Ten Zen Questions

Exploring the Mind from Within

Susan Blackmore is a British psychologist, writer and broadcaster, and author of The Meme Machine and Conversations on Consciousness. See full bio

November 16, 2009

Discomfort at the precepts

Back at the burning house

I had meant to write several posts about Reb's retreat in quick succession and then get back to the book but I am (pathetic excuse) too busy - working on the second edition of my textbook Consciousness: An Introduction. It is extremely hard work (though I love doing it) and just doesn't leave time for much else. I hope to have it finished in about 3 weeks and then I will have time for the blog. Read More

October 26, 2009

Those fancy vehicles are a con too

I've been describing the Zen retreat with Reb Anderson and his teachings from the Lotus Sutra. I've two more posts on this and then we'll get back to the Questions.
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October 13, 2009

The horrors of pride

Pride stops us seeing the truth. Pride drives all that rubbish in my meditating mind. How extraordainry is the effect of seeing that! Read More

September 29, 2009

Dharma Flower Turning Dharma Flower

I'm interrupting our progress with the ten questions to tell you about a wonderful retreat I went on last month. Read More

August 28, 2009

Loud sirens and backwards consciousness

I've been trying to look back into my own mind a moment ago - trying, as it were, to open the fridge door fast enough to see into the darkness (or light) that was there before I opened the door.

I ask this difficult question - what was I conscious of a moment ago? - when walking about, when doing the washing up, and when meditating. Read More

August 15, 2009

What was I conscious of a moment ago?

If I become conscious only when I ask whether I am (if the fridge light comes on only when I open the door) then what was going on just before I asked? Was I conscious then? And if, of what? Read More

July 27, 2009

Is the light always on inside the fridge?

This odd question has - surprisingly - much in common with my first Zen Question "Am I conscious now?" You may remember that the more I asked the question the more slippery it felt. Read More

July 7, 2009

Are you conscious now?

It seems obvious that I'm conscious now - but is that just because I'm asking myself the question? What about the rest of the time? I tried to find out - and you can too. Read More

June 22, 2009

Asking the Zen Questions

How do you deal with the big questions "Who am I?", "What's it all about?", "What am I doing and why?". In my book Ten Zen Questions I describe my own attempts - here we begin the journey with how I set about asking the questions. Read More

June 2, 2009

Mindfulness is infectious

I have just done a live interview for BBC Radio London. This was part of the publicity for my new book Ten Zen Questions for the Sunday morning "In Spirit" show, and to tell the truth I did the interview sitting in bed at 8 a.m. Read More

Books by Susan Blackmore

Ten Zen Questions

Conversations on Consciousness: What the Best Minds Think about the Brain, Free Will, and What It Means to Be Human

Consciousness: An Introduction

The Meme Machine

Test Your Psychic Powers

Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

In Search of the Light: The Adventures of a Parapsychologist

Dying to Live: Near-Death Experiences

Beyond the Body: An Investigation of Out-Of-The-Body Experiences

Spirituality Basics

Spirituality means something different to everyone. For some, it's a personal lord, for others a feeling in the wind. Research shows that even skeptics can't stifle the sense something greater. Humans can't help but ask big questions, even if there's no one there to answer them.

Go to the Spirituality Basics page for more on Spirituality including:

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