Meditation’s Impact on the Brain

Mingyur Rinpoche’s documentary A Joyful Mind explores how meditation can transform the brain to enhance well-being and mental health, fundamentally transforming our lives.

In this clip, neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson – Rinpoche’s “science guru” and a leading expert on emotion and the brain – explains how researchers observed a significant improvement in focus and emotional regulation during Rinpoche’s meditation. These effects were sustained throughout the session, suggesting that regular meditation can greatly enhance these brain functions, leading to lasting mental and emotional benefits.

Even short-term meditation (as little as 2 weeks) has been shown to create measurable changes in brain activity. Rinpoche’s case highlights how long-term practice can deepen these effects, demonstrating how the brain adapts through mindfulness.

For more on Dr. Richard Davidson’s studies of the effects of meditation on Mingyur Rinpoche’s brain, check out “How Meditation Changes Your Brain — and Your Life” (Lion’s Roar, 2018).