Dharamshala — Over 120 experts from around the world gathered in Dharamshala to participate in the 39th Mind and Life Dialogue. "This year's dialogue focused on ‘Mind, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics,’ because how humans will coexist with AI will be a defining question of our time. We will need to draw on the deepest and most diverse resources of human knowledge to prevent the terms of the discussion and debate being taken over by loud voices. The future of humanity is at stake," said Thupten Jinpa, Chairman of the Mind & Life Board of Directors.
More than 120 scientists, academics, contemplative practitioners, business leaders, policymakers, and other prominent figures from around the world participated in the 39th Mind and Life Dialogue, held in the Dalai Lama Library and Archives building, located beneath His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamshala from October 14 to 16, 2025. This year's theme was “Mind, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics,” exploring the nature of mind and the promises and challenges of artificial intelligence. They were joined by guests from Tibetan educational and cultural institutions. The event was organised by the Mind and Life Institute, Mind and Life Europe and the Dalai Lama Trust.
Jamphel Lhundrup, the Secretary of the Trust and Director of the Dalai Lama Library and Archive introduced the event and he said, 'the Mind and Life diaguage took inspiration from His Holiness’s vision to create a bridge between the wisdom traditions of the East and the discoveries of the West. In 1987, the first meeting of Mind & Life laid the ground-work for what is now a global platform. The Mind & Life Institute has brought together Buddhist scholars and scientists with expertise in neuroscience, physics, cosmology, biology, and contemplative wisdom. A connection has been established between the brain, mind and ethics. The work of the Institute has inspired monks and nuns to include the study of science alongside their traditional curriculum.'
Thupten Jinpa, Chairman of the Board of Mind and Life, emphasized in his opening remarks that this dialogue was taking place during the year of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday, a period designated as the Year of Compassion. He suggested that this could be considered an offering of practice.
Geshe Jinpa recalled that the first dialogue had been organised by the brilliant Chilean scientist Francisco Varela and entrepreneur Adam Engle. They offered His Holiness a platform on which he could pursue his interest in science by bringing scientists to him. They created an opportunity for two invesigative traditions, Buddhism and science, to get to know each other.
He said, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has two main objectives when he engaging with scientists. One is to expand the horizons of scientific enquiry itself, to move beyond the material paradigm. He wants to bring into focus the mind side of the story, including lived contemplative experience. Meanwhile, science has developed sophisticated technology to achieve brain imaging which enabled the recognition of neuroplasticity. The Mind & Life Institute has played a huge role in opening up investigations beyond a reductionist understanding of human experience and consciousness." "His Holiness's second goal is to explore how science can serve humanity. He believes that compassion-driven motivation is essential to achieving this," he added.
According to the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the dialogue unfolded in six two-hour sessions. Panels of four presenters were drawn from the following faculty: Emily M. Bender, University of Washington; Ani Choyang, Jangchub Choeling Nunnery; Molly Crockett, Princeton University; Robert Cummings, University of Mississippi; Marc-Henri Deroche, Kyoto University; Jason Gabriel, Google DeepMind; Shaun Gallagher, University of Memphis; Peter Hershock, East-West Center; Merve Hickok, Center for Al and Digital Policy; Thupten Jinpa, Mind & Life Institute Board Chair; Khangser Rinpoche, Gyuto Monastery; Sasha Luccioni, Hugging Face; Chiara Mascarello, University of Padua; Kate Nave, University of Edinburgh; Anat Perry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Geshé Lodoe Sangpo, Gaden Jangtsé Monastery; Murray Shanahan, Imperial College London, Google DeepMind; Luc Steels, University of Brussels; Geshé Thabkhé, Sera Jay Monastery; Marieke van Vugt, University of Groningen.
Each speaker had ten minutes to make their presentation. This was followed by discussion among the members of the panel. Then, after a short break, members of the audience were able to ask questions.
During the final session in the afternoon of Thursday 16th October, Luc Steels, a member of the Program Planning Committee as well as a presenter gave a thorough summary of the main themes of the meeting. Firstly there was discussion of the potential for AI to alleviate suffering, to promote equity and social harmony, as well as supporting flourishing on earth. Secondly, the risks AI poses to health and well-being, for work, education, politics and climate action were examined. Thirdly, the meeting examined what kind of ethical quality might and should human beings infuse into artificial forms of intelligence such that it avoids harmful effects and instead benefits the well-being of all on earth.
The experts and participants in the 39th Mind and Life Dialogue were received in audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on October 17, 2025.
During that period, His Holiness told his audience, "If we can hold these kind of dialogues every now and then it will be really wonderful. From a Buddhist point of view too, engaging in such dialogues, rather than performing rituals and so on is very helpful. If conditions remain stable, Mind & Life can continue into the future."
"On my part, I studied in the philosophical tradition and practised debate when I was in Lhasa, taking both the challenging and responsive points of view. When we study, we are applying our minds. In my own case, when I was studying I too used my mind. Of course, when I studied as a child there was also an element of fear involved because I was afraid that my teacher might punish me," the spiritual leader of Tibet said.
His Holiness said, "Scientists can take advantage of the logic and epistemology, the critical thinking, involved in our Buddhist traditions. They can benefit from them."
"These days I cultivate the awakening mind of bodhichitta every morning when I wake up, praying that all those who place their trust in me will be well. My life is totally dedicated to the welfare of others," the spiritual leader said.
"I am a religious leader wearing monk’s robes, but when I give a talk I often invoke science. This is because the critical thinking we engage in is comparable to scientific inquiry," His Holiness the Dalai Lama said.
"The moment we are born of our mother there is experience. We have feelings rooted in consciousness. Therefore, understanding how the mind works is important because life is underpinned by mind," His Holiness concluded.
