This book examines how Western behavioral science--which hasgenerally focused on negative aspects of human nature--holdsup to cross-cultural scrutiny, in particular the TibetanBuddhist celebration of the human potential for altruism, empathy, and compassion. Resulting from a meeting betweenthe Dalai Lama, leading Western scholars, and a group ofTibetan monks, this volume includes excerpts from theseextraordinary dialogues as well as engaging essays exploringpoints of difference and overlap between the twoperspectives.

• Part 1: Historical and Philosophical Background


• 1: Zara Houshmound et al.: Training the Mind: First Steps in a Cross-Cultural Collaboration in Neuroscientific Research


• 2: Anne Harrington: A Science of Compassion or a Compassionate Science? What Do We Expect from a Cross-Cultural Dialogue with Buddhism?


• 3: Georges Dreyfus: Is Compassion an Emotion? A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Mental Typologies


• 4: Elliott Sober: Kindness and Cruelty in Evolution


• 5: His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Understanding Our Fundamental Nature


• Dialogues, Part 1: Fundamental Questions


• Part 2: Social, Behavioral, and Biological Explorations of Altruism, Compassion, and Related Constructs


• 6: Richard Davidson: Toward a Biology of Positive Affect and Compassion


• 7: Nancy Eisenberg: Empathy-Related Emotional Responses, Altruism, and Their Socialization


• 8: Ervin Staub: Emergency Helping, Genocidal Violence, and the Evolution of Responsibility and Altruism


• 9: Robert H. Frank: Altruism in Competitive Environments


• Dialogues, Part 2: Pragmatic Extensions and Applications


• About the Mind and Life Institute

Richard J. Davidson is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin. He is co-author or editor of seven books and is a Core Member of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Mind-Body Interactions.
Anne Harrington is Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University. She is the Associate Director of the Harvard University Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative and a Core Member of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Mind-Body Interactions.