Many of us know when something’s not right—there’s a familiar, heightened sensation: blood rushing, mind racing, gut dropping. Maybe you’ve just received an unwanted email from your boss, a hefty text from a family member, or a heavy headline running across your television screen. And in the moment, bringing a hand to your chest, closing …
Continue reading “Brief and Built to Last: The Case for Micropractice”
Underlying rising temperatures and climate emergencies lies a quieter rupture: our growing disconnection from the living systems that sustain us. Earth awareness practices—contemplative practices that cultivate a lived sense of interconnection with the natural world—offer promise for rekindling the reciprocal relationship between humans and the Earth. Yet without a stronger evidence base, their potential to …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Exploring What’s Next in Contemplative Research: 15 Questions to Consider”
As Mind & Life celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Francisco J. Varela Grants, we’re pleased to share the voices and experiences of Varela grantees. Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is a Mind & Life Varela Grantee and Fellow. He is Endowed Professor in Health Sciences at the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, Professor of …
Continue reading “Healing the Opioid Crisis with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement”
Session 3 transcript now available In this session, we will explore the impact of trauma on individuals and how those with a history of trauma can build resilience. Our talk will focus on the role of culture in trauma and healing, as well as the influence of the media, our ancestors, and intergenerational trauma on …
Session 4 transcript now available What do we learn when we track daily emotions? What is the relationship between our daily emotions and pervasive feelings of burnout and stress? Why did the Dalai Lama support the creation of an Online Atlas of Emotions, what are destructive emotions, and why did the Dalai Lama host a …
Session 2 transcript now available Join us as we delve into the complex relationship between stress, trauma, and the body with licensed clinical psychologist and scholar Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler. Throughout this session we will explore the intersectionality between stress, trauma and race. We will also discuss how stress can manifest in the body, thoughts, feelings, …
Session 1 transcript now available Community Conversations on Contemplative Science, Wisdom, and Action Join us for Mind & Life Connect, our new series of inspirational online conversations aimed at exploring key themes in contemplative science and their relation to everyday life. In our inaugural session, contemplative researcher and social activist Juan Santoyo will explore topics such …
