Explore Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness

Learn the new science and ancient wisdom for being as wise and strong, and happy and loving, as any person can ever be.
Hardwiring Happiness

Discover the Science of the Highest Happiness

Throughout history, people have sought the heights of human potential—to become as wise, strong, happy, and loving as any person can ever be. And now recent science is revealing how these remarkable ways of being are based on equally remarkable changes in our own nervous system, making them more attainable than ever before.

In Neurodharma, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Rick Hanson explores the new neuroscience of awakening and offers a bold yet plausible plan for reverse-engineering peak experiences, sense of oneness, and even enlightenment itself. And he does so with his trademark blend of solid science and warm encouragement, guiding you along this high-reaching path with good humor, accessible tools, and personal examples.

The breakthroughs of the great teachers are not reserved for the chosen few. Neurodharma shares seven practices for embodying them ourselves in daily life to handle stress, heal old pain, feel at ease with others, and rest in the sense of our natural goodness. By strengthening the neural circuitry of profound contentment and inner peace, you’ll cultivate unshakable presence of mind, a courageous heart, and serenity in a changing world.

With deep research, stories, guided meditations, examples, and applications, Dr. Hanson offers a fascinating, inspiring vision of who we can be – and an effective path for fulfilling this wonderful possibility.

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Excerpts

One Minute for Good

Suffering and Happiness

What is in this mind, what causes suffering, and what can we do about it?

Changing Negative Thoughts

Mind in Life

Dr. Hanson covers the Seven Steps to the Highest Happiness and what’s involved in each step.

Growing Good

The Self is a Unicorn

Dr. Hanson explores the classic question: Who am I?

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Neurodharma is available wherever books are sold.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do you mean, “neurodharma?”

We’ve learned so much about the brain over the past twenty years. This gives us an historically unprecedented opportunity to combine this scientific knowledge with the deep understanding of the mind developed in the world’s wisdom traditions. As a psychologist, I’ve drawn on the original teachings of the Buddha, which are practical, not based on faith, penetrating, and effective.

Dharma is a word from India that essentially means “the truth of things.” Neurodharma means grounding the truth of our minds – our joys and sorrows, our suffering and happiness – in the truth of our own bodies. Which is very useful!

Why bring in brain science?

Knowing something about how your brain works helps you understand yourself better – and learn how to get less irritated by hassles or develop good habits that stick.

This grounding in science cuts through mystical mumbo-jumbo. Neuroscience is a young science, but we can still begin a kind of reverse-engineering of what could be happening in the brains of remarkable, perhaps even enlightened people. Then we can apply this to ourselves to gradually change our own brains in that direction . . . whether it is to heal old pain, foster everyday well-being, or explore the heights of human potential.

What will people get from your book that helps with daily life?

Step-by-step, this book is about becoming as wise and strong, happy and loving, as a person can every be. It’s inspired by the great sages and teachers, while also being very down-to-earth.

With friendly encouragement and lots of practical suggestions, I show readers how to experience real inner peace, contentment, and unconditional love amidst the challenges of life, and fulfill the deepest longings of their heart.

It is full of hope that there are simple things we can do each day, no matter how insane the world is around us, to establish lasting true happiness inside ourselves.