Photo credit Adam Engle “Francisco Varela saw Mind & Life as a dream-board, a place where radical ideas about the nature of mind and reality could be not only unfolded, but also challenged,” recalls Mind & Life Founding Steward Roshi Joan Halifax, reflecting on the origins of the Mind & Life Institute. A philosopher and …
Continue reading “Celebrating 35 Years: Weaving Origin Stories”
The existential threat of climate change can be challenging to grasp and confront. To stay motivated and energized to face this threat, we must develop skills and take time for our own well-being. “We have to acknowledge that what happens to us internally affects what happens to our communities,” says climate activist Dekila Chungyalpa, “and …
Continue reading “Facing the Climate Crisis through Connection, Community, and Compassion”
With cascading emergencies from the pandemic to war in Ukraine to the climate crisis now fueling a stress epidemic, social neuroscientist Norm Farb has a lot to say—and a lot on his plate—from ongoing research to co-authoring a new book. “A lot of us are spending our free time absorbing more threat signals,” says Norm, …
Continue reading “Norm Farb: Strategies for Coping with Today’s Stress Epidemic”
“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 …
Continue reading “The Central Question of Our 2022 Summer Research Institute: What Can We Become?”
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 …
Continue reading “The War in Ukraine: Tending to Our Collective Heartbreak”
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 …
Continue reading “Wisdom from Women in Contemplative Research”
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 …
The first Mind & Life Dialogue with the Dalai Lama took place in Dharamsala, India in October 1987 on the theme of Buddhism and the cognitive sciences. Five scientists gathered with His Holiness in what was described as a ‘living room conversation.’ For seven days, they explored topics ranging from cognitive psychology, perception, memory, and …
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter… They prepare. They adapt.They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through…Winter is not the death of the life cycle but its crucible.”—Katherine May, Wintering For many, the pandemic has felt like the longest of metaphorical winters, a true test of our ability to endure a season …
In the lead up to our 35th anniversary in 2022, Mind & Life is pleased to announce two exciting new initiatives designed to curate valuable wisdom gleaned from our past and support grassroots efforts to drive forward social change grounded in contemplative research and practice. Both initiatives build on Mind & Life’s work at the …
