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Dalai Lama gives $50,000 for brain research

The Dalai Lama has given $50,000 from his personal trust to support research into the science behind kindness and compassion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Image: Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama, shown in February, has given to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds. Reed Saxon / AP
/ Source: The Associated Press

The Dalai Lama has given $50,000 from his personal trust to support research into the science behind kindness and compassion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The grant to the school's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds comes after the Dalai Lama promoted its work during a visit to Madison in May.

Center Director Richard Davidson says the gift was completely unexpected and unsolicited, and that researchers "are deeply honored" by the Tibetan spiritual leader's support.

The center is looking into how healthy qualities of mind such as kindness, empathy and compassion develop and might be nurtured. The center has not decided yet how to use the grant, but Davidson pledges it will be "in the most beneficial way possible."