The Compassionate Mind

Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk from Tibet with a PhD in molecular biology, has been working with neuroscientists to find out. Brain scans of regular meditators, including Ricard himself, have shown that they have greatly increased levels of high-frequency brain activity called gamma waves. Does the secret of happiness lie in this unusual brain activity, and the meditation training that seems to produce it?

You’ll hear about the compassionate mind from Ricard himself - someone who could perhaps be described as an expert in happiness. You’ll also hear from neuroscientist Tania Singer, who will explore current research into what happens in the brain when we feel empathy, and explain how the brain can change if meditation is practised in the long term. Chairman Richard Layard is another happiness aficionado, who has written a book on how modern society is richer and less happy than ever before.

Can the brain be trained to dwell on constructive thoughts: contentment instead of craving, calm rather than agitation, compassion in place of hatred? With scientific papers on the subject beginning to appear, are we witnessing the birth of a ‘contemplative neuroscience’?

Join us for talks and a discussion on the compassionate mind.

Signed copies of books by Matthieu Ricard and Richard Layard will be on sale afterwards.

Event organised by:
The European Dana Alliance for the Brain

Speakers

Matthieu Ricard, Tibet
Tania Singer, University of Zurich

Facilitator: Richard Layard, London School of Economics