Who We Are
Nalanda Institute is a diverse contemplative learning community of people devoted to transforming their lives, supporting others in changing themselves and working together to better care for the world we share. We recognize that a fundamental shift is needed in the way we live, from a culture of scarcity and domination to one of abundance and community. The Institute’s programs facilitate this transformation in the personal, interpersonal, institutional and communal domains.
Our mission is to support people from all walks of life to cultivate an open mind, warm heart and altruistic way of being by infusing timeless contemplative science and practice into contemporary life.
Our vision is to be a vital partner in a global movement of personal and collective liberation through transformational programs, exemplary faculty, compassionate community, and a culture of social engagement.
What We Do
We make change possible by focusing on the key ingredients of well-being: Aware Mind, Engaged Heart, Energized Body and Purposeful Life.
Aware Mind
Current neuroscience confirms that our brains and genomes are far more plastic (and powerfully shaped by the mind) than we believed. Through mindfulness meditation, we learn to control our attention and expand our awareness to cultivate greater clarity, flexibility and optimism.
Engaged Heart
Positive psychology confirms that empathy, love and compassion are life-giving traits that can be developed and strengthened with practice. Compassion-based meditation helps foster the capacity to more fully accept and care for ourselves and others while promoting a greater sense of social connection, well-being and belonging.
Energized Body
Research on the autonomic nervous system shows that stress and trauma strain our body’s health and well-being, but can be consciously regulated through mind/body training. Embodied practices can train the autonomic system to calm stress-reactivity, balance positive energy, and sustain well-being.
Purposeful Life
By engaging mind, heart and body in these practices we are empowered to make wiser choices and build healthy habits which opens a whole new way of being and living—one that is more joyful and socially engaged.