Book Review: The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body

Authors: Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson

Originally published: 2017

Meditation has become increasingly mainstream. The advantages stand out. In a world that is at war with itself, sitting back and pondering it over has its merits. Books such as the "Science of Meditation" bring well-documented evidence of the immense practical benefits meditation offers. The authors draw attention to a paradox that often arises among meditation practitioners – the temptation to become addicted to the profound mental states that meditation can unlock. There is a situational irony too: the quest in harnessing the power of the mind and the perils of succumbing to the trappings of ambition and desire.

In our fast-paced, chaotic world, the practice of meditation has gained significant traction as a means of finding inner peace and clarity. Investment decision making demands mental poise. It is unsurprising that Wall Street greats including Ray Dalio, Paul Tudor Jones, and Daniel Loeb are vocal proponents of meditative practice. "The Science of Meditation," authored by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson, is a comprehensive exploration of this ancient practice through the lens of modern science.

Readers familiar with meditation may recognize that the whole point of meditative practice is the beauty of nothingness - to put a full stop to the endless chatter of thoughts. The danger is that people may use the benefits of meditative practice to make the mind even more naughty. From the sublime to the ridiculous, mindfulness could be used to accomplish and accumulate, making thoughts run round and round in the ivory tower of greed.

The "Science of Meditation" tells this story well. Published in 2017, this book delves deep into the "whys" and "hows" of meditation, shedding light on its profound effects on the mind and body. The emphasis on the "hows" is on the Vipassana tradition. Vipassana is a form of meditation that has its roots in ancient India. The word "Vipassana" means "insight" in Pali, an ancient Indian language. As the authors emphasize, an intensive Vipassana course is akin to mindfulness on steroids. Vipassana brings about a nonreactive hyper alertness to thoughts that arise in the mind. Practitioners develop an ability to observe their thoughts without attachment or judgment, leading to greater mental clarity and emotional equanimity. Understanding the “hows” of meditation has practical advantages but as the book fleetingly acknowledges, no matter what practice one chooses, meditation is all about an "alert" and "awake" mind.

There are critics who think that "meditation" is just another fad. For the naysayers, the book is replete with peer-reviewed references, and insightful mechanisms on the mind-body connect, including the roles of the amygdala, the limbic system, and the prefrontal cortex.

The Science of Meditation" offers a profound exploration of meditation's transformative power. Through examples, the book unveils the remarkable journey meditation takes us on, guiding us from negativity towards our better nature, and fostering qualities like selflessness, equanimity, and compassion. It invites readers to shift their perspective, and to recognize the mind as a set of distinct processes. This book demonstrates the value of a tranquil mind in alleviating human suffering. It highlights four significant transformations that meditation brings about: improved responses to disturbance, heightened compassion and empathy, refined attention circuitry, and a deeper understanding of the self. The authors emphasize the profound impact of extending love and compassion to wider circles, where the first person to benefit is the one who feels the compassion. The book also delves into the wisdom of mindfulness, teaching us that awareness transcends emotional states and that a wandering mind is an unhappy one. It offers a glimpse into the intricacies of brain waves, from the slowest Delta waves during deep sleep to the fastest Gamma waves, marking moments of insight and harmony.

"The Science of Meditation" is a thought-provoking journey into the realm of mindfulness and its transformative potential. Goleman and Davidson's meticulous exploration, backed by scientific rigor, demonstrates the profound impact meditation has on the human mind for achieving inner balance. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to meditation, the book is a treasure trove of wisdom and scientific validation that deepen one’s understanding of this ancient practice.