The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World

by Dalai Lama XIV

From an evolutionary point of view, the limbic system is very old, part of the more primitive parts of the brain that can also be found in lower animals. Structures in the limbic system are responsible for our immediate instinctual response to the things or people we encounter, our “gut” reaction—do we have a positive or a negative feeling about the object, a general feeling of attraction or aversion, is it good or bad? Now, within the limbic system is a small almond-shaped structure buried deep in the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala is part of our danger-alert system, responsible for evoking emotions such as fear and anger, strong emotional responses that are helpful in dangerous, life-threatening situations. The emotions produced by the amygdala prepare us for the famous fight-or-flight response, to fight or escape the dangerous situation, predator, or enemy. The amygdala is critically important in our social interactions.