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Dalai Lama opens 18th Mind and Life conference

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The Dalai Lama listens to a presentation by David Meyer, Ph.D. of University of Michigan during a conference on Attention, Memory and Mind in Dharamshala, India, 6 April 2009. The conference is organised by Mind and Life Institute.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

The Dalai Lama opened the 18th Mind and Life conference on Attention, Memory and Mind.

Scientists, philosophers, scholars and contemplatives from North America, Europe and India were in attendance. The Karmapa, Ling Rinpoche and other Tibetan Buddhist scholars also took part in the conference. Actor and long-time pro-Tibet Richard Gere, who has been participating in the conference, was also present.

The Dalai Lama said that many people were sceptical about the conference when it was initially started. He said that now more and more people are interested in the conference and its outcome.

Interaction between scientists and Buddhist scholars will bring better understanding of the nature of the mind, which in turn will help bring a happier life.

Problems such as that of terrorism is all due to lack of understanding and awareness of the mind, the Dalai Lama pointed out.

The meeting is the 18th in a series of dialogues between science and Buddhism that has been organised by the Mind and Life Institute, which was first started in 1987.

The conference provides a platform for scientists and Buddhists scholars to dialogue on the effects of meditation and contemplative practice on the mind and brain, and in the prevention and treatment of disease.

The five day conference will cover on topics such as: Multi-tasking, meditation and contemplative practice; the Buddhist contribution to first-person cognitive science; Mental processes underlying attention, visual perception, and cognitive control; Paying attention to awareness (attention, mindfulness and clear comprehension).

The next Mind and Life conference will be held in Washington DC in October. Zurich, Switzerland, will host a conference in April 2010, and one is being planned in Delhi in November 2010.

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