Bridging Buddhist Wisdom and Modern Science: The Dalai Lama at 90

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On Wednesday, September 10, the Mind & Life Institute lifted up the yearlong celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday and his extraordinary scientific legacy through the release of a special tribute: Bridging Buddhist Wisdom and Modern Science: The Dalai Lama at 90 | A conversation with Thupten Jinpa.

As visionary co-founder of the Mind & Life Institute, the Dalai Lama fostered the unprecedented dialogue between Buddhist wisdom and modern science with the goal of inspiring mind-based approaches to alleviate suffering and promote well-being.  To celebrate this remarkable journey, we were honored to host this moving conversation between Mind & Life Board Chair Thupten Jinpa and President Suzanne Bond.  

View the video to learn more about the Dalai Lama’s lifelong interest in science, the shared principles underlying Buddhism and scientific inquiry, and the profound questions driving the Mind & Life Dialogues for nearly four decades. Along the way, explore timeless insights for living a more joyful and compassionate life.

“One key message that His Holiness is bringing is that, to a large degree,
the resources for your own happiness lie within you.”
— Thupten Jinpa 

Woven throughout are images and rare footage of people and events that contributed to the birth of the modern mindfulness movement. 

Watch the entire recording above or jump to particular segments of interest below:

• Curiosity sparks a lifelong passion for science—starting at 02:43 Jinpa describes how the young Dalai Lama’s fascination with telescopes, watches, and a world atlas set him on a path toward scientific inquiry.
• Buddhism and science: shared foundations—at 05:28, explore the deep parallels between Buddhist philosophy and the scientific method, including the primacy of causality and empirical evidence.
• The first Mind & Life Dialogues—From 08:06, learn how researcher Francisco Varela and others helped formalize the Dalai Lama’s conversations with scientists, leading to the inaugural Mind & Life Dialogue in 1987.
• Science with a human face—Beginning at 14:04, Jinpa highlights the Dalai Lama’s insistence that compassion and recognizing our interconnection be the foundation for all Mind & Life Dialogues and research pursuits.
• Exploring destructive emotions—At 26:12, hear psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Daniel Goleman engage with the Dalai Lama on how mindfulness can help us understand and respond to anger and other destructive emotions.
• Shifting science towards compassion—From 32:36, listen for why His Holiness challenges scientists to study positive qualities like prosociality, compassion, and empathy with the same rigor used for understanding more aggressive and competitive elements of human nature.
• Happiness from within—At 36:43, Jinpa emphasizes the Dalai Lama’s teaching that the resources for our own happiness lie within, and how cultivating the mind allows us to nurture well-being and transcend narrow self-interest.
• Joy and purpose—At 38:51, Jinpa shares how the Dalai Lama embodies joy and teaches that true resilience comes from finding energy in joy and a deeper sense of purpose.
• The power of good dialogue—Beginning at 46:36, Jinpa emphasizes that true dialogue changes all participants, with science and contemplative wisdom both transformed by pushing boundaries and expanding our curiosity.
• Inspiring young monks—From 49:27, Suzanne and Jinpa describe how young monks and contemplative leaders, raised watching Mind & Life Dialogues, became ready to integrate science into their training. 
• Education of the heart—Starting at 52:24, hear the Dalai Lama and Richard Davidson discuss the importance of emotional regulation, ethics, and compassion in education.
• Ubuntu and interdependence—From 1:05:10, watch a powerful exchange between researcher Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela and the Dalai Lama on ubuntu and our shared humanity.
• A legacy of hope—At 1:09:05, Jinpa reflects on the Dalai Lama’s wish that Mind & Life’s mission lives on to serve humanity for years to come.

About the Speakers

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This program is presented with deep appreciation for the generous support of Connie Kemmerer, a dedicated Mind & Life donor and former board member.