Dr Sudhir Shah MD DM Neurology

Your Well Wisher...

www.sudhirneuro.org 2nd June 2013

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Purpose of lifeEverybody wants to live Everyone wants to be happy ( nobody

wants unhappiness )Everyone wants peace ( nobody wants

otherwise )Ultimate purpose of life is to enjoy and

live happily and make others happy…

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Disclaimer Nobody is perfect and all of us are studentsEasy to Preach, but not very difficult to PracticeHappiness is not really hypotheticalDefinition of Happiness varies from person to personAlso it is dynamic in the same person usuallyIt is journey rather than destinationBut it is the dialogue we have to initiate now...

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Plan of my talkDefining HappinessPsychology of HappinessNeuroscience of HappinessMeasuring HappinessHow to be HappyPhilosophical and Spiritual perspective

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Happiness Defined

Aristotle put it, “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence”!

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Happiness is:A pleasant feelingA positive evaluation or judgmentA favorable explanation after the factAn optimistic expectationA sense of inner peaceA sense of connectedness A spiritual experience

Happiness Redefined

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Psychology and Evolutionary History

The Triune Brain

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But to Cope with Urgent Needs, We Leave Home . . .

Avoid: When we feel threatened or harmed Leads to Anxiety disorders; PTSD; panic, terror; rage; violence → leads to insecurity & pessimism

Approach: When we can’t attain important goals Leads to Addiction; over-drinking, -eating, -gambling; compulsion; hoarding; driving for goals at great cost→ Frustration & disappointment

Attach: When we feel isolated, disconnected, unseen, unappreciated, unlovedLeads to Borderline, narcissistic, antisocial PD; symbiosis; folie a deux; “looking for love in all the wrong places” → Rejection, unloved

This is the brain in its reactive mode of functioning - a kind of inner homelessness

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Three Levels of HappinessThree levels of happiness : pleasure, joy and

bliss

All people fall into one of three groups... those who are spiritually awake, those who are asleep and those who are somewhere in the middle.

Your own personal definition of happiness will depend on which of these groups you belong to

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PleasureFor those who are largely asleepHappiness is sought from outer world and is

characterized by pleasureSensual, instinctual and physiological Always perpetual and demand for more and

more. Leads to inevitable pain

ANIMAL INSTINCT

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Where they find pleasure Food Sex PlacesListening Music Fragrance

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What does it do for you?

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fMRI during visual imagery 15

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Physical Pleasure and the Ventral Striatum

When people experience physical pleasure, theventral striatum is activated (George, 1995)

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Chemicals of Pleasure

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NORMAL DEFICIENT

SEROTONIN

you’re positive, confident, flexible, and easy going

Become negative, obsessive, worried irritable, and sleepless

CATECHOLAMINEyou’re energized, upbeat, and alert

you can sink into a flat, lethargic mood

DOPAMINE You’re more talkative and excitable. It affects brain processes ability to experience pleasure and pain

Have depression, chronic boredom, loss of satisfaction, chronic fatigue, mood swings and poor attention

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Joy Begin to feel happy for no particular reason Comes from inner world (self) More psychologicalRefined Desires Through service to mankind, success, achievements &

spiritual practices like prayer, chanting , religious reading and satsang

JOY is HUMAN

JO

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AchievementAchievement21

EngagementEngagement

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MeaningMeaning

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Spiritual practices Spiritual practices

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Abstract perception of joy 25

Neural circuitry of Joy

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Chemicals of Joy

NORMAL DEFICIENCY

OXYTOCIN

Good socialrecognition, calm and relaxed mood, ego faculty

Become negative, depressed , socially withdrawn , anxious

VASOPRESSIN

Good socialRecognition, Prompt responsive , attentive for stressful situations

Socially withdrawn, feel overwhelmed in stressful situations

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Bliss The highest stateHere mind and all its activity ceases Our consciousness becomes identified with

universal consciousnessExperience of just beingPermanent meditative stateFully awake

PIOUS PERSONS

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Inner Peace

Inner Peace refers to a state of being “mentally” and “spiritually” at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress.

Peace of mind is generally associated with happiness, bliss and contentment

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Mindfulness Practice Observing the body and mind intentionally

Letting experiences unfold from moment to moment and accepting them as they are

Observing thoughts without getting caught up in them.No effort to control anything except the focus and direction of the attention. Not a passive process, yet does not involve trying to get anywhere

Eating meditation, sitting meditation, working meditation and meditation during each act is the goal of mindfulness practice

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Meditation Patanjal Dhyana Anapan Sati Smriti Upasthan Vipashyana Preksha Dhyana Jain Dhyana Spand Dhyana Mantra Dhyana Nabhi Dhyana Swapna Dhyana Nidra Dhyana Yoga nidra, Nyas Kriya Yoga Mrutyu Dhyana T.S Meditation Kundalini

Kayotsarga Tratak Suryasamyam Adarshdhyana (mirror) Swaminarayan Dhyana Arup Dhyana Purnayoga Dhyana Atit Dhyana (past) Bhavidhyana (future) Sarpalanchan Dhyana Samarpana Dhyana Tathata Hoo-Dhyana (Dynamic

Meditation) Sahaj Dhyana Your own system

All methods are great 31

VipashyanaOperation of the mind, by the mind

Calm and quiet mind

Awake and attentive mind

Equanimous mind

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symbolic representation of the self 33

Neural Circuits of Meditation

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Endorphins

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Arcuate Nucleus of

Hypothalamus

Prefrontal cortexGlutamate

EndorphinsEndorphins

Activation by Meditation

Experience of Well being

+

+

+

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Reticular nucleus of Thalamus

Glutamate

GABAGABA

Inhibition of Superior Parietal lobe

Experience of just being

Prefrontal cortexActivation by Meditation

+

+

+

-

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The process of meditation apparently increases activation in the prefrontal cortex and stimulates the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, leading to release of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. GABA have a central role in cortical inhibition and Cortical Silent Period, modulating cortical excitability and neural plasticity

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Blissful chemicals NORMAL DEFICIENT

ENDORPHINSyou’re full of cozy feelings of comfort, pleasure, and euphoria.

you may be crying during commercials and overly sensitive to hurt.

GABAyou’re relaxed and stress-free.

you’ll be wired, stressed, and overwhelmed

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So, in conclusion Pleasure is dependent on others, joy less so and bliss is completely independent of anything

Pleasure is animal, joy is human and bliss is next to Divine

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Three levels of Happiness

PLEASURE

JOY

BLISS

Time and knowledge

Happiness

Worldly thingsSerotonin, Dopamine , Catachoalmines

Happiness within Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Dopamine

Being part of something bigger than yourselfGABA, Endorphins

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Instruments Used in the Study of the Brain and Happiness

Can we really measure happiness, and how?

Who would know better thanNeurologists and psychologists?

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Neuropsychological testing (three level questions )

1) How are you feeling right now (from 1 to 7)?

Introspection

2) All things considered, how happy are you these days (from 1 to 7)?

Introspection, comparative judgement

3) On the whole, how good do you think your life is (from 1 to 7)?

Introspection, comparative judgement, relative to conception of ‘the good life’

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Happiness ‘Continuum’

Level 1- Momentary

feelings- Mood- Pleasures - Not

suffering

Level 2- Judgements

about feelings

- Net level 1 happiness

- Well-being- satisfaction

Level 3- Holistic

evaluation of value of life

- Flourishing- Needn’t

include pleasures

More emotional, sensual, and reliable

More cognitive, moral, and easily biased45

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses changes in electrically charged molecules when they are place in a magnetic field to assess differences in cerebral activity in different regions of the brain 47

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) tracks the brain’s blood flow and oxygen use -two measures of neuron activity

• fMRI is useful to find out emotional processing in particular areas of brain

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Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are good for showing the many brain structures that may be involved in a functions like pleasure and help to examine the processing of neurotransmitters

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The Brain and Happiness

Different components of happiness are found in different areas of the brain. That is, happiness does not seem to have a clearly defined neurobiological home

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Happiness and the Pre-frontal Cortex

Laughter responses are generated in the prefrontal cortex. (George, 1995)

Pleasant film clips, pleasant tastes, &cash incentives increase left pre-frontal cortex activity

Unpleasant film clips, unpleasant tastes, and a threat of cash loss raise activity in the right pre-frontal cortex

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Happiness, the Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex and the Amygdala

When people think about good events the rostral anterior

cingulate cortex (rACC) and the amygdala are activated.

However, the correlation with optimism was biggest with the cingulate cortex (Phelps & Sharot, 2007)

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Happiness and the Temporal and Parietal Lobes

When people feel happy, the characteristic pattern shows a decrease of activity in the brain that are committed to forethought and planning—the temporal and parietal lobe

(George, 1995)

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Who is more Happy?

Young, middle-aged, or old?Married or Single?Men or Women?Spirituality?Rich vs. Poor?

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Geography of Happiness

Green = Happiest > Blue > Purple > Orange > Red = Least Happy; Grey = Data not available

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AGE-WISE: % “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” with Life as a Whole

Age group

0

20

40

60

80

100

15- 24 25- 34 35- 44 45- 54 55- 64 65+

Percent

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Gender and Well-Being in Sixteen Nations

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2020

4040

6060

8080

100100

Satisfied Very happy

Males

Females

Percent

Pooled data from 169,776 interviews.

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0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Men Women

Per

cen

t V

ery

Hap

py

Married

Never married

Separated

Divorced

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Spirituality and Happiness

0

20

40

60

80

100

Low High

Percent “very Percent “very happy”happy”

Spiritual commitment

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65 % Very Happy and Felt Closeness to God

(n = 9896, NORC, 1983-1991)

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

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Not Close/Not Believe Somewhat Close Extremely Close

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Money and happiness

Money produces short-term benefits;

More money will not raise well-being

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Does money buy Happiness?

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Money and happinessMoney can bring security as well as

comfort & pleasureIt can bring improved standard of living

and educationBut

Money corrupts , success corrupts They take away morality, relationships,

health, bliss and peace

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Understanding happiness

Happiness is not something that happens,

that money or power can command

It is only by controlling our inner experience

that we can become happy

Happiness cannot be reached by consciously

searching for it

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MoneyFame

AchievementsAwards

Possessions

Road to Success

Road to Joy, Bliss and Peace

Godhoodness SpiritualityPhilosophyMorality Religion

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What do you remember?

Applause dies away! Trophies gather dust!Winners are soon forgotten

But you remember ,the ones who take care of you & appreciate you

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“PHYSICIANHEAL

THYSELF”

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Why Doctors are not happyProfessional carrier TeachingAcademics Research Administration Family lifeChildren issues Interpersonal

relationshipsCompetition Negative emotions like

ego jealousy

Money , fame Time management Traffic , mobile Staff management MisunderstandingsLegal issues Paper workDemanding patients Caregivers stress Physical and Mental HEALTH

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Determinants of Happiness

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Gene therapyVMAT :

Vesicular Mono Amine Transporter gene on chromosome 10q25 Produces the sensations

of mystic experiences, including the presence of God  and spirituality as a state of mind 

MAOA : Monoamine oxidase A on X chromosome Low-expression is associated with higher

self-reported happiness in women

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Determinants of Happiness

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To control your circumstances

1. Reduce your commitments 2. Reduce your interactions with persons

sanjog mula jiven pattaa dukha parmpara...

The more you have contacts with persons and situations, the more will be your unhappiness

( cascade of problems ) Lord Mahavir

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How to enjoy journey of life ?Key to Happiness

PhysicalMoralMentalReligious Spiritual

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Happiness And Peace :A Physical perspective

Eat right Exercise Get enough sleep Good excretory functions (biju sukh?!) Learn to relax Laugh exhaustingly Love abundantly

pahelu sukh te jate narya

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GET ENOUGH SLEEP

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Nix Coffee?

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WALKING

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RESISTANCE TRAINING

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VENTING

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Massage

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YOGA

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Laugh frequently

At yourself and not others Laugh from the core of your spirit not in

artificial ways Learn to laugh out in all mistakes and bad

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Smile!

Smiling is the main way to tell if someone’s happy… but only if they are real smiles

Smile solves many problems

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Silence!

Silence avoids so many problems85

Love abundantly

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The Rewards of Love

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Helping Others

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Exercise, Food & Mood (Happy Chemicals)

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DopamineThe omega-3 fatty acids are proven to create

dopamine. Kauncha like seeds also.

Useful sources of building blocks for dopamine: Apples Beet Cucumber Green leafy vegetables Honey Cheese Sweet peppers Watermelon

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SerotoninTo create serotonin eat

low sugar carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables

Bananas are especially powerful serotonin inducers and bring on an immediate calming effect because of the complex B vitamins they have

Try some light stretching or breathing exercises along with some soothing music to complete the mood.

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OxytocinEating comfort

foods: Eating your favorite food such as chocolate, ice-cream or any meal that you really enjoy will release oxytocin

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How Chocolate Could Influence Brain and Behavior

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Endorphin

Complex carbs like pasta, breads, and foods with natural glucose, like grapes make the perfect mixture for creating endorphins

Eating spicy food like hot chili pepper

A routine of aerobic activity: brisk walking, biking, or swimming or massage

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Medical management

If happiness has a biological cause in the brain, then we will be able to influence it with drugs, surgery, bionics etc… but should we?

If our brains show equal ‘happiness activity’, then are we equally happy? How can we know this?

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Psychological counselling

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Mood elevators

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Future of Happiness

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The God Gene

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Building on Strengths

Key to Engagement and Meaning

Gratification and satisfaction

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Six Virtues for Gratification

From the great philosophies and religions of the world: wisdom and knowledge couragelove and humanity justicetemperancespirituality and transcendence

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Six Areas of Strength

Wisdom & Knowledge

Courage, firmness

Love, warmth

Temperance

Transcendence

Leadership ,Justice

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KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM1. Creativity2. Curiosity3. Love of learning4. Wisdom / perspective5. Open-mindedness

COURAGE & FIRMNESS6. Bravery7. Persistence8. Integrity9. Vitality

HUMANITY & LOVE 10. Give & receive love11. Kindness12. Social intelligence

LEADERSHIP & JUSTICE 13. Citizenship14. Fairness15. Leadership

TEMPERANCE 16. Forgiveness / mercy17. Modesty / humility18. Prudence19. Self-regulation

TRANSCENDENCE / SPIRITUAL 20. Appreciation of excellence and beauty21. Gratitude22. Hope23. Humor24 Spirituality

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3 “C’s” of Happiness

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*Challenge**Challenge*

OpennessOpennessTo New ExperiencesTo New Experiences

Expanding Expanding Social Social

SupportSupportNetworkNetwork

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Self Self Awareness Awareness

and and ReflectionReflection

*Commitment**Commitment*

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Self DisciplineSelf Discipline

andand

SelfSelf

*Control* *Control*

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Happiness and friendship

A person doesn’t need a large number of friends to be happy – he needs one the best friend

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Learning from Children

Spend time with children. Learn more about laughter, spontaneity, curiosity, acceptance, resilience, trust, determination, and your imagination

They are here to teach us!

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Happiness for children

By giving them

Your Time Education and knowledgeCulture and attitudeWisdom and art

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How to enjoy journey of life ?Key to Happiness

PhysicalMoralMentalReligious Philosophical Spiritual

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Happiness : religious, philosophical and spiritual key

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Address of Happiness

At some stage you realize that peace and happiness are not outside

The root cause of miseries : thoughts, desires, emotions , ego, attitude , mind wondering between past & future, raga and dwesha ( anger, greed, deceit and passion) …etc all functions of mind

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Thoughts...We are what we think All that we are arises with our thoughts With our thoughts we make the worldSpeak or act with an impure mind and

trouble will follow you, as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded

We are what we think All that we are arises with our thoughts With our thoughts we make the worldSpeak or act with an impure mind and

trouble will follow you, as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded

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Attitude Attitude is a little thing that makes a big

difference

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Attitude

“ The Longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on

life. Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more

important than the past, than education, successes, than what

other people think or say or do. It is more important than

appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a

company…….. a church…. a home. The remarkable thing is we

have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace

for that day. We can not change our past..... we cannot change

the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change

the inevitable. The only thing we can do is to play on the only

string we have, and that is our attitude……. I am convinced that

life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And

so it is with you….. We are in charge of our Attitudes ”.

- Charles Swindoll 116

ForgivenessREACH (Everett Worthington)

Recall the hurtEmpathize with the perpetratorAltruistic gift of forgivenessCertify you forgiveHold on to the forgiveness

Use wisdom and discretion:Typically you do NOT tell the perpetrator that

you have forgiven him/her

GHALIB…..hum ne jindgi ko aasan kar diya…..

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Interpersonal relationships

1. Altruism & Friendship ( Maitri)2. Appreciation & Respect ( Pramod )

3. Equanimity & Guidance ( Madhyastha ) 4. Forgiveness, Compassion & Prayers

(Karunya )

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Acceptance

“ God grant me the courage to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Cultivating an attitude of non-judgment Acceptance is not resignation

It is a realization and appreciation of the inherent imperfections of life

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Buddhism on HappinessThere is no fire like desire. There is no

weakness like anger. There is no suffering like the khandhas. There is no happiness greater than peace (Dhammapada, 202 & 208)

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Mathematics of happiness

Happiness = 2 x happiness 2

Happiness = Objects Desires

Total units of Happiness remains same

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Ambitions

Where Ambitions end, Happiness beginsAmount of balance in the bank at the

time of your death is the extra work that you have done, which you should not have done

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ichao rahi jaya Ane swas KhutiI jaya tene Mrutyu kahevay,

ichao pauri thai jaya Ane swas rahi jaya tene Moksha kahevay.

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Vaishnavajan Eyes : compassion and satisfaction and not reflecting greed or jealousy ( lobha )Words : forgiveness , appreciation and care and not anger or criticism ( krodha)Mind : equanimous and fair and not having raga (attachment) or

dwesha(disliking ) Emotions : calm and passionless and not having perversions or aspirations

( kama )Nature : gentle , humble and reliable and not fraudulent or hippocrate ( maya )Behaviour : Loveful and kind and not hatred or discard

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Religion Opens Doors of Happiness

Religion confers upon man eternal life and guides his footsteps in the world of morality

It opens the doors of unending happiness and bestows everlasting honor upon the human kingdom

It has been the basis of all civilization and progress in the history of mankind

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Ethics

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Spiritual reading

Philosophy of Karma

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Satsang

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Chanting

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Prayer : four steps...

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Baseline Scan

LIMBIC

Comparison of Baseline to Prayer :

Limbic inhibition

LIMBIC

Prayer Scan

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Ratnatrayi

Righteous knowledge Righteous perspective Righteous conduct

Lead to eternal happiness

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PATANJAL RAJ YOGAYama : Nonviolence, truth, non-

stealing celibacy and aparigriha (Non-collectiveness)

Niyama : Purity, Penance (Austerity) Satisfaction

Spiritual learning Worship & dedication

Asana :

Pranayama :

Pratyaahar :

Dharna :

Dhyana :

Samadhi :133

T.S.MEDITATION

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Baseline Meditation

Prefrontal Cortex Prefrontal Cortex

SPECT Images at Baseline and During Meditation

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SuperiorParietal Lobe

SuperiorParietal Lobe

Baseline Meditation

SPECT Images at Baseline and During Meditation

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Christian Nuns, Recalling Profound Spiritual Experiences

Beauregard, et al., Neuroscience Letters, 9/25/06

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Lazar, et al. 2005. Meditation experience is associatedwith increasedcortical thickness.Neuroreport, 16,1893-1897.

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Set Peace of mind and Happiness, your highest goal and organize your life around it

Ask yourself before each thought, action and speech… whether this will bring happiness and peace

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12 Secrets of Happiness Accept What You Have : NOBODY GETS MORE OR BEFORE Enjoy What You Do and without expectations Live For Today and in this present moment Choose Happiness Improve Relationships… Always appreciate, never criticize Don't Compare, but Be YourselfPreserve health and monitor it Stop Worrying : THIS WILL ALSO GO AWAYGet Organized and financial management Think PositiveMoral values : DO ONLY THOSE THINGS TO OTHERS,

WHICH…Spiritual practices

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Address of Happiness

1, Spiritual mansion , Meditation hall , Self realization lane, Philosophy society, Charity chowk, Morality area , PIN :

000000Religion station

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Happiness is inside you

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So Remember...

Its not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it

elsewhere

The road to success is different from highway to peace, bliss and longevity

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Great Books

Holy vedas, jain aagam, tripitak, patanjal yog sutra, sukh sadhak vidya

Austin, J. 2009. Selfless Insight. MIT Press. Begley. S. 2007. Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain. Ballantine. Carter, C. 2010. Raising Happiness. Ballantine. Hanson, R. (with R. Mendius). 2009. Buddha’s Brain: The Practical

Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom. New Harbinger. Johnson, S. 2005. Mind Wide Open. Scribner. Keltner, D. 2009. Born to Be Good. Norton. Kornfield, J. 2009. The Wise Heart. Bantam. LeDoux, J. 2003. Synaptic Self. Penguin. Linden, D. 2008. The Accidental Mind. Belknap. Sapolsky, R. 2004. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. Holt. Siegel, D. 2007. The Mindful Brain. Norton. Thompson, E. 2007. Mind in Life. Belknap.

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Key Papers - 1 Guglietti CL et al, Meditation-Related Increases in GABAB Modulated Cortical

Inhibition, BRAIN STIMULATION,Volume 6, Issue 3 , Pages 397-402, May 2013

Atmanspacher, H. & Graben, P. 2007. Contextual emergence of mental states from neurodynamics. Chaos & Complexity Letters, 2:151-168.

Baumeister, R., Bratlavsky, E., Finkenauer, C. & Vohs, K. 2001. Bad is stronger than good. Review of General Psychology, 5:323-370.

Braver, T. & Cohen, J. 2000. On the control of control: The role of dopamine in regulating prefrontal function and working memory; in Control of Cognitive Processes: Attention and Performance XVIII. Monsel, S. & Driver, J. (eds.). MIT Press.

Carter, O.L., Callistemon, C., Ungerer, Y., Liu, G.B., & Pettigrew, J.D. 2005. Meditation skills of Buddhist monks yield clues to brain's regulation of attention. Current Biology. 15:412-413.

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Key Papers - 2 Davidson, R.J. 2004. Well-being and affective style: neural substrates and

biobehavioural correlates. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. 359:1395-1411.

Farb, N.A.S., Segal, Z.V., Mayberg, H., Bean, J., McKeon, D., Fatima, Z., and Anderson, A.K. 2007. Attending to the present: Mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reflection. SCAN, 2, 313-322.

Gillihan, S.J. & Farah, M.J. 2005. Is self special? A critical review of evidence from experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Psychological Bulletin, 131:76-97.

Hagmann, P., Cammoun, L., Gigandet, X., Meuli, R., Honey, C.J., Wedeen, V.J., & Sporns, O. 2008. Mapping the structural core of human cerebral cortex. PLoS Biology. 6:1479-1493.

Hanson, R. 2008. Seven facts about the brain that incline the mind to joy. In Measuring the immeasurable: The scientific case for spirituality. Sounds True.

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Key Papers - 3 Lazar, S., Kerr, C., Wasserman, R., Gray, J., Greve, D., Treadway, M.,

McGarvey, M., Quinn, B., Dusek, J., Benson, H., Rauch, S., Moore, C., & Fischl, B. 2005. Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. Neuroreport. 16:1893-1897.

Lewis, M.D. & Todd, R.M. 2007. The self-regulating brain: Cortical-subcortical feedback and the development of intelligent action. Cognitive Development, 22:406-430.

Lieberman, M.D. & Eisenberger, N.I. 2009. Pains and pleasures of social life. Science. 323:890-891.

Lutz, A., Greischar, L., Rawlings, N., Ricard, M. and Davidson, R. 2004. Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice. PNAS. 101:16369-16373.

Lutz, A., Slager, H.A., Dunne, J.D., & Davidson, R. J. 2008. Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 12:163-169.

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Key Papers - 4 Rozin, P. & Royzman, E.B. 2001. Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and

contagion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5:296-320.

Takahashi, H., Kato, M., Matsuura, M., Mobbs, D., Suhara, T., & Okubo, Y. 2009. When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and schadenfreude. Science, 323:937-939.

Tang, Y.-Y., Ma, Y., Wang, J., Fan, Y., Feng, S., Lu, Q., Yu, Q., Sui, D., Rothbart, M.K., Fan, M., & Posner, M. 2007. Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation. PNAS, 104:17152-17156.

Thompson, E. & Varela F.J. 2001. Radical embodiment: Neural dynamics and consciousness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 5:418-425.

Walsh, R. & Shapiro, S. L. 2006. The meeting of meditative disciplines and Western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue. American Psychologist, 61:227-239.

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Gratitude

Dr. Shailesh Darji Dr. Hansal Bhachech

Mr. Chintan Bavishi Dr. Shehnaz Chinwala

Dr. Prakash Chauhan Dr. Pratik Shashtri

Dr. Amit Bhatt

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