The Dharma Bridge
Bridging Buddhist traditions and contemporary science.
Studying Buddhist practice where it is lived.
A New Direction for Contemplative Science
Modern psychology has embraced concepts such as mindfulness, compassion, and well-being, many of which originated in Buddhist traditions. Yet these concepts are often studied through frameworks far removed from the communities that have cultivated them for centuries.
The Dharma Bridge begins with practitioners themselves. We investigate how practice is understood, embodied, and woven into everyday life across living Buddhist traditions.
Our approach
Lived Experience
In-depth interviews with ordained practitioners in their own languages, exploring practice as an integrated way of life, beyond meditation alone.
Cross-Tradition Research
Field research across various Buddhist traditions in Korea, Japan, and Nepal, capturing the richness and diversity of contemplative cultivation.
Qualitative insights complemented by physiological data from wearable technology to explore relationships between practice and well-being.
Integrated Methods
Beyond a Single Buddhist Model
Buddhism is not a single tradition, but a rich diversity of practices shaped by distinct cultures, lineages, and communities. The Dharma Bridge Project studies these living traditions in the places where they are practiced across Korea, Japan, and Nepal, creating a comparative perspective on contemplative practice that no single tradition or laboratory can provide.
