8 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson's 2017 rigorous review of meditation research — separating well-supported findings from inflated claims — arguing that meditation's most significant benefits require long-term practice and that most studies measure states rather than traits.
American psychologist and science journalist — author of Emotional Intelligence (1995) — who created the EQ concept and made it mainstream — co-author of Altered Traits on meditation research.
Bhante Gunaratana's practical guide to mindfulness meditation — the most widely read and freely available Theravada meditation manual, notable for its clarity and accessibility.
The Great Calming and Contemplation by Zhiyi — the foundational text of the Chinese Tiantai school, describing the theory and practice of meditative insight (śamatha-vipaśyanā) and the nature of the mind.
German-Chinese Shaolin master and abbot of the Shaolin Temple Europe who teaches Shaolin martial arts, Chan Buddhism, and contemplative practice — appearing on MW to discuss discipline, stillness, and the integration of physical and mental training.
Zhiyi's Mohe Zhiguan (The Great Calming and Contemplation) — the most systematic Chinese Buddhist meditation manual, integrating philosophical analysis with detailed meditation instructions.
Culadasa's comprehensive technical guide to meditation — integrating Theravada Buddhist meditation theory with modern neuroscience into a ten-stage progression toward jhana and awakening.
Robert Wright's 2017 argument — that core Buddhist claims about the self and suffering are validated by evolutionary psychology and cognitive science, specifically that the self is an illusion constructed by competing modules, and that mindfulness meditation provides access to this truth.