1. ANTH 4020 Summer 2016
Buddha and the Brain
Monday-Friday, 12:45-2:20 pm, Hale 235
Summer B-Term: July 5th-August 5th
Instructor: GTPI: Kelly Anne Graves, MA, PhD Candidate
Email: graveska@colorado.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 3-4 pm, or by appointment in Hale 320
Telephone: 970-749-7239
OverviewandObjectives:
Are you your brain? Is consciousness nothing more than an emergent property of neural
activity? Can spiritual experience be located in our biology? How have our ideas of what it
means to be human been shaped by practices of medical knowledge?
This course will examine the confluence of Western scientific materialismand Eastern
contemplative practices in order to better understand the “mindfulness” movement in
contemporary North America. These themes will be addressed from the perspective of cultural
anthropology— examining how both science and Buddhism are cultural worldviews that help
make meaning about the world. In this course, students will be asked to embody their learning
through experiential meditative practices and engaging in their own anthropological fieldwork
in Boulder, CO. We will critically consider how to assess and communicate spiritual,
psychological and physical states through various methodical approaches: 1st person, 2nd person
and 3rd person analysis. Exploring anthropological, philosophical, Buddhist and popular
literature, this course addresses the following themes through an anthropological lens:
subjectivity, embodiment, ontology, Cartesian dualism, brain and behavior, consciousness,
critical neuroscience, modernity, methodology.
Requiredtexts:
1. Wallace, B. Alan. Meditations of a Buddhist skeptic: A Manifesto for the mind sciences
and contemplative practice. Columbia University Press, 2013.
2. …AND many articles that will be handed out in class
Course Requirements andLearning Assessments:
1. Class participation 20%
This is a seminar style course—which means class attendance, completion of readings and
active participation in class discussions is required. I will not lecture the whole time, instead,
most of our learning will happen through roundtable discussion. Each student will sign up to
facilitate discussion for one reading during the course of the term.
Do not expect to receive a quality grade in this course if you do not attend class and stay on top
of the reading.
2. Experiential Exercises 10%
2. ANTH 4020 Summer 2016
Since Buddhism is based on direct experience, each class period will begin with a 10-15
minute guided meditation practice from various lineages of Buddhism and secular mindfulness
(Zen, Theravada, Vajrayana, MBSR etc.) Students will be expected to try out these exercises for
themselves. If for whatever reason you are not comfortable with actively participating, then I
ask you to consider it as a cultural artifact, listen and take notes on your observations.
3. Fieldwork 20% (5% each)
We will explore Boulder Buddhist culture outside of class to gains skills in conducting hands-
on ethnography. ALL WEDNESDAYS we will not meet together as a class (so don’t come to class
please!). This time will be designated to 4 fieldwork outings to any Buddhist event in Boulder. A
list will be supplied with suggestions for these events (meditation, dharma talks, chanting etc.)
or you can find your own. You will be expected to take fieldnotes which will be used to inform
your end of the semester presentation and final paper. Note: You do not have to only attend
these events on Wednesdays, rather, this course time is allocated for these adventures, but
they can happen anytime throughout the week. You will turn in your weekly fieldnotes on
Friday during class with the exception of the first fieldnotes, which will dues Monday, July 11th.
4. Midterm (20%)
You will be asked to create your own method to assess a person’s subjective experience. It
can be as traditional as an interview or fMRI, or as creative as photography, art, interpretative
dance or mixed-methods—whatever you want! In a 5-page paper you will need to reflect on
how can we communicate the experience of another person informed by class texts. A prompt
will be handed out prior to the due date with specific requirements.
5. Final (30%)
Your final paper will be an analysis of your fieldwork in Boulder. You will be asked to analyze
course themes using your ethnographic data to make an argument about the mindfulness
movement in America supported by class texts. A prompt will be handed out prior to the due
date with specific requirements. The last week of class will be devoted to presentations of
these projects.
Academic Policies:
1. Late policy:
Please contact me if you are unable to submit a paper or fieldnotes on time. I am generally
willing to negotiate assignment deadlines in extenuating circumstances. However, if you do not
contact me in advance, late assignments will be docked 1/2 of a letter grade for every day late.
2. Collaboration and academichonesty:
You are encouraged to discuss course concepts with each other in preparation for written
assignments. However, all materials submitted for a grade should be your own intellectual
product, and analysis should be written in your own words. Any language taken directly or
paraphrased from another source must be properly cited.
3. Disability:
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor a
letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for examaccommodations provide your
letter at least one week prior to the exam) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability
3. ANTH 4020 Summer 2016
Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact Disability
Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at dsinfo@colorado.edu. If you have a temporary medical
condition or injury, see Temporary Injuries guidelines under the Quick Links at the Disability
Services website and discuss your needs with your professor.
4. Religious Observances:
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to
deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts
with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. If you plan to miss class for
religious observance, please contact your professor in advance in order to make any
accommodations. Without advance notice, an absence will not be excused.
5. Classroom Behavior:
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning
environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to
discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to
individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics,
veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and genderexpression, age,
disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s
legal name. I will gladly honor your request toaddress you by an alternate name or gender
pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make
appropriate changes to my records. For more information, see the policies on classroom
behavior and the student code.
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive
learning, working, and living environment. CU-Boulder will not tolerate acts of discrimination
or harassment based upon Protected Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee
or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy, “Protected Classes”refers to race, color,
national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy.
Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the Office of
Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Student Conduct
and Conflict Resolution (OSC) at 303-492-5550. Information about the OIEC, the above
referenced policies, and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding
discrimination or harassment can be found at the OIEC website. The full policy on
discrimination and harassment contains additional information.
6. Honor Code
` All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and
adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may
include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and
threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code
Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the
academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member
and non- academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or
4. ANTH 4020 Summer 2016
expulsion). Additional information regarding the Honor Code policy can be found online and at
the Honor Code Office.
Term Schedule
Week 1
July 5: Introduction
Introduction to class, discussion of syllabus and directions for fieldwork
July 6: Fieldwork Day # 1
No class
July 7: Neuroscience of Buddhism 101
The Practical Neuroscience of Buddha’s Brain: Chapter 1, 5-18
Buddhist Skeptic: Chapters 1 and 2- Toward a Revolution in the Mind Sciences and Buddhism
and Science Confrontation and Collaboration, 1-32.
July 8: Religious Buddhism 101
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by D.T. Suzuki, 155-168.
Buddhist Skeptic Chapter 3- Buddhism and the Mind Sciences, 34-59.
Week 2
July 11: Subjectivist Turns of the Past
Buddhist Skeptic Chapter 11- Mindfulness in the Mind Sciences and in Buddhism, 173-193.
July 12: Studying Subjectivity: Methods of the Mind
Buddhist Skeptic: Chapter 8- Buddhist Radical Empiricism, 125-143.
July 13: Fieldwork Day #2
No Class
July 14: Guest Speaker: Zen Priest Gary Hardin
Buddhist Skeptic: Chapter 6- What Makes Us Human?
July 15: Are we Cerebral Subjects?
Vidal, Fernando, and Francisco Ortega. "Mapping the cerebral subject in contemporary
culture." Elect. J. Commun. Inf. Innov. Health 1 (2007).
Rose, Nikolas S., and Joelle M. Abi-Rached. Neuro: The new brain sciences and the management
of the mind. Princeton University Press, 2013: Introduction, 1-24.
Week 3
July 18: American Mindfulness, (Midterm due in class, hardcopies only.)
5. ANTH 4020 Summer 2016
Mindful America : the mutual transformation of Buddhist meditation and American culture /
Jeff Wilson
July 19: McMindfulness: Power, Management, Self Maximization
Purser, Ron & Loy, David (2013). Beyond McMindfulness, Huffington Post
Rose, Nikolas S., and Joelle M. Abi-Rached. Neuro: The new brain sciences and the management
of the mind. Princeton University Press, 2013: Conclusion- 225-234.
July 20: Fieldwork Day #3
No Class
July 21: Cartesian Dualism: The Role of the Body
Edmund Husserl: Phenomenology of Embodiment
Heady Buddhism, No Body: Nathan Thompson
July 22: Guest Speaker: Embodiment Teacher Matthew Zepelin
Reading TBD
Week 4
July 25: Mainstreaming mindfulness: how is mindfulness adapted to middle-class needs?
Mindful America : the mutual transformation of Buddhist meditation and American culture /
Jeff Wilson
July 26: Guest Speaker: Dr. Craig Hase, Race in American Buddhism
Reading TBD
July 27: Fieldwork Day #4
No Class
July 28: The Ineffable: Reincarnation, Karma, Koans, and Demons
Buddhist Skeptic: Chapter 6
July 29: Why Does Matter? Concluding Remarks on Personhood, Meaning and Culture.
Reading TBD
Week 5
August 1: Presentations
August 2: Presentations
August 3: Writing Day: No Class
August 4: Presentations
August 5: Presentations (Final Paper Due, due in class, hardcopies only)
