Este é o homem mais feliz do mundo?

Segundo a ciência, a resposta é sim. Mas o próprio monge francês Matthieu Ricard diz que a questão do
título não importa. Mergulhe na mente do budista (e Phd em biologia) e entenda por que você não precisa
viver em um mosteiro para ser feliz. Basta começar a meditar.

Conto que o procuro por causa de um spam. Ele sorri, abana a cabeça e dá um suspiro profundo. "Nunca
teria me autoproclamado como o homem mais feliz do mundo. Isso começou com um documentário da
televisão austríaca. Em seguida, o jornal britânico 'The Independent' publicou uma reportagem anunciando
que eu era a pessoa mais feliz do mundo", afirma. "O que aconteceu é que participei de um estudo na
Universidade de Wisconsin [EUA], para medir os benefícios da meditação. Todos os 12 voluntários
possuíam uma longa experiência, com mais de 10 mil horas de práticas meditativas", diz Ricard.

O título de "homem mais feliz do mundo" de Matthieu Ricard é dividido com ao menos mais um
monge budista. O nepalês Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche participou das mesmas pesquisas que Ricard,
supervisionadas pelo professor Richard Davidson, da Universidade de Wisconsin (EUA). Rimpoche
também alcançou elevados índices de atividade das ondas gama. Escreveu um livro, já traduzido para
o português, "A Alegria de Viver". Seu colega Matthieu Ricard assinou o prefácio da edição francesa.
"Em sua essência, o budismo é muito prático", escreve Mingyur Rinpoche. "Trata-se de fazer coisas que
encorajem a serenidade, a felicidade e a confiança - e evitar outras que provoquem a ansiedade, a
desesperança e o medo."

Artigo completo: http://revistagalileu.globo.com/Revista/Galileu/0,,EDG84137-7943-205-

2,00-ESTE+E+O+HOMEM+MAIS+FELIZ+DO+MUNDO.html

Meditação Budista estudada cientificamente

Português: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzPM8hAgmpA

Tibetan Buddhist Monks - Meditation and Science - Teste em monges

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-wuOYlxMSY

Matthieu Ricard e Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, dois dos monges testados nos estudos
sobre meditação e seus resultados surpreendentes.
Em português Matthieu Ricard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4LAnsZmAXE&feature=related
Em espanhol:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xddigw_beneficios-de-la-meditacion-matthie_school
Palestra na Google com Matthieu Ricard, melhor a partir do 39 min: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=peA6vy0D5Bg&feature=channel
Entrevista com Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lq9TVwSjAA

Daniel Goleman, Ph.D - A Arte da Meditação

Livro em português:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2525780/Daniel-Goleman-A-Arte-Da-Meditacao
Palestra em espanhol:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd3v0x_daniel-goleman-aprendizaje-emociona_school
Palestra na Google:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hoo_dIOP8k
Palestra sobre inteligência emocional:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xebnqb_learn-about-emotional-intelligence_people

Meditation & Science - Efeitos da Meditação

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kja3EbRKQpg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSU8ftmmhmw
Meditation and the Brain - Activating the Brain's Compassion Circuits - Efeitos da
Meditação
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdHRR_XuJQo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjtKy1jWXKw&feature=related

Estudos sobre Meditação:

http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/meditation/medit.pdf
http://brainimaging.waisman.wisc.edu/~lutz/Lutz_attention_regulation_monitoring_meditati
on_tics_2008.pdf
http://noetic.org/library/publication-books/physical-and-psychological-effects-meditation/
http://www.withinsight.com/meditation/#!state_what_does_science_say
http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/NSP/buddhamind/101549.htm

Nirav Pages
http://www.scribd.com/swami_kanan
http://livenuggets.blogspot.com/

Referências
Studies show compassion meditation changes the brain, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Can we train ourselves to be compassionate? A new study suggests the answer is yes. Cultivating kindness
and compassion through meditation affects brain regions that can make a person more empathetic to other
peoples' mental states, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study was the first to
use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to indicate that positive emotions such as loving-kindness
and compassion can be learned in the same way as playing a musical instrument or in a sport.
To read the article summarizing the research: news.wisc.edu/14944

Collaborations between monks and psychologists yield new directions in psychological research
With an eye toward understanding the inner workings of the mind and using that knowledge to reduce human
suffering, psychologists and Buddhist monks may have more in common than they realize, and possibly
even compatible methodology. These commonalities are driving collaborations between some psychologists
and Buddhist monks.
To read this article from the American Psychological Association: apa.org/monitor/dec03/tibetan.html

The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, Institute of Noetic Sciences

Read the Introduction and Introductory chapters of this very well-researched book published by Michael
Murphy and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. An excellent summary of the first waves of scientific research on
the benefits of meditation.
noetic.org/research/medbiblio/index.htm

Meditation can lower blood pressure, study shows, Science Daily

Transcendental meditation is an effective treatment for controlling high blood pressure with the added benefit
of bypassing possible side effects and hazards of anti-hypertension drugs, according to a new meta-analysis
conducted at the University of Kentucky.
To read this article from Science Daily, please see:
sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080314130430.htm

Meditation may lower blood pressure, CNN

Practicing meditation may play an important role in controlling certain risk factors for heart disease,
according to a recent study. Published in the journal Stroke, the study indicates that Transcendental
Meditation, practiced for 20 minutes twice a day, has a positive measurable effect on the buildup of fatty
deposits in arteries, or atherosclerosis.
archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/alternative/07/24/tm.heart/index.html

Meditation and weight loss

Meditation, when practiced correctly, can boost your body's ability to shed pounds. Relaxing upon a peaceful
object or mantra for an extended period of time can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and promote a
sense of inner focus in an individual. The concentration on breathing, posture, and the encouragement to
delve into one's own soul is certainly mind opening and exhilarating, and the body will appreciate this sudden
flow of tranquility that runs through it after being constantly abused from the pressures of day-to-day life.
To read this article exploring meditation and weight loss, please see:
associatedcontent.com/article/244527/how_meditation_promotes_weight_loss.html

Additional Interesting Articles

Begley, Sharon. “Your Brain on Religion: Mystic Visions of Brain Circuits at Work?” Newsweek. May 7,
2001. cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/neuronewswk.htm

Biello, David. “Searching for God in the Brain.” Scientific American. October 2007.
sciam.com/article.cfm?id=searching-for-god-in-the-brain.

Hall, Stephen. “Is Buddhism Good for Your Health?” The New York Times. September 14, 2003.
query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CE1DB173BF937A2575AC0A9659C8B63

Hitt, Jack. “This is Your Brain on God.” Wired. November 1999.

wired.com/wired/archive/7.11/persinger.html.

Lynch, Casey. “Mind Your Brain—The Neuroscience of Meditation.” July 28, 2005.
brainwaves.corante.com/archives/2005/07/28/mind_your_brain_the_neuroscience_of_me
ditation.php.

Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. University of Wisconsin and Emory University.
brainimaging.waisman.wisc.edu/~lutz/Lutz_attention_regulation_monitoring_meditation_tic
s_2008.pdf

Health applications and clinical studies of meditation, Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_applications_and_clinical_studies_of_meditation

_______________________________________________________________

More
Cabezon, J.I. (2003). Buddhism and Science: On the Nature of the Dialogue. In Wallace, A. (Ed.). (2003).
Buddhism and Science: Breaking New Ground. New York: Columbia University Press.

Davidson, R.J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, S.F., Urbanowski, F.,
Harrington, A., Bonus, K. & Sheridan, J.F. (2003). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by
Mindfulness Meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564-570.

Ekman, P., Davidson, R.J., Ricard, M., & Wallace, A. (2005). Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on
Emotion and Well-Being. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14, 2, 59-63.

Flanagan, O. (2003). The Colour of Happiness. The New Scientist, issue 2396. Downloaded from
http://newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg17823965.200 on 06/04/06.

Grossman, P., Niemann, L., Schmidt, S. & Walach, H. (2004). Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and
Health Benefits: A Meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57, 1, 35-43.

Gyatso, K. (2000). Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness. Ulverston: Tharpa.

Kunzig Shamar Rimpoche (n.d.) Seven Points on Meditation. Downloaded from http://www.dhagpo-
kagyu.org/anglais/science-esprit/chemin/medit/etat_esprit/7-point on 25/03/06.

Ladner, L. (n.d.). Positive Psychology and the Buddhist Path of Compassion. Downloaded from
http://www.buddhanet/compassion.htm, 06/04/06

Malinowski, P. (2006). The Brain in Meditation - Part 1. Buddhism Today, Issue 17.

Murphy, M., Donovan, S. & Taylor, E. (1997). The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation: A review
of contemporary research with a comprehensive bibliography 1931-1996. Petaluma, CA: Institute of Noetic
Sciences. Downloaded from http://www.noetic.org/research/medbiblio/index.htm on 15/11/05.

Noe, A. & Thompson, E. (n.d.). Are There Neural Correlates of Consciousness? Downloaded from
http://people.ucsc.edu/~anoe/NCC.pdf on 07/05/06.

Smith, J.C., Amutio, A., Anderson, J.P. & Aria, L.A.(1996). Relaxation: Mapping an Uncharted World.
Biofeedback and Self Regulation, 21, 63-90.

Walsh, R. & Vaughan, F. (Eds.). (1993). Paths Beyond Ego: The Transpersonal Vision. New York: Tarcher.

Watson, G. (1998). The Resonance of Emptiness: A Buddhist Inspiration for a Contemporary Psychotherapy.
Richmond: Curzon.

References
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phenomenology of consciousness in meditative and non-meditative states. Indian J Physiol
Pharmacol. 1997 Apr;41(2): 149–53. PubMed Abstract PMID 9142560

2. ^ Peng CK, Mietus JE, Liu Y, Khalsa G, Douglas PS, Benson H, Goldberger AL. (1999) Exaggerated
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3. ^ Lazar, S.W.; Bush, G.; Gollub, R. L.; Fricchione, G. L.; Khalsa, G.; Benson, H. Functional brain
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4. ^ Carlson LE, Ursuliak Z, Goodey E, Angen M, Speca M. (2001) The effects of a mindfulness
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5. ^ "Train Your Mind Change Your Brain" by Sharon Begley pages 229-242, in the chapter
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6. ^ There has been a dramatic increase in the past 10 or 15 years or so of studies on the impact of
meditation upon one's health. Translator for The Dalai Lama, interviewed in a video here

7. ^ Davidson, Richard J.; Kabat-Zinn J, Schumacher J, Rosenkranz M, Muller D, Santorelli SF,

Urbanowski F, Harrington A, Bonus K, Sheridan JF. (2003 Jul-Aug). "Alterations in brain and immune
function produced by mindfulness meditation". Psychosomatic Medicine 65 (4): 564–570.
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8. ^ Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation by Wallace @

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/3926/1751 published in 1970!

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10. ^ The following was taken from MBSR... "Jon Kabat-Zinn has said that his program has nothing at all
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circumstances they are in.[reference-> In this video Jon Kabat-Zinn can be seen giving a speech at
Google Headquarters about mindfulness, including the benefits shown by scientific study, the
practice and principles of mindfulness, and how it relates to modern life in general
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSU8ftmmhmw Mindfulness-based stress] MBSR is practiced by
those old and young, sick and healthy, professionals and monks alike. Jon Kabat-Zinn has also said
that the principles of mindfulness, on which MBSR is based, have been most clearly articulated by
those in Buddhist traditions.[reference-> In this video Jon Kabat-Zinn can be seen giving a speech at
Google Headquarters about mindfulness, including the benefits shown by scientific study, the
practice and principles of mindfulness, and how it relates to modern life in general
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSU8ftmmhmw Mindfulness-based stress][reference->Jon also
has said this in his 2 cd talk called "Mindfulness for Beginners"] Today mindfulness has gained
widespread practice in the medical community, and has many modern applications in health science.

11. ^ Grossman, P.; Niemann, L.; Schmidt, S.; Walach, H. (2004). "Mindfulness-based stress reduction
and health benefitsA meta-analysis" (pdf). Journal of Psychosomatic Research 57 (1): 35–43.
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32. ^ From a clinical study of twenty-seven long term meditators, Shapiro found that subjects reported
significantly more positive effects than negative from meditation. However, of the twenty-seven
subjects, seventeen (62.9%) reported at least one adverse effect, and two (7.4%) suffered profound
adverse effects. Among these we find: relaxation-induced anxiety and panic; paradoxical increases
in tension; less motivation in life; boredom; pain; impaired reality testing; confusion and
disorientation; feeling 'spaced out'; depression; increased negativity; being more judgmental; and,
ironically, feeling addicted to meditation Shapiro 1992, cited in Perez-De-Albeniz, Alberto and
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