Is pleased to invite the public to a joint presentation on the topic:

MEDITATION in the Light of Science

Featuring:

. Michael Erb, Ph.D., University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
. Master Thích Thông Triệt, Founder, Sunyata Meditation Association, Perris, California

The art of meditation is an established Eastern tradition that has many subjective benefits. Objective understanding of this ancient practice is now enhanced with enlightening brain research from Dr. Michael Erb. Using EEG and fMRI (functional MRI, which measures brain activity through blood flow patterns) studies, Dr. Erb reveals insights into the brain activities of a expert in meditation, Master Thích Thông Tri.t. Results of Dr. Erb's research show that with meditation, Master Thông Tri.t was able to cleanse the mind of distracting activity, achieve a tranquil state of rest and rejuvenation simulating deep sleep patterns. Remarkably, a state of Sunyata (emptiness) was attained and documented through brain activity analysis. Science at last is begins to uncover the mysteries of meditation and these findings were recently highlighted at the international Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) conference in Spain.

Dr. Michael Erb did his Ph.D. in artificial neural networks at Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetic in Tübingen from 1986 to 1990. Subsequently he was appointed a research fellow at the Institute for Brain Research at the University of Dusseldorf and at the Institute for Neurophysics at the University of Tübingen. He has conducted numerous fMRI studies in several fields. Currently he is involved in building MR compatible stimulation devices and programming MP pulse sequences and analysis software.

Master Thích Thông Triệt will share his lifelong experience in meditation and the origins of his Sunyata meditation and its techniques. Potential gains of the practitioner may include health benefits, mental and spiritual well-being and inner peace.

Master Thông Tri.t was born Lê K. Tông on March 13, 1929 in Vietnam. He was fully ordained as a monk by Most Venerable Thích Thanh T. in 1974. Then, continuously after fourteen years of uninterrupted practice of meditation his enlightenment occurred to him in the night of January 4, 1982 when in his deep meditation he realized that the chief obstacle to spiritual salvation is vagrant thought or silent discursiveness; therefore to eliminate the root cause of the problem is to stop that sort of silent mental discourse. Since then, Master Thông Tri.t has progressively developed Sunyata meditation into the refined approach it is today. Master Thông Tri.t has been teaching Sunyata meditation in the U.S. since 1995. Despite his advanced age, he travels internationally to Australia, Canada, France, and Germany to educate; presenting lectures, leading workshops and writing extensively on Sunyata meditation.

TIME AND PLACE:
Saturday, August 28, 2010; 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
NORRIS CONFERENCE CENTERS – CityCentre
803 Town & Country Ln.
Houston, TX 77024
Tel: (713) 590-0953