Keynote and Q&A: “Contemplative Studies: An Ecological Methodology for Multidisciplinarity”

Building on the conception of ‘ecological phenomenology’ that Maria Heim and Ram have developed, and which he has written about in his recent book, he will share that there is a deep ‘ecological’ conception of being human in the contemplative traditions that could provide a paradigm for looking at the disciplinary and reflexive phenomenology of …

Keynote and Q&A: “Educating the Hearts and Minds of Children in School: Emerging Research, New Discoveries, and Current Challenges in Contemplative Approaches in Education “

There is a growing consensus among psychologists, educators, and the public at large that a more comprehensive vision of education is needed—one that includes an explicit focus on “educating the heart” and intentionally cultivates children’s social and emotional competencies and positive human qualities, including self-regulation, self-awareness, empathy, and compassion. This explicit and intentional focus on integrating educating the heart with educating the mind …

On the Dalai Lama’s Birthday, a New Film Calls Us to Embrace Our Shared Humanity

To celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6th, Mind & Life is pleased to announce the release of a new film, “Evolution of the Heart.” The film pays tribute to the Dalai Lama’s lifelong spirit of inquiry and values he has long championed: compassion, forgiveness, cooperation, altruism, and kindness.  The documentary chronicles profound conversations …

Mind & Life Summit Explores Role of Emotions in Personal and Collective Flourishing

Could transforming our mental states create a better world? This audacious proposition lay at the heart of the Science & Wisdom of Emotions Summit presented by Mind & Life and The Awake Network Foundation on May 2-5. Reflecting growing interest in the cultivation of emotional well-being, more than 100,000 people in 140 countries gathered for …

The Hollywood Compassion Coalition: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Most would agree, today’s media diet is lacking in nutrition. Thanks to globalization and advancing technology, viewers—whether in Nairobi, New York, or New Delhi—now watch the same film premieres on the same night. This boom in the entertainment industry has many asking whether we have a responsibility to produce content that contributes to both individual …

Inspiring Minds – April 2021

Our April conversation features Amishi Jha and Jon Kabat-Zinn, and cellist Barbara Bogatin. Learn more about the inner workings of the mind, and how to cultivate greater attention and wise action in how we conduct ourselves individually and collectively.

Cultural Variance in Self-Compassion: An Examination of the Cultural Dimensions of the Self-Compassion Concept within Tibetan Communities

The concept of self-compassion is widely used in contemplative science, and there is growing research showing its strong relationship to individual physical and mental wellbeing. However, evidence suggests that ‘self-compassion’ as conceptualized by Western Buddhist scholars and academics for primarily western audiences may lack validity in non-western and particularly Buddhist communities. This study investigates how …