Thursday, April 17th 2025

6:00pm-8:00pm EST

Hybrid | $35 (General Admission), $108 (Benefactor)

We are living in an era of profound transformation. Climate change, rapid technological shifts, and social, cultural, and economic upheaval are reshaping our world. Amidst this turbulence, new possibilities emerge—if we have the eye to see.

Join Jon Kabat-Zinn and Robert Thurman, two pioneers in bringing Eastern wisdom to the West, for an illuminating conversation on the future of education and human flourishing. Drawing from their lifelong engagement with the dharma and nuanced cultural insights, they will explore how we can prepare the next generation to grow into wise, compassionate, and innovative stewards of our world.

Through a far-ranging discussion moderated by Amy Edelstein, an expert in mindfulness and systems thinking education, we will explore:

• How do we shift education from remediation to unlocking human potential?

• What core values, principles, and questions spark curiosity and creativity in students?

• Can AI help scale compassion and wisdom?

• How do we bring awe and wonder back into learning?

• Could we evolve our education system into a modern Nalanda, and reimagine wisdom and character for our times?

This is a rare opportunity to see Kabat-Zinn and Thurman, two old friends and giants of mindfulness, philosophy, and education, explore on stage together for the first time in years. 

Join us at Tibet House for this insightful, inspiring, and deeply relevant dialogue.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., is a pioneering figure in mindfulness, known for integrating Buddhist teachings with science and medicine. He founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, revolutionizing stress management and health care. His bestselling books, including Wherever You Go, There You Are, have brought mindfulness to a global audience. A scientist, teacher, and author, he continues to inspire through his work on meditation, healing, and human flourishing.

Robert Thurman 

Robert Thurman, Ph.D., founder of Tibet House, is a scholar, author, and one of the foremost Western experts on Tibetan Buddhism and an early and close student of the Dalai Lama. As Professor Emeritus of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and founder of Tibet House, he has dedicated his life to translating and sharing Buddhist wisdom. His numerous books, including Inner Revolution, explore Buddhism’s role in philosophy, ethics, and social change in the modern world.

Amy Edelstein

Amy Edelstein is an educator, author, and nonprofit leader. Founder of Inner Strength Education, she has brought mindfulness and systems thinking programs to 30,000+ teens in Philadelphia. A lifelong meditator and author of The Conscious Classroom, she explores education’s role in fostering wisdom and well-being.