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

Power & Care DVD

Mind & Life Europe Dialogue held in September 2016 with H.H. Dalai Lama and many extraordinary speakers.
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Education that cultivates the wellbeing of the whole child

Wednesday, 27.09.2017 , 13:36
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Katherine Weare, author of newly released book ‘Happy teachers change the World’ and Mind & Life associate member, reflects on a recent Mind and Life education gathering in Frankfurt. Across the world there is a developing consensus that many young people are struggling to cope with our fast paced, interconnected word and that we urgently need new forms of education to help young people meet the emotional, social, intellectual, ethical and spiritual challenges they, and indeed all of us, face. Encouraged by a new curriculum that is in its early stages of development at Emory University in the ...
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Could meditation help with relationship problems?

Wednesday, 27.09.2017 , 13:20
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In the run up to the 2017 Varela Awards we highlight some of the work of our 2016 awardees. Gesa Kappen was one of the 6 young scientists that received a Varela Award. With her research she looks into how practicing meditation influences the way people handle everyday challenges in their romantic relationships. ‘I am intrigued by the idea that meditation may help people see that their partner’s behaviour may not always be the problem’.  What do you hope to achieve with your research?In relationships if something goes wrong, people often jump to the conclusion that their partner might not be ...
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The constructivist nature of perception and its consequences for education

Sunday, 24.09.2017 , 17:17
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Board Member Wolf Singer speaks at symposium on education and secular ethics On Thursday 14 September, the Dalai Lama convened a group of scientists and education professionals to explore the topics of education and secular ethics. Mind and Life Europe Board Member Wolf Singer introduced the conference, which included Mind and Life Varela Award recipient Britta Hölzel, and spoke about the ‘The constructivist nature of perception and its consequences for education.’ ‘It appears to me that one of the central problems of our civilisations is our evolutionary heritage…’ Download the talk by ...
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Dalai Lama receives honorary degree  

Sunday, 24.09.2017 , 17:03
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‘Today we honour an incisive, intrepid and indefatigable explorer ofhuman reality.’Amy Cohen Varela by Olivier AdamThe Dalai Lama received an honorary degree in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Pisa on Thursday 21 September. In her Laudatio, or words of praise, Mind and Life Europe Chair Amy Cohen Varela noted that ‘his is a compassion that acknowledges our common humanity and as such, comes to touch you in a place that you may never even have guessed was within you; his welcoming is a powerful teaching in unconditional hospitality’. Dalai Lama by Olivier AdamLaudatio ...
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Mind and Life Europe organises special premiere From Business to Being

Friday, 08.09.2017 , 16:43
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Dutch premiere From Business to Being and special Mind and Life Europe event at the Buddhist Film Festival Europe Mindfulness has entered the business world with surprising results: the mind sciences create a new perspective for leadership to tackle the many challenges facing organisations in today’s world. In the current economic model we have lost our connection with nature and meaning. How can we transform this and enhance well-being for people and the planet? On Sunday 1 October, Mind and Life Europe is organising a special event that will explore this topic further with the Dutch ...
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