At the Mind & Life Institute, we are saddened and dismayed by the allegations of impropriety that emerged from a viral video of our co-founder, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As many of you have seen, the issue concerns an exchange between the Dalai Lama and a young boy at an event honoring students at …
Perspective Type Archives:
Combining Mindfulness Training with Climate Education: One Researcher’s Journey
In recent years, California has become ground zero for climate-related natural disasters in the U.S. from out-of-control wildfires and violent flooding to devastating drought. To equip students with the knowledge to better understand—and take action—in the face of climate change, the University of California (UC) launched a multidisciplinary curriculum, Bending the Curve, in 2017. The …
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Ed Taylor Honored with 2022 Mind & Life Service Award
For Ed Taylor, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington, being of service is not just an add on to a distinguished academic career but is integral to what constitutes a meaningful life. For over three decades, he has performed dozens of volunteer roles as a dedicated board member …
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Finding Meaning in Challenging Times: New Mind & Life Strategy Aims to Engage and Support Young Adults
I joined the Mind & Life Institute team in my early twenties as an intern. It was 2019 and I’d just spent two years traveling, working, and searching for my life’s purpose as a recent college graduate. A childhood of curiosity and awe for the natural world led me to study the sciences, and my …
In Your Dreams: One Mind & Life Grantee Has Big Hopes for Exploring the Past and Future of Tibetan Dream Yoga
Humans spend at least two hours a night dreaming. That’s more than seven hundred hours a year, and six years spent dreaming in a lifetime. While we all have our own struggles and patterns of successful sleep, dreams are a unifying factor of humanity. Whether you’re riding the subway to work, standing in line for …
How Mindfulness Helps Us to Build Meaningful Social Connections
The article below by Polina Beloborodova was recognized with an honorable mention by the Mind & Life Institute for its 2022 Award for Public Communication of Contemplative Research. Early last summer, I was in a Zoom room with a dozen people, who had enrolled in my workshop, “Here, now, and together: How mindfulness helps us …
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Happiness Education in India: Two Researchers Set out to Ask What Students and Teachers Think
Imagine students in nursery school through Grade 8 developing the skills to cultivate greater happiness in life—from the inside out. In daily half-hour happiness classes, students learn from teachers and engage in games, storytelling, guided mindfulness practices, and role-playing. Each is encouraged to reflect on their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and how these impact their …
How Self-Compassion Can Improve Teen Mental Health (Part 2 of 2)
This piece by Karen Bluth, PhD is part 2 of an article honored with the 2022 Mind & Life Institute Award for Public Communication of Contemplative Research and was originally featured in Psychology Today online. Part 1 explained what self-compassion is and its role in improving teen mental health outcomes. But how can self-compassion be taught, and how can …
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Turning Over a New Leaf: 2023 President’s Letter
The beginning of a new year evokes a fresh start. The phrase “turning over a new leaf” dates back to the 16th century when the pages of books were called leaves. To turn over a new leaf was to turn to a new page. Collectively, I’d like to think of all of us as turning …
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How Self-Compassion Can Improve Teen Mental Health (Part 1 of 2)
This piece by Karen Bluth, PhD is part I of an article honored with the 2022 Mind & Life Institute Award for Public Communication of Contemplative Research and was originally featured in Psychology Today online. Teens in the United States are suffering. The reasons are many, including the lingering effects of the pandemic, fears stemming …
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