The Joy of Living

The Joy of Living presents authentic Tibetan contemplative training in accessible form alongside the scientific study of meditation's effects on mind and brain. Its central claim is that meditation cultivates well-being, equanimity, and the recognition of the nature of mind, and that these effects can be observed empirically.

Drawing on Mahamudra and Dzogchen-derived techniques rendered for a lay audience, the book pairs practical instruction in awareness with an account of brain-imaging research on the author, which documented striking patterns of activity during meditation.

The work bridges genuine contemplative tradition and the evidence-based meditation literature, locating its claims, stress reduction and neuroplasticity, in the well-supported tier and distinct from unverified metaphysical assertions found elsewhere in the field.