Richard Davidson, Director, Lab for Affective Neuroscience & Waisman Lab for Brain Imaging & Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison Psychology Department, discusses how the scientific study of contemplative practices had advanced in recent decades and some of the key events and figures on that developmental path. In addition to discussing specific topics such as the heritability of epigenetic changes and the study of contemplative methods in teaching and learning, he also describes his own career path in the field, and the formation and growth of the Mind and Life Institute.