A: This is really a joke. Of course, it is better than being called the unhappiest person in the world, but this assertion is absolutely not based on scientific findings.

Some years ago, the Australian television network ABC made a documentary on happiness, in which I participated. At some point, the commentator announced: “Here is perhaps the happiest person in the world.” Things remained quiet for a while, but a few years later the English newspaper The Independent published a cover story about me entitled ‘The happiest person in the world.’ From then on, things spun out of control.

The journalist had based his story on the fact that I had been participating for several years in some research in neuroscience labs in the USA, in particular that of Richard Davidson at the University of Madison, Wisconsin. It was found that when long-term meditators engaged in meditation on compassion, the activity in some areas of the brain increased to a magnitude that had never before been described in neuroscience. Some of these activated brain areas were known to be related to positive emotions. More than fifteen experienced meditators showed similar results, but I happened to be one of the first to participate in the experiment. That's all.

When the story was published in various newspapers, I tried to make a disclaimer, but quite in vain. I apologized to my scientist friends, and now I try to take this assertion with philosophy and amusement. When asked about it, I usually reply that anyone can be the happiest man or woman in the world, provided he or she looks for happiness in the right place. Authentic happiness can only come from the long-term cultivation of wisdom, altruism, and compassion, and from the complete eradication of mental toxins, such as hatred, attachment, and ignorance.

A: Meditation essentially means to train the mind. The purpose of meditation is to develop qualities such as loving-kindness and attention, as well as a correct understanding of reality. For 2500 years, Buddhists have used meditation to eliminate ignorance and mental toxins, that is to say destructive emotions, which are the principal causes of suffering.

Following the Buddhist path allows us to make full use of the knowledge and experience acquired by those who, like the Buddha, have awakened from the sleep of ignorance. However, the knowledge that comes from contemplative science, which is precisely what Buddhism is, is valuable for all people of any religion or culture without exception. We all have a mind, we are all prey to different emotions, and we all go through numerous forms of suffering.

Training allows us to transform the mind, to overcome destructive emotions, and to dispel suffering. The numerous and profound methods that Buddhism has developed over the centuries can be used and incorporated by anyone. What is needed is enthusiasm and perseverance. Meditation has a universal value: it would be a great pity to disregard the possibility of transforming our mind.