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 …
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A Social Affair: How Meditation Benefits Ripple Through Romantic Relationships
“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 …
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Carolyn Parkinson—Creating a Shared Social World
Compassion in Action—A Panel from the 2024 Mind & Life Summer Research Institute
Why Dialogue Is More Important Than Ever
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 …
The Dalai Lama—Cultivating Compassion and Gratitude
sujatha baliga—What We Are Capable of Becoming
Can Loving Kindness Meditation Strengthen Social Connectedness? One Researcher Seeks to Find Out.
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 …
Toward an Ethics of Love at Mind & Life’s 2023 Summer Research Institute: A Reflection on How Science and Spirituality Can Contribute to Collective Liberation
The following reflection by no means captures the totality of knowledge, wisdom, and relational experiences shared during Mind & Life’s 2023 Summer Research Institute (SRI) held from June 4-10. Rather, it is a reflection of what precipitated through the associative web of my thoughts and emotions during SRI this year. Precipitation in Chinese, my mother …
Mind & Life Connect – Session 1
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 …
