Visions of Compassion: Western Scientists and Tibetan Buddhists Examine Human NatureRichard J. Davidson, Anne Harrington This book examines how Western behavioral science--which has generally focused on negative aspects of human nature--holds up to cross-cultural scrutiny, in particular the Tibetan Buddhist celebration of the human potential for altruism, empathy, and compassion. Resulting from a meeting between the Dalai Lama, leading Western scholars, and a group of Tibetan monks, this volume includes excerpts from these extraordinary dialogues as well as engaging essays exploring points of difference and overlap between the two perspectives. |
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action aggression altruistic amygdala anger ANNE HARRINGTON associated asymmetry basic behave biological brain Buddhist capacity child cognitive commitment model compassion compassionate context cortisol culture DALAI LAMA Darwin Dekovic Developmental Psychology Dharamsala Eisenberg & Fabes ELLIOTT SOBER empathy empathy-related responding ERVIN STAUB ethics evolution evolutionary evolve example experience expression feel function fundamental genocidal GEORGES DREYFUS goal Holiness human nature important individual differences interact involved JOSÉ CABEZÓN Journal of Personality meditation mental factors mind monks moral mothers motivation NANCy EISENBERG natural selection negative emotion one’s oxytocin parents Paul Ekman personal distress positive affect positive emotion potential practice prefrontal activation problem prosocial behavior question response RICHARD DAVIDSON ROBERT FRANk role scientific scientists self-interest model selfish individuals sense Social Psychology someone sympathy theory Tibetan Tibetan Buddhist tion tional tive traits understanding values violence Western zebras