Matthieu Ricard recently participated in Synapse Conclave, the “World’s most thought-provoking science, tech, and society conference” (https://synapseconclave.com/home). In a stimulating conversation with Suhanta, Matthieu explored the intersection between Buddhist contemplative science and modern neuroscience.
During this thought-provoking exchange, they discussed Matthieu’s famous dialogue with his philosopher father (featured in “The Monk and the Philosopher”), the scientific distinction between empathy and compassion, and how altruism can unite our approaches to global challenges. Matthieu powerfully argued that altruism is “the only concept that can reconcile the three time scales” – addressing immediate suffering, mid-term flourishing, and long-term care for future generations.
A highlight was Matthieu’s explanation of his work with neuroscientist Tanya Singer, revealing why “compassion fatigue” is actually “empathy fatigue” – showing how compassion serves as the antidote to burnout. When participating in laboratory experiments, just 45 minutes of pure empathy practice led Matthieu to exhaustion, while compassion practice remained sustainable for hours – a finding with significant implications for healthcare workers and anyone in helping professions.
Matthieu also touched on Karuna-Shechen’s humanitarian work supporting 500,000 people in India and Nepal, ending with a heartfelt appeal: “It would be wonderful if Indians help us to help Indians.”
Watch the full Synapse Conclave conversation on YouTube: