Most of us think of joy as something we’d like to experience more of, but could cultivating joy actually help change the world for the better? Could we learn to appreciate each other more? Build more vibrant communities? Love our planet more? The answer, according to presenters at the recent Global Joy Summit, was an …
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Building on a Rich Legacy: International Society for Contemplative Research to Host Inaugural Conference February 2-5, 2023
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. Thirty years ago, people who studied contemplative practices were often marginalized in their own academic departments. Informally, they sought out colleagues at other institutions. …
Connection and Creativity Inspire Jessie and Richard Benjamin to Support Mind & Life
It’s clear that Jessie and Richard Benjamin like doing their research. When looking for ways to philanthropically support the causes they care about, the couple makes sure an organization’s mission and vision for the future align with their own. It makes sense, then, that Richard and Jessie were drawn to Mind & Life. It started …
A Tribute to 2021 Service Award Recipients Bobbi Patterson and Elissa Epel
“What’s happening at Mind & Life is very heart-enriching: it is holding to its roots in the neuroscience conversation and more fully engaging current issues,” says Mind & Life Steering Council member Barbara (Bobbi) Patterson. “Contemplative practices, and this knowledge of neuroscience and of ancient traditions, can bring such richness to the questions of our …
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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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Wisdom from Women in Contemplative Research
In its mission to bridge science and contemplative wisdom to better understand the mind and create positive change, the Mind & Life Institute recognizes that society ultimately benefits from research that is more inclusive and reflective of the diversity in our world. Yet too often that’s not the case. Take the example of women who …
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Mindfulness and the reduction of racial disparities and disproportionality in school discipline
Teachers are the most important factor in determining student achievement compared to any other aspect of schooling. They operate on the front lines of society’s efforts to promote equity and play a pivotal role as gatekeepers of academic opportunities. Despite good intentions, teachers like the rest of society are racially biased. Studies indicate that teachers …
Widening the circles of compassionate action: A social justice, school-based mindfulness intervention for youth
Amidst glaring evidence of racism and social inequities brought to the forefront in the recent past, there is heightened urgency to explore how youth gain critical consciousness about social issues, and growing interest in supporting youth engagement in positive social change. The Peace of Mind-Social Justice (PoM-SJ) curriculum integrates skills typical in mindfulness-based programs—mindfulness and …
Leveraging contemplative science to build mindful digital engagement: Supporting adolescents in a hyperconnected era
Adolescents are growing up in a radically connected world. Mobile devices provide near-constant access to apps intentionally designed to hijack focus and to social media platforms that tap developmental social sensitivities. This project proposes mindful digital engagement as an antidote. In Phase 1, we will create and test the reliability and validity of a mindful …
An intensive longitudinal study on a Centering Meditation: Exploring the temporal dynamics of nondual awareness and prosociality
Carl Rogers once said, “a high degree of empathy in a relationship is possibly the most potent and certainly one of the most potent factors in bringing about change”. Mental health counselors need empathy, compassion, and prosociality to provide quality care and reduce the unacceptably high rate of health disparities for Black, Indigenous and People …
