For nearly four decades, the Mind & Life Institute has illuminated the dazzling potential of the human mind to foster inner transformation and catalyze lasting, positive change in the world. Inspired by the vision of our co-founders—His Holiness the Dalai Lama, neuroscientist Francisco Varela, and social entrepreneur Adam Engle—we forged the now-thriving field of contemplative …
Upon arrival at Mind & Life’s “Envisioning the Future of Contemplative Research” conference on October 28-31, I was filled with a sense of not knowing, part nervous anticipation and part excitement. Not knowing the contour of the phenomenological experiences due to the boundless and ephemeral nature of our encounter. Not knowing the climate of the …
Political polarization is on the rise. In one 2022 study, more than half of respondents in 15 nations felt their countries were more divided than in the past. The feeling was strongest in the Netherlands, where 4 out of 5 people shared this opinion. Theories abound about the roots of escalating polarization, ranging from divisive …
Originally intended for 10,000 inhabitants, the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi now hosts over 60,000 people, with new arrivals exacerbating already strained conditions. A majority of residents suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, with daily life characterized by relentless stress and anxiety. Yet despite these challenges, thousands of refugee children and teens here are finding hope …
As the Mind & Life podcast reaches a major milestone with 1,000,000 downloads, I wanted to take a moment to share a few reflections about what I’ve been learning from the show. When we launched in April 2020, there were a lot of unknowns. We’d been preparing for months, and were excited to start sharing …
The Board of Directors of the Mind & Life Institute has announced the selection of Suzanne Bond as the organization’s new president. A forward-thinking senior executive, Suzanne has over two decades of global experience working across non-profit, corporate, and public sector organizations. She succeeds Susan Bauer-Wu, who served as President of Mind & Life from …
“The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of service,” says musician, contemplative researcher, and Mind & Life Steering Council member Grant Jones, “is giving yourself to move an organization in a more aligned, rooted, and actualized direction.” After years on the Mind & Life Steering Council, participation in the Global Majority Leadership and …