Susan Bauer-Wu - Connecting inquiry

Keywords

Resilience – Science – Spirituality – Positive Change

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Susan Bauer-Wu discusses her background in nursing and meditation research and how she became President of the Mind and Life Institute. This is an organisation co-founded by the Dalai Lama in 1987 that aims to bring science and contemplative wisdom together to better understand the mind and create positive change in the world. In her work with Mind & Life, Susan has championed “human-earth connection” as a priority.

Susan began her career as a registered nurse specialising in oncology and end-of-life care, and later completed PhD studies in psychoneuroimmunology. She has held leadership, teaching, and clinical positions in non-profits, higher education, and health care, and is the author of Leaves Falling Gently: Living Fully with Serious & Life- Limiting Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion & Connectedness.

Main topics

• Connecting inquiry with important issues in the world today, including climate change.
• Reversing climate crises through heart-based practices.
• Bridging science and contemplative wisdom to create positive change in the world.
• The need for resilience and political will in addressing climate change,
• The challenges of changing capitalism and overcoming prejudice against women like Greta Thunberg.

Timestamps

1:  Introduction of speakers. Susan introduces herself and her role in Mind and Life Institute -00:00-01:54

2. Mind and Life Institute.  Susan talks about Mind and Life as an incubator for meditation researchers, shares the history of the first Mind and Life dialogue and talks about the 35 years of archival footage that Mind and Life has recorded - 02:08-04:03

3. A Future We Can Love. Susan talks about the importance of connecting inquiry with real-world issues - 06:31-07:34

4. The urgency of the climate crisis - 08:34-09:30

5. Susan talks about her latest book; A Future We Can Love - 20:45-22:37

6. The Climate Emergency feedback loops videos - 22:10-22:37

7. Capacity for Change. The capacity for humans to change their behaviour - 26:40-27:34.

8. The concept of wonderment or awe - 27:34-28:22

9. Taking Action. The importance of taking action - 28:22-29:18

Action items

• To learn more, please visit Mindandlife.org
• Purchase Susan’s latest book A Future we can Love