Herbert Benson (1935–2022) was an American physician, researcher, and author. He is best known for his pioneering work in mind-body medicine and the relaxation response. His studies helped forge a path for meditation’s entry into the mainstream medical world and integration into basic health regimens and specific treatments.
Born in Yonkers, New York, Benson graduated with B.A. in biology from Wesleyan University in 1957. He earned his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School in 1961. After postdoctoral programs, he joined the Harvard Medical School in 1969.
At Harvard, Benson began studying the physiological effects of breathing and meditation techniques on the human body in the 1960s. This led him to pinpoint a specific psycho-physiological condition that offered various therapeutic effects. In the 1970s, Benson founded the Mind/Body Medical Institute.
Based on a study of the effects of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s transcendental meditation, Benson developed a nonreligious approach to meditation that combines breathing techniques, sitting quietly, and focusing the mind to achieve the “relaxation response.” This state of deep relaxation can be elicited through meditation, and other techniques can counteract the harmful effects of stress on the body and mind.
Benson’s work has profoundly influenced medicine and psychology. He was a leading voice in integrating mind and body in healthcare. He authored or co-authored 200 scientific publications and such popular books as The Relaxation Response (1975,) The Mind/Body Effect (1979,) Timeless Healing (1996,) and Relaxation Revolution (2010.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Herbert Benson
If you are anxious, you can’t learn. It’s like dropping seeds on concrete. With a quiet mind, people take things in.
—Herbert Benson
Topics: Mind, People, Learn
We can either change the complexities of life … or develop ways that enable us to cope more effectively.
—Herbert Benson
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