Buddha's Brain - Resilience in Times of Change
- Affan Kermani
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
“Everything Changes. That’s the universal nature of outer reality and inner experience. Therefore, there is no end to disturbed equilibria as long as you live. But to help you survive, your brain keeps trying to stop the river, struggling to hold dynamic systems in place, to find fixed patterns in this variable world, and to construct permanent plans for changing conditions. Consequently, your brain is forever chasing after the moment that has just passed, trying to understand and control it.
It's as if we live at the edge of a waterfall, with each moment rushing at us – experienced only and always now at the lip – and then zip, it’s over the edge and gone. But the brain is forever clutching at what had just surged by.” Pages 33/34
My life is a testament to resilience. From the earliest days, when poliomyelitis sought to limit my steps, I chose instead to walk forward—physically, spiritually, and inwardly. My journey resonates deeply with the teachings of Buddha’s Brain, a book that bridges modern neuroscience with timeless wisdom.
Rick Hanson reminds us that the brain is not fixed; it is alive, malleable, and capable of transformation. Just as I have lived with strength and grace, the book teaches that through meditation, mindfulness, and compassion, we can rewire our minds toward peace, joy, and clarity.
At its heart, Buddha’s Brain affirms what I already know: belief anchors the soul, while meditation refines the heart. The book’s message is not about abandoning faith but about deepening it—showing how the mind, when trained, becomes a vessel of serenity and kindness.
• Neuroscience meets spirituality: Every thought and prayer leaves an imprint on the brain, shaping character and destiny.
• Meditation as transformation: By focusing inward, one cultivates patience, gratitude, and compassion—qualities that make life more amicable.
• Resilience as a path: Just as I have overcome physical challenges, the mind too can overcome its storms, finding stillness in remembrance (of your belief/faith).
The narrative of Buddha’s Brain is ultimately one of liberation. It whispers that no matter the hardship—whether illness, loss, or struggle—the human spirit can rise, rewire, and rejoice. My life embodies this truth: walking not only with my feet, but with my faith, my mindfulness, and my unshakable belief in the goodness of existence.
Please consider joining the 6D Book Club Buddha's Brain Mondays beginning on February 16th, 2026. This journey will allow us to reflect on and share our individual experiences, management of our daily lives, and our individual strengths and weaknesses. Together, we shall build our emotional resiliency, learning from each other as part of this 6D community.
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author. His books include Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha's Brain, Just One Thing, Mother Nurture, and Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. Hanson is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. He is on the Advisory Board of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and taught in meditation centers worldwide.
Affan is a US tax professional within the financial services industry. He survived Polio as an infant of twenty-eight days in the early seventies. As a person with disabilities, Affan has been on a lifelong journey seeking ways to manage muscle weaknesses, bone loss, and contain progressive disability that comes with Post Polio Syndrome. He discovered the ‘Whole Foods Plant’ lifestyle during the thick of COVID-19 and adopted the lifestyle evidencing a positive shift in energy and mobility.
Affan moderates book clubs with a focus on books that will lead minds to contemplate the human ability of ‘mind over matter’ and the influence of modern-day technology and environment, on how each of us can best navigate life for our individual needs of health and wellbeing. Affan is also an administrator on our 6D Facebook Page - and the writer of these posts, of course!
Be well
Stop.Breathe.Focus.Move.Flow.
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