Training the mind

A fascinating story made the news recently. Scientists studied meditating Tibetan monks and were able to show striking and beneficial brain activity associated with meditation. These changes were greater when meditators had longer experience in meditating. The results of the study suggested that the brain can be trained to experience a happier state and more coordinated brainwave activity. For those who are technically minded, the original article by Antoine Lutz, which was published in the journal, PNAS, may be found here. There are a number of other studies in the scientific literature that have documented the benefits of meditation. Meditation requires some effort and regularity to produce benefit.

A description of how to practice insight and calming meditation is given here. There is also a simplified tutorial at www.buddhanet.net.

While it may help to simplify our lives and get rid of clutter, our experience of life is in many ways a result of our perceptions. Through insight meditation, we can learn to observe the body, the feelings and emotions, and the mind. By observing these phenomena, we can learn to better understand our perceptions, and to train the mind.