Tibetan Buddhist monk and author, Matthieu Ricard, was visiting his home town in Aix-les-Bains, in France, for a conference when the Paris attacks occurred last week. Ricard, a scientist who holds a PhD in molecular genetics, has written and spoken widely about the power of altruism and how it is an inherent quality of humanity. He advocates for practicing compassion in thought, word, and deed to develop kindness and compassion for ourselves and others.