Ten Zen Questions by Susan Blackmore - Exploring Consciousness & Meditation - Perfect for Mindfulness Practice & Spiritual Growth

Susan Blackmore's Ten Zen Questions is extraordinary. I say this even though she is not a Buddhist, hasn't joined any Buddhist orders, hasn't adopted any religious beliefs, nor taken any formal vows. Zen meditation appealed to her, beginning in the 1970's, because "Zen does not demand that you believe anything or have blind faith". She eventually realized that Zen meditation was compatible with her being a psychologist, and would be an aid to her primary study, consciousness, because, "like science, Zen demands that you ask questions, and overthrow any ideas that don't fit with what you find out". (pg3)Blackmore gives a direct personal account of her exploration of Ten "Zen" Questions; Am I conscious now?, What was I conscious of a moment ago?, Who is asking the question?, Where is this?, How does thought arise?, There is no time. What is memory?, When are you?, Are you here now?, What am I doing?, and, What happens next? Now, quite frankly, I don't know if her word by word report would be tedious to someone who hasn't tried to meditate, or who hasn't formerly asked these types of questions, but I was thoroughly fascinated. (And, this is not the whole of the book. Her transition from her story to exact descriptions, is...effortless).Susan has a perfect blend between an account of "Zen", and what consciousness is from a psychological perspective. No one should be scared away by Zen in the title. She shares times alone meditating in her own garden as well as week long retreats with her Zen teacher and other students over many years. We see her progress, from her own understanding as well as acknowledgment, in certain respects, from her teacher. One of the most courageous parts of the book is her enclosure, at the end, of a letter written by her Zen teacher of over 20 years after his having read her manuscript, twice. Courageous and vulnerable, a true student.Susan's book compelled me to write, this, my first review. I've read dozens of books on Zen over the last 35 years (as well as other branches of Buddhism). Susan gives an inner glimpse of a subject which sometimes seems mystifyingly obscure. If you wish to know yourself better, what self is, highly recommended (as well as her other books).Her conclusions, if that's the right word (not in the sense of being at journey's end, I hope), are in alignment with both Zen and neuroscience. .......And I can forgive her enthusiasm for the philosopher Daniel Dennett :-).