Mind and Life Europe

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” — Albert Camus

Thank you to everyone who joined us in collectively exploring the concept of expanding time at our European Summer Research Institute, whether as a panelist, workshop facilitator, poster presenter, artist, planning committee member, Gomde or MLE team member, or as a listener.

We would also like to extend a warm note of gratitude to Rangjung Yeshe Gomde and the Italian Buddhist Union’s Research Center for your generous sponsorship of this event.

We look forward to continuing these threads with you all and to hopefully seeing you all again at another event in the near future!

As noted by Prof John Dunne during our European Summer Research Institute, this quote is from a Pith instruction in the Mahāmudrā oral tradition, written down by 9th Karmapa Wanchug Dorje in the 16th century.

In his version, the lines are reversed, mentioning the mind first and the water second:

ཆུ་མ་རྙོགས་ན་དྭངས།
སེམས་མ་བཅོས་ན་གསལ།

At this year’s European Summer Research Institute, we were blown away by what arose in the space between us.

An endless list of emerging working groups amongst participants spanning complex systems to dreaming bodies to free-diving breathwork. Spontaneous morning practices including the “Mindful Fight Club” and Qi-Gong. Contemplating and feeling and crying and laughing together.

We’re feeling truly inspired after witnessing a gathering of such vibrant and wonderful minds, touched by each and every person who participated in this experience with us. A huge thank you to you all 💕

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During our European Summer Research Institute, we practised Tonglen with Venerable Dr Barry Kerzin, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice of “taking” away the suffering of others and “giving” peace, love, and compassion in return.

The sense of urgency felt by many in these times—made palpable through the cascading effects of the climate catastrophe, the rapid escalation of conflict and polarisation, and the exponential acceleration of new technologies—can sometimes make it feel as though it is impossible to pause and contemplate for ourselves, let alone have the capacity to feel others’ suffering and experience compassion for them.

However, engaging in Tonglen made compassion feel possible. Rather than turning away from suffering, we embraced it. And rather than grasping onto our joy, comfort, and happiness, we breathed it out to all those in the world who truly need it, thereby upending our approach to pain and pleasure, and transforming the way we relate to conflict by replacing resistance with deep empathy and selflessness.

How does our understanding of time shape the very realities we witness today, and how might we expand our sense of time in the midst of such uncertainty?

This week, we held our European Summer Research Institute within the beautiful surroundings of Rangjung Yeshe Gomde in Austria, gathering researchers, contemplatives, scientists, educators, artists, and practitioners across a myriad of disciplines to explore “Opening in the Midst of Uncertainty: Expanding Time”.

Through interdisciplinary panel discussions, contemplative practice, faculty-led workshops, spontaneous working groups, listening circles, gentle movement, artistic performances, contemplative film screenings, and poster fairs, we’ve collectively examined a long list of questions related to time, such as:

→ How might we critically reconsider the more conventional notions of time as linear and teleological?
→ How can we study the perception of time in the mind (or brain), and how is it affected by contemplative practices?
→ What does a phenomenological understanding of time tell us of our relationship with time?
→ How have Buddhist epistemologies understood time and timelessness?
→ What do non-western or indigenous ontologies tell us about other ways of living through time?

And many more…

We are feeling immensely grateful for our recent Mind & Life Europe Retreat led by experienced scholar-practitioners Prof Martijn van Beek and Prof Marieke van Vugt at Gomde Germany - Austria 🪷

In the context of the theme of “Making Time for Practice: Contemplative Living in the Full Flow of Existence”, we engaged with existential questions through a combination of silent meditation, contemplative journalling, dialogue, group sharing, and gentle movement.

Acknowledging that many of us do not live a “professional” contemplative life as monastics, we explored the significant challenge of how to nourish and deepen our practice while recognising and taking care of our other commitments in daily life. We examined our life’s timeline, including the fateful or inexplicable events, moments of spiritual longing, and profound experiences that contributed to where we are in our lives today. We also delved into how practice is integrated into our personal, professional, and spiritual lives; what we’re longing for in terms of making time for practice; and our obstacles to realising it, asking ourselves, what is abundant and what is scarce? What is rigid and what is flexible?

And now, we leave having made a commitment to practice in a broader sense, on and off the cushion, in ways that are feasible for us given our present circumstances and our longings for the future.

On 25th April 1990 His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama first visited the European Parliament in Brussels to address, in tandem to his historic visits to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the ongoing serious violations of human rights and systemic oppression of Tibetans under Chinese occupation since 1949. He advocated for a free and independent Tibet and the preservation of its cultural identity, as well as addressing other matters concerning humanity and conveying a message of peace, tolerance, and universal responsibility.

Almost thirty-six years later, on 18th March 2026, Mind & Life Europe was honoured to return to where he once stood to co-organise an intimate conference in collaboration with The Office of Tibet, Brussels, and hosted by MEP Mr Leoluca Orlando at the European Parliament. Inspired by the lifelong vision of His Holiness, the conference convened policymakers, scholars, and contemplatives to explore a more comprehensive approach to human flourishing grounded in compassion, wisdom, and respect for life in all its forms. In a time that remains marked by division, ecological strain, and uncertainty, discussions underscored the continued relevance of His Holiness’ call for universal responsibility, interdependence, and a culture of care transcending political, cultural, and religious divides.

Photos 1 & 3 © European Communities 1990 - EP
Photos 2 & 4 © European Parliament UPIU, 2001

Introducing the collaborative network underlying Hyphae, the new academic journal of Mind & Life Europe! 🫂

Spearheaded by MLE member Prof Laura Candiotto, Hyphae is supported by a host of highly-esteemed scholars, hard-working practitioners, and transdisciplinary thinkers as editors-in-chief and associate editors. We would also like to congratulate newly-appointed editorial assistant John Kyle Apostolides and logo designer Myria Xenofontos whose tireless work behind the scenes has significantly contributed to the journal’s launch and brought the vision of Hyphae to life.

For those of you who are interested in learning more about Hyphae, we're pleased to share that we will be hosting an introductory workshop at our upcoming European Summer Research Institute. This will offer an opportunity to meet Amy Cohen Varela, Prof Laura Candiotto, and several associate editors of Hyphae and reflect upon how epistemic cultures impact how we conduct research.

Read more about our wonderful team and the work of Hyphae here: https://ow.ly/mUMP50ZnjXm

On Sunday July 12th we celebrated an extraordinary milestone: the 100th birthday of Br David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine monk, interfaith pioneer, and one of the world’s most inspiring voices on gratitude, contemplation, and our shared humanity.

We are deeply grateful that Br David joined our Contemplative Science Symposium in 2019, where his wisdom, warmth, and joyful presence touched everyone who had the privilege of meeting him. His lifelong commitment to dialogue across traditions, contemplative practice, and compassionate engagement continues to inspire our work and countless people around the world.

Happy 100th Birthday, Br David! Thank you for a century of generosity, wisdom, and reminding us that gratitude is not only a response to life, but a way of living it. 🙏