This volume investigates the compatibility and potential synthesis between Western behavioral science and Tibetan Buddhist perspectives on the capacity for human compassion and altruism. Edited by Anne Harrington and Richard Davidson, the text draws upon a series of high-level dialogues between the Dalai Lama and prominent Western scientists. The authors examine whether the traditional Western focus on negative human behaviors can be expanded by integrating Eastern insights into the cultivation of empathy and positive mental states.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the interdisciplinary study of consciousness and contemplative science. Readers frequently note that the text provides a balanced, accessible bridge between rigorous academic inquiry and spiritual philosophy.