Home › Magazine › Spring 2003 › The Lama in the Lab
Filed in Science

The Lama in the Lab

Advances in medical technologies are allowing scientists a peek into the brains of experienced meditators. The Mind and Life Institute (a nonprofit organization devoted to collaboration between Buddhism and science) is at the forefront of this exciting new research.

Marshall Glickman

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"Someone ought to wire the Dalai Lama up to an EEG machine to see exactly what's going on."

It was an offhanded remark, made at the end of a Vipassana retreat by a gung-ho, fresh-out-of-college meditator, and as he calked more, it became apparent what he wanted was a shortcut to enlightenment. It was hard not to stumble over his lack of tact. But in fact, even as he spoke, in scientific labs across the country there was already a research initiative underway to study advanced Tibetan monks and seasoned Vipassana teachers. And the studies—sponsored by The Mind and Life Institute, a Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit organization—have the input and full support of the Dalai Lama.

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