhere from Harvard Divinity School all the way to the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in India. He was one of six scholars who participated in a conference with the 14th Dalai Lama on "Mapping the Mind: A Dialogue between Modern Science and Buddhist Science. Bernardo Kastrup is leading the the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism - the notion that all reality is consciousness, as well as having two PhDs and having worked in some of the world's most esteemed scientific institutions. Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Matthew Immergut, Ph.D., was co-author of the highly successful meditation classic, 'The Mind Illuminated,' and works as an Associate Professor of Sociology at Purchase College, SUNY where he has developed a minor in Contemplative Studies, and teaches classes on meditation, happiness, social theory, and new religious movements.We discuss how the systematic approach presented in the book has supported countless meditators, while also addressing the complexities that emerged around his co-author Culadasa (John Yates). We'll discuss Matthew's perspective on navigating teacher-student relationships and the broader challenges of translating traditional Buddhist practices for contemporary audiences, and how teachings on emptiness aim at a fearless capacity to love.To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/0:00 Intro4:30 Matthews background: wilderness survival and chassidic judaism 10:30 Goenka vipassana & addiction19:00 Departure from messianic Judaism23:30 Meeting John Yates (Culadaca)30:25 Publishing & crafting the Mind Illuminated42:00 The strengths of the book47:00 Whatever you do has the same obstacles 48:10 The downsides of the book: progress isn’t linear50:20 Striving, meditative ego and burnout 55:30 Just assume you are bypassing59:39 On the awakening and behaviour of Culadasa, John Yates1:17:00 waking up vs cleaning up1:22:30 Bypassing vs indulging1:26:30 Best practice going forward1:28:10 What Matthew would change about the book1:30:30 Seeing emptiness to induce a fearless capacity to love1:35:00 Cessation, awakening, immoral behaviour and emptiness of consciousness1:42:30 Morality as the starting point for enlightenment?1:45:30 Wisdom, Morality and Insight1:47:30 what to do when you need a break from meditation?1:51:30 the future of the Mind Illuminated?1:52:30 the power of meeting saints - perfection vs imperfection

Join Shamil's 4-week course at:https://adventuresinawareness.com

Dr Shamil Chandaria is a senior research fellow at the centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford. He is also a research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, London University, where he focuses on philosophical issues in neuroscience and well-being; a research fellow at Imperial College in the neuroscience of psychedelics; and a bye-fellow at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.

He has multi-disciplinary research interests spanning computational neuroscience, machine learning & artificial intelligence, and the philosophy and science of human well-being. He is currently working on computational theories of consciousness and meditation. Shamil has been a meditator for 38 years and has contemplative training in early Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shivaism.

Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

0:00 Teaser

1:00 Introduction

2:30 Transcendental meditation

5:40 Science as the language of our time

7:20 the universe has multiple perspectives

11:35 coming to spirituality through suffering

15:40 the goals of the many kinds of meditation: abiding, deconstruction, reconstruction

22:40 everything that arises is a mental construction

31:40 adrenaline can be excitement or stress

42:40 what science can add to ancient wisdom

50:40 why to cherry pick from traditions

51:44 science is on a level playing field with tradition

1:01:40 the science of perception supports meditation

1:04:40 the science of perception has reversed

1:16:40 meditation techniques keep getting better, and science is helping

1:39:40 our experience is a dependent co-arising

1:47:40 Overview of Shamil’s course

1:59:40 Waking up to the game then reconstructing it

In celebration of Bernardo's upcoming book 'Idealism in a Nutshell,' we're releasing two lectures, originally filmed 22nd June 2020 as part of a four week course. This is Lecture 2, in which Bernardo outlines the case for Idealism. Lecture 1, Refuting Materialism, was released last week.

Our next discussion series with Bernardo starts 29th Oct. 2024 and features as guest the celebrated neuroscientist Christof Koch: ⁠https://dandelion.events/e/y54ag⁠

In celebration of Bernardo's upcoming book 'Idealism in a Nutshell,' we're releasing two lectures, originally filmed 22nd June 2020 as part of a four week course. This is Lecture 1, in which Bernardo refutes Materialism, discussing its origins, pitfalls, and misconceptions. Stay tuned for Lecture 2, in which Bernardo defends and dives deeper into Metaphysical Idealism.

Our next discussion series with Bernardo starts 29th Oct. 2024 and features as guest the celebrated neuroscientist Christof Koch: https://dandelion.events/e/y54ag

Mark grew up in the UK as an atheist, but then spent a year as a monk in India after a powerful and unexpected spiritual awakening. He now teaches insight meditation inspired by the late Rob Burbea, with a focus on understanding the emptiness of all things and the ways in which changing our ways of looking can reduce suffering and enhance the beauty of life. He offers teachings freely, living frugally in a caravan in the UK, from donations from those who appreciate what he offers.

In this episode, we discussed:

Mark's background and awakening

The phenomenology of the awakening

Having no sense of self

Going beyond non-dual awakening

Meeting the guru: Rob Burbea

Emptiness

Why you should care

+ A guided lovingkindness meditation!

If you would like to support future content, contributions are greatly appreciated at:

⁠Patreon⁠

⁠In the UK⁠

One-off ⁠PayPal donations

This was an excerpt from a 5-week discussion series with Bernardo Kastrup, Nov 2022, with guest Federico Faggin.

Federico's journey to his model of reality

How science must completely change to incorporate consciousness

How quantum states make sense when viewed as descriptions of experience

How consciousness and life are nothing like computers

How meditation, spirituality and science relate

Access all 10 hours of recorded material here.

To join the next edition please visit our Events page.

If you would like to support future content, contributions are greatly appreciated at:

Patreon

In the UK

One-off PayPal donations