In a video clip from 2011, the Dalai Lama responds to Mind & Life Fellow Dekila Chungyalpa about ecosystem conservation at the Mind & Life Dialogue on Ecology, Ethics, and Interdependence. We shared this video in 2022 as part of our 35th anniversary celebration.
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The Central Question of Our 2022 Summer Research Institute: What Can We Become?
“As we face continued polarization and tribalism in the world today, I think no topic could be more important than understanding how othering happens, and how we can move toward belonging.” – Wendy Hasenkamp, 2022 SRI Program Planning Committee member During heightened divisions on a global scale, we simultaneously sense our shared humanity and the …
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The War in Ukraine: Tending to Our Collective Heartbreak
Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine during this time of immense suffering, needless destruction, and crushing loss of life. The tragedy unfolding in the country is haunting. In response, we see boundless courage, generosity, and kindness as people open their homes, protest in the streets, and offer their support and prayers from …
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Listening to Our Body’s Intelligence: Reflections from Mind & Life’s Summer Research Institute
Mind & Life periodically invites guest writers to contribute their perspectives and experiences on the blog as a way of deepening dialogue and understanding around key themes related to our mission. This post is adapted from a longer piece Megan published reflecting on her experience at our 2021 Summer Research Institute. “Storytellers have only three …
Matthieu Ricard – A Meditation on Courageous Compassion
Mind & Life Founding Steward and Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard leads a meditation on courageous compassion, from our 2018 International Symposium for Contemplative Research. We shared this video in 2022 as part of our 35th anniversary celebration.
Gail Parker – A Meditation on Attuned Relationship
Psychologist and certified yoga therapist Gail Parker leads a meditation on attuned relationship, inviting us to reflect on the Joshua tree, from our November 2020 Inspiring Minds episode. We shared this video in 2022 as part of our 35th anniversary celebration.
Building compassion and interconnectedness during a pandemic: Disentangling the immediate, daily, and long-term benefits of brief online loving kindness and concentration meditations
Mindfulness and loving kindness meditations (LKMs) have been linked to greater individual wellbeing, compassion, and lower stress and physiological stress reactions, even demonstrating abilities to buffer the impact of stress. However, the mechanisms underlying those benefits and the critical components of meditation interventions are not well understood. This study examines a brief, online program designed …
Effects and mechanisms of smartphone-based mindfulness training on emotional well-being in at-risk college students
Emotional well-being (EWB) is an important component of mental and physical health that includes both positive emotions and an absence of emotional symptoms (e.g., depressive- and anxiety-related). EWB has declined dramatically among college students, a trend only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to develop solutions that can improve college students’ EWB and can …
Stepping Back to Reflect: Mind & Life Leadership Explores Racial Histories
In her book “Mindful of Race,” author, educator, and meditation teacher Ruth King writes, “When we begin to notice the constellations instead of just the stars, we can see the patterns of harm toward aboriginal and native people, dark bodies, and immigrants.” “These struggles interconnect,” she adds. To create more compassionate communities, ”we all must …
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Gratitude interventions, well-being and social networks: A 16-month longitudinal study
Gratitude interventions, whereby people regularly reflect on and note things they are grateful for, can be effective in improving well-being. When completing gratitude tasks, people often focus on important people in their life. Therefore, this intervention may work by increasing people’s sense of social connection. As such, gratitude interventions have the potential not just to …