Richard Davidson, one of the world’s top brain scientists,
believes mental exercise, specifically meditation, can literally
change our minds. “Our data shows mental practice can induce
long-lasting changes in the brain,” said Davidson, professor of
psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-
Madison. His startling scientific research on the impact of
meditation on brain function has implications that go beyond the
physical. Buddhist monks believe mental attributes and positive
emotions such as compassion, loving kindness and empathy are
skills that can be cultivated. Science is beginning to back that
up. Davidson started meditating in 1974, when he was a Phd
student at Harvard. Back then, meditation was seen as a somewhat
faddish eastern import right up there with the dashiki and the
Jesus sandal. “The culture at the time was not so receptive,”
Davidson said, “nor were the scientific methods so well-
developed.” It was when he met the Dalai Lama in 1992 that he
“decided to come out of the closet w