The Experiment

How did an unconventional undergraduate program become an international model for contemplative education? In episode 2 of this five-part series in the podcast Buddhist Studies Footnotes, Frances Garrett traces the origins of BPMH, from its roots in socially engaged Buddhism and the teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh to its pioneering integration of Buddhist Studies, psychology, neuroscience, medicine, and contemplative science. Through classroom recordings, faculty reflections, and student testimonies, listeners explore an educational experiment that challenged disciplinary boundaries while asking deeper questions about attention, flourishing, and the purpose of higher education. As the field of contemplative science grows around the world, the episode asks why universities remain so uncertain about knowledge that refuses to fit within traditional academic structures. To learn more about the circumstances described in this series, see https://pathuoft.net/ This series was produced by Frances Garrett, with sound editing by Jesse Whitty, music by Kilian Kramer, and logo design by Kayla Bowland. The series has been organized by the Engaging Education in Buddhist Studies initiative at the University of Toronto, with generous support from the Khyentse Foundation.