[Book Excerpt] "All Mental Suffering Is the Brain's Fault"

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire essence of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers and create a connection to the text. Here, we introduce meaningful sentences excerpted from books.

We are easily swayed by the endless stream of thoughts that arise within us. We misunderstand others, judge ourselves, and exhaust ourselves in a cycle of constant evaluation. This book begins with these questions: Are these thoughts truly 'mine'? And what exactly is 'me'? Chris Niebauer, a neuropsychologist and bestselling author, explores the workings of the left and right hemispheres of the brain, as revealed through split-brain research, to uncover the secret of the self. The left brain continuously creates meaning and adds stories, while the right brain exists silently through intuition. The identity we believe to be 'ourselves' may, in fact, be a narrative constructed by the left brain. The author shows the remarkable similarities between the Buddhist concept of 'anatta' (no-self) from 2,500 years ago and the findings of modern neuroscience, placing the languages of science and practice side by side. Instead of chasing an unattainable ideal self, he proposes another path: living in the present with a sense of compassion and gratitude. Loved as a bestseller in the neuropsychology category on Amazon for a long time since its publication, this book revisits the age-old question of 'Who am I?' in contemporary language. For readers who wish to step back from their thoughts and observe themselves, it offers a quiet yet profound insight.

First, the interpreting mind always creates explanations without considering all the facts. It then simply believes these explanations to be true, often without the slightest doubt. When it is later revealed that the explanation was incorrect, the mind sometimes labels it as a 'mistake!' However, according to early experimental results, most 'mistakes' are forgotten without even being recognized as such. - Page 57, from 'The Mind Creates Interpretations'

It is no coincidence that the main mode of expression for the interpreting mechanism is language, given that the left brain governs language. We communicate not only with others but also with ourselves, in the form of 'thoughts.' Nearly everyone on Earth engages in this kind of inner dialogue, and such internal monologue plays a key role in creating the illusion of self. - Page 69, from 'Why Do We Laugh and Cry at Words? - Language'

The left brain does not stop at creating thoughts. It categorizes these thoughts, groups them, and strives to maintain these groups. It creates preferences and aversions, right and wrong, and constructs a sense of 'oughtness.' This is what we call a belief system. - Page 84, from 'What Can Both Save and Destroy Humans - Belief'

The self tends to prove its existence through thoughts, a trait also identified in Buddhism. Experienced meditators consistently report that, when they first begin meditating, their minds become calm and the inner voice quiets, only for a sudden rush of thoughts to emerge. This is the most significant struggle to maintain the image of what we call the self. Thanks to this, meditators become aware of the stories and problems to which they are most attached. - Page 109, from 'The Left Brain's Struggle to Maintain the Self'

It took years of rehabilitation for Dr. Taylor's left brain to recover. Even after experiencing profound happiness, she had to work very hard to regain left-brain function. The left brain was still necessary to navigate the world and fulfill her responsibilities. Perhaps happiness depends on how we balance the left and right brains. In my view, the ideal goal is not for the right brain to dominate or to shut off the left brain entirely, but to achieve the state that Buddha called the middle path. - Page 132, from 'The Neuroscientist with the Left Brain Switched Off'

The reason we label these highly sophisticated and complex actions as 'unconscious' is simply that they occur outside the language center. Consider the cardiovascular or digestive systems. They perform extremely complex tasks all day long-impossible without the brain. Yet, because these functions lie outside the realm of left-brain-driven thought, they receive little attention from the interpreting mechanism. The role of the right brain is also a form of consciousness, but we have been taught to undervalue and ignore it. Unsurprisingly, this is due to the left brain itself. - Page 137, from 'The Right Brain Is Not Fooled by Illusions'

I experienced this feeling firsthand during my first sparring match. When I scored a point, I was not thinking at all-I was simply sparring. But as soon as the thought 'How cool would it be to win?' popped into my mind, my movements became sluggish. Even if another thought had arisen, the result would have been the same. The very act of thinking slowed my body down. - Page 146, from 'Thoughts Are Another Dream World'

People often say they have had turning points that changed their lives-such as escaping abuse or deciding to radically change their career. Stories that sounded plausible just moments before suddenly feel shaky and uncertain. This moment of realization actually occurs when the right brain sends a signal to the left brain: 'Hey, aren't you going too far?' At this point, the right brain does not 'think' like the left brain but quietly observes the actual evidence and lets the left brain know it's time to wake up. - Page 153, from 'The Right Brain's Approach to Life'

How Does the Brain Control Me? | Written by Chris Niebauer | Clapbooks | 272 pages | 18,800 KRW