Cortland Dahl is a scientist, author, and meditation teacher whose work bridges ancient wisdom and modern science. His journey began in the early 1990s, when struggles with anxiety led him to Asia to study meditation and Buddhist philosophy. Over the next decade, he lived in Himalayan monasteries and Tibetan refugee communities, training under revered masters such as Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Chatral Rinpoche. During this time, he became fluent in Tibetan, translated more than a dozen classical texts, and spent long periods in solitary retreat.
Today, Cortland is a research scientist at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the chief contemplative officer at Healthy Minds Innovations, where he collaborates with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson. Together, they cocreated the Healthy Minds Program, an award-winning mobile app named by the New York Times as one of the best meditation apps available. Their work has reached millions worldwide, helping people cultivate awareness, connection, insight, and purpose.
Cortland also cofounded the Tergar Meditation Community with Mingyur Rinpoche, a global network dedicated to making meditation accessible to people from all walks of life. He is the author of the Dharma Lab Substack and Born to Flourish, both with Dr. Davidson, as well as A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism.