Ian Harris

“The Buddha taught that meditation, combined with the observance of a moral code and the development of wisdom, is the path to enlightenment. Through meditation, Buddhists strive to experience what the Buddha experienced — loss of self and ego, the ability to see things as they really are, and the self-transformation that goes with the attainment of enlightenment. Meditation therefore offers potential for personal growth, spiritual advancement through the conquest of psychological obstacles, and the possibility of greater happiness. This partly explains the great surge of interest in Buddhism in the Western world in the second half of the 20th century.”
― Ian Harris, The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia : Buddhism

“Relatives and patients also want something to be done, rather than ‘nothing’ (which is how they perceive non-operative treatment).”
― Ian Harris, Surgery, The Ultimate Placebo: A Surgeon Cuts Through the Evidence