James R. Doty MD

Hearing Doty speak to the host of On Being Krista Tippet, sparked my interest in his book. The podcast interview touched on his personal story of a dysfunctional family of origin and difficult childhood then outlined a bit of how the trajectory of his life changed. I wanted to know more.

I enjoyed Doty's memoir. Weaving together his childhood experience at the magic shop in Lancaster, California where he met an unexpected teacher, and his adult life as a neurosurgeon, Doty outlines the "magic tricks" of mindfulness — relaxing the body, clearing the mind, opening the heart, setting intentions. The medical research that now backs up what was once considered woo-woo, or easter mysticism was especially interesting.

"When our brain changes, we change. But an even greater truth is that when our heart changes, everything changes. And that change is not only in how we see the world but in how the world sees us. And in how the world responds to us." 151… (meer)