Destructive Emotions: A Dialogue with the Dalai Lama (Mind and life series) [Hardcover]

Destructive Emotions and How We Can Overcome Them: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama forcefully puts to rest the misconception that the realms of science and spirituality are at odds. In this extraordinary book, Daniel Goleman presents dialogues between the Dalai Lama and a small group of eminent psychologists, neuroscientists and philosophers that probe the challenging questions: Can the worlds of science and philosophy work together to recognise destructive emotions such as hatred, craving and delusion? If so, can they transform those feelings for the ultimate improvement of humanity? As the Dalai Lama explains, "With the ever-growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play in reminding us of our humanity."

The book's subject marks the eighth round in a series of ongoing meetings of the Mind Life Institute. The varied perspectives of science, philosophy and Eastern and Western thought beautifully illustrate the symbiosis among the views that are readily accessible, despite their complexity. Among the book's many strengths is its organisation, which allows readers to enjoy the entire five-day seminar or choose sections that are most relevant to their interests--such as "Cultivating Emotional Balance", "The Neuroscience of Emotion", "Encouraging Compassion", or "The Scientific Study of Consciousness". But the real joy is in gaining an insider's view of these extraordinary minds at work, especially that of the Dalai Lama, whose curiosity, Socratic questioning and humour ultimately serve as the lynchpin for the soaring intellectual discussion in the book. --Silvana Tropea, Amazon.com

Bringing together ancient Buddhist wisdom and recent breakthroughs in a wide variety of fields from neuroscience to child development, Daniel Goleman's new book offers fresh insights into how we can recognize and transform the destructive emotions that pose grave dangers to our individual and collective fate. Out of a week long discussion between the Dalai Lama and leading figures from the worlds of neruoscience and psychology, Daniel Goleman weaves together a compelling narrative account of what the destructive emotions are, where they come from, how the child and then the adult brain is shaped, how these destructive emotions (craving, anger and delusion, known in Buddhism as the three poisons) can be transformed and how they must be transformed if they are not to threaten humanity's collective safety and its future. "Destructive Emotions" is a timely and important book.

Daniel Goleman, Ph. D., covers the behavioural and brain sciences for THE NEW YORK TIMES and his articles appear throughout the world in syndication. He has taught at Harvard, where he received his Ph. D., and was formerly senior editor of PSYCHOLOGY TODAY. His previous books include: VITAL LIES, SIMPLE TRUTHS; THE MEDITATIVE MIND; EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE and WORKING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.