Meditation has never been more mainstream. Once dismissed as esoteric or relegated to monasteries, it now appears in corporate retreats, school classrooms, therapy rooms, and even the military. The science is mounting: meditation lowers stress, improves focus, and rewires the brain in measurable ways. Yet beyond these clinical headlines lies a deeper question: what is meditation really for?
That is the question posed—and partially answered—in Why We Meditate, co-authored by Daniel Goleman, the psychologist best known for his 1995 blockbuster Emotional Intelligence, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche, a respected Tibetan Buddhist teacher who has spent decades bridging ancient contemplative traditions with contemporary life.
The book is a compact volume, under 200 pages, but it tackles vast terrain: from neuroscience labs at Harvard to Himalayan caves, from the psychology of burnout to the possibility of enlightenment. What results is not just a primer on meditation techniques but a persuasive case for why meditation matters in a distracted, anxious age.
Two Voices, One Message
The partnership between Goleman and Rinpoche is itself symbolic of the book’s project: weaving together the rigor of Western science and the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. Goleman, who once reported on the psychology beat for The New York Times, brings a journalist’s skepticism and a researcher’s clarity. Rinpoche, by contrast, infuses the text with warmth, humor, and an authenticity born of decades in the Buddhist monastic system and then teaching globally.
The chapters alternate between their voices. Goleman explains what brain imaging reveals about attention, or why compassion training reduces inflammation. Rinpoche tells stories—of his teachers, of lay students struggling with stress, of his own humorous stumbles adapting to the West. It is this back-and-forth that gives the book both authority and intimacy. Readers are invited to trust not just scientific evidence but lived experience.
The Promise and the Hype
One of the book’s most compelling sections confronts the “mindfulness boom.” Apps like Headspace and Calm, corporate “mindful minutes,” and a deluge of wellness products promise transformation. Yet as Goleman and Rinpoche both stress, mindfulness stripped of context risks becoming “McMindfulness”—a commodified relaxation tool divorced from its ethical and spiritual roots.
The authors acknowledge the benefits of even light-touch practice: ten minutes of breathing a day can indeed reduce stress markers. But they argue that meditation at its deepest is not about productivity or stress management. It is about transforming the mind—reducing the grip of anger, jealousy, and fear, while cultivating compassion and insight.
In one striking passage, Rinpoche recalls students who came to him asking how to meditate to “get ahead” at work. His reply: meditation is not a ladder up the corporate hierarchy, but a way of dismantling the very craving that fuels endless competition.
The Science of Stillness
Goleman, who has followed meditation research since the 1970s, is well-placed to sift hype from evidence. He explains, with journalistic clarity, the difference between short-term effects and long-term traits.
- State changes: In a single session, meditators often report calmer breathing, lower heart rate, and reduced stress. Brain scans show dampening of the amygdala, the brain’s fear center.
- Trait changes: After months or years of consistent practice, structural changes emerge. The prefrontal cortex thickens, enhancing executive control. The default mode network—the neural basis of mind-wandering—becomes quieter. Compassion practices, in particular, show lasting increases in altruistic behavior.
But Goleman is careful not to oversell. Meditation is not a panacea for all ailments. It will not replace medical treatment or erase trauma overnight. Its effects vary widely across individuals. What it reliably offers, though, is a set of tools for meeting the turbulence of modern life with steadier awareness.
Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s “Beautiful Monsters”
Perhaps the most memorable contributions come from Tsoknyi Rinpoche, who coins the phrase “beautiful monsters” to describe the unruly emotions that hijack us—anger, anxiety, shame. Rather than suppress them, he advises befriending them with curiosity and compassion.
This is a departure from the stereotype of meditation as “emptying the mind.” Instead, Rinpoche describes a process of intimacy with one’s own experience. By allowing feelings to arise without judgment, their grip softens. Over time, what once felt monstrous can even become beautiful—a source of energy and insight.
His teaching style is disarmingly playful. He recounts once being terrified of flying, only to realize his panic was a “beautiful monster” asking to be acknowledged. He compares the mind to a restless dog: you don’t punish it for running away; you gently call it back.
These metaphors make complex Buddhist psychology accessible. Readers unfamiliar with terms like shamatha (calm abiding) or vipassana (insight) will find in “beautiful monsters” a bridge into the practice.
A Toolkit for Practice
The book does not merely argue for meditation; it offers concrete instructions. Several chapters function as practice guides, covering:
- Breath awareness – focusing on inhalation and exhalation as an anchor.
- Open presence – resting in awareness itself, rather than any object.
- Compassion meditation – visualizing loved ones, neutral people, and even adversaries, and extending goodwill toward them.
- Embodied awareness – sensing bodily sensations to ground attention.
These instructions are concise and approachable, avoiding jargon. For beginners, they serve as an entry point. For seasoned meditators, they serve as reminders of the basics. Importantly, Rinpoche emphasizes that even short, consistent practice is more valuable than occasional heroic effort.
Stress, Trauma, and Healing
One of the book’s timely contributions is its exploration of meditation and trauma. Many people turn to meditation after burnout, anxiety, or loss. Yet, as the authors acknowledge, meditation can sometimes intensify difficult memories.
Here, Rinpoche’s advice is gentle: do not force yourself into painful territory. Work with grounding practices first. Cultivate self-compassion. Meditation is not about bulldozing through trauma but creating the conditions for gradual healing.
Goleman supplements this with neuroscience: trauma can lodge in the nervous system, but mindfulness can help create a “pause button” between trigger and reaction. Compassion practices, in particular, soothe the vagus nerve and restore balance.
This integration of science and contemplative wisdom is one of the book’s strengths. It reassures readers that meditation is not escapism but a legitimate tool for psychological resilience.
Meditation Beyond the Self
Another striking theme is the social dimension of meditation. Too often, wellness is framed as individual self-care. But Goleman and Rinpoche argue that genuine meditation naturally expands concern for others.
Studies cited show that compassion training increases charitable giving and prosocial behavior. Buddhist traditions long taught this: liberation is incomplete if it ignores others’ suffering. Rinpoche underscores this with anecdotes of monks who dedicate decades not to personal bliss but to serving their communities.
In an era of polarization and loneliness, this message resonates. Meditation is not just about calming your own mind; it is about widening the circle of care.
Style and Accessibility
Stylistically, Why We Meditate strikes a balance between science writing and spiritual memoir. Goleman’s sections read like clear, well-sourced magazine features. Rinpoche’s sections read like fireside conversations, sprinkled with Tibetan idioms and self-deprecating humor.
The brevity of the book is both a strength and a limitation. For newcomers, it avoids overwhelming detail. For experienced practitioners, it may feel introductory. At times, one wishes the authors had lingered longer—especially on the more profound dimensions of meditation, such as non-dual awareness or the ethics embedded in Buddhist practice.
Still, the very concision makes it accessible. Unlike dense academic tomes or overly mystical manuals, this is a book one can read in a weekend and return to repeatedly for guidance.
Critiques and Limitations
No book on meditation can please everyone. A few critiques are worth noting.
- Scientific gaps: While Goleman summarizes key findings, some readers may crave deeper engagement with ongoing debates in neuroscience—such as the limits of brain imaging or the replicability crisis in psychology.
- Cultural translation: Rinpoche excels at making Tibetan wisdom approachable, yet some concepts—karma, rebirth, enlightenment—are only lightly touched, perhaps to avoid alienating secular readers. For those seeking a more complete view of Buddhist philosophy, the treatment may feel thin.
- The risk of idealization: While the book warns against “McMindfulness,” it occasionally veers toward presenting meditation as universally beneficial. In reality, not all practices suit all individuals, and meditation can sometimes exacerbate conditions like depression if not carefully guided.
These critiques do not undermine the book’s value but remind us that meditation is complex, not one-size-fits-all.
Why It Matters Now
The timing of Why We Meditate is no accident. Rates of anxiety and depression are climbing globally. Attention spans are shrinking in the age of smartphones. Burnout is now recognized by the World Health Organization as a workplace syndrome.
In this context, the book’s message feels urgent: we need not be prisoners of distraction and reactivity. Simple, time-tested practices—backed by modern science—can help us reclaim presence, compassion, and resilience.
Perhaps most importantly, the book challenges the narrative of meditation as a selfish pursuit. By cultivating awareness and compassion, we not only heal ourselves but contribute to a more sane society.
Conclusion: A Guide for Skeptics and Seekers
Why We Meditate is neither a dense academic study nor a mystical manual. It is something rarer: a bridge. It speaks to skeptics who demand evidence, and to seekers who yearn for wisdom. It reassures beginners that meditation is accessible, while offering seasoned practitioners a reminder of its deeper purpose.
Goleman and Rinpoche do not promise instant enlightenment. They do not sell an app or a quick fix. Instead, they offer something both humbler and more radical: an invitation to sit still, breathe, and notice. In a culture addicted to speed and noise, that invitation itself is revolutionary.
For readers navigating stress, burnout, or simple curiosity, Why We Meditate is a clear, compassionate guide. Its message, ultimately, is that meditation is not about escaping life—it is about fully inhabiting it.
by Wellner Chan – Global Wellness Digest
Global Wellness Digest 
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