While working with stressed adults, and especially women, struggling with the long-term effects of early life adversity, contemplative researcher Joanna Guan had a recurring thought: we could have intervened earlier. But implementing early mindfulness interventions for children hasn’t exactly been straightforward. School-based mindfulness programs have proliferated in recent years, yet studies like the massive My …
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 …
“We are embedded in networks,” says researcher Christopher May of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. One important feature of social networks, he emphasizes, is that things diffuse throughout them: viruses, ideas, and even well-being. Relationships and communities can influence our behaviors and emotions, and can spark a ripple effect that reaches beyond the …
At a time of unprecedented complexity, deepening polarization, and rapid technological transformation, fostering genuine dialogue has never been more critical. One need only consider the ethical implications today of humanity’s vigorous pursuit of artificial intelligence with its vast potential contributions—and risks. Over 37 years, the Mind & Life Institute has created a model for dialogue …
As a teenager in the 1990s, Abby Marsh experienced an accident that shaped the trajectory of her career. Traveling home late one night during a college break, Dr. Marsh swerved abruptly to avoid a dog that had run onto the freeway. Her car spun out of control—fishtailing and then skidding to a stop in the …
