Western Gateway to the Buddhist Science of Mind

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Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

The Joy of Living: The Secret of Happiness

April 6-8 at Nalanda West

The Buddha taught that the basic nature of mind is fundamentally clear and aware—it is in essence joyful. How many of us would agree upon this as our common experience? Due to various life situations, joy is not necessarily our ongoing experience of life. However, we can experience this essential nature of mind, and bring this joy into our daily lives, leading a happier and healthier life through meditation. During this program, Mingyur Rinpoche will lead us to experience and become familiar with this joy through teachings on the traditional Tibetan Buddhist methods of familiarizing ourselves with the nature of our own minds through resting and analytical meditations.

Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche forthcoming March 2006 Mingyur Rinpoche is the author of a book to be released in March, entitled The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness (Harmony publishers, $24 (288p) ISBN 978-0-307-34625-4). The following review of the book is from Publisher's Weekly

"This refreshing book is yet another sign that the next generation of Buddhism is creative, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary. Born in 1975 in Nepal, the author is among the generation of Tibetan lamas trained outside of Tibet, and he's also a gifted meditator. His brain activity has been measured during meditation, earning him the enviable sobriquet of 'happiest man on earth.' He fuses scientific and spiritual considerations, explaining meditation as a physical as well as a spiritual process. Mingyur Rinpoche knows from experience that meditation can change the brain. He experienced panic attacks as a child that he was able to overcome through intensive meditation. If diligently practiced, meditation can affect the 'neuronal gossip'--his imaginative rendering of brain cell communication--that keeps us stuck in unhappy behaviors. The meditation master offers a wide variety of techniques, counseling ease in practice to avoid boredom or aversion. Less is more; practice shorter periods more often, he says. His approach will be especially welcome for anyone frustrated by meditation or convinced they're 'not doing it right.' This book is a fresh breath from the meditation room, written with kindness, energy and wit. Three cheers for a cheerful contemplative."

Biographical Information

Mingyur Rinpoche actively teaches in the West and is known for his ability to convey the Buddhist teachings in a clear and skillful manner. He was born in Nepal in 1975 and is the son of Tulku Ugyen, a great Dzogchen master. The 16th Karmapa recognized Rinpoche as the 7th incarnation of Yongey Mingyur Dorje, a legendary Tibetan meditation master and scholar. He was also recognized as the incarnation of Kangyur Rinpoche by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. The Dalai Lama chose him to participate as a subject for medical investigation into the effects of meditation.