Contemplative Studies represent an emerging interdisciplinary field of research and education focused on the analysis of contemplative experience and its practices, as well as the unique forms of knowledge and the transformations they generate in individuals and communities. Deeply inspired by Buddhism and other contemplative traditions, this field aims to contribute to the development of new knowledge in psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and education, with particular attention to research on consciousness.

The methodology of Contemplative Studies integrates three distinct approaches:

Third-person: Objective research typical of the humanities and sciences, providing a framework for the historical-cultural, philosophical, psychological, and neuroscientific foundations of contemplative experience.

First-person: Phenomenological inquiry rooted in contemplative traditions, based on practices that foster self-observation of consciousness, its contents, and its states, within a critical and non-sectarian approach.

Second-person: An approach centered on the dialogical and intersubjective dimension, essential for narration, sharing, and collaborative inquiry into contemplative experience.

The goals of Contemplative Studies are articulated in two main areas:

Pure research: The investigation of processes and effects involved in contemplative experience and practice, contributing to scientific and philosophical research on consciousness—its nature, degrees, and states, as well as its relationship to the brain and body—and on other key aspects of human experience (such as states and levels of happiness and suffering, forms of identity, etc.).

Practical applications: The development of contemplative methods that can be successfully applied in various sectors of society, including therapeutic and psychotherapeutic settings, education, personal development, and other specific contexts such as businesses and sports.

The Study Center of the Italian Buddhist Union is committed to contributing to a clearer definition of Contemplative Studies and to their recognition in Italy and Europe, considering them as a field of research, an area of education, and a cluster of professional domains and areas of social engagement. Specifically, the Center promotes the development of educational programs (advanced training courses, summer schools, master's programs, degree curricula), the creation of research lines and contexts, and the dissemination of knowledge related to this area and its associated disciplines.