Buddha's Nature: A Practical Guide to Discovering Your Place in the Cosmos

by Wes Nisker

The Buddha said that everything we need to know about life can be found inside this fathom-long body. Then why is most people's spirituality--whether Buddhist, Christian, or Jewish--completely cut off from their body? In this provocative and groundbreaking book, you'll discover that enlightenment comes not from out there, but from a deep understanding of our own personal biology. Using the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, a traditional Buddhist meditation, Nisker shows how cutting-edge science is proving the tenets first offered by the Buddha.
And he provides a practical program, complete with meditations and exercises, that enables readers to become mindful of the origins of emotions, desires, and thoughts. One of the great synthesizers of East and West, Nisker shows how to incorporate the traditional understanding of the Buddha with the latest scientific discoveries while on our spiritual journey. He shows that we are not separate from nature and the evolving universe. The way to enlightenment lies within our very biology.
Most important, Nisker offers a practical program--complete with meditations and exercises--so readers can take their own evolutionary journey into their bodies to find the origins of emotions, desires, and thoughts. Nisker provides a liberating way for each of us to incorporate into our lives the understanding, proven by the latest scientific evidence and foretold in the great traditional teachings of the Buddha, that we are not separate from nature and the evolving universe. Our biology is not our destiny, but our way to enlightenment.

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First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Shelley Schanfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading currently. So much fun and full of interesting insights on the relationship between Buddhism and Science, the respective genius of Asia and the West. Back in the early days of FM radio, Nisker was a reporter on San Francisco’s KSAN, and I loved the way he signed off: “If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.” Revised for writing: if you don’t like what you’re reading, go out and write something of your own. He’s been a Buddhist practitioner for decades and this charming guide includes practices that make the Buddha’s Mahasatipatthana Sutta on the four foundations of mindfulness accessible to anyone. And yes, I’ve folded corners on many pages.

[Ray Grimsinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enlightening!

I loved this book! It is easy to read but very thought provoking and informative! It touches on a lot of Buddhist philosophy in a beautiful way and Wes is also super witty!

[George Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as are all Wes's writings. I just sat with Wes for a week of vipassana which featured teachings grounded in this book. He is a great soul and has a tremendous sense of humor!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a retreat with Scoop and then decided to read his books. Wise decisions both.

[Ellen Keener · Rating 5 out of 5]

A useful book learned a lot and have enjoyed some of the mindfulness practices already. Very readable.