"The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life"
9:00-9:50AM
Skylight Room
The Adult Class on Sunday mornings is reading The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life. You are welcome to join at any time. Reading the book is optional, as the ideas will be summarized; join us for the discussion!
From the description:
Whether it’s meditation or a walk in nature, reading a sacred text or saying a prayer, there are many ways to tap into a heightened awareness of the world around you and your place in it. In The Awakened Brain, psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller shows you how.
Weaving her own deeply personal journey of awakening with her groundbreaking research, Dr. Miller’s book reveals that humans are universally equipped with a capacity for spirituality, and that our brains become more resilient and robust as a result of it. For leaders in business and government, truth-seekers, parents, healers, educators, and any person confronting life’s biggest questions, The Awakened Brain combines cutting-edge science (from MRI studies to genetic research, epidemiology, and more) with on-the-ground application for people of all ages and from all walks of life, illuminating the surprising science of spirituality and how to engage it in our lives:
• The awakened decision is the better decision. With an awakened perception, we are more creative, collaborative, ethical, and innovative.
• The awakened brain is the healthier brain. An engaged spiritual life enhances grit, optimism, and resilience while providing insulation against addiction, trauma, and depression.
• The awakened life is the inspired life. Loss, uncertainty, and even trauma are the gateways by which we are invited to move beyond merely coping with hardship to transcend into a life of renewal, healing, joy, and fulfillment.
Absorbing, uplifting, and ultimately enlightening, The Awakened Brain is a conversation-starting saga of scientific discovery packed with counterintuitive findings and practical advice on concrete ways to access your innate spirituality and build a life of meaning and contribution.
Schedule:
April 28 – Video introduction and discussion
May 5 – Intro, Ch 1, Ch 2
May 12 – Ch 3 and 4
May 19 – Ch 5 and 6
May 26 – Ch 7 and 8 (Memorial Day weekend, so if people prefer, no class)
June 3 – Ch 9 and 10
June 10 – (class without Jennifer due to vacation) – Ch 11 and 12
June 17 – Ch 13 and 14
June 24 – Ch 15, Ch 16, Conclusion