Weekend Stories
LightNews LightNews
banner
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Weekend Stories
@weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
6 followers 0 following 84 posts
Hi 👋 I'm Fabrizio Musacchio. I love #ComputationalNeuroscience 🧠💻 (👉 @pixeltracker) and exploring 🔎. This account is for the stories I collect […]

🌉 bridged from https://mastodon.social/@weekendstories on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/
Posts Replies Media Videos
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#buddhist teachings identify #craving as the root of #suffering. A diagnosis strikingly validated by modern #neuroscience. The brain's #rewardsystem, driven by #dopamine, creates "wanting" distinct from "liking", trapping individuals in cycles of unfulfilled […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Diagram showing some of the key components of the mesocorticolimbic (“reward”) circuit. Includes dopaminergic, GABA-ergic, and Glutaminergic pathways between the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0).
November 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
The #DefaultModeNetwork constructs our sense of continuous self through autobiographical narrative and self-referential processing. #buddhist #meditation practices reduce #dmn activity, correlating with experiences of #anattā (#nonself). This convergence […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Default mode network connectivity. This image shows main regions of the default mode network (yellow) and connectivity between the regions color-coded by structural traversing direction. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0).
November 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Guess what I also tried out...the #fujifilm #xf10, another hyped compact camera praised for its Fuji colors and portability. I found that it indeed produces beautiful, unique film-like JPEGs and handles well. However, compared to my Fujifilm #x100vi, I […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
I also tried the #ricoh #GRIIIx as a pocket-sized companion to my #X100VI. The GR's portability and image quality are by no means excellent! However, I missed a last touch of depth as well as the grain and the more film-like character of the X100VI's film […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Taken with the Ricoh GR IIIx (sooc) Taken with the Fujifilm X100VI (sooc) Taken with the Ricoh GR IIIx (sooc) Taken with the Fujifilm X100VI (sooc)
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Weekend Stories
buddhistart.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#ajanta, #india: The nave has 15 pillars with #buddha reliefs.
#buddhistart #buddhism
#Ajanta, #India: The nave has 15 pillars with #Buddha reliefs. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism
November 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Weekend Stories
buddhistart.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Status in the half-lotus seat, red pine wood (common on the #korean peninsula), Koryu-ji, #Japan. It is said that the powerful Hata Kawakatsu family received a #buddha statue from #korea and presented it to Prince Shotoku, who founded Koryu-ji. A #Buddha […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Status in the half-lotus seat, red pine wood (common on the #Korean peninsula), Koryu-ji, #Japan. It is said that the powerful Hata Kawakatsu family received a #Buddha statue from #Korea and presented it to Prince Shotoku, who founded Koryu-ji. A #Buddha statue in the style of the Southern Dynasty. It is called the "Poet of the East" because it is reminiscent of a sculpture by Rodin. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism
November 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#neuroscience questions instantaneous conscious #freewill by showing unconscious precursors to action. #buddhism reframes agency as conditioned volition (#cetana), denying a fixed self; its #ethical path, #mindfulness and systematic training, grounds […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Some areas of the human brain implicated in mental disorders that might be related to free will. Area 25 refers to Brodmann’s area 25, related to major depression. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 3.0)
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Sustained #meditation practice induces measurable #neuroplasticity: #corticalthickening, #graymatter/ #whitematter changes, #dmn modulation, stronger attention and emotion‑regulation networks, and reduced #stress reactivity. In #buddhist terms, these findings […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Studies indicate that sustained meditation practice modulates functional connectivity, alters stress-related circuits, and engages neuroplastic mechanisms in regions linked to attention, interoception, and emotional regulation. In this post, we explore the empirical evidence supporting these claims. Source: Image generated with DALL·E 2.
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
After surveying #buddhism's #historical and #philosophical claims, the next posts will outline its scientific relevance. Let's begin with #neuroscience and split-brain research, which under controlled conditions can reveal dissociable streams of perception […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Lateralization of the human brain, which is divided into two hemispheres. The left brain controls functions that have to do with logic and reason, while the right brain controls functions involving creativity and emotion. Note: This type of left-right assignment is highly simplified and does not correspond to the current state of research, which assumes overlapping and interconnected functional systems. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 2.5)
November 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#colonial encounters in the 19th–20th centuries profoundly reshaped #buddhism, leading to both suppression and revival. Reformers blended tradition with modernity, making #Buddhism a global, adaptable tradition. The 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago, United States, 1893. The first major interreligious conference in the modern Western world, where Buddhist representatives participated and introduced Buddhism to Western audiences. The modern encounters between the West and Buddhism began at the end of the 19th century, with the rediscovery of Buddhism through colonial scholarship and archaeological excavations. While colonialism often suppressed indigenous agency, it also sparked a revival of interest in Buddhism, leading to the emergence of reform movements across Asia. The legacy of colonialism is thus one of deep entanglement: Buddhism was rediscovered, reformed, and globalized under the shadow of empire. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: public domain) (modified)
November 15, 2025 at 10:23 AM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
It's a curiosity of #history that the life of #siddhartha #gautama, the historical #buddha, found its way into #medieval #christian #hagiography as #barlaam and #josaphat. The tale shows how #buddhist themes such as #renunciation, #moral transformation, and […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Saint Josaphat announcing his departure, Greek manuscript, Mt. Athos, 13th century. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: public domain)
November 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Weekend Stories
buddhistart.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Pages from the dream journal kept by the monk Myōe (明恵, 1173-1232) for most of his adult life, here featuring his sketch of a female version of the #cosmic #buddha #vairocana (毘盧遮那仏) from a dream in 1221. #japan.
#buddhistart #buddhism
Pages from the dream journal kept by the monk Myōe (明恵, 1173-1232) for most of his adult life, here featuring his sketch of a female version of the #cosmic #buddha #Vairocana (毘盧遮那仏) from a dream in 1221. #Japan. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism
November 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Weekend Stories
buddhistart.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Buthāye Bāmiyān: The larger of the two giant #buddha statues before and after destruction. The left photo is from 1963, the right one from 2008. It was 53 meters high.
#buddhistart #buddhism
Buthāye Bāmiyān: The larger of the two giant #Buddha statues before and after destruction. The left photo is from 1963, the right one from 2008. It was 53 meters high. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#buddhist icons from #roman #egypt to #viking #sweden reveal how Buddhist imagery circulated via trade, diplomacy, and migrants rather than through formal missionary expansion. Their portability and adaptable iconography allowed devotional forms and symbols […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
T he Helgö Buddha at the Statens historiska museum. This small bronze figure of the Buddha was discovered in 1954 on the island of Helgö, Sweden. It is dated to the 6th century CE and is thought to have originated from Kashmir or the Swat Valley. Its origin and presence in Viking-age Scandinavia raise questions about the movement of Buddhist material culture across vast distances. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 2.5) Buddha statue found in Berenike, Egypt. Dated to the 2nd century CE. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: fair use)
November 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#Gandhāra, at the crossroads of #southasia and the #hellenistic world, fused #greek, #persian and #indian forms to produce the first widespread #anthropomorphic #buddha and rich narrative reliefs. This #grecobuddhist #synthesis reshaped #buddhist visual […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Panel from a relief series showing four scenes from the life of Siddhartha Gautama, here: enlightenment. Kushan dynasty, late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, Gandhara, schist. Reliefs like this one are characterized by their intricate details and the blending of Hellenistic and Indian artistic styles. The figures are depicted with naturalistic features, flowing drapery, and expressive gestures, reflecting the cultural syncretism that defined Gandhāran art. This particular relief is part of a larger narrative series that illustrates key events in the life of the Buddha, showcasing the region’s role as a center for Buddhist art and iconography. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC 1.0)
November 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#menander I (#milinda) features in the #Milindapañha as an inquisitive #hellenistic king debating with the monk #Nāgasena. The text highlights #buddhism's rational, dialogical method—using analogy and debate to clarify #nonself (#anatta), #rebirth, and […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
King Milinda ask questions. From Hutchinson’s story of the nations, 1920. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: public domain)
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#aikhanoum, a #hellenistic city at the #oxus, exemplifies deep cultural hybridity: #greek urbanism, art and inscriptions fused with #iranian and #indian contexts. While direct #buddhist remains are limited, its artistic and intellectual milieu helped seed the […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Ai-Khanoum: Restored 3D view of the city with, in the foreground, the theater featuring a wooden stage building. In the middle ground, from left to right: the propylaea (monumental entrance gateway) leading to the palace complex, opening onto the main street through a portico with four columns set in antis (i.e., placed between two projecting side walls); at center, the heroon of Kineas (a commemorative shrine dedicated to the city’s legendary founder); and to the right, the ‘royal’ mausoleum with its stone burial chamber. The palace colonnade rises in the background. 3D reconstruction by O. Nishizawa (NHK-TAISEI). Source: Figure 2 from: Lecuyot, G. & Nishizawa, O. (2013), Une collaboration franco-japonaise à la restitution 3D de la ville d’Aï Khanoum, HAL open-access archiveꜛ. Used here for educational and critical commentary under fair use provisions. All rights remain with the original rights holders.
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#hellenistic contact with the #indian subcontinent (#alexanderthegreat, #seleucids, #grecobactrians, #indogreeks) produced sustained political, artistic and #philosophical exchange. In #Gandhāra this yielded #grecobuddhist art and the #anthropomorphic #buddha […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Greek Gods and the “Wheel of the Law” or Dharmachakra: Left: Zeus holding Nike, who hands a victory wreath over a Dharmachakra (coin of Menander II). Right: Divinity wearing chlamys and petasus pushing a Dharmachakra, with legend “He who sets in motion the Wheel of the Law” (Tillya Tepe Buddhist coin). Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 3.0)
November 8, 2025 at 10:36 AM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Modern #buddhist monuments outside #asia reflect the tradition's adaptability and global diffusion. Structures in #africa, the #americas, and #europe blend traditional #iconography with local needs, serving as sites of devotion, cultural landmarks, and […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Great Stupa at Shambhala Mountain Center. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 2.5) (modified)
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Modern #buddhist architecture blends ancient tradition with #contemporary #design, reflecting spiritual, cultural, and national aspirations. Monumental #temples and statues across #asia embody innovation, devotion, and global engagement, illustrating […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Tsz Shan Monastery, Hong Kong, by Li Ka-shing Foundation. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0)
November 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#buddhist #temples in #eastasia are more than places of worship. They are centers of learning, art, and community. Their architecture and rituals reflect a unique synthesis of Buddhist cosmology with local traditions, illustrating #buddhism's adaptability and […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Three-storied Pagoda of Seiganto-ji and Nachi Falls. In East Asia, Buddhist temples were adapted to local cultures, often incorporating indigenous beliefs and practices. The Seiganto-ji temple complex in Japan, for example, features a three-storied pagoda that harmonizes with the natural landscape of Nachi Falls, reflecting the integration of Buddhist and Shinto traditions. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 4.0)
November 4, 2025 at 7:41 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#samye and #sakya monasteries shaped #tibetan #buddhism's institutional, doctrinal, and political foundations. Their roles in translation, scholastic discipline, and ritual authority fostered a unique #buddhistculture, influencing Inner #asia and beyond. In […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Central building of the Samye Monastery, Tibet. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 2.0)
November 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
#Polonnaruwa (11th–13th c.) marked a transformative era in #srilanka's history, blending #Theravāda Buddhist reform, royal patronage, and urban innovation. Its monuments and monastic networks shaped Buddhist statecraft and regional connectivity, leaving a […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Carved seated Buddha, Gal Viharaya, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. As a monumental evidence of the artistic and devotional ideals of the era, this sculpture exemplifies the aesthetic maturity of Polonnaruwa’s sculptural tradition. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: CC BY-SA 2.5)
November 3, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Weekend Stories
buddhistart.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
The Descent of Jizô, the #bodhisattva of the Earth Matrix, 14th century. #japan.
#buddhistart #buddhism
The Descent of Jizô, the #Bodhisattva of the Earth Matrix, 14th century. #Japan. #BuddhistArt #Buddhism
November 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
weekendstories.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
After the fall of the #baganempire, #myanmar's successor states sustained #Theravāda Buddhist traditions through regional adaptation, resilient monastic networks, and local patronage. This period highlights #buddhism's capacity for continuity and […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
Kyawswa I depicted as the Nga-zi Shin Nat. Kyawswa I was king of Pinya, reigning from 1344 to 1350. His six-year reign briefly restored unity in southern Upper Burma although his authority over his southernmost vassals remained largely nominal. He is often depicted in Burmese folklore as a nat (spirit) associated with the Nga-zi Shin Nat, a guardian spirit of the land. His biography reflects the complex interplay between political authority and religious devotion in post-Bagan Myanmar. Source: Wikimedia Commonsꜛ (license: public domain)
November 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM