High Life

28 education which should improve this faculty would be the education par excellence.” According to Davidson, meditation or the simple introduction of awareness practice is a strategy for educating attention and educators from around the world are now embracing and teaching it to young children, who will then benefit from it throughout their lives. “Attention is the building block forall other forms of learning. Ifwe are not paying attention to information presented to us, it will compromise our ability to learn,” he adds. Other than helping children, meditationalsohaspositiveimplications forleadersbecausecooperationbetween human beings is the key to connection, aswell as to leadership. “More and more evidence is suggesting that qualities like gratitude and appreciation are absolutely central for leadership and these qualities can be easily nurtured and strengthened through simple practices,” Davidson says. “Also, being able to take the perspective of another is very important in organizations and perspective taking is associated with brain networks that are nurtured through mediation that promotes kindness and compassion.” For a leader such as Rinpoche – a globally respected teacher with extensive background in meditation and Buddhist philosophy – meditation practice is done primarily for the benefit of others. “More and more, as you recognize the skills, potential, love, compassion, wisdom and awareness within yourself and within others, life becomes easier and more successful,” he smiles. “You will become a more successful businessman, family member, even stock market player, but that success is [acquired] through wisdom and compassion, which benefits both yourself and others. It is a win-win situation. “Success based on the egotistic mind, even if you are smart and capable, in the long run will not be so successful because your family will not be happy and your co-workers will not be happy. You might become successful because of IQ, but at the EQ level, there will be lots of problems. Bring awareness and compassion together, then you will be happy outside and happy inside.”