On Day Three, having discussed topics relevant to education practitioners, the Dialogue brings recent scientific findings into conversation with Buddhist understandings of the mind. The first presentation in this session surveys the current scientific research on meta-awareness and attention. References are made to the influence of mindfulness and compassion training in a broad range of high stress and high performance groups, including educators and students. The session concludes with a Buddhist perspective on attention, mindfulness and meta-awareness — key mental faculties that are the focus of both cultivation as well as application across Buddhist contemplative traditions of mental training.

Amishi Jha, PhD
University of Miami
Convening Faculty, Fellow, Grantee, PPC Member
Amishi Jha is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, and Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative, prior to which she was … MORE

Sona Dimidjian, PhD
Renée Crown Wellness Institute
Sona Dimidjian, PhD is Director of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute and Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her current research projects … MORE

Thupten Jinpa, PhD
McGill University
Thupten Jinpa, Ph.d., received his early education and training as a monk and obtained the Geshe Lharam degree from the Shartse College of Ganden Monastic University, South India. In addition, Jinpa … MORE

Richard J. Davidson, PhD
Mind & Life Chief Scientific Advisor, Center for Healthy Minds at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Davidson is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker, … MORE