Beyond the Brain: A Theory of Consciousness That Blends Science With Spirituality

A neuroscientist/monk and a psychologist offer a new way to understand the workings of the mind.

Today, let’s tackle one of the most profound mysteries of existence: What is consciousness? Science has long struggled to define it, since by its very nature, consciousness is a subjective experience—impossible to fully capture through brain scans or neural activity alone. Meanwhile, for centuries, mystics and contemplative traditions have explored the mind from the inside out, mapping states of awareness that modern science has yet to explain.

In their new book, neuroscientist and novice monk Vladimir Miskovic and psychologist Steven Jay Lynn bridge science and spirituality, blending cutting-edge research with ancient wisdom to offer a bold new perspective on consciousness. Below, they share their key insights.