From Carmi Schooler

To briefly introduce myself. I was a research scientist in the Laboratory of Socioenvironmental Studies of the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Mental Health from 1959 through 2007, where I functioned as a psychologist and sociologist. During the last 20 years I was Chief of the Laboratory. I am particularly interested in how different levels of phenomena (e.g., biological, psychological, social-structural and cultural interact). My research papers range from the neuro-biological to the historical. Much of my career has involved cognitive and social psychological research on schizophrenia- the short story is that schizophrenia won. My other major field of research has been on how social structurally influenced environmental conditions, such as cognitive complexity, affect and are effected by individuals’ cognitive functioning and orientations to themselves and others. Pursuing this research cross-culturally, I have been extensively involved in research in Japan and rural Mali.



My choice of Japan as a research interest was not accidental. I have been very interested in Buddhism ever since reading Alan Watts in the early 1950s .This interest was furthered with a little help from my friends in the 1960s. It is also the case that I was a philosophy major at Hamilton College. There I was introduced to the work of the philosopher Whitehead, whose writings have strongly influenced my philosophical viewpoint ever since. I am presently a senior professor in the Maryland University Sociology Department, where I am conducting research and teaching some.



About six years ago I attended a scientists’ retreat at the Insight Meditation Society and have attended another at Spirit Rock. I have taken several courses from Mu Soeng at BCBS- and found him to be a wonderfully knowledgeable, thoughtful and intellectually open teacher. In terms of meditation, I can’t claim to be super serious-meditating about four times a week.



I will be arriving in New Delhi at 11:05 PM on Sunday January 31 on Air
France Flight 226. Hopefully, I will be able to meet up there with other group members so that we can jointly find our way to the Buddhist Center.



Looking very much forward to the experience.

Carmi

Schooler