For millenia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? And why? The principles behind this ancient practice have long eluded some of the best minds in modern science, until now.
In this book, world-renowned Buddhist teacher Mingyur Rinpoche invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. Working with neuroscientists at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Mingyur Rinpoche provides clear insights into modern research indicating that systematic training in meditation can enhance activity in areas of the brain associted with happiness and compassion. He has also worked with physicists across the country to develop a fresh, scientifically based interpretation of the Buddhist understanding of the nature of reality.
With an infectious joy and insatiable curiosity, Mingyur Rinpoche weaves together the principles of Tibetan Buddhism, neuroscience, and quantum physics in a way that will forever change the way we understand the human experience. Using the basic meditation practices he provides, we can discover paths through everyday problems, transforming obstacles into opportunities to recognize the unlimited potential of our own minds. The Joy of Living is a stunning breakthrough, an illuminating vision of the science of Buddhism and a handbook for transforming our minds, bodies, and lives.
Born in 1975 in Nepal, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is deeply versed in the practical and philosophical disciplines of the ancient tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and is also conversant in the practical issues and details of modern culture. He has taught for nearly a decade around the world, meeting and speaking with a diverse array of renowned scientists and ordinary people yearning to rise above the suffering inherent in the human condition and achieve a state of lasting happiness.