Mind & Life periodically invites guest contributors to the blog to deepen dialogue and understanding around themes central to our mission. The following post is adapted from Mara Lisa Arizaga’s presentation at Mind & Life’s 2026 Summer Research Institute. We live in a time of profound polarization. Across societies, communities, and institutions, disagreements can quickly …
Continue reading “United & Present: Inner Capacities for Cooperation in a Polarized World”
In 2024, booksellers in the United States saw the first annual increase of print book sales in three years. It was a reminder that even in our increasingly digital age, books remain a powerful, and popular, force—not just for entertainment, but for personal growth. Social psychologist Rémi Thériault of New York University isn’t surprised by …
Continue reading “Reading and Repair: Tackling Social Division Through Contemplative Research”
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 …
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 …
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”
