The Centre is here to guide and support you in making evidence-informed decisions for your practice. Join us as we delve into diverse contemplative practices, uncover their impacts, and provide direction for your individual contemplative journey.
But what exactly are contemplative practices, and why are they the main focus of our Centre?
-
Vision, Ethics and Values
Learn more about our vision and supporting mission statement, ethics and values.
-
Our People
Meet the academic and professional staff, affiliates and students of the Centre.
-
Strategic Plans & Reports
Read our planning, reporting and highlights publications.
-
Governance
Meet the members of the Advisory Board and Reference Group who provide strategic advice to the Centre to help achieve its vision.
Our model
We work with interdisciplinary collaborators across the University of Melbourne, in the community, and worldwide to develop, deliver, support and promote innovative and authentic contemplative study. Our model is based on a strong research program foundation, which drives our interconnected education, engagement and practice programs:
Research
The Centre fosters truly interdisciplinary, evidence-based research into contemplative practice and methodology. We help evaluate the most effective methods for learning, practicing, and grasping contemplative concepts.
Education
The Centre is dedicated to developing and leading exceptional educational programs that inspire lifelong learning, fostering knowledge for the betterment and flourishing of society as a whole.
Practice
The Centre is here to help all kinds of people try, learn, and sustain a meditation practice. We provide predominately free guided meditation sessions led by experienced teachers from different spiritual, faith, Indigenous, and everyday traditions. We have options for beginners, those in the middle, and advanced meditators too.
Engagement
The Centre offers an outstanding engagement program where we share knowledge, exchange new ideas, and hold discussions. We're a hub for people to come together and talk about traditional, modern, and academic views on contemplative practices. It's a space where our whole community can intersect and learn from each other.
Latest News
Upcoming events
Past events
Our undergraduate University breadth subject The Art and Science of Meditation has now commenced! Stay tuned as our educational offerings continue to grow.
We aim to facilitate and foster truly interdisciplinary, evidence-based research into contemplative practice and methodology. The Centre facilitates evaluation of the best ways to learn, practice, and understand contemplative concepts and ideas.
-
Get involved in our research
Many of our research projects rely on people like you volunteering to take part. Find out more about our studies.
-
Research projects
Read more about our flagship research projects focused on understanding contemplative practices, mindfulness and meditation.
-
Seed funding success
Find out more about the CSC funded research projects with a focus on contemplative studies.
-
Research publications
We have compiled our scholarly work in the contemplative sciences, summarising key findings in the form of academic journal articles, book chapters, conference presentations, orations, edited volumes, and more.
The Centre offers an outstanding engagement program where we share knowledge, exchange new ideas, and hold discussions. We're a hub for people to come together and talk about traditional, modern, and academic views on contemplative practices.
-
Guided meditation sessions
Our guided practice sessions offer the opportunity to try guided meditation with expert teachers from many different faith and wisdom traditions.
-
Media
Through these media articles, podcasts, and TV interviews, our academics share their insights and experiences on a range of contemplative practices.
-
Recordings from events
We passionately foster discussion and the exchange of ideas through our engagement activities. We hope you enjoy our event recordings and other multimedia recordings.
-
Meditators in distress
In a world first, the University of Melbourne and Cheetah House partner to provide affordable access to Australian and New Zealander meditators in distress.
-
Resources hub
Our resources hub is always expanding and we hope to help with all of your queries about mindfulness, meditation and contemplative practices and research.
-
Do you have a project idea?
Let us know a little more about your idea and we can help you to form connections, collaborations or point you in the direction of funding opportunities.
-
Giving to CSC
Your donation will have a direct impact on our students and is critical to finding solutions to intractable global challenges. Thank you for choosing to donate to offer our students and researchers the best opportunities to succeed.
-
Strategic publications
Explore our collection of strategic publications, offering valuable insights in the work of the Contemplative Studies Centre.
Our Engagement Series
Our programming encompasses a range of academic and non-academic events, discussions, workshops and practice sessions. We hope there is something for everyone through our event programming.
The Contemplation Conversations
These conversations feature an array of thinkers, meditators, researchers and people from all over the life spectrum discussing big topics related to the world of contemplative wisdom. Contemplative studies are incredibly multi-faceted, and topics are as broad as contemplative practice for climate anxiety, through to feminism and queerness in modern religion.
The format is generally a panel discussion with moderation by a host and you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists at the conclusion of the event.
Wise Words
Our academic Wise Words series is delivered in academic language and targets academics and students. The series is aimed at advancing the field of contemplative science.
These events will be lecture format and there will be an opportunity for discussion and networking following the events. Come to learn about research from local and international experts, and meet like-minded colleagues for potential collaboration opportunities.
Guided Meditation Sessions
Our Guided Meditation Sessions are led by expert teachers from a range of faith, secular and wisdom traditions and are aimed at beginner, intermediate or advanced meditators.
These sessions start with an introduction to the meditation or tradition, and you will spend at least 20 minutes doing a guided meditation. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the teacher and discuss your experiences with fellow meditators.
Tradition Deep Dives
Our Tradition Deep Dive series provides a platform for teachers to present a ‘deep dive’ workshop on a topic that can range from an exploration of a single concept within a wisdom tradition, or a presentation on a method of meditation.
Deep Dives vary in format: for example, one might be an hour-long workshop and another might be a half-day experiential mindful walking tour and conversation.