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THE SNOW LION BUDDHIST NEWS & CATALOG
His Holiness the Dalai Lama jokes with a student (left),
translator Thubten Jinpa (right), at
the Mind & Life Conference © Emory University, 2007
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Depression and Buddhism: Mind & Life Conference XV
by Nanci Rose
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's vital and integrated presence at the Mind & Life XV Conference (Emory University, October 2007), which focused on groundbreaking approaches to the clinical treatment of depression, was experienced by those in the predominantly professional audience of mental health and medical practitioners and researchers as unique.
The stage in the vast gymnasium at the university was set as if in His Holiness' private meeting room, with the Dalai Lama in the middle of a gently lit semi-circle of easy chairs. Presentations and conversation were directed specifically toward His Holiness, who gave an introduction and closing remarks, and conversed throughout.
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Charles Nemeroff opened with early life factors in depression. Helen Mayberg then presented a fascinating report on her work with deep brain stimulation (DBS) on a small group of severely ill patients. John Dunne examined depression from a Buddhist perspective. Zindel Segal began the afternoon by pointing to a shift in specific brain location activation following mindfulness training, indicating a decreased self-focus. Richard Davidson gave an overview of neural circuitry regulating emotion, and the possibilities for compassion training in affective disorders. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi spoke on traditional Tibetan lojong practices as a systematic, cognitive strategy for of compassion training in enhancing social empathy. And Charles Raison ended the program with data linking psychosocial stress and the development of depression, including his randomized study of Emory first year students who were given six weeks of training in compassion meditation.
The Dalai Lama was both scientifically knowledgeable and asked pointed questions. At one juncture, he raised an issue which was perplexing him about genetics, wondering if perhaps genetics can be changed by circumstance. Later, when he was asked by a panelist how to determine which patients would best benefit from mindfulness training or who is better suited to compassion meditation, His Holiness responded that he is not the expert! The Dalai Lama emphasized that it is up to researchers to engage in further study in order to answer this and related questions on how to meet the needs of the depressed and other patients with mental health issues. After all, he added, he's only used to working with people seeking enlightenment.
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