Blog Post
Knowing How our brains work doesn't answer Why
Janet Martin • October 4, 2019
Back from retreat
I am just back from spending 10 days at a silent retreat high in the Colorado mountains—it was magical. It really is “big sky” territory day and night. The stars are bright and clear. Deer walked by unbothered. It is a glorious place! I was so awestruck—I had to look up the words to the song Rocky Mountain High.
The retreat focused on the connection between neuroscience and Buddhism. I learned a lot about how the brain works and how the various meditation techniques reduce stress, make us happier, healthier and better people. But the thing that struck me the most is that—even after decades of research and practice—there is still the mystery of why. Each of the 4 teachers, in their own way, expressed the wonder of resting with the unknown, the universe, the source, the divine (or whatever you choose to call it). Each stressed the need to be open to what we cannot know—to meet each moment with beginners mind and a sense of wonder.
We know a great deal about how this body that houses us works, but we each have to answer for ourselves why we are here. And of course, answer the question of who and what we truly are. Those are the mysteries humans have been trying to answer for millennia. I continue to rest in the mystery.
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About Janet Martin
Janet Martin, the owner and principal teacher of Making Headway, brings a unique and practical perspective to her mindfulness teaching and coaching.
Janet began her mindfulness practice when she was a senior executive. The experience was life changing. She knows firsthand that through meditation practice, people are better able to meet the demands and stresses of everyday life.
