Cortland Dahl

Cortland Dahl, PhD, serves as a Contemplative Scientist at UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds and Chief Contemplative Officer at the center’s affiliated nonprofit, Humin. Humin translates science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being. He is also cofounder and Executive Director of Tergar International, a global meditation community rooted in the teaching of and guided by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Dahl holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as well as a master’s degree in Buddhist studies. His eclectic background includes long periods of solitary retreat in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal and the translation of ancient Tibetan meditation manuals, as well as cutting-edge research on the science of well-being including a new scientific framework for the cultivation of human flourishing. Dahl created the content for the acclaimed Healthy Minds Program meditation app. He is a scientist, author, translator, and meditation teacher, but his true passion is using ancient wisdom and modern science to help people flourish. He is the author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism and Born to Flourish, with coauthor Richard J. Davidson, PhD.