Meditation, the Mind, and the Future of Learning: A Conversation with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Dr. Richard Davidson, Dr. Justin Kelley and Susan Kaiser Greenland

Exploring how meditation can transform the way we teach and learn.


What happens when ancient wisdom, cutting-edge neuroscience, and educational innovation meet in the classroom?

Join UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) for this timely conversation with meditation teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson, educator Dr. Justin Kelley, and mindfulness educator and author Susan Kaiser Greenland on the future of education—and the role of contemplative practice in helping young people flourish. GGSC Science Director Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas will moderate the discussion.

Across the globe, students are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Stress, disconnection, and a lack of meaning are becoming the norm. But what if school could be a place not just for learning, but for awakening—of mind, heart, and spirit?

In this discussion, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche will share insights from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, where meditation is more than a technique—it’s a way of being. Dr. Richard Davidson will bring in the latest research on how these practices shape the brain and support human flourishing. And Dr. Justin Kelley, Executive Director of Tergar Schools, and Susan Kaiser Greenland, author and mindfulness educator, will share how these perspectives are coming alive in real classrooms, where students are learning to regulate emotions, cultivate compassion, and rediscover joy.

Together, the speakers will explore how education can become a pathway toward inner transformation and social connection—not just for students, but for the educators and communities who support them.

Whether you're an educator, caregiver, or simply curious about the intersection of mindfulness and learning, this is a conversation not to miss.

This event is co-sponsored by Tergar Schools and the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at UC Berkeley.

Space is limited. Reserve your ticket now. We recommend arriving at the venue at least 20 minutes before the talk begins to get a seat. We will be offering any empty seats to "walk-up" registrants 5 minutes before the talk begins. This event will not be streamed live, but recorded highlights will be posted on the Greater Good websites afterwards. 

Event questions? Accessibility requests? Contact Greater Good Science Center at greater@berkeley.edu.

  • Emiliana Simon-Thomas, PhD

    Emiliana Simon-Thomas is the science director of the Greater Good Science Center, where she oversees its fellowship program, Expanding Gratitude project, and is a co-instructor of the GGSC’s “Science of Happiness” online course.

    Emiliana earned her doctorate in Cognition Brain and Behavior at UC Berkeley. Her dissertation used behavioral and neuroscience methods to examine how negative states like fear and aversion influence thinking and decision-making. During her postdoc, Emiliana transitioned to studying pro-social states like love of humanity, compassion, and awe. From there, she served as Associate Director/Senior Scientist at CCARE (the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education) at Stanford University, focusing on how compassion benefits health, well-being, and psychosocial functioning.

    Today, Emiliana’s work spotlights the science that connects health and happiness to social affiliation, caregiving, and collaborative relationships, as she continues to examine the potential for—as well as the benefits of—living a more meaningful life.

  • Justin Kelley, PhD

    Justin Kelley, PhD is the Executive Director of Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools. Tergar Institute offers an experiential approach to studying and practicing Buddhism, integrating Mingyur Rinpoche’s meditation teachings with real-world applications in personal and professional life. Tergar Schools pioneers the adaptation of Tibetan Buddhist principles for K–12 education, fostering awareness, compassion, and resiliency in young learners.

    Justin has practiced with Mingyur Rinpoche for nearly 20 years and earned his PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University, where he studied with Dr. Anne C. Klein, focusing on Longchen Rabjam’s Great Completeness tradition. Passionate about making Buddhist wisdom relevant today—particularly in education—his research explores the intersection of Buddhism and learning theory, drawing on his hands-on experience with both Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools.

  • Richard J. Davidson, PhD

    Richard J. Davidson, PhD is the William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also the Founder & Chief Visionary for Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc.


    Davidson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Psychology in 1976. Davidson’s research is broadly focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and methods to promote human flourishing including meditation and related contemplative practices. He has published over 600 papers, numerous chapters and reviews, and edited 20 books. He is the author (with Sharon Begley) of The Emotional Life of Your Brain published in 2012 and co-author with Daniel Goleman of Altered Traits published in 2017. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2006. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017 and appointed to the Governing Board of UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in 2018. In 2014, Davidson founded the non-profit, Healthy Minds Innovations, which translates
    science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being.

  • Susan Kaiser Greenland

    Susan Kaiser Greenland is a bestselling author, globally recognized mindfulness innovator, leader, and mentor. Her new book, Real-World Enlightenment: Discovering Ordinary Magic in Everyday Life, showcases her trademark accessible and joyful approach to mindfulness and meditation with 50 transformative ideas to help navigate the pressures of modern life. Drawing from global wisdom traditions and scientific insights, Susan shares stories from her lifetime of being a seeker, wife, and mother, into digestible strategies for everyone.

    Her pioneering work in mindfulness education for both children and adults is showcased in her widely translated books, The Mindful Child and Mindful Games, a series of guided meditations, Mindful Parent, Mindful Child, and the Inner Kids model for educators. 

    Featured in media such as The New York Times and CNN, Susan continues to advance mindfulness globally as an Advisory Board member at the Tergar Schools Project in Nepal.

  • Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

    Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a world-renowned Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher and bestselling author, offers a path to inner peace and joy in a world often filled with stress and uncertainty.  His teachings, rooted in ancient wisdom and supported by modern science, provide practical tools for cultivating happiness and well-being. Recognized as the seventh incarnation of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche at a young age, he began his formal Buddhist training and immersed himself in rigorous practice, including a three-year meditation retreat at just 13. By 23, he had received full monastic ordination.

    Rinpoche's unique approach blends profound spiritual insights with an understanding of cutting-edge neuroscience. He has collaborated with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other institutions to investigate the effects of meditation on the brain. This research provides compelling evidence for the transformative power of these practices. His personal story is equally inspiring. In 2011, he famously left his monastery to live as a wandering yogi for four years, a life-changing experience he recounts in his bestselling book, In Love with the World.

    As the founder of the Tergar Meditation Community, Rinpoche has built a global organization in more than 30 countries that offers accessible meditation programs for students of all backgrounds, from beginners to seasoned practitioners.

The Banatao Auditorium at 310 Sutardja Dai Hall is located on the main level/third floor just past the building entrance on Hearst Avenue

Parking is extremely limited on the north side of the UC Berkeley campus. Please allow extra time to navigate any campus construction zones, find parking, and arrive at the building. One- and two-hour metered street parking (coins, cash, credit) can be found on the surrounding blocks, though open spaces may be limited.

A limited amount of public paid parking is available at the Lower Hearst parking structure on Hearst Avenue, a short walk to the auditorium in Sutardja Dai Hall. Public parking is available only on Level 2 of the Lower Hearst structure; enter from Scenic Ave. and park in the gold-colored section of the lot. Ticket dispensing machines (TDMs) accept $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 bills and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) only. 

There is also public paid parking in the Stadium Parking Garage located at 2175 Gayley Rd, an 11 minute walk to Sutardja Dai Hall.

The nearest BART station is Downtown Berkeley BART, followed by a scenic, slightly uphill, 15–20 minute walk to Sutardja Dai Hall. A taxi stand is located outside this BART station. Downtown Berkeley BART also offers valet bike parking.