Mind & Life periodically invites guest writers to contribute to the blog as a way of deepening dialogue and understanding around key themes related to our mission. In this post, a participant at our 2025 Summer Research Institute reflects on her experience. I have performance anxiety. I thrive in groups of two—me and one other …
Perspective Type Archives:
Celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday
Today, it is with great joy that we celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. This milestone invites us to reflect on an extraordinary life of compassion, wisdom, and enduring curiosity in exploring profound questions about what it means to be human and our responsibility to the planet and all lifeforms that share this …
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A Bold New Chapter for the Mind & Life Institute
For nearly four decades, the Mind & Life Institute has illuminated the dazzling potential of the human mind to foster inner transformation and catalyze lasting, positive change in the world. Inspired by the vision of our co-founders—His Holiness the Dalai Lama, neuroscientist Francisco Varela, and social entrepreneur Adam Engle—we forged the now-thriving field of contemplative …
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In Chile, What One Contemplative Researcher Hopes to Learn about Strengthening our Connection to Nature
In the face of mounting climate crises, a growing number of contemplative researchers are exploring the connection between mindfulness practices and our relationship with the natural world. While writers, mystics, and sages have long described moments of profound connection with nature, less is known about how to cultivate such experiences and their impact, not only …
What is Contemplative Research?
Contemplative research is a field bridging academic inquiry with contemplative wisdom traditions to explore the nature of the mind, human flourishing, and the potential for personal and societal transformation. Rooted in disciplines across the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts, contemplative research investigates the roots and contexts of contemplative traditions, and examines the effects of …
Cultivating Resilience: The Power of Mindfulness Training in War-Torn Ukraine
February 24 marks the grim three-year anniversary of the Ukraine War. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, more than a million people have been killed or wounded on both sides. The conflict has devastated critical infrastructure and shattered livelihoods, precipitating an environmental crisis that will take decades to remediate. Those working to serve their …
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Michael Potts Joins Mind & Life’s Board of Directors
The Mind & Life Institute is pleased to welcome Michael Potts to our Board of Directors. With decades of leadership experience spanning the technology and nonprofit sectors, Michael brings a thoughtful approach to strategy and a long-standing dedication to the power of contemplative practice. For Michael, joining the Mind & Life Board feels like a …
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Advancing Contemplative Research: A New Mind & Life Grant Named in Honor of Laurisa S. Dill
Since 2004, the Mind & Life Institute has funded transformative research exploring the intersection of contemplative practices and modern science. Our work and grant programs support interdisciplinary research projects that deepen understanding of the human mind while fostering well-being and reducing suffering. We are pleased to announce the creation of the Laurisa S. Dill Legacy …
Exploring What’s Next in Contemplative Research: 15 Questions to Consider
Against a backdrop of mighty oaks in their fall glory, Mind & Life’s “Envisioning the Future of Contemplative Research” event on October 28-31 invited roughly 50 established and emerging scholars and contemplatives to step away from their daily demands to ponder the future of the field. In his opening remarks, education scholar Ed Taylor introduced …
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Envisioning the Future of Contemplative Research – Grounded in an Ethics of Compassion
Upon arrival at Mind & Life’s “Envisioning the Future of Contemplative Research” conference on October 28-31, I was filled with a sense of not knowing, part nervous anticipation and part excitement. Not knowing the contour of the phenomenological experiences due to the boundless and ephemeral nature of our encounter. Not knowing the climate of the …
