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

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 Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, engaging with existential questions through meditation, journalling, dialogue, and movement.

We are delighted to announce the launch of Hyphae, our new peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to stimulating and convening dialogue among thinkers with diverse perspectives on mind and life! Learn more: https://ow.ly/yUsr50Znk7E

Join us for an invigorating encounter between the brilliant choreographer and dancer Dr Nicole Peisl and philosopher Prof Alva Noë. 📅 Taking place live at ESRI 2026 on 26th July at 19:00 CEST, as well as livestreamed via Zoom and YouTube. 👉 Register now: https://ow.ly/oABY50ZmTWQ

Today, we are delighted to celebrate the 91st birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama – a spiritual leader, global symbol of compassion and wisdom, and co-founder of Mind & Life Europe and the Mind & Life Institute. Heartfelt wishes to you all on this special occasion! 🙏

Join us this evening at 19:00 - 20:15 (CEST) for our last Making Room for Contemplation session this academic year! In this intimate series, we carve out some time and space to be present with ourselves with a kind, open awareness. Register now: https://ow.ly/QF2T50ZiyTa #Meditation #Zen

Join us for our next Mind Matters talk on Wednesday 17th June with Dr Hanne De Jaegher, delving into the relational heart of professional practice, rethinking professional wellbeing through an engaging epistemology and the “loving and knowing” framework. Register now: https://ow.ly/FXJv50Z9Nul

An invaluable opportunity for thinkers from all walks of life and disciplines to come together and collaboratively work “towards a methodological and conceptual consensus”!

Models of Consciousness@moc7.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The next Models of Consciousness Conference will take place in Copenhagen! 

 We are excited to bring #MoC7 to the University of Copenhagen on October 12–16, 2026. Call for Abstracts is now open on our website (link below!)

Congratulations to Antonia Zepeda & Joana Vidal Santamaria (joint project), and Nathan Fisher—two out of the eight recipients of the 2025 European Varela Award (EVA)—recognised for their innovative interdisciplinary work in contemplative research as emerging next-generation scientists. 🎉

Join us this Thursday 11th June for an MLE Friends Talk with world-renowned Apinist Marion Chaygneaud-Dupuy, Léonore Battistella, and Amy Cohen Varela. Celebrating the release of 'L’Himalaya et la vie du plateau tibétain' (Favre, 2025). https://ow.ly/maui50Z9wWL #TibetanPlateau #NomadicKnowledge

Join us for a free relational installation activating sensitive conversations across disciplines and reimagining forms of hospitality toward the other as a political gesture. 📍 30 May, 19:30–20:15 in Exhibition room in Ciutadella campus 🎥 Livestreamed via UPF More info: https://ow.ly/3bIZ50Z4aXk

This week we honour the 25th anniversary of the passing of Francisco Varela (September 7, 1946 – May 28, 2001), who remains one of the most influential figures in the history of cognitive science, and whose legacy continues to animate new ways of thinking about consciousness, life, and experience.

Join Prof Amador Vega and Frederic Amat for a free public evening dialogue exploring contemplative practice, scenography, iconoclasm, liminality, and paradox. 📍 29 May, 19:00–20:30 at Auditorium in Ciutadella campus 🎥 Livestreamed via UPF More info: https://ow.ly/KSnt50Z3NaG

Join us for our next practice session on Tuesday 26th May from 19:00 - 20:15 (CEST). In this intimate series, we carve out some time and space to be present with ourselves with a kind, open awareness. Register now: https://ow.ly/p8PM50Z0ycR #MindAndLifeEurope #Zen #Meditation #OnlineMeditation

Congrats to Inès Leferme, Óscar Soto Angona, and Michał Weiss—three of the eight European Varela Award recipients—recognised for their innovative interdisciplinary work in contemplative research as next-gen scientists. 👉Read more about their projects here: https://ow.ly/WPjE50YRcJ5

Join us on 29th April 6pm (CEST) for a Mind Matters book launch featuring philosopher and disability scholar Dr Anne-Lyse Chabert in conversation with her publisher, David Parker. Moderated by Dr Hanne De Jaegher. Register now: ow.ly/zL1y50YNz0P #OnlineEvent #OnlineTalk

Is it possible to feel free while deeply dependent? In Beyond Disability, Dr Anne-Lyse Chabert reflects on life with a neurodegenerative disease, weaving together personal experience and philosophy. Join us at the book launch on 29 April to learn more: https://ow.ly/EUGx50YNqvq #Disability #Event

Sit with us during our next practice session on Tuesday 28th April from 19:00 - 20:15 (CEST). In this much-loved series, we carve out some time and space to be present with ourselves with a kind, open awareness with Dr Edel Maex. 👉 Register now: https://ow.ly/RfeF50YJWVz #OnlineMeditation #Zen

Take a look at one of last year’s European Summer Research Institute panels, exploring key questions in enactive & neurophenomenological research. Watch the full discussion now: https://ow.ly/3Twg50YMAau #MindAndLifeEurope #ContemplativeScience #MeaningMaking #Ethics #Reflexivity

A huge congratulations to Jonas Mago, Andreas Voldstad, and Eugénie Lanchou—three of the eight European Varela Award recipients—recognised for their innovative interdisciplinary work in contemplative research as next-gen scientists 👏 👉 Read amore bout their projects here: https://ow.ly/JF5050YJYWn

Join us for our next instalment of the MLE Friends series with Prof Giovanna Colombetti, a leading thinker in enactive and embodied approaches to cognition. 👉 Learn more and register now: https://ow.ly/t0fo50YJW71 #MindAndLifeEurope #OnlineLecture #CognitiveScience #ContemplativeScience

Contribute to our vision for a more just, connected, and meaningful society. Register now for “Power and Care: Enactive Approaches and Critical Social Philosophy” exploring political agency and social philosophy on the final day with Universitat Pompeu Fabra https://ow.ly/xBXA50Ywgg1

Join us at our upcoming MLE Retreat at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, Austria as we explore how to integrate a contemplative dimension into more aspects of daily life, and to develop habits that can be sustained through life’s busyness and challenges. Learn more and apply now: https://ow.ly/j69q50YAPTF

What an experience! 🥳 To celebrate His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th year and the Year of Compassion, we were honoured to co-organise an intimate conference at the European Parliament with The Office of Tibet, Brussels, hosted by MEP Leoluca Orlando. Read more below 👇 #CompassionInAction

New episode of The Enactive Fold out now! Improvisational violinist Stephen Nachmanovitch delves into many resonances between his existential understanding of improvisation and several central questions animating the enactive approach. 🎧 Listen now: https://ow.ly/2QNT50Yy5fO #PodcastEpisode

Get your tickets for our upcoming international conference, “Power and Care: Enactive Approaches and Critical Social Philosophy”, exploring the mind, body, and the sociopolitical shaping of experiences on the second day with Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Register now: https://ow.ly/4NOf50Ywgiq

For those of you who would like to carve out a bit of time and space for meditation and reflection, join us at our next Making Room for Contemplation session on Tues 31st March. Register now: https://ow.ly/tRnA50Yve08 #Meditation #OnlineMeditation #Contemplation #MeditatingTogether

Reflecting on last year’s ESRI, we’re grateful to return to Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, Austria this summer for our upcoming ESRI & retreat. Surrounded by mountains, lakes & untouched nature, it’s the perfect setting for interdisciplinary dialogue & contemplation. Register now: https://ow.ly/qlgh50YwnHo

Tickets are still available for our upcoming international conference, “Power and Care: Enactive Approaches and Critical Social Philosophy”, the first day of which will explore the politics of life and the environment with a line-up of esteemed speakers. Register now: https://ow.ly/S2Ty50YwfKf

What might a focus on joy reveal about how people live, what they value, and how they relate to the world around them? Find out more at the next MLE Friends Talk with anthropologist Prof Joanna Cook on Thursday 26th March. Learn more: https://ow.ly/eTbK50YsmTE #OnlineSeminar #CommunityEvents