Voice of Clear Light
Volume 14, Number 4 / August 2014
Buddhism & Science Conference Focus is ‘Pathways to a Health Mind’
Join National Researchers at Serenity Ridge Oct. 7–9, 2014
Researchers from throughout the nation will gather at Serenity Oct. 7–9, 2014, to explore the connection between science and spirituality. Join Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and invited scientists and researchers for this special conference. All are welcome to attend.
The conference is titled “New Dialogs Between Buddhism and Science: Pathways to a Health Mind.” In addition to Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, the founder and spiritual director of Ligmincha Institute, eight other presenters will discuss their research in areas ranging from the neuroscience of empathy and compassion, to tummo meditation, to couples-based meditation for patients with cancer, and much more. Rinpoche will be part of the discussion and will lead group meditations. Participants will have an opportunity to share in discussions and meals with the presenters.
The conference will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with registration starting at 4 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and the opening presentation at 7 p.m. It will end on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to stay for the annual three-day Fall Retreat led by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, which begins on Friday, Oct. 10. The topic is “The Healing Power of Primordial Awareness.”
“I am delighted to see that we’re getting such a high caliber of presenters year after year,” says Alejandro Chaoul-Reich, director of research at Ligmincha Institute and conference organizer. “And we offer the particular benefit of having Rinpoche not only present at the meeting, by teaching a three-day retreat right after the meeting. Many of last year’s presenters took advantage of this and thoroughly enjoyed it, as well as engaging in wonderful conversations with Rinpoche, each other and participants. This year, too, presenters are excited to know that Rinpoche will teach the fall retreat back-to-back with the conference, and many are planning to participate.
“I encourage everyone to be part of this special opportunity to participate in the Buddhism & Science conference,” Ale adds, “where there is a convergence of science, dharma and practice.”
Conference presenters and their topics are:
Susan Bauer-Wu, Ph.D, R.N., Tussi and John Kluge Professor in Contemplative End-of Life Care and Adjunct Faculty, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia; President of the Society for Integrative Oncology; and Co- Presenter.
James Coan, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical psychology and director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Virginia. Topic: The Neuroscience of Empathy and Compassion.
Gaëlle Desbordes, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard-MIT Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and a visiting scholar at the Center for Computational Neuroscience and Neural Technology (CompNet) at Boston University. Topic: Lo-jong and the Brain: Neuroplastic Effects Associated with Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT).
Maria Kozhenikov, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore. Topic: Neurocognitive Correlates of Tummo Meditation.
Sasha Loring, M.Ed., LCSW, is a psychotherapist, meditation teacher, author and leader in the field of mindful eating. Topic: Mindful Eating as a Psychological Revelation.
Kathrin Milbury, Ph.D., is assistant professor in Department of General Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Topic: Couples-Based Meditations for Patients with Cancer.
David W. Wetter, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Rice University. His work is targeted at eliminating disparities in health-related behavior through translational research. Topic: Mindfulness and Smoking Cessation.
Register for the Oct 7–9 Buddhism & Science Conference
Register for the Oct. 10–12 Fall Retreat
