684. Chris Niebauer

Chris Niebauer earned his Ph.D. in cognitive neuropsychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in the differences between the left and right sides of the human brain. He is the author of No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism and The No Self, No Problem Workbook: Exercises & Practices from Neuropsychology and Buddhism to Help You Lose Your Mind. He was a professor at a state university in Pennsylvania for 22 years, where he taught courses on consciousness, mindfulness, left- and right-brain differences, and artificial intelligence.

Website: chrisniebauerphd.com
YouTube Channel

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded June 3, 2023

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.



YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:06:21 - Disappointment with Daniel Dennett's book on consciousness
00:11:55 - The Value of Intelligence and Happiness
00:17:39 - The Dominance of Language in Reality
00:23:31 - Breaking the Cycle of Mental Excitation
00:29:04 - Non-Thinking Forms of Consciousness
00:34:24 - The Power of Numbers and Abstractions
00:40:01 - Observing the Interpreter and Letting Go of Intrusive Thoughts
00:45:55 - The Need for a Tiny Shift
00:51:17 - The Inventive Storytelling of the Left Brain
00:57:17 - Holistic Development of the Brain
01:02:52 - The Playfulness of Debates and the Power of Music
01:08:41 - The Nature of Skepticism and Strange Beliefs
01:14:25 - The Shift to Right Brain Awareness
01:19:53 - The Left Brain on Trial
01:25:32 - Individual Paths and Categorization
01:31:05 - Liberation and the Illusion of Self
01:36:54 - The Paradox of the Soul and Individuality
01:43:02 - Embracing Paradoxes
01:48:22 - The Connection between Light and Consciousness
01:53:31 - The Role of Faith in Materialism and Consciousness Studies
01:58:37 - The Inadequacy of Neuroscience
02:03:46 - The Limitations of Understanding and Balance in Life