Francis Lu
Francis G. Lu, MD, is the Luke & Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry, Emeritus, at UC Davis. Since 1987 he has led 35 seminars at Esalen exploring film and the transpersonal, 28 of them with Brother David Steindl-Rast.
Upcoming Programs by Francis Lu
Engaging with Beauty as a Pathway to Resilience Through the Mindful Viewing of Film
July 20 - 24, 2026
Through mindful viewing of eight memorable feature films, participants will engage with cinematic beauty to open their hearts for a pathway to resilience. Recent studies from neuroaesthetics have shown that experiencing beauty can activate the brain’s emotional processing centers, which are critical for resilience; research in positive psychology has identified “appreciation of beauty and excellence” […]