CONSCIOUSNESS
Modern and Ancient Approaches to the Greatest Mystery
with Dr. Jacob Lindsley
ABOUT THE CLASS
Meditation is a practice of awareness—but what exactly is awareness and what does it do? For thousands of years, contemplative traditions have explored this question through direct inner observation and deep philosophical debate. Today, neuroscience and psychology are exploring it too, with experiments, brain imaging, and theories of mind. Recent developments in AI have forced people to ask: could a computer be conscious and how would we know? Understanding what consciousness is has become a universally shared question in so many important issues.
In this course we’ll bring the spiritual and scientific lenses together to try and disentangle one of history’s most difficult questions: you’ll learn accessible scientific ideas about consciousness, explore Buddhist perspectives on the nature of mind, and practice guided meditations designed to help you investigate your own mind in real time. Expect beginner and intermediate meditation practices, lots of discussion and plenty of room for curiosity.
INFORMATION
TUES | APR 7 - APR 28
6:45PM - 8PM
[Sliding Scale] $75-$125
About the Teacher
Jacob Lindsley
PhD
. . . is a (soon to be) OSU alumni in psychology whose work focuses on social-cognitive mechanisms of change in meditation practices, including how meditation may impact people’s social attributions, altruistic feelings, and self-concepts. His work draws upon traditional scholarship to improve the scientific understanding of psychological processes impacted by contemplative practice. Jacob is a committee chair for the International Society for Contemplative Research, a teacher for Cultivating Emotional Balance, a former Research Associate in Neurology for Oregon Health and Science University. He is also a minister with a background in classical Buddhist studies and meditation practice within the Tibetan tradition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMODATIONS
For ability-related accommodations, please email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 541-737-4785.
CANCELLATION POLICY
This program is refundable before April 3, 2026.