This segment features Roshi Joan Halifax, Martin Brokenleg, Adam Engle, Daniel Goleman, and Jacquelyn Eccles followed by opening remarks from the Dalai Lama.

Marian Wright Edelman argues that society’s true measure of progress is how well it protects and prepares all children, especially those who are poor or vulnerable, through health care, education, safety, opportunity, love, and strong communities rather than prioritizing wealth, military power, or consumption. She calls on adults to challenge inequality, inadequate child health care, underfunded education, and the “cradle to prison pipeline,” while becoming active “thermostat” citizens who change the social and political climate for the better. The Dalai Lama reinforces this message by describing young people as the foundation of hope for a more peaceful century and emphasizing education, compassion, responsibility, courage, perseverance, dialogue, and nonviolence. Together, they urge adults to invest in children and empower them as capable participants in building a more just, compassionate, and peaceful world.

The panel argues that education should do far more than transmit academic knowledge: it should help children become healthy, confident, compassionate, socially responsible people who can flourish and contribute to a more peaceful society. Marian Wright Edelman emphasizes educating the “whole child” through strong health care, supportive families, high expectations, and teachers who genuinely love …

Continue reading “Day 1 – Panel Discussion”

The discussion explores how neuroscience, developmental psychology, and contemplative traditions can inform education by strengthening attention, emotion regulation, compassion, and learning. Richard Davidson explains that the brain is highly plastic and can change through experience and practice, with evidence suggesting that training in mindfulness, meditation, and compassion can improve emotional regulation, attention consistency, cooperation, and …

Continue reading “Attention, Emotion Regulation and Learning”

The discussion focuses on how schools, teachers, parents, and communities can intentionally cultivate empathy, compassion, resilience, and emotional well-being alongside academic learning. Linda Lantieri emphasizes the importance of “inner preparedness,” arguing that children and educators need practices such as quiet reflection, mindfulness, and emotional self-regulation so they can remain calm, compassionate, and effective during stress, …

Continue reading “Compassion and Empathy – Pt. 1”

The discussion examines how culture, community, relationships, and personal strengths can help young people develop resilience, compassion, and a strong sense of purpose. Martin Brokenleg describes the Native American “Circle of Courage,” which emphasizes four essential experiences for healthy development: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity, while also stressing the importance of preserving the compassionate and …

Continue reading “Compassion and Empathy – Pt. 2”

The session focuses on how education policy, teacher preparation, neuroscience, and contemplative practice can work together to create schools that cultivate compassion, empathy, mindfulness, responsibility, and academic growth. Linda Darling-Hammond argues for whole-school reform rather than isolated programs, calling for strong developmental training for teachers and leaders, more equitable resources, accountability systems based on growth …

Continue reading “Integrations, Reflections, and Future Directions”