Contemplative Studies Centre

This series will be led by Associate Professor Matt Sharpe - author, lecturer and researcher from Australian Catholic University. 📅 Wednesdays from 2 to 30 July ➡️ Register and more info: go.unimelb.edu.au/ei8p #Stoicism #Meditation #ContemplativePractice

🌀 How might ancient Stoic philosophy help us face life’s challenges with calm and clarity? Join us for a guided meditation series exploring the reflective practices of Stoicism - meletê (meditation) and theoria (contemplation) - to manage stress and foster calmness.

The survey is a collaboration between 9 universities across the globe,and is available in 9 languages. Meditators of any tradition and level of experience are welcome to join. Take part 👉 soscisurvey.de/world-meditati… More info: world-meditation-survey.org

🧘‍♀️First Worldwide Survey on Meditation – Call for Participants! 🌏 The World Meditation Survey, led by our Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Dr. Karin Matko, explores how personal characteristics and motivations shape meditation practices across traditions and over time.

➡️ Express your interest here: go.unimelb.edu.au/7exp Quote "CSC" as the invitation code in the screening question. For more info: go.unimelb.edu.au/4j6p

We’re launching a survey to explore how mindfulness meditation teachers are implementing social justice literacy in their classes. If you're a mindfulness teacher who has, or is interested in incorporating social justice elements into your teaching, we’d love to hear from you!

Inspired by Vipassana, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self Compassion skills, participants will learn how to bring the quality of awareness to the mind and body to live with more ease✨

Are you living with chronic pain or know someone who is? Join nurse and Buddhist chaplain, Georgia Cummings, for our next 4-week Guided Meditation Series: Meditation for chronic pain and illness🧘‍♂️ 📅 Starts 7 May, 1pm (online) ➡️ Book go.unimelb.edu.au/7nxp

Congratulations to Dr. Saampras Ganesan for completing his PhD! 👏 Dr Ganesan’s research saw him establish a neurofeedback system for the 7T MRI scanner and develop an innovative model to train beginner meditators. Well done @SaamprasG ! 🎉 #PhDGraduation #MeditationResearch

'Free your attention - meditation and mindfulness in the digital age' was hosted at the Brunswick Ballroom by the Sophia Club in partnership with the Contemplative Studies Centre. 🔗🎧 You can listen to the conversation on ABC Radio National's Big Ideas: go.unimelb.edu.au/gq6p

In the digital age, attention is now a commodity. Can practices like meditation and mindfulness help us feel more free to focus on what really matters?

Meaningful change often requires some discomfort, but it doesn’t necessitate that we experience lasting distress. So, when are we being pushed outside our comfort zone and when are we potentially just getting worse? ➡️ Read: go.unimelb.edu.au/8e6p #Psychotherapy #Meditation

🔎 Is it normal to feel worse before you feel better in meditation or therapy? In a new article for Psyche our Director, A/Prof Nicholas Van Dam, explores the fine line between discomfort, distress, and harm in mental health and contemplative practices.

Our Deputy Director, Dr. Julieta Galante, is delivering a lecture at Cheetah House 👉

🧘‍♂️Have you ever wanted to try a guided meditation in Zen Buddhist tradition? Join us for a free guided meditation series over four weeks with Zen Roshi (teacher), Kynan Sutherland ✨ Find out more and register here: go.unimelb.edu.au/ydz8

🧘‍♀️Interested in mindfulness meditation? Join our 28-day study and explore the effects on wellbeing. Open to Aussies aged 18 - 65 with little/no meditation experience. Complete surveys, participate in guided sessions and receive up to $109. Details: go.unimelb.edu.au/2zd8

Her tip? For the best mindfulness experience, try learning in a group setting with a skilled teacher – it’s the method with the strongest evidence for effectiveness. A great reminder as we start the year! Read here (paywalled): theage.com.au/national/the-s…

💡 Our Deputy Director, Dr. Julieta Galante @MSSatUoC shares expert advice in The Age this week on the science of stress. 🧠✨

Ultimately, it’s about finding what works for you. As A/Prof Van Dam notes, “Mindfulness is unlikely to necessarily be better than other evidence-based approaches; what likely matters most is what people are willing to actually do.” #Mindfulness #Meditation #MentalHealth

A/Prof Van Dam highlights that for about 10% of people, meditation can lead to negative side effects. The Centre explores this in our latest research here: unimelb.me/3PDtxyA

🧘‍♀️Meditation is often recommended for mental health, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The Centre, @ntvandam and @MSSatUoC, recently shared insights with Liam Mannix at The Age about why some people find meditation challenging and what to do instead.