Mind & Life Institute

"Francisco Varela is my academic hero. He believed that contemplative practices offer modern science novel, valuable methods for investigating human experience," shares Joe Diehl, a 2022 Varela Grantee. "Receiving a Varela grant gives me the confidence to be a contemplative researcher and a leader in contemplative research in the future." Hear how the Varela Grant enabled him to tackle the college mental health crisis through his research. ??? Learn more about our program here: https://lnkd.in/eibJXzg3 #VarelaGrants #ContemplativeScience #MentalHealth

Save the Date! Applications for the 2025 Summer Research Institute open on December 2, 2024.??? How can insights from the sciences of the mind and wisdom traditions enhance education? How do we create systems that foster excellence, equity, and engagement—empowering individuals to thrive and tackle the challenges of a changing world? This year's program, "Reimagining Contemplative Education: Shaping a Collective Future," will explore these questions and more. Join researchers, educators, and policymakers to examine how contemplative practices can transform education, integrating mindfulness, self-awareness, and compassion into learning. SRI will take place June 1-6, 2025, in-person at the The Garrison Institute. Applications close January 27, 2025. Stay tuned for updates on a new livestream option for attending select sessions. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ejTeZUgm #ContemplativeEducation #MindfulLearning #Mindfulness #EducationTransformation

How do ancient practices influence conscious experience? In our next episode of the Mind & Life podcast, Charles Raison dives into this question and more. Tune in and explore the role of memory in transcendent experiences, how body temperature connects to emotion, and more! Listen & share ?? https://lnkd.in/eHSFHc3k #Mindfulness #ConsciousExperience #AncientPractices

For over 20 years, the Mind & Life Varela Grants have supported groundbreaking research at the intersection of science and contemplative practice. “The most important thing that Mind & Life is doing is nurturing this next generation that will carry the ball and take this [work] into the future,” shares Mind & Life founding steward Richie Davidson below. Watch more and hear from others who reflect on the program's profound impact. With 217 grants awarded across 14 countries, the Varela Grants continue to fuel studies that explore new ways to promote well-being and reduce suffering. Watch now to learn more about the future of contemplative science: https://lnkd.in/epPUsvji #Neuroscience #ContemplativeResearch #Varela #MindScience #WellBeing

“The Varela Awards demonstrate the possibilities that arise from seeding a field... No other endeavor we’ve supported has made a greater impact per dollar,” says Berry Hershey from the Hershey Family Foundation. For over 20 years, the Mind & Life Francisco J. Varela Research Grants—named after our co-founder, neuroscientist and philosopher Francisco J. Varela—have fueled pioneering research at the intersection of science and contemplative practice. With 217 grants awarded in 14 countries, this program continues to foster studies that advance well-being and reduce suffering. Learn more about the impact of this program: https://lnkd.in/gfeT-_pn #Neuroscience #ContemplativeResearch

Last week, over 60 researchers, scholars, contemplatives, Mind & Life board members, and staff gathered outside Washington, DC to connect and take steps toward collectively envisioning the future of contemplative research. The event created space for collaboration, shared sense making, and the emergence of new ideas. The intergenerational dialogue focused on 15 topics—including AI, our interconnection with nature, the challenges and opportunities of scaling promising interventions and leveraging contemplative research into systems change, to name a few. The event's interactive design prioritized relationship-building and idea generation over defining specific outcomes. Stay tuned on the Mind & Life blog for participant reflections. ???? #ContemplativeScience #SystemsChange

We’re #hiring! Mind & Life is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and manage our internal operations and drive strategic initiatives. Reporting directly to the President, this role will inspire, support, and oversee Director-level staff and outside contractors. As COO, you’ll guide our human capital, financial, and operational goals, ensuring efficient operations and process optimization. Join a vibrant organizational culture dedicated to shared humanity and impactful work. Learn more and apply ?? https://lnkd.in/dBYsbuug

In the latest episode of the Mind & Life podcast, contemplative researcher and Varela Grantee Quinn Conklin explores fascinating questions: How does personality shape the effects of meditation? And how might meditation training influence health biomarkers? Join us to uncover insights into the mind-body connection, our physiological responses to the world around us, and what it all means for health and well-being. Listen & share ?? https://lnkd.in/e3AVpbgT #Mindfulness #Health #BodyAwareness

Former President of Mind & Life, author Susan Bauer-Wu, joined the Yoga Podcast to explore a vital question: How do we respond to the urgency of climate change while acting with hope? Listen in as she discusses the challenges of our time and shares ways to tap into inner awareness, wisdom, and hopeful action ??https://lnkd.in/eZgz2WNu #yoga #climatecrisis #contemplation #raisingconsciousness

"This is a beautiful time to be engaged with this work — we are really questioning some of the structures and the norms, particularly in academia and science, and within this contemplative space," says Varela grantee and our latest podcast guest Quinn Conklin. Tune in for more insights on building inclusive and conscious models in academia and the importance of reflective processes for meaningful change.????https://lnkd.in/eSStZSMW #Academia #Inclusivity #Mindfulness