Study: Meditation leads to increased happiness

[Krandal]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030521/od_uk_nm/oukoe_health_buddhists_1

 

[Skeptical Greg]

Sounds like a reasonable inferance, but the only referance I see to meditation is:

Other research by Paul Ekman, of the University of California San Francisco Medical Centre, suggests that meditation and mindfulness can tame the amygdala, an area of the brain which is the hub of fear memory.

Does happiness equate to no memory of fear. I would think such memories might be useful in avoiding danger.

"The most reasonable hypothesis is that there is something about conscientious Buddhist practice that results in the kind of happiness we all seek,"

Sounds like a pretty big assumption about " we all "...

 

[Jeff Corey]

"Grasshopper, you are striving to understand.
One does not achieve understanding by striving.
Understanding comes after you clear your mind of all thoughts."

Obi Wan Kobe, "The Nine Way Path: Zen Plus One Is Ten."

 

[American]

So if priest-abused woman-deprived vietnam vet air-traffic controllers all meditate, they will be happy.

 

[Mark]

So if priest-abused woman-deprived vietnam vet air-traffic controllers all meditate, they will be happy.

\

Probably not, but if they try it they may find they are a little closer than they were before.

 

[sickstan]

Other research by Paul Ekman, of the University of California San Francisco Medical Centre, suggests that meditation and mindfulness can tame the amygdala, an area of the brain which is the hub of fear memory.

Hey I saw a TLC special with this Ekman guy on it -- he wasn't talking about meditation at all but was expounding on his research into cataloging human expressions and underlying emotions. Fascinating stuff. Very useful for everyday applications.