“Meditation that lasts: transforming mind, brain, and life, one trait at a time.”

 A

Here are 5 meaningful quotes from Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson — drawn from reader‑compiled excerpts and highlights:

1. On enduring change:

“An altered trait — a new characteristic that arises from a meditation practice — endures apart from meditation itself.” (Mind on Breath)

2. On what the book really focuses on:

“Meditation was not meant to improve our health, relax us, or enhance work success… the true contemplative goal has always been altered traits.” (The Breathing Diabetic)

3. On attention and distraction:

“Decades before we began to drown in a sea of distractions, cognitive scientist Herbert Simon made this prescient observation: ‘What information consumes is attention. A wealth of information means a poverty of attention.’” (Goodreads)

4. On everyday experience:

“We live in a world our minds build rather than actually perceiving the endless details of what is happening.” (Goodreads)

5. On the core aim of full transformation:

“Lessening the grip of the self, always a major goal of meditation practitioners… has been oddly ignored by meditation researchers.” (Goodreads)

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If you want, I can also pair these quotes with brief explanations so they’re easier to use in essays or exam answers.