Happiest man in the world?

wil · 01-22-2007, 07:38 PM

Happiest man in the world?

MRI scans showed that he and other long-term meditators - who had completed more than 10,000 hours each - experienced a huge level of "positive emotions" in the left pre-frontal cortex of the brain, which is associated with happiness. The right-hand side, which handles negative thoughts, is suppressed.

InLove · 01-22-2007, 08:33 PM

But I like the right side of my brain! And I am pretty happy, even if this is supposed to be the most miserable day of the year.

InLove · 01-23-2007, 02:53 PM

Can't get this one off my mind. Not sure which "half" it is stored in, but it is still there.

So, from a Buddhist point of view, would giving up my "attachment" to my right brain creativity, emotion, spontaneity, etc. be a good thing? A "letting go," so to speak?

Some say there are two "selves" in each of us. I don't buy it, really. But what does that do in terms of realizing one's "self" or letting go of it?

Interesting.

Also, I found this--thought it was kind of fun, although I don't know if it is all that relative to the thread. I guess it could be....

Left Brain : Right Brain

InPeace,
InLove

Eudaimonist · 01-23-2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

MRI scans showed that he and other long-term meditators - who had completed more than 10,000 hours each - experienced a huge level of "positive emotions" in the left pre-frontal cortex of the brain, which is associated with happiness. The right-hand side, which handles negative thoughts, is suppressed.

If the right-hand side of the brain is suppressed, what's the difference between this... and drugs or a partial lobotomy? Just how authentic is this "happiness"?

Wouldn't it be much more impressive to achieve high levels of "happiness" with an unsuppressed right-hand side? Wouldn't that be a better comparison?

eudaimonia,

Mark

wil · 01-23-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eudaimonist

If the right-hand side of the brain is suppressed, what's the difference between this... and drugs or a partial lobotomy? Just how authentic is this "happiness"?

Wouldn't it be much more impressive to achieve high levels of "happiness" with an unsuppressed right-hand side? Wouldn't that be a better comparison?

eudaimonia,

Mark

Namaste Mark, In Love...

I sorta had the same contemplations but the way I read it in the end is he sees less negative. You know how we immediately think the worst (no kid hollers to their mom..."there are angels under my bed")

Is it that they are saying he is able to see or chooses to see the good in people and situations?

Isn't that what many of us would like to strive for?

10,000 hours......

InLove · 01-23-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

(no kid hollers to their mom..."there are angels under my bed")

Come to think of it, they don't, do they? Well, maybe some kid, somewhere...

Quote:

Is it that they are saying he is able to see or chooses to see the good in people and situations?

And that makes much more sense to me than actively seeking to part with half of one's brain functions. I am thinking that this was not his goal, but an observation (hopefully not a conclusion) made by the researchers.

Quote:

Isn't that what many of us would like to strive for?

10,000 hours......

And I think that many do practice it. And I do think that there are many spirits (minds and/or hearts, if you prefer) in the world as we know it that would make quite an impact on the body of scientific research if the researchers knew where to look. (I know it sounds as if I'm knocking science, but I'm not--at least not as a whole.) Very few have the celebrity or the connections to attract that much attention. As for the 10,000 hours of meditation, there are many who do not count the time. According to scientific research, they would most likely be referred to as "right-brainers".

InPeace,
InLove

17th Angel · 01-23-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

Happiest man in the world?

MRI scans showed that he and other long-term meditators - who had completed more than 10,000 hours each - experienced a huge level of "positive emotions" in the left pre-frontal cortex of the brain, which is associated with happiness. The right-hand side, which handles negative thoughts, is suppressed.

The right hand side, must have me by the short and curleys....

It all seems "fantasy land" happiness.... Like someone else said... I can simply use drugs If I want to get that happiness... Whats the difference?

Paladin · 01-24-2007, 02:01 AM

Take note the article is talking about the right pre-frontal cortex not the whole right side. As I understand it, the right brain-left brain model is considered a limited model. Language for example comes from both parts of the brain. More about Matthieu Ricard in Daniel Goleman's book Destructive Emotions: How can we overcome them? There is a wealth of information in this book and features the work of many including Richie Davidson et.al and the work at the Mind and Life institute in Boulder.
Peace
Mark

samabudhi · 01-24-2007, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLove

And that makes much more sense to me than actively seeking to part with half of one's brain functions. I am thinking that this was not his goal, but an observation (hopefully not a conclusion) made by the researchers.

The practice of tummo / psychic heat, has a similar story. The heat produced through this practice is not the goal, but a remarkable side-effect. Yogis are able to live quite comfortably in extremely cold conditions, wearing nothing but a thin muslin cloth.

InLove · 01-24-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin

Take note the article is talking about the right pre-frontal cortex not the whole right side. As I understand it, the right brain-left brain model is considered a limited model. Language for example comes from both parts of the brain. More about Matthieu Ricard in Daniel Goleman's book Destructive Emotions: How can we overcome them? There is a wealth of information in this book and features the work of many including Richie Davidson et.al and the work at the Mind and Life institute in Boulder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samabudhi

The practice of tummo / psychic heat, has a similar story. The heat produced through this practice is not the goal, but a remarkable side-effect. Yogis are able to live quite comfortably in extremely cold conditions, wearing nothing but a thin muslin cloth.

So it is more about losing (or overcoming?) perceived physical limitations than it is about losing the existing function?

I am thinking about how I hate the cold winter winds where I live. I know this may sound rather kindergarten-ish, but what I do is simply imagine it is the middle of summer and I am in a garden surrounded by the blossoms I know will result from the present season. Something like that?

InPeace,
InLove

Paladin · 01-24-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLove

So it is more about losing (or overcoming?) perceived physical limitations than it is about losing the existing function?

I am thinking about how I hate the cold winter winds where I live. I know this may sound rather kindergarten-ish, but what I do is simply imagine it is the middle of summer and I am in a garden surrounded by the blossoms I know will result from the present season. Something like that?

InPeace,
InLove

How's that working for you?

samabudhi · 01-24-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

So it is more about losing (or overcoming?) perceived physical limitations than it is about losing the existing function?

You could say that. Perception, is just that, a perception - not right, wrong, or I, me or mine. When you realise the interdependence of all things, perception finds no more footing.

Quote:

I am thinking about how I hate the cold winter winds where I live. I know this may sound rather kindergarten-ish, but what I do is simply imagine it is the middle of summer and I am in a garden surrounded by the blossoms I know will result from the present season. Something like that?

This is called pure vision. This is the view of the Buddhas, where there is no suffering.

InLove · 01-24-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin

How's that working for you?

LOL! I stay inside a lot! But when I have to get out there, it helps tremendously.

InPeace,
InLove

InLove · 01-24-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samabudhi

Perception, is just that, a perception - not right, wrong, or I, me or mine. When you realise the interdependence of all things, perception finds no more footing.

Yes, the "big picture", perhaps. But I suppose even looking at things this way could be considered "perception" as well. The details may be just as beautiful and important. There have been times in my life when I have actually enjoyed the cold winds for what they are, but so far it hasn't been in a thin muslin cloth.

InPeace,
InLove

InLove · 01-24-2007, 06:02 PM

Hi again--

I was re-reading my last post, and I just want to make it clear that I am not making fun. What I mean is that I have a long way to go before I can realize that sort of control over my body and mind. But for the perceived (

)time being, maybe my vision is becoming purer....

InPeace,
InLove