MLE Dialogues & Conferences

MLE Conferences

Mind & Life Europe regularly organizes a pan-European symposium to foster the interdisciplinary dialogue in the context of contemplative science. With this symposium, Mind & Life Europe seeks to link diverse disciplines and traditions of knowledge in order to foster an intercultural exchange between new audiences and changemakers in the area of contemplative studies and practices. For the latest MLE conference, please visit our Mind & Life Europe Calendar.

The overall aim is to bring together academics, practitioners and other interested attendees for presentations, discussions, and collaborative networking in the emerging field of contemplative studies, which can include neuroscience, clinical science, contemplative philosophy and the humanities, contemplative education, economics, and those domains of contemplative practice that relate to and interact with these fields of research and scholarship.

Dialogues with H.H. Dalai Lama

Mind & Life Dialogues are conversations between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading scientists and scholars, addressing critical issues of modern life at the intersection of scientific and contemplative understanding. The dialogues began in 1987 as intimate discussions and have grown to include large public and private events at locations around the world. The dialogues have resulted in a global community dedicated to a rigorous exploration of the mind.

In September 2020, MLE held a dialogue with the Dalai Lama themed "Our common Humanity amidst Uncertainty"

In June 2021, as part of our Varela 20/30 anniversaries, the Dalai Lama held a special meeting with MLE themed "Dialogue for a Better World - Remembering Francisco Varela". Watch the recording here on the MLE YouTube channel. 

CSS 2019

The Contemplative Science Symposium (CSS) themed "Beyond Confines - Integrating Science, Consciousness and Society" took place in 2019 in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany.

In this pan-European symposium, new audiences and changemakers were encouraged to personally engage in the evolving issues and apply an interdisciplinary perspective.

Power & Care 2016

The last Mind & Life Europe Dialogue was themed "Towards Balance for Our Common Future - Science, Society and Spirituality in Dialogue".

The symposium took place in Brussels, 2016 with around 2,500 participants.

The insights were collected and published in a book edited by Tania Singer and Matthieu Ricard together with Kate Karius.

Symposium 2013

The first pan-European symposium for contemplative science took place in October 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

World-renowned presenters from neuroscience, social sciences, and contemplative traditions presented on "Personal and Societal Change from the Contemplative Perspective".

Matthieu Ricard shares his view on the first MLE symposium on his personal website.