A catalyst for human flourishing

How to understand the mind and cultivate the heart

Every day, we support vital work that transforms our scientific understanding of the human mind and its capacity to develop positive mental states. We believe that when contemplative wisdom and practices are fully integrated into modern day science it has the power to act as a catalyst for human and societal flourishing. This is the promise of what we call contemplative science.

Together with the world’s leading scientists, contemplative scholars, and healthcare, educational and management practitioners, we create an open and interdisciplinary dialogue between modern sciences and contemplative practices and share our findings with the world.

Varela Awards 2017

Varela Awards More information about 2017 process

ESRI 2018 - Join us!

European Summer Research Institute 2018

Join us at this unique gathering with the theme Kinship, Conflict and Compassion from 20-26 August 2018. 
Apply Here More information about ESRI

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We are deeply grateful for any gift you can make to help further our efforts to actively promote and develop emergent fields in contemplative science.
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‘Initiative for Contemplative Phenomenology’ (ICP)

Friday, 25.05.2018 , 10:40
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‘Initiative for Contemplative Phenomenology’ (ICP)

 

We interviewed Michel Bitbol, Mind and Life Europe Association Member and French researcher in philosophy of science, on the MLE community he is leading with Natalie Depraz and Claire Petitmengin, the Initiative for Contemplative Phenomenology (ICP). You have said that “philosophy is a bridge” in the dialogue between science and Buddhism; can you tell us something about this idea?  The dialogue between science and Buddhism represents an extraordinary opportunity of renewal for human cultures and wellbeing. But it also poses some risks: there is a risk of confusion, if the differences between ...
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‘Reimagining Human Flourishing’ – Mind and Life Dialogue

Wednesday, 28.03.2018 , 08:00
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‘Reimagining Human Flourishing’ – Mind and Life Dialogue

 

Earlier this month Amy Cohen Varela, Mind & Life Europe’s Chairperson, attended the latest Mind & Life Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India. She shares her experience in the following report. On Monday morning, March 12, the sun was brilliant and the air crisp as members of the Mind and Life community made their way up the path to the Tsuglagkhang, the Tibetan Temple by the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India. This was the first of five days of ‘Reimagining Human Flourishing’, the 33rd Mind and Life Dialogue. The program, co-chaired by Richard Davidson and Thupten ...
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Join us! Apply for #ESRI2018

Friday, 09.03.2018 , 17:18
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Join us! Apply for #ESRI2018

 

The application period for the European Summer Research Institute 2018 (ESRI) is now open. We invite you to join us at this unique gathering on the Fraueninsel in Germany from 20-26 August. This year’s theme – Kinship, Conflict and Compassion – will cover the evolutionary story about the development of a capacity that is probably unique to humans: the ability to connect. That ability, however, also comes with a tendency to create an “other”, and often create biases and conflict – as we can now witness at national and global levels. We will explore how to overcome this tendency and to enhance ...
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