Mind and Life Institute
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| Founded | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Founder | R. Adam Engle; Francisco J. Varela; His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Focus | Scientific understanding of the mind, Contemplative Sciences, Contemplative Practice, Neuroscience, Meditation, Phenomenology, Consciousness |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | = 38°01′54″N 78°29′04″W / 38.03179439999999°N 78.48444569999998°W |
| Origins | Mind and Life Dialogues |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Method | Research Grants, Academic Conferences, Think Tanks |
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Key people
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Francisco J. Varela The 14th Dalai Lama President Susan Bauer-Wu |
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Revenue
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$4.4m (2013) |
| Website | www |
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Formerly called
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Mind and Life Dialogues |
The Mind & Life Institute is a US-registered, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1991 to establish the field of contemplative sciences. Based in Charlottesville, Va., the institute provides a home for scholars and scientists from different disciplines around the world to incorporate contemplative practices into various fields of study. Mind & Life unifies and catalyzes this community by funding research projects and think tanks, and by convening academic conferences and dialogues with the Dalai Lama. We engage with professionals, thought leaders and policymakers to address pressing real-world matters. Our mission is to alleviate suffering and promote flourishing by integrating scientific research with contemplative wisdom traditions and meditative practices.
Mind and Life Dialogues, forerunners of the Institute, were initiated by American entrepreneur R. Adam Engle in 1983. He heard of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama’s interest in modern science and offered to arrange a dialogue for him with selected scientists. The Dalai Lama accepted and authorised Engle to set one up.
In 1984 Chilean neuroscientist Francisco Varela heard about this. Having participated in a conference on consciousness attended by the Dalai Lama in 1983, and like Engle a Buddhist practitioner since 1974, he was interested in further exploration of the interface between science and Buddhism and contacted Engle, offering to assist.
Engle, Varela, and the Dalai Lama saw Buddhism and science as different methodologies with a similar aim: to investigate nature and reality, using knowledge gained to improve the quality of life and the planet. They concurred that science uses technology and the scientific method as its means while Buddhism uses the human nervous system refined by meditation and rigorous mental and emotional training. Until then, there had been no mechanism for scientists and Buddhist masters to meet and share their findings in dialogue. The concept pioneered a new interdisciplinary, cross-cultural engagement.
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