The mind is always a very fascinating phenomenon. In fact, according to the dhammapada, we are what we think, and with our thoughts we make the world. In my life I try to study it using first, second and third person approaches (see e.g., neurophenomenology). The third person approach, that of looking at the mind using all kinds of tasks and apparatus is described in the research section of this webpage. In addition to that, I study my own mind using introspection as well, for which I use methods that have been developed thousands of years ago in the Buddhist tradition. I study with Dr. Amishi Jha at the University of Pennsylvania. I have also attended the Mind and Life summerschools in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, which were organized by the Mind and Life Institute, during which these topics were discussed extensively. In 2007, I received a Varela award for a study entitled: mathematical modeling of the effects of mindfulness training on cognition.

Mind & Life conference 2006