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Born out of the collaboration between the University of Padova (FISPPA Department) and the Research Center, this Program is an unprecedented innovation in academia. It introduces, for the first time in Europe, the study and practice of Contemplative Studies within a university setting: a completely interdisciplinary and intercultural journey dedicated to the field of meditation, intertwining age-old traditions with cutting-edge research.
The two-year program includes over 200 hours of guided meditation practice in both traditional and modern approaches, a faculty consisting of leading international experts in the field, retreat experiences at Italian monasteries, debate sessions, interactive teaching, and much more. The program is designed to be a comprehensive training on the various aspects of meditation and is aimed at promoting integration with various sectors of society, such as education, healthcare, work and personal growth.
The program will begin again in November 2024. Registration will open in June, 2024. A limited number of scholarships will be available thanks to the support of UBI.
For more information please click here or write to us at: master.contemplativestudies@unipd.it.
The videos below describe the Program through the voices of some of the teachers who have made it possible.
Marcello Ghilardi – Professor of Aesthetic Philosophy at the University of Padova – speaks about the Program. He teaches “Forms of Philosophy and Modes of Contemplation in the West.”
B. Alan Wallace – a pioneer in contemplative sciences and the dialogue between Buddhism and science – speaks about the Program. He teaches “Methods, Potentialities, and Criticalities of Contemplative Studies.”
Valentina Dolara – teacher, trainer, and co-founder of Mind of Joy Consulting – speaks about the meditative training “Cultivating Emotional Balance” (CEB), which she leads.
Gonzalo Brito Pons – clinical psychologist and Senior Instructor of the Compassion Cultivation Training program – discusses the Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), which he leads.
Giangiorgio Pasqualotto – formerly a professor of Aesthetics and History of Buddhist thought at the University of Padova – speaks about the Program. He teaches “Introduction to the Intercultural Approach” and “Philosophy of Ancient Buddhism.”
Arianna Palmieri – Professor of Dynamic Psychology at the University of Padova – discusses her course, “Neuroscientific Perspectives on Contemplative Experience.”
Carlo Tetsugen Serra – Zen Master and Abbot of five monasteries – speaks about leading meditative training dedicated to the practice of koans.
Emanuela Magno – Professor of History of Buddhist Philosophy at the University of Padova – speaks about her course, “Philosophy, Ethics, and Soteriology in Mahāyāna Buddhism.”
Geshe Tenzin Tenphel – Resident Lama at the Lama Tsongkhapa Institute – speaks about the practice of meditation in Tibetan Buddhism.
