What is altruism? Put simply, it’s the wish that other people may be happy. And, says Matthieu Ricard, a happiness researcher and a Buddhist monk, altruism is also a great lens for making decisions, both for the short and long term, in work and in life. Sometimes called the “happiest man in the world,” Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author and photographer. You can read his full biographical profile at TED.com. To get your own copy of his magnificent 2004 book The Quantum and the Lotus: A Journey to the Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet simply head over to Amazon.com. And earlier this morning New Scientist wrote a terrific piece profiling two books on altruism which their editors highly recommend. Learn more at NewScientist.com.
The Quantum & The Lotus: Watch Buddhist Monk And Researcher Matthieu Ricard’s Brilliant TED Talk
Brent Lambert
Writer, editor, and founder of FEELguide. I have written over 5,000 articles covering many topics including: travel, design, movies, music, politics, psychology, neuroscience, business, religion and spirituality, philosophy, pop culture, the universe, and so much more. I also work as an illustrator and set designer in the movie industry, and you can see all of my drawings at http://www.unifiedfeel.com.