Matthieu Ricard

Matthieu Ricard (born 1946) is a French Buddhist monk, writer, and photographer. Trained as a molecular biologist, he later devoted his life to Tibetan Buddhism and became a close collaborator of leading Buddhist teachers. Ricard is widely known for his writing on meditation, altruism, and well-being, including *Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill*. He has also worked as a French interpreter and translator for the 14th Dalai Lama during teachings and public events. Through books, talks, and images from the Himalayas, Ricard has helped introduce Buddhist perspectives on the mind and compassion to a broad international audience.