The happiest man in the world Matthieu Ricard advises meditate to enjoy life

Matthieu Ricard (Matthieu Ricard) - a famous Buddhist monk, writer, photographer, and the happiest person on earth - it is proved by science. Neuroscientist Richard Davidson (Richard Davidson) during his state of happiness research discovered that Mathieu - the happy man of all the people he had ever seen: Ricard scored 4,5 points, while -3.0 points represent a huge happiness. Is it possible to be as satisfied with life? Matthieu Ricard says that anyone can do that by meditating 20 minutes a day.

A bit of a strange title - the happiest man on earth. But the scientist-neurologist Richard Davidson argues that this is a French molecular biologist, now a Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard. Now Mathieu 66 years, 40 years ago he left the life in Paris, to go to India to study Buddhism. Now he is the breastplate of the Dalai Lama and Western respected expert in the field of religion.

But it turns out, daily meditation brought Mathieu and another advantage: he enjoys life as anyone else in this world. Scanning the brain Matthieu Ricard, Richard Davidson found in it the largest potential for

Neuroscientist Richard Davidson Mathieu examined as part of its study of people practicing advanced techniques of meditation, which he spent at the University of Wisconsin. It is connected to the head monk of 256 sensors and scans showed that when meditating on compassion brain Matthieu Ricard produces gamma waves. They are associated with consciousness, attention, learning and memory. According to Davidson, to the study of this reaction has not been reported in the literature on neurology.

Scanning also showed excessive activity in the left prefrontal cortex as compared with right that, as researchers believe, shows a decline in the negative and an abnormal ability to feel happiness.

The study of the phenomenon of neuroplasticity is in its infancy, and Matthieu Ricard, along with a number of leading scientists around the world was the first who began to carry out experiments in this area.

Neuroplasticity - a human brain the property of being able to change under the influence experience, as well as to restore the lost connection after injury or in response to external exposure. This property is described relatively recently.

Matthieu Ricard He believes that meditation can change the brain and help people more to enjoy, as well as regular exercise with weights strengthens muscles.

We studied 12 short-term and long-term effects of training the mind through meditation on attention, on compassion, on emotional balance. They found remarkable results in practitioners who have made more than 50,000 cycles of meditation, as well as beginners, who meditate for only 20 minutes a day for three weeks - this mode is, of course, is more applicable to modern life. This wonderful study because they prove that meditation - is not bliss under the mango tree, this is what changes your brain and yourself.

Matthieu Ricard

Ricard has written several books. First, "The Monk and the Philosopher", Along with his father, the philosopher Jean-Francois Revel (Jean-François Revel). This dialogue about the meaning of life. Ricard next book published in 2011 - a practical guide "art of meditation"Which explains how and why everyone should learn meditation.

7 Tips on meditation from the book by Matthieu Ricard

1. A healthy mind needs to work like a mirror: the face reflected in it, but do not linger. So it is with the thought: let them flow freely through your mind, do not stop them.

2. It is impossible not to let thoughts in my head, but a certain sound or breath soothe the mind, bringing clarity. Controlling the mind, you do not limit your freedom, but cease to be a slave to your thoughts. You need to control your mind like a boat.

3. Learn awareness, pay attention to the sensation of inhaling and exhaling. If you notice that distracted, focus on your breathing. Use mindfulness to travel back to the present, rather than to dwell in the past or thinking about the future. Feel the heat, the cold, the sounds you hear.

4. When you reach a certain skill, you will be able to cultivate kindness and deal with disturbing emotions. You may even feel all-consuming love, this feeling usually lasts 15 seconds, but you can hold him by focusing on it during meditation. When you feel that it has become a blur, relive it.

5. It's like playing the piano: practicing for 20 minutes a day, you get more visible results than if you spend on it a few seconds. Regular practice is as necessary as water for the plant.

6. You can use meditation to move away from the negative emotions.

Your emotions - is a fire. If you are aware of the anger, you're not angry, you just realize it. Aware of the concern, you are not worried, you just know about it. Aware of their emotions, you do not add fuel to the fire, and they will burn quickly.

Matthieu Ricard

7. After a month of constant practice, you will see an improvement: less stress, greater general well-being. Those who say that they do not have time to meditate, need to understand the benefits. If meditation gives you the power to have a good rest of 23 hours and 40 minutes, then 20 minutes were spent.

The book became a bestseller, and my peace came to an end. Suddenly, I moved to the western world. I've talked with scientists, and things started to get out of my control. I found myself involved in research and the science of meditation.

Matthieu Ricard

Now a well-known monk Matthieu Ricard from Shechen Monastery in Kathmandu distribute their time in a year on meditation, research and support Dalai Lama in his travels in French-speaking countries and scientific conferences. He was speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos during the 2009 financial crisis, to tell We gathered there to politicians and business leaders that it is time to give up greed in favor of "enlightened altruism. "

Mathieu was awarded the French Order "For Merit" for his work in preserving Himalayan culture, but its work is dedicated to the science of happiness, it characterizes him better. It seems that Matthieu Ricard lives a good life and compassionate not because required by religion, but because this is the road to happiness.

Check to be believed. Buddhism is trying to unravel the mechanisms of happiness and suffering. It is a science of the mind.