Matthieu Ricard founded Karuna-Shechen with the aspiration of putting “compassion into action” in service to the most vulnerable populations of the Himalayan regions.
Born in 1946, he began his professional life in science and earned a PhD in cellular genetics from the Institut Pasteur. At the age of 26, he chose to settle in the Himalayas, where he committed himself to the monastic path and became a Buddhist monk.
Over the years, he has cultivated a life at the crossroads of several commitments: spiritual practice, photography, writing, and teaching. As the French interpreter for the Dalai Lama, he also maintains an ongoing dialogue with the scientific community, notably through neuroscience research on the effects of mental training, conducted with several international universities.
In continuity with this commitment, he donates all royalties from his books and income generated through his activities to Karuna-Shechen, thereby supporting projects carried out in India, Nepal, and Tibet.
To learn more: matthieuricard.org